Book Review: An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

On March 29, 2024March 27, 2024 By AllieS.In Book ReviewLeave a comment

An Education in Malice is a Carmilla retelling set at an all girls Catholic College in the 1960s. This is a dark academia story with a revivals to lovers romance between Laura and Carmilla. This book does have darker themes including uneven power dynamics, murder, and inappropriate relationships between a teacher and a student so definitely heed the trigger warnings.

I’ve enjoyed S.T. Gibson’s others works and loved how this was connected to A Dowry of Blood. I know a little about the original Carmilla story and was not expecting the changes made. The poetry professor De Lafontaine is the vampire, not Carmilla which we learn early on. But Carmilla is a large part of her world and when Laura overhears she gets dragged in too.

I enjoyed how the “villain”/antagonist had a bigger role compared to A Dowry of Blood and that things are not as the seem later on in the story. I also loved how the ending was just open enough to have your own opinion on what decision Laura makes. If you have loved S.T. Gibson’s other work I feel like you will loved this one as well.

January 2024 Illumicrate

On March 25, 2024March 20, 2024 By AllieS.In Book Box, IllumicrateLeave a comment

Illumicrate is a UK based fantasy and science fiction book box that has monthly boxes or just a monthly book only subscription. Each box also includes a selection of bookish goodies some more practical, others more decorative set around a monthly theme. January’s theme is Murder Mystery.

The items included in this box are a reusable sticker book, a set of Crescent City bookmarks, an apron, a phone grip inspired by A Master of Djinn, and a library stamp inspired by the Wayward Children series.

Illumicrate, like other book boxes, include a new hard cover each month and most months a letter from the author. This months book is Voyage of the Damned by Frances White which is a fantasy murder mystery set on a twelve day cruise. This edition also has foiling on the hardback, digitally printed edges, and bonus content.

February’s theme is Caged Hearts.

December 2023 Wrap Up

On March 22, 2024March 20, 2024 By AllieS.In Book Review, Wrap UpLeave a comment

The last serval months have been fairly busy and I have gotten behind on posting things. In December I read six books including a novella and a short story.

Books:

Legends and Lattes and Pages to Fill by Travis Baldree was the first book and short story I read in December. Pages to Fill is a short story prequel to Legends and Lattes which was included in the back of my copy of Legends and Lattes. Pages to Fill allows us to see Viv when she was an adventure and warrior and the start of her wanting to open a coffee shop. While Legends and Lattes follows the Orc Viv who is done with adventuring and has decided to open a coffee shop in a town that has no idea what coffee is. I love the cozy vibes and all the friends Viv makes along the way.

Next I read the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which is a reread for me. I still love the Harry Potter series all these year later and feel like these editions would be great as a gift to someone getting into the series.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher is the 13th book in the Dresden Files series and follows the aftermath of Harry’s death in Changes. Its been six months and Harry’s ghost is told that if he doesn’t find his killer then his friends will be in grave danger. At times a sad book as we see how much Harry’s death has changed things and also feels like a bit of a restart to the series. I don’t know where the series I going next but I plan to continue reading.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells is the first book in the Murderbot series. We follow Murderbot a company supplied Sec Unit who has hacked his own governor module so that he can do what he wants. Murderbot would really like to be left alone to watch shows and decide who he is but when a group of scientists end up murdered he and the group he is protecting need to figure out the truth. I loved Murderbot and need to read more in this series.

The last book I read this month was Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin which was a book club pick. This is a fantasy comedy where our protagonist Skeeve gets pulled into a quest when the magician he is apprenticed under is killed. A cute take on fantasy and quest stories that I feel like I would have enjoyed more if I had read it when I was younger but could be a good introduction into a fantasy series.

Book Review: Ghost Story (The Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher

On March 4, 2024February 29, 2024 By AllieS.In Book Review, Dresden FilesLeave a comment

Ghost Story is the thirteenth book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Ghost Story follows the aftermath of Harry’s death in Change and starts about six months after his death. Harry’s ghost is told that if he doesn’t find his killer then his friends will be in grave danger.

Overall this book is much more melancholy then the rest of the series as we see how much his death has truly changed things and untimely feel like the restart/reset to the series. I loved seeing all the different characters and what is going on with then and the ending was not what I expected. I should have written this review closer to when I read it as I don’t know what else to say other than I plan to continue with the series.

December 2023 Fairyloot

On March 1, 2024February 24, 2024 By AllieS.In Book Box, FairylootLeave a comment

Fairyloot is a Young Adult book subscription box focusing on fantasy based out of the UK. Each month you receive a new Young Adult hardback book and several bookish goodies. Like most book boxes the hardback are special editions and the items are a combination of both practical things and more decorative items. December’s theme is Artefacts of Power.

The bookish items included this month are a packing cube (which was delayed and mailed later), a set of bookends, a satin scarf, and a tealight candle holder. The monthly tarot cards features character art from Fourth Wing.

All Fairyloot books come with exclusive covers, generally signed by the author and include a letter from the author. This month the book is What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez which is described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile adventure with a rivals to lovers romance. This edition also stenciled sprayed edges, artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket, and artwork on the hardback.