#In The Roses of Pieria

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

In The Roses of Pieria

dark fantasy romance

a woman takes a well-paying but suspicious sounding job as an archivist working for a mysterious estate owner, and finds herself translating numerous never-before-seen artifacts from her specialty field on an ancient civilisation

as she begins to translate romantic letters between two ancient figures and unravel more about them, her frustration over the knowledge being kept secret and confusion over what the letters reveal grows

but between that and her developing feelings for her employer’s assistant, she finds out that getting to close to these secrets is dangerous

lesbians, vampires, fey

#In The Roses of Pieria #aroaessidhe 2024 reads #sapphic books #oughhhhhh yeah this was pretty good! #it’s such an interesting mix of elements and I think it pulls it off pretty well. But also definitely won’t work for everyone. #I definitely was most intrigued by the fungal fey but also knew going in that that was a more minor aspect. #However seems like it’ll be much more significant as the series goes on so am interested in that #the fungi fey stuff is like. hmm mycelial hivemind vibes. which i like the idea of #It starts off very slow and atmospheric and then the danger and action creeps up all of a sudden #and I can only assume that the series will continue with the higher stakes #if you like the idea of timewar but want it to be more grounded narratively (and also from the POV of mere humans reading the letters #not just focused on them) you might like this?? but also there’s a lot of other things going on. so #I will say…plot hole? I am confused how V needed C to translate the letter to send to A #when the whole point of C’s job is that A can’t read the ancient language anymore. did i miss something there lol? #also damn we got a furry but then she immediately lost her furry abilities forever. rip.

[9musesandanoldmind]

Natek and Gata from "In the Roses of Pieria" by Anna Burke

I aimed for Greek but guess it ended up with more Roman or maybe even later vibes (which for these characters isn't quite a problem...)(also hard for Natek not to resemble Kassandra even a little bit...)

#in the roses of pieria #the blood files #anna burke #natek #gata #sapphic fiction #queer fantasy

[ianthe-is-a-bitch-and-i-love-her]

Decided to break my recent novel dry spell with In The Roses of Pieria, and it was a great choice. Strong character-driven plot, strong characters to drive that plot (I absolutely loved Fiadh), and some really solid world building that managed the very difficult balancing act of keeping the details sparse without making the setting feel either underdeveloped or surreal, which is a real achievement in my opinion. Lots of great references to Sappho and ancient Mediterranean history, which was a happy coincidence for me since I've been reading a bunch of collected history on pre-imperial Rome and its contemporaries recently. The main romances were really compelling - lots of heavy passion and longing and elegant prose that really made those Gothic romance feelings hit hard. I do think the Gothic horror elements could've been more intense though. I liked what was there, but having recently watched Fall of the House of Usher, I couldn't help but find it lacking. The atmosphere of tension and mystery and unease just kinda falls away around the 2/3s mark. Nitpicks aside, I'm excited for the sequel. If you're interested, you might also have a glance through the author's tumblr @villainapologistsanonymous - I've recommended some of her work on this blog before.

#the wlw review #in the roses of pieria #seriously though fiadh is so hot clara has excellent taste #and I won't spoil it but the ending set upbthe next book to dig into what i thought was the most compelling #part of the worldbuilding not yet explored

[stardustandrockets]

OCTOBER RAINBOW CRATE SPOILERS

I swear I fall more and more in love with these redesigned covers with each box. manicfemme is knocking the typography and junk out of the park along with the cover artists!

This month's @rainbowcrate included:

• The Spells We Cast by Jason June—dust jacket art by @samairu with dark silver foiling and glow effect, signed bookplate, and author letter on the jacket

• In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke—dust jacket art by @otuscops, maroon foiling, spot gloss, foiled in-world hardcover, end papers by manicfemme & @jamielynnlano, printed edges by @mrosedesigner, a letter series, author letter, and signed art bookplate

• monthly collectible magnet inspired by The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

• letter opener inspired by These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling; designed by @kitstercronk

• spoiler card art as always is by @ace-artemis-fanartist

#RCOct23 #RainbowCrate #rainbow crate book box #Stronger Together #the spells we cast #jason june #in the roses of pieria #anna burke #the wicker king #k ancrum #these witches don't burn #isabel sterling #manicfemme #ace artemis fan artist #read more sapphic books #lgbtq reads #lgbtqia #queer book recs #read queer all year #read with pride #stardustandrockets

[gealach-in-a-misty-world]

When Clara Eden is offered a job as an archivist working for eccentric estate owner Agatha Montague, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Soon, she finds herself sucked into her research world, captivated by a romantic correspondence thousands of years old. But as her feelings for her employer's assistant, Fiadh, deepen, so does her suspicion that something about Agatha Montague isn't right. Unfortunately for Clara, it is far too late to run by the time her suspicions are confirmed.

"I'll paint your face into the histories". Anna Burke's In the Roses of Pieria is a sapphic horror novel with a complex worldbuilding and academic overtones that really enrich the experience. The story is interspersed with a millennia-old correspondence that tugs at the heartstrings with its lyrical passages and references to Sappho's fragments, while slowly unease creeps into Clara and the readers alike as the main character realizes the truth behind the letters.

The fictional Nektopolis, created by the author as a backdrop to such an ancient love story, is so vividly described that makes one wonder whether it's real; the novel begins with an academic discussion that goes on for pages and sets the atmosphere well. The genre-savvy reader will understand immediately what takes Clara a little more time to wrap her head around, but the novel is still full of surprises with an exciting (and mildly horrific) take on the fae.

As the story unfolds, so does the love story between Clara and Fiadh, speeding through the unraveling horror making itself known. Fiadh is a compelling love interest, mysterious and intricate in her loyalties, but fierce in her passions. The adventurous second part of the novel allows to explore her more as a character, and revelations abound. The story, while pretty self-contained, ends with an abrupt cliffhanger that leaves you wanting the second installment in the duology immediately.

In the Roses of Pieria is a gloriously weird sapphic vampire story.

✨ 5 stars

.

📚📚📚 IF YOU LOVE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE:

* A Long Time Dead, Samara Breger

for: sapphic vampires, love through the ages

[You can find more of my reviews about queer speculative fiction on my blog MISTY WORLD]

#anna burke #in the roses of pieria #lgbtq books #queer lit #queer books #queer #sff #queer sff #sff books #books #book reviews #reading #gealach reads #gealach writes

[novelisi]

In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke

Summary: When Clara Eden is offered a job as an archivist working for eccentric estate owner Agatha Montague, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Soon, she finds herself sucked into her research world, captivated by a romantic correspondence thousands of years old. But as her feelings for her employer's assistant, Fiadh, deepen, so does her suspicion that something about Agatha Montague isn't right. Unfortunately for Clara, it is far too late to run by the time her suspicions are confirmed..

Rating: ★★★★☆

Non-spoiler review:

Right from the beginning, I was enthralled. The beauty of the writing within this book is undeniable. Burke does a fantastic job of setting the scene without overdoing it with the descriptions of the spaces the characters are in.

The language in Gata and Natek’s letters is just as beautiful and poetic. I love the sweet sapphic yearning mixed with the intimacy of a handwritten letter to the woman you love but can not have. I can see how Clara gets swept up in their love story.

There are some.. steamy.. scenes within the story that, admittedly, I had to skip through. Not because they were poorly written, but because I’m not someone who enjoys reading about such things. I don’t doubt that the descriptions during those parts were written as wonderfully as the rest of the book, but that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself if you’re into it.

The reveals that Burke had laid the groundwork for all clicked into place, but there is still enough mystery left over for book 2. Overall, I did really enjoy In the Roses of Pieria, which is why I got through it so quickly! I’ll be keeping an eye out for the release of the second instalment.

T/W: R*p*

I will say, though, that there is a scene that can be interpreted as being similar to a r*p*. Clara is forced to do something that, while not sexual in nature, is written with sexual, or at the very least sensual, undertones. Other readers may not interpret it the way I have, but I felt it important to mention anyway.

If you'd like to know more about this scene before reading the book, I've briefly gone through what happens below without any of the details. It is at the bottom of my review under the T/W in bold, so you can skip the other spoilers.

Spoiler review:

Right from the beginning, I was enthralled. The beauty of the writing within this book is undeniable.

Burke does a fantastic job of setting the scene without overdoing it with the descriptions of the spaces the characters are in. The story opens with Clara in her classroom as she finishes up a lecture, and the way Burke is able to romanticise what would usually be a depressing, soul crushing environment had me amazed. I’ve not long left university myself, and making a lecture theatre sound almost magical that is not an easy feat.

The language in Gata and Natek’s letters is just as beautiful and poetic. I love the sweet sapphic yearning mixed with the intimacy of a handwritten letter to the woman you love but can not have. I can see how Clara gets swept up in their love story.

There are some.. steamy.. scenes within the story that, admittedly, I had to skip through. Not because they were poorly written, but because I’m not someone who enjoys reading about such things. I don’t doubt that the descriptions during those parts were written as wonderfully as the rest of the book, but that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself if you’re into it.

Overall, I think that the reveals of (some of) Agatha's history, Fiadh's connection to Agatha, and Natek and Vezina were interesting. Burke certainly did well laying the groundwork for these, so they didn't come as a shock, more of a "oh my god, yeah, that makes sense!!".

There were only two issues I had, which is why my rating is 4/5. The first is that I finished the book feeling like something was missing. Like some scenes should've had more to them. It's hard to explain, and I don't know what exactly I wanted from these scenes, just that I wanted more. At the end, Burke states that In the Roses of Pieria was intended to be one book, not two, so maybe that's why I feel this way, but who knows.

Another reason I've gone for a rating of 4 is the following:

T/W: R*pe ------------------------

Something that had me rather unsettled was one of the scenes following Clara’s discovery of Agatha’s secret - that she’s a vampire. Clara has been brought in to Agatha and, rightfully so, is terrified of the woman in front of her. She is also struggling to process what she’s learned and seen, as her entire understanding of the world around her crumbles. To ensure Clara remains subservient to her, Agatha uses thrall to make Clara come to her and ask to be bitten. Clara is unable to fight against it, and her mind is manipulated, making her feel as though she desires Agatha’s lips against her neck and wants to obey her completely. It is written as having some sexual, or at the very least sensual, undertones. After the incident, Clara is sickened and distraught. She can’t sleep out of fear that Agatha will make her act against her will again, or suck her blood (which Agatha has also done without Clara’s knowledge while she was asleep in bed).

As I read, I felt as though this incident reflected r*pe. Or at least, that was my interpretation. Agatha had taken Clara’s control of her own body, almost like she had been drugged, and made her believe in that moment that she wanted it. Afterwards, Clara was traumatised, scared, and angry. What added to the disturbing nature of it all was Fiadh’s almost… justification.. of it? Despite witnessing the entire thing, when Clara expresses her disgust at what happened, Fiadh tells her that Agatha shouldn’t be held to the same standards as humans, that this is just what she knows and, the fact that she makes you want it is actually “a kindness”. Now, Fiadh has been brought up with her family serving Agatha for generations, and it is briefly mentioned that she has probably been groomed by Agatha to believe this is okay and “kind”. But her dismissal of Clara’s trauma was frustrating. Clara is shown to be greatly negatively impacted by this event, refusing to sleep, being too scared to turn her home lights off, or on, and jumping at every little noise out of fear it’s Agatha.

Now, I’m currently 64% of the way through this book, so perhaps this will all be addressed later on. I’d like to see Fiadh break through this illusion that Agatha is kind and good and simply doesn’t know any better. I want to see her acknowledge what happened to Clara and apologise. To validate her feelings rather than brush them aside. Agatha’s intentions were clearly evil - she wanted to show Clara the extent of her control and to make her fearful. She knew exactly what she was doing. I don’t think this is something that should be ignored.*

*I have finished the book, and this incident wasn't brought up again. Clara ended up agreeing that thrall was kindness, and Agatha was seemingly redeemed as she risked her life to save Fiadh. Perhaps it's just me, and other readers will disagree, but I'm disappointed that this event wasn't criticised. The reason I mention this is because it may be important as a content warning for future readers.

#in the roses of pieria #bookblr #book blog #booklr #bookish #reading #books #bookworm #book community #novelisi reviews

[crookedkingdom]

i am not even halfway through this book and i am so genuinely obsessed. dark academia and research on ancient historical civilization as observed through love letters written between two immortal beings over the span of centuries, intertwined with a modern day sapphic story, and underpinned with a slow creeping sense of horror? and also there are just cats everywhere? unparalleled reading experience

anyway in the roses of pieria comes out august 22 and no i have not finished reading it yet but yes i do think everyone should buy it

#in the roses of pieria #books #text #joining netgalley was both a mistake and an incredible decision

[jazzfordshire]

Hello, Jazz! I hope all is well. I just read a book on Libby from Anna Burke called In the Roses of Pieria that, the more I read, the more I realized it's sort of supercorp coded. The main character is named Clara and wears blazers, is blonde, is excitable/emotive, bubbly, intelligent, maybe reads as butch -adjacent, and falls in love with Fiadh "fee-ah" the black haired/green eyed fancy, business-like, short beautiful Irish woman. Anyway I thought I'd tell you about it, if you like ancient languages, academic types, fairy tales, vampires, etc. The author writes a lot of really good stuff (Nottingham is my favorite) and this one just reminded me of your stuff. Actually to be honest it reminds me of your very old writing because your recent stuff is actually better 😁 but wanted to share this with you anyway.

MORE 👏 SUPERCORP 👏 CODED 👏 BOOKS 👏

And also thank you, I actually really love that my recent stuff is noticeably better to anyone but me lmao I appreciate that!!

[slips-of-sappho]

"Dead you will lie and never memory of you will there be no desire into the aftertime—for you do not share in the roses of Pieria, but invisible too in Hades' house you will go your way among dim shapes. Having been breathed out.

~ Sappho, fragment 55 (and the sickest burn)

#sapphic poetry #sappho #poetry #queer poetry #greek poetry

[verdantlyviolet]

Curses from Sappho

Though most well known for her poetry on love and longing, Sappho did seem to have a bitter streak. The below are possible lines lifted from Anne Carson’s translation If Not, Winter to use in spells or curses. In all cases I recommend changing pronouns to match the person and/or situation

1

For if she flees, soon she will pursue. If she refuses gifts, rather will she give them. If she does not love, soon she will love even unwilling.

15B

Kypris, may she find you very bitter and not go boasting how he came a second time to love’s desire.

31

when I look at you, even a moment, no speaking is left in me no: tongue breaks and thin fire is racing under skin and in eyes no sight and drumming fills ears and cold sweat holds me and shaking grips me all, greener than grass I am and dead—or almost I seem to me.

37

may winds and terrors carry him off

42

their heart grew cold they let their wings down

55

Dead you will lie and never memory of you will there be nor desire into the aftertime—for you do not share in the roses of Pieria, but invisible too in Hades’ house you will go your way among dim shapes.

81

the blessed Graces prefer to look on one who wears flowers and turn away from those without a crown.

#Sappho #curses #magic #text post

[tipsycad147]

The Muses: Greek Gods and Goddesses

“We are the muses Goddesses of the arts And proclaimers of heroes”

If your house is anything like mine, you probably have quite a few Disney Movies stashed around. Even before we had Munchkin, Mr Moose and I bonded over our love of movies, songs and quoting lines.

These 5 ladies are sassy, have some really good songs and are so pretty. Currently, as an adult with an appreciation of History, Mythology and Art, I love the Muses even more.

We recently added a 3 year old Nubian doe named Calliope to our group, she goes by Callie for short. She’s sassy, tries to be in charge and definitely fits her name.( In fact, if you’re curious about which Alcohol brand it is. There’s a brand of wines called Calliope Wines based out of Canada, so we didn’t even have to change her name!)

Consequently, I wanted to do some more research on this set of ladies. Who are literally referred to as THE Inspirations of Science, The Arts, Astronomy and more.

History Behind The Muses

The Muses Origin Story(s)

The daughters of Zeus and The Titaness Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, the Muses lived on Mount Olympus entertaining the Gods. Later, they were moved to Mount Parnassus or Mount Helicon depending on who’s research you follow.

However, the other origin story of the Muses is that they are water nymphs who sprung from the four sacred springs on Mount Helicon when Pegasus proceeded to stomp his hooves upon the ground. Most people follow the origin of them being daughters of Zeus.(Which makes the movie Hercules,about their little brother.)

Putting a Face to the Names

Worshipers of The Muses

Being Goddesses, The Muses had their own following of Worshipers. Scattered all over South and Central Greece, worshipers of The Muses were commonly found at either Mount Helicon in Boeotia and Pieria in Macedonia. Festivals were held frequently all over Greece, full of Poetry Competitions and Dancing and Singing. Pythagoras, the inventor of the Pythagorean Theorem is one of the more famously known followers of the Muses.

Who Are The Muses?

There are 9 Muses total, each with a focus on her area of expertise and inspiration. Some have had children, others have not.

Muse #1-Calliope

Epic Poetry is a lengthy narrative told in a storytelling manner. In fact, some well known examples include Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey as well as Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. The Muses and their mother are actually mentioned in both of Homer’s works.

Calliope has several sons depending on the lore. The 2 most known are Orpheus and Linus. Orpheus was the great musical hero of Greek mythology, and Linus was the inventor of rhythm and melody.

Calliope is known to have been the inspiration for Heroic poems and Rhetoric Arts.

Calliope is physically represented as wearing a gold crown and typically carrying a scroll, book or tablet in her hands.

Muse #2- Clio

Clio is known as the pro-claimer, glorifier and celebrator of history, great deeds and accomplishments. She is the inspiration and namesake for various modern brands.

Clio has one son, Hyacinth. Story has it; Clio, after reprimanding the goddess Aphrodite for her passionate love for Adonis, was punished by Aphrodite, who made her fall in love with Pierus, king of Macedonia. In spite of that,they bore a son named Hyacinthus, a young man of great beauty who was later killed by his lover, the god Apollo. From his blood sprang a flower (the hyacinth).

Clio is often represented holding an open scroll or sitting by a stack of books.

Muse #3- Erato

Lyric Poetry is poetry expressing personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in first person. However, lyric poetry is of no relation to the word lyrics when talking about song lyrics.

She is typically represented holding a wreath of myrtle and roses or holding a Kithara(lyre) or a Golden Arrow.( She’s often represented accompanied by Cupid or Eros as well)

Muse #4-Euterpe

She serves as the inspiration for many courses and dialects in language. As well as the inspiration for various instruments.

Muse #5-Melpomene

The inspirations from Melpomene include; tragedy dramas, rhetoric speeches and Melos,the succession of musical tones constituting a melody.

Melpomene is always represented holding a tragedy mask. Other representations can include boots commonly worn by tragedy actors or a knife or sword held in her opposite hand.

Muse #6-Polyhymnia

Sacred Poetry is a collection of works including hymns and other religious texts.

Polyhymnia is the inspiration for Divine Hymns, Mimic Art, Geometry and Grammar.

Her representation is a serious expression, a finger held to her lips in silence and a long cloak or veil.

Muse #7-Terpsichore

She is the inspirations for Dance, the Harp and Education as a whole.

Terpsichore is the other Muse known as Mother of Sirens. One of the most known Sirens, Parthenope, cast herself into the sea after her songs failed to ensnare Odysseus.

Muse #8-Thalia

Idyllic Poetry or Idyll Poems,are typically a short poem, descriptive of rustic life.

Thalia is known as being the inspiration for Comedy Drama, Geometry, Architectural Science and Agriculture.

Muse #9- Urania

She is associated with universal love and astronomical writings. It was said Urania could tell the future by the arrangement of the stars.

Urania is said to have inherited her majesty and power from her father Zeus, and her beauty and grace from her mother.

The “10th” Muse

Little is known about her history and many of her works have been lost to time. There are several theories that she is the inspiration for the word Lesbian and other LGBTQ+ phrases. One of her only completed works that can be found is a poem titled “Ode to Aphrodite”.

The Muses’ Purpose

The Muses were created to help the People and the Gods to forget their troubles and suffering through art, music and poetry. In fact, these 9 women were very close to each other and, subsequently, still serve as inspiration for many of the Arts today.

Mentions of the Muses in Popular Culture

In contrast to Homer and Dante’s works, the Muses are mentioned in a number of modern cultures as well.

My favorites include the Disney movie “Hercules” where the Muses are the musical narrators throughout the movie. My other favorite is the Book series Xanth by Piers Anthony. In Xanth, the Muses live on Mount Parnassus and are one of several residents visited to be asked questions pertaining to their( the visitor’s) quests.

Other examples include:

Rick Riordan’s mythical series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo.

South Korean all-female idol group debuted under the name ‘Nine Muses’

The show Charmed, an episode features The Charmed Ones who must protect the Muses from a warlock who is trapping them into a magical ring.

The Muse Calliope is a character in the graphic novel Sandman, by Neil Gaiman.

There are tons of other pop culture references to the Muses, from Animes, Comics, Musical, Movies and Books.

Who Inspires You?

In a word, the Muses are an Inspiration, not only in Ancient Greece but also in the modern realm as well. Who is your favorite Muse? Will you be calling on a Muse next time you need inspiration? 

[aroaessidhe]

more catgirls in fantasy PLEASE

#reading these three within a couple weeks.....i am thinking about them sm #not on the cover of PoF but they're in there!!!! and likely to me major characters later on!!! #we need more tabaxi in high fantasy tbh. more furries in general #laya talks #wait edit i forgot to add in the roses of pieria to this.........not the same kind of setting but....

[pomea]

Dead you will lie and never memory of you

will there be nor desire into the aftertime—for you do not share in the roses

of Pieria, but invisible too in Hades' house

you will go your way among dim shapes. Having been breathed out.

sappho, fr. 55 (tr. anne carson)

#someone will remember us i say. not you though #quotes

[ianthe-is-a-bitch-and-i-love-her]

Sapphic vampire fiction mini reviews, ranked from least favorite to most:

House of Hunger: Bland characters, a story that barely scratches the surface of the implications of its premise, and a central relationship with nothing underpinning it make for an aimless story with a climax that hits like a limp noodle. If the dynamic between a vampire and her indentured maid appeals to you, try The Wicked and the Willing instead.

An Education in Malice: For a Carmilla retelling, the titular character really lacks bite. Laura at least has some interesting contradictions in her, and De Lafontaine could be quite compelling if we saw things through her eyes, but the central relationship isn't built on a lot, and Carmilla herself is really disappointingly bland. The prose comes off as overwrought and melodramatic in the first act, and the constant leaning on poetry feels gratuitous, but it picks up steam and becomes appropriately gripping by the one-third mark, and it carries the book enough that I had an enjoyable but rather shallow experience. I struggle to think of a reason to recommend this over In the Roses of Pieria, which plays with similar thematic and aesthetic elements much more adeptly. Also, it's a pet peeve of mine when a story makes a point to establish a specific historical era for its setting but has characters that feel utterly modern.

The Deathless Girls: This book does a much better job with its sense of time and place, and the characters and their motivations are quite strong. I only rate this one low on this list because the main characters don't actually deal with vampirism as a condition until the very end of the book. On its surface, the premise might seem quite similar to A Dowry of Blood, but there's actually very little thematic or narrative overlap.

Ex-Wives of Dracula: An excellent exploration of the queer teenage experience in conservative small town ~2015 USA along with some pretty novel twists on vampire and horror movie tropes. Strong, vibrant characters with a rich, messy, and compelling relationship carry a solid mystery plot and some pretty pointed critiques of its setting, but the actual climax and resolution don't quite hold up to the quality of the rest. Also I simply must warn anyone who didn't grow up in the time and place this book explores about the profound and casual bigotry and nastiness of that setting, which this book replicates to a T.

The Wicked and the Willing: A thrilling and compelling dark romantic drama centered on a British vampire in 1920s Singapore, her newly hired and desperate to escape poverty personal maid, and her majordomo who is struggling to keep her conscience under control after years of aiding and abetting her mistress's dark appetites. Extremely strong character writing pairs with deft exploration of themes of colonialism, entitlement, class divisions, sexism, and the ways in which certain types of status can and cannot afford one leeway to be nonconforming in other ways. Intermixes diagetic and non-diagetic BDSM very organically also, if that's your thing.

In the Roses of Pieria: Rich prose dripping with atmosphere follows an obscure academic as she digs into a series of ancient correspondences and discovers a millenia spanning love story between two vampires. The character writing is solid, if not quite as impressive as some other entries on this list, but the quality of the prose more than elevates it. The text makes elegant and powerful references to Sappho throughout, and the whole experience is heady and compelling in ways that I struggle to describe in greater detail. Funnily enough, the vampires are the least interesting part of the world building. This one has a sequel coming, and I can't wait.

A Dowry of Blood: A darkly enchanting epistolary novel that takes the form of letters written by the first of Dracula's wives to him as she attempts to make peace with killing him. She unpicks a delicious and horrifying knot of feeling and history as she revisits their millenia together, recounting and reckoning with the manipulations and abuses that defined the good times and the bad. The characters are evocative and rich, the narrative voice by turns sparse, longing, furious, contemplative, and mournful, and the story simply springs to life. It accomplishes an incredible amount in approximately 200 pages, and I absolutely cannot recommend this one enough.

#the wlw review #im sure there are countless more sapphic vampire stories #but these are the ones ive read #ignoring a few outliers that don't really explore vampirism

[stardustandrockets]

What's the last dark academia book you read?

I believe the last true dark academia I read was The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore. Though The Honeys by Ryan La Sala was inspired by the dark elements of dark academia despite taking place at a super sunny camp. (The horrors lurk.)

I hadn't heard of In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke before it was the Rainbow Crate October pick, but it sounds really good! I flipped through it and it looks like a quick read once you get going. Look how STUNNING this edition is!! RC never disappoints!

#RCOct23 #RainbowCrate #rainbow crate book box #stronger together #in the roses of pieria #anna burke #dark academia #dark fantasy #horror #queer horror #queer romance #lgbtq reads #lgbtqia #queer book recs #read queer all year #read with pride #read more sapphic books #stardustandrockets

[gealach-in-a-misty-world]

Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua's College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold. On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and dark magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.

"Face death bravely, and greet her as a lover."

S.T. Gibson's An Education in Malice is a sapphic dark academia with vampires, loosely connected to the author's A Dowry Of Blood and inspired by the classic Carmilla, although the inspiration ends at the names. The titular character enters a heated academic rivalry with the seemingly innocent Laura, while the two work under the tutelage of their poetry professor, a mysterious figure with her own agenda.

Their two POVs entwine as they navigate their attraction and their battle for their teacher's attention; Laura struggles with her own desires, which she can only safely explore with the help of erotic fiction, while Carmilla is trapped in an inappropriate relationship with her mentor. Gradually, the two will come together and overcome their hurdles, while also coming into their own.

The prose is exquisite, with lovely turns of phrase, and the obsessive nature of their fascination is mirrored by the lush descriptions and the carnality of the world they come into. The attraction between Carmilla and Laura culminates when they are invited to a vampiric bacchanalia, with voyeuristic plays and public sex. We also meet a few older vampires, expanding the world and giving it depth.

The book seems to be a standalone, but I would love something else with the same characters. Perhaps I would have preferred a singular POV, to add to the intrigue, but this worked as well.

An Education in Malice is a deliciously debauched retelling.

✨ 4 stars

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📚📚📚 IF YOU LOVE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE:

* In the Roses of Pieria, by Anna Burke

for: academia, deeper history

[You can find more of my reviews about queer speculative fiction on my blog MISTY WORLD]

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