
Member Reviews

This book was incredible! VE Schwab is truly a master story teller. This book is very character driven and follows 3 different women (vampires) across centuries. It was truly captivating and had me constantly wondering what would happen next and how the story would conclude. Overall, I absolutely loved it!

Phenomenal book! I've been oversaturated with vampire novels and have given them up, but decided to request this one. I'm so glad I did! I loved the pacing, story and would absolutely recommend!

Gothic, sapphic vampires. If that sounds appealing to you, then sink your teeth into this luscious fantasy. V.E. Schwab’s writing is rich and atmospheric, painting a lush picture of cities and times spanning centuries. This book toys with traditional vampire tropes, using nuance in expectation to build tension between characters, but largely plays within the rules of vampire lore. Her characters are strong and complex, searching for independence and love that is often forbidden.
Jumping between characters and timelines, the story was slow to start, and it wasn’t until about halfway through that I was fully hooked, but once I was invested, I devoured the rest of the story. Highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of toxic sapphic love stories, good old-fashioned vampires, or V.E. Schwab’s glorious writing.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
V. E. Schwab
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Favorite Quote:
"She is a flame in the dark, and the night is full of moths."
As someone who is not always a fan of vampire novels, this book is the exception. This book was phenomenal. It was very well written and absorbing. That being said, I could not give this book a five star because it took until about half the book for me to actually be interested in anything going on. The pacing at the beginning felt a bit strange and then by 20% we go from no vampires to Oops! All Vampires! I would definitely recommend this to friends and will definitely be recommending to my library.

If you’ve followed along here enough, you may know by now that I am not always the biggest fantasy/ magical genre reader. However, I did become a big fan of VE Schwab after loving the SHADES OF MAGIC series last year (I also previously enjoyed ADDIE LARUE well enough and am planning to read VICIOUS this year!) so I was pretty excited when I received this digital arc in my inbox!
I went into this blind because I just knew that whatever story being told was going to be done in a way that would hook me. So, while I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, it turns out that a gothic/ horror/ sapphic vampire book did indeed enrapture me more than I would’ve expected!
This books tells the story of a few different women spanning centuries, cities/ countries/ continents, and cultures. It is told in alternating perspectives and timelines and I found myself completely immersed in the world, our characters, and the toxic relationships. It was fully of yearning and lust and HUNGER and it was just hard to put down once you got going.
As the story progressed, I kept trying to figure out what threaded all three of the young women together, only to have it slowly unravel towards the end. I also really enjoyed the themes of loneliness and freedom and being accepted, particularly with its focus of course being on women and how that never changed from the 1500s to the 2000s. (Hello, feminine rage!)
I just love this author’s writing and her prose because it just made the storytelling that more enthralling. It’s such a mixture of just being angsty and violent (so much thirst and carnage just casually mentioned) and also kind of beautiful? The ending was both propulsive yet satisfying and I was kind of sad when it was over.
Vampire stories aren’t always my forte (usually they aren’t something I would gravitate towards), but VE Schwab delivered and I am so so excited for this book to eventually be released into the world because I can see people just devouring it up!

Although I tore through this novel like Sabine on a nightly rampage, I have to say it fell a bit flat for me. The connections between the characters, the slight twists and turns, were all very interesting but I left feeling like I had been shortchanged of some stories. I can't say I cared much at all for Charlotte's side of the story, I would've preferred more from Alice to contrast the majority of the novel's focus on Sabine.

V.E. Schwab has once again pushed the boundaries of genre with Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, a fresh and thrilling take on the vampire mythos that turns everything you thought you knew on its head. This is not just another vampire story; Schwab breathes new life into the genre, presenting a narrative that is as much about power, identity, morality, and agency as it is about blood and immortality.
In Bury Our Bones, Schwab introduces us to a captivating ensemble of vampires, most of whom are women—an empowered, sapphic lense that spans across centuries. These women are not bound by the traditional tropes of vampire lore. The characters’ independence and strength resonate deeply, offering a refreshing departure from the typical portrayal of women in vampire fiction.
Of all the characters, Lottie stood out to me the most—her story and her time in history captivated me. Schwab’s ability to weave together the personal and the supernatural gives the novel a literary depth rarely seen in vampire fiction, making it a stand-out in the genre. It’s a beautiful, haunting, and empowering read that challenges expectations and redefines what a vampire story can be.
This book is an exhilarating exploration of vampire lore reimagined, with Schwab’s signature storytelling blending timeless themes with modern sensibilities. If you think you’ve seen it all in vampire fiction, think again—this book will change the way you see the genre forever.
#Torpublishing #tor #buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil #veschwab

V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones is a beautifully haunting tale that digs deep into the soil of history, mystery, and myth, intertwining the lives of three women across centuries. From 16th-century Spain to Victorian London to modern-day Boston. The narrative roots itself in the stories of these women who, despite their different eras, share a terrifying connection: their bodies, their histories, and yes, even their TEETH.
Schwab’s writing is as sharp as the teeth that mark these women’s fates. Never a failing moment. The world-building is rich, atmospheric, and lush with danger, mystery, and a slow-burn tension that had me turning pages so deep into the night. The way these characters each have a uniquely tragic and fierce growth and change-and the way they ultimately collide is both beautiful and devastating.
It’s a genre defying story that blends historical fiction with dark fantasy, creating a world where the past never fully lets go, and the women who live within it are as formidable as they are unforgettable. This isn’t just a story of survival, it’s one of reclaiming power, confronting what haunts you, and watching the roots of your own story take hold in ways you never imagined.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves a twist of folklore with a dash of gothic mystery, Bury Our Bones will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve turned the last page, I physically need the book in my hands now so I can highlight all those amazing quotes that are now deep rooted into my brain.

Where do I even start? This is like the best parts of Vicious and Addie Larue, but more epic with messy, chaotic sapphic vampires. Complicated female characters that are fully fleshed out and relatable in their own ways, but also evil in their own right. While reading, I wasn’t sure how they were all connected at first, but it came together perfectly. Schwab took the vampire trope and created a timeless story that sweeps countries, centuries, and tackles what it means to live a life on your own terms. Very poetic and could feel the yearning. Something I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Wowza! Bury Our Bones in Midnight Soil is an absolute masterpiece. Dark, poetic, and beautifully haunting, it intertwines the lives of three unforgettable women across centuries—each grappling with loss, transformation, and the price of immortality. This book left me breathless. A must-read for fans of Addie LaRue and anyone craving a story that lingers long after the final page.

I have no words for how perfect this was. The prose, the wonderfully intricate plot, the structure! It’s both raw and incredibly polished. An absolute joy to read. It was so beautiful I cried. I will be shouting about this one from the rooftops for a long time to come. A review could not do this book justice.

Absolutely stunning. The best I've read from Schwab yet. I appreciated how subtly we were given the villain's point of view, and how masterfully combined the narratives became toward the end. This book is a masterclass in queer literary horror.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
This was a very interesting story about women through the ages and the issues that challenge them. But there is a surprise which I will not reveal until the books are published. It was very welcomed
The writing was amazing and the themes were very strong.
I will not this is an adult book and would not recommend to a younger audience. The themes and graphic content are very present.
Overall I would highly recommend this book to my friends.

4.5/5 stars
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is perfect if you're looking for the sweeping stories and evocative prose of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue mixed with the toxic twisted relationships of Vicious. I was sucked right in and immediately captured by our three female POVs, each confronted with vampirism as they struggle to find a place in the world. Like in Addie, Schwab does a great job spanning centuries and the globe, every new location and time period lovingly fleshed out.
Each main character felt unique and was shaped by their individual backstory and personalities, but carried the thematic through line of women struggling to gain control. The three women tangle together throughout time, their dark versions of desire and love only getting more twisted by bloodlust and obsession. Schwab's writing is enthralling and emotional, clearly pouring so much heart into the story.
This could easily have been a 5 star book, but unfortunately the ending leaves a bit to be desired. The book was a slow build in the best way, but the end wrapped up way too quickly and neatly. Still, it was overall a great book and I would definitely recommend picking it up, especially if you're a Schwab fan.

I wanted to enjoy this book, as I loved Abbie LaRue and recommended it to others. But the three main characters didn't keep me engaged in a balanced manner, and thus while I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the novel, I found myself uninterested in the middle. Perhaps it was the novelty of learning about vampire education, tricks of the trade, etc., that engaged me at the beginning, and the focus on revenge by Sabine that kept me engaged and angry at her toward the end. The writing was not even and didn't seem to flow. It was a very dark book, and Sabine was on a revenge mission based on a situation largely of her own making. Seemed unusually cruel. But she was a vampire!

First time reading a book by VE. Schwab and enjoyed it. Best bet is to go in open minded. I definitely enjoyed the book very much and highly recommend it

It’s hard to summarize the feelings that this book put me through. Schwab is unapologetic in her writing, taking us on a century long journey through the lives of three women filled equally with love, ruin, gore, and beauty. Absolutely stunning.

I had no idea what this book was about going in and I really enjoyed that it was a surprise as the subtle hints in the first 10% were so much fun to uncover.
Jumps in time and setting were done phenomenally. Characters were exceptional. Writing was fantastic. No notes. Schwab delivers another beauty I'll be sure to reread.

A very eloquently and well written story about selfish and shallow lesbian vampires. A compelling villain, but all passion and no depth, substance, or positive character traits in any of the main characters. Just self-motivated behavior with feigned freedom. The characters have a hatred for men (sometimes understandably so) but end up being no better than the worst of them, reveling in their own power and the powerlessness of their victims.
I’m unsure who our main character is supposed to be, as we begin with one but end with another, but we don’t spend very much time with the character the book ends on.
Now, those who read for the vibes will likely very much enjoy this book and that’s ok! I tend to enjoy a book less if I dislike all of the characters. I wanted more of the down to earth characters like Antonia and Jack and Ezra.

A vampire tale set over hundreds of years told from the perspective of three separate women. It's an interesting twist as all of the women are lesbians which is significantly different from historical vampire stories.
I found Maria's and Lottie's stories the strongest while the third character, Alice, had me skimming her chapters. The killings weren't too gory and most of the intimate scenes are glossed over. A solid read for vampire and LGBTQ fans.