As someone who has yet to encounter the works of V.E. Schwab, I'd have told you there's no better way to make an introduction than with a paranormal historical fantasy about lesbian vampires... but the fact that she made something boring of what should have been exciting makes me honestly wonder what all the fuss is about.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a character-driven saga that examines themes of power and femininity through a lens of vampire mythology, but the problem is that's all it is. All character and themes, and no plot. It's an uneven, disjointed novel that suffers from pacing that drags and narrative POVs that are just long enough to incite curiosity but too short to create connections. To make matters worse, there's no real depth to the characters and none of the development needed to move a story forward.

This. Just. Dragged.

There's no sense of urgency, no momentum to the story. I prefer a book that has me turning pages, wondering what's next, how something is going to be resolved, when someone is getting what's coming to them, or when romance will bloom. Here, the only question I found myself asking was whether it was ever going to go somewhere. Admittedly, I started skimming after the 200 page mark, but I still feel confident saying this felt like 450 pages of exposition, 100 or so of rising action (most of which happens off the page), and then 10 pages of resolution.

I. Just. Didn't. Care.

Stylistically, I think I get what Schwab was going after here. I suspect she was after the feel of a Gothic melodrama, one where style matters more than substance, but my issue is that the story gets lost in the prose. I can appreciate that prose on a technical level, but I found it made for a very slow read when the story itself was already poorly paced. Maybe this is Schwab's style, and maybe her fans know what they're in for - I do seem to be in the minority - but as a newbie, this feels like a missed opportunity on so many fronts. I'd really hoped for more.

This was delightfully vicious.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil follows an ensemble cast of three women through hundreds of years and how their stories intersect and influences events.

This felt like reading Dracula, Carmilla, Interview with a Vampire and a Dowry of Blood. Dark, gothic, tumultuous (abusive) relationships. Queer/sapphic relationships. All with VE Schwab's amazing writing. I liked this as much as I liked Addie LaRue.

The story felt like a long walk in a dark forest, with every character pulling me along with them, sharing their story with me. It was slow and atmospheric, and I was unable to put it down without it lingering rent free in my brain. It still lives rent free in my brain.

Thank you NetGalley and TOR for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is an addicting tale spanning cities, seas, and generations, following three women and their interconnected stories.

Anything to do with vampires and I’m immediately intrigued, add in a story about vampires from Schwab and I’m sold. The writing was absolutely gorgeous, lush, and full of beautifully crafted prose that kept you compelled, savoring every word. The historical setting throughout different time periods was incredibly atmospheric and alluring. The characters and their layering narratives were super intriguing, and along with the Interview with A Vampire inspiration, this book sunk its teeth into me.

At times, the pacing and the length of the overall book I found a little distracting but I will always adore Schwab’s meticulous buildup of her stories and how immersive they feel. (Plus, I think this would be an incredible mini-series!!)

4.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was my most anticipated release of the year and this book did not disappoint. It was everything I had hoped for and more. I love Schwab’s writing style and I think the lavish prose was perfect for this story and these characters.

And the characters. I was so drawn in by all of women in this story. They were so well developed and their stories left me as thirsty as they were for more, more, more.

All I knew going into this novel was that it was about toxic lesbian vampires and honestly that is all you need to know. The plot is minimal- it is much more a character study- and it worked well for this book.

There’s not a single thing I would change about this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy once it releases.

This review was originally posted on sffinsiders.com, and thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, VE Schwab’s latest release. This comes on the tail end of a vampire kick for me, the final of three. Vampires are not exactly my thing (most “common” monsters aren’t, i.e. vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc…), yet this KNOCKED it out the park.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was my introduction to VE Schwab, and I regret not reading more of Schwab’s works sooner. I adored this book from cover to cover, and will get into why in a little bit. The timeline is quite whacky, hopping around between three different characters. The first takes place in Santa Domingo many centuries ago. The second takes place in Boston within the past couple years, and the third takes place in London within the last few centuries. The Santa Domingo and Boston timelines take precedent for the first two thirds of the book, with the prior evolving throughout history as the POV travels throughout Europe.

This story is, of course, about vampires. Specifically, the making of them. We see how each character is turned into a vampire and how it changed every facet of their being. Some of the characters welcome it openly, some have their reservations, and some rage at this decision that was not their own. The three POVs all share that singular point of being a vampire, but could not be any more different.

This is a journey through the years, through the minds and hearts of our main characters as they navigate their new life as an unliving creature of the night. The standard vampire concepts are there (with some fun meta conversation) like needing to be invited inside homes, drinking blood, getting sick in the sun, etc…

My favorite aspect of this book is the prose. Each page sings. I know we are viewing these stories in familiar places, but that doesn’t stop Schwab from adding bits and pieces to make it all breath. Sure, we know what a villa in Italy or an estate in England might look like, but do we know what it feels like? Schwab makes sure that we do with every description, every page, every chapter.

The actual characters transform from their introduction to the various ways they bow out at the end. Sabine, who starts off with a different name entirely, is married into the life of a lady alongside a young lordling. She learns to hate it rather quickly, and befriends a widow. She learns of the widow’s nature and resolves to become a vampire herself. Her journeys are many, meeting friends along the way, traveling alone, finding friends and lovers and everything in between. And, of course, meals. She is aloof, for the most part, until she meets another of our POVs, and I shant say more.

There is so much grief in that one POV, it practically bleeds off the page. The emotions are sincere and the reader cannot help but feel each and everyone as the story goes along. We see Sabine evolve from an eager young girl, to a vengeful killer, to so many other things I could not possibly list them. Above all, she feels real.

The other main POV for the bulk of the book, Alice, wants to live a simple life as a college student with a fresh start. We get sneak peaks of her backstory along the way, and then she’s turned into a vampire. She doesn’t know why. She doesn’t know what to do. Most of all, she’s frustrated at her fresh start being taken away almost as soon as its begun. Her grief is different, yet for me it was easier to resonate with (I anticipate others might relate to Sabine more). She was perhaps my favorite character (and not because I was imagining a Scottish accent the whole time).

I won’t speak on the 3rd POV because there is a twist that is rather integral to the story with that one. But she, too, I did like. Though because we had less time with her, the others were more liked. Or hated, because the story weaves and winds around the lines of morality so much so we don’t know who to root for, against, or anything besides.

This book is, as you can probably tell, very emotional. There are bloody scenes of blood being drank, and sensual scenes of love being made between the undead and their prey or their lovers. This book, when weighed against all others I’ve read, is the absolute best at conveying a heartbeat to the reader. First of all, yes, I know the irony. Second of all, what am I talking about?

I mean the story moves you at even the slightest of provocations. Sure, it might not have the kick of a massive series where you spend an exorbitant amount of time with a single character. But it does pack a huge punch for a standalone. You feel as they feel, want as they want, love as they love, and hate as they hate. I truly was in awe each time Schwab imposed all this on me as the reader, and was overjoyed to find it happening again and again without end.

The atmosphere was masterful, setting the scene perfectly anytime we moved from one character to another, from one place to another. Even the side characters, there for a chapter or two, sometimes more, were so impactful in their movements and dialogue that you couldn’t help but wish they’d come back later, even if you knew it was improbable.

Its hard to compare, because the other vampire books I read were not exactly vampire books. One had a single vampire, the other had tooth-eating cyberpunk vampires. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie holds a special place in my heart when I read an ARC of it, but man does Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil put up a good fight. I won’t say their fan bases will be the same, but both were exquisite and Bury Our Bones will go down as one of my favorite reads of 2025.

If you like vampires and being emotionally devastated, I implore you to pick up Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab, you will not be disappointed.

A big thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book. THIS BOOK.

I knew early on - early on - that this would be a five star read for me. I knew it would be a book that would stick with me, that would haunt me, that would grip me and force me to flip from page to page to page.

This book tells the story of three different girls at three different times of existence. It weaves all the stories together beautifully. VE has an incredible way with prose.

This story was sapphic, sad, powerful, and beautifully written. I loved it, even when the last 15% had me genuinely holding a hand over my mouth and feeling rite with tension.

Between this and Addie LaRue, I know now more than ever that I need to dive into the Shades of Magic trilogy.

I cannot wait to purchase every beautiful edition of this book I can get my hands on.

An interesting concept and well written prose, but honestly this one fell a bit flat for me. Some parts were interesting, but a lot just felt like filler and I had to drag myself through it. Some characters I would like to hear more about, but others I just didn't care for. I feel like this is a story I would enjoy in another format such as film.

For fans of Interview with the Vampire and The Familiar and especially Carmilla. Lesbian vampires across different times. I especially loved the later years as I like those historically. I am only taking off one star for wishing it was a little shorter but I savored page.

You had me at toxic lesbian vampires, but Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a book that hooked me from the start. Immortals on a rampage are among my favourite characters. Sabine is a well developed character, sweeping through time and casting off lives like old newspapers. Lottie lives like every day is her last despite her immortality. Alice just wants to live. These three women’s lives intertwine like vines, sharp thorns digging in. I love VE Schwabs version of vampires and would read 100 more stories about them. I only wish it had been longer!

Y’ALL!! V.E. SCHWAB DID IT AGAIN. One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not dissapoint

🧛‍♀️ Toxic lesbian vampires
🕰️ Dual timelines that will wreck you
💥 Female rage written to absolute perfection
✨ Big Addie LaRue energy

I went in expecting vibes.
I got existential heartbreak, female rage, bloodlust, and emotional devastation.
And I LOVED it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — I would sell my soul to read it again for the first time.

First off thank you netgalley for the e-arc of this book, I squealed with joy when I saw I received it because it was one of my most anticipated reads this year. And it’s safe to say this did not disappoint!!

If you loved the vampire lore of Sinners you will love this book. While the setting and main characters differ, the vampiric lore is very similar and I absolutely love how it was navigated in this. Plus they’re sapphic vampires??? Say less omg! The suspense and world building had me not wanting to put my kindle down and keep reading

This also jumps back and forth between time periods in V.E. Schwab fashion but does it so well and for the longest time I sat there going “how is this all connected?” And then it did and I went “OHHHHHH” out loud. Loved loved loved this book and I cannot wait to get a physical copy to add to my shelf!

From the first page you know that Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil will be another great story from V. E. Schwab! It feels like coming home when you open another of her books, I love her writing style and the atmospheric way she writes.

You follow Maria, Charlotte and Alice through different times in history, how their stories change after becoming immortal and how they intersect. Maria/Sabine learns so much over the 500 years you get to know her and it's fascinating living in her shoes over time. Charlotte's story begins in the early 19th century and she kind of brings, or tries to bring, a humanity back to Sabine's existence. And lastly Alice, who adds a modern spin to everyone's lives in 2019. I felt like the multiple asides during Alice's narrative broke up the story flow too much but you do find out that they are integral to who she is as a person.

The Darker Shades of Magic series still has my heart but I did like this better than The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It's very slow for the first half of the book but things start picking up and getting more interesting and I loved it at the end! Schwab wrapped up the story so well! I give it 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“The world will try to make you small. It will tell you to be modest, and meek. But the world is wrong. You should get to feel and love and live as boldly as you want.”

She’s a masterclass! A literal work of art.

Yes, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a centuries-spanning novel tangling together the lives of three lesbian vampires, but it’s so much more. It’s a unique narrative on the female experience. On female rage. On female empowerment. It’s a story about choices and chances and repercussions. It’s violent, and brutal, and soft, and sensual, and heartbreaking, and hopeful. It’s everything my vampire-loving heart didn’t know it wanted but is so glad it got.
—

this and that:
♡ historical fiction
♡ multi-pov
♡ paranormal
♡ shifting timelines
♡ toxic lesbian vampires
♡ queer love

triggers:
☞ abusive x toxic relationships
☞ death x murder
☞ blood x gore x violence
☞ mental deterioration
☞ manipulation

This was so good. I went into it knowing that it would be, as I've loved all of V.E. Schwab's previous work, and this was another amazing work from them. The way that the story and the stories within are all told was so interesting and well done, I think the perspectives and the pacing really worked well together to tell a tale that lasts for centuries. Getting to know all three characters in this was so lovely, they all had distinct voices and lives, and were all unique and compelling. I liked the main plot of this as well, I think it was well thought out and we come back to it at the perfect times. The ending of this was honestly a shock to me, in the best way. I really loved how it ended, I think it was perfect for the story and the stories within. I cannot wait for this to come out so I can yell about it with more people!

V.E. Schwab has always been one of my favorite authors, and she never disappoints. Her latest book is incredibly intricate and well written, with a story that draws you into the mystery by switching between two women and time periods. Who doesn't love toxic vampire lesbians? (The answer should be everyone, because YES.)

The only thing that was perhaps not to my taste was the pacing. I was about 60% through the book before we met Charlotte, the third POV character. It took a long time for me to begin to see how Selene and Alice's stories would eventually come together, and I wanted more hints of that earlier on. Otherwise, this is another fantastic Schwab book to add to my shelf.

This book is going to be an instant best seller!

I just finished this and can’t quite find the words to express how absolutely incredible it was. The prose felt otherworldly—beautiful, poetic, and so much more. The structure of the book and the way the characters were introduced? Flawless. I loved how the story was always moving forward, never stagnant. Every woman in this book was relatable in some form or fashion.

I especially love when you get to know a character so deeply that even their villainous tendencies or actions start to feel justified. Like, I’m not even mad. I get it. I see you. I hear you.

One of my favorite things? The word vampire was barely used. If I remember correctly, maybe twice? Instead, the vampires were described in a way that tied them to very human wants and needs, which made the concept feel so grounded, real, and never too far-fetched.

I know I’m being vague, but only because I don’t want to spoil the experience for you. This book is an absolute treat—truly a master class in writing.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I’ll be recommending this to literally everyone!

Hey so this was incredible. I’ve seen so many people say this is Addie LaRue x Vicious and I couldn’t agree more. It had the heart of Addie and the brutality of Vicious. From the very first chapter I was enthralled, wondering how this would play out. I love nothing more than a story with strings that slowly begin to tie to together, and I think this book did an amazing job of that. There were so many beginnings of chapters where I was like how does this tie into the current story??? And was immediately shown. Everything had a purpose. The storytelling and the plot were absolutely stunning. How it all came together was even better.

This book was dark and haunting but it also made me really emotional for some of these characters. The story is slower paced which I usually find myself struggling with, but I was so obsessed with this story and these characters that I didn’t mind. I WANTED to draw this out and savor my time with this book because it was consuming my every thought. I couldn’t get enough. The writing, no surprise, was phenomenal. I found myself wondering more than once, how can someone be this talented? Have such a way with words? Be this creative?

The character development, whether it be good or bad, throughout this book was unreal. I found myself getting anxious in the last 30%, really unsure what would happen, but I think I’m pretty happy with the ending. This book really and truly haunted me and consumed me in the best way that so few books do. I’m truly sad that it’s over. I could keep rambling about everything I loved about this book but this review would be 10 pages long. These characters and their stories are something special, and this book is one that I think will stick with me.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC 🖤

This may be my favorite VE Schwab book!!!

The prose
The toxicity
The spice
The longing
The vibes

This was everything I could’ve hoped for in a vampire book. So beautifully written. 5 stars from me .

I will be stoking this in my store asap!

I think I would have liked this more a few years ago alas, but now I just wanted so much more from it. I will say though, for how long this book is, I never really felt sick of reading it, and I really did like learning about these three characters and their stories, there was just something about how it all came together that didn't work for me as well as I would have liked. Which is more of a statement to how high my expectations are for a V. E. Schwab book than anything else, I think.

This book is now so deeply embedded into my soul, and will be haunting me for the rest of my life.
I’m in complete and utter awe at the way these characters were crafted. The depth of the individual women, as well as the relationship between the three was astounding. There was such a strong depiction of manipulation in their relationship, which made this book practically addictive. It shows how love can be all-consuming, changing a person’s heart entirely.
In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab talked about immortality in such a beautiful way, and it was so clearly reflected in this book. Time shapes everything in this story- the plot, the relationships, and most importantly, the characters. I genuinely can’t find the proper words to describe how stunning this book was.