V is a forever favorite of mine and I died when I received this early copy!

I love the premise, the violent love, the strong women, and the twisted goals they try to achieve. Schwab's writing, as always, is beautiful and you can feel her heart beating on the page.

The three MCs were totally different, yet all desire the same thing. To live a life of their choosing. To be loved and to be able to love on their own terms.

My only hiccup is the ending. It moves much faster than the rest of the story and seems too easy a resolution. We follow these characters over hundreds of years and then come to a crashing stop within minutes.

An epically dark and sapphic tale of three women across time, united by their shared vampirism. All three women are flawed and desperate, all eager to escape the bonds society has put on them - instead of being a wife, mother, stuck in a small town, never experiencing what life has to offer. The stories of each woman across their lives (in one instance, one that has lasted for hundreds of years) entwine with each other, but you are still able to get a sense of who they are (and were), both alive and dead. I loved learning their histories, their desires, and their struggles. It was a really interesting glimpse into what same-sex attraction has been like, across time and cultures, and how being buried in the midnight soil (aka becoming a vampire) brings both a freedom to these women, and also chains them in an entirely different way. I loved this book, and honestly wish it were longer. I haven't liked a book about vampires this much since Anne Rice!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Publishing June of 2025.

I will continue to read anything V.E. Schwab writes, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my top recommendations to customers. I didn't love this book as much of that one, but my statement holds true. The characterization was so strong and I loved Alice's arc. This book is for anyone who loves morally grey characters, rich and lush settings, and toxic exes that just won't let you go — and learning how one might get to the place where it's impossible to leave the ones you love behind, even when they hurt you. While some parts felt half-baked, I still found this to be an engaging page-turner and will likely order it for my store.

I loved this! Atmospheric and riveting, with three complicated characters that make up the main cast. This was a joy to read.

This was really fun but also a bit muddy for me. The characters were not like able and yet I couldn’t help but stay transfixed. I liked it but it wasn’t my absolute fave. I think it’s a fun addition to the vampire canon.

This is an absolutely incredible work. Schwab has created an intensely feminist story, that shows the lengths of which women will go to find the freedom they seek. Though this book touches on all the classic vampire aspects, it take it to a new level with both the way in which they feed and immortality. Feeding is like sucking away the life of the person through their blood. It gives a glimpse of life for the Vampire and it is vtal to their survival to be given these glimpses. Ironically, the more they feed the farther they get from humanity. On the same vein (lol see what I did there), the longer they survive the more monstress they become. Time erodes their humanity and creates an actual monster in their place. This is the evil step sibling to Adddie LaRue. With Addie we see her expand and almost become more human with time. In this, time makes them worse. The characters were delight to read through every bad decision they make. They're easy to root for and Schwab easily connects you to them. My only complaint is that the ending did not have the emotional impact I hoped it would. It felt rushed and tied up too quickly when I wanted to spend time with the characters at their tragic end. Overall, I adored this book and was completely enamored with the prose and way Schwab strings words together. She writes in a way that makes you believe she's had her own brush with immortality.

*Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil* by V. E. Schwab is an enthralling and haunting exploration of loss, love, and identity. Schwab's storytelling prowess shines through in this emotionally charged and atmospheric novel. Set in a dark, mysterious world where the lines between life and death blur, the narrative follows a group of compelling characters navigating a realm of secrets, betrayal, and powerful magic. Schwab’s prose is rich and evocative, pulling readers into a world that feels both ominous and beautiful. The book is full of twists, with deeply personal stakes that add layers of complexity to the plot. Themes of family, sacrifice, and self-discovery are explored with sensitivity and depth, making for a truly immersive experience. *Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil* is a spellbinding read that will linger long after the final page, showcasing Schwab’s unmatched ability to craft unforgettable worlds and characters. A must-read for fans of dark fantasy!

Entertaining, atmospheric, and propulsive. I absolutely loved Addie LaRue, and while this didn't soar to the top of my 'Best of' list like that book did, I enjoyed it. I thought the moral ambiguity was thoughtfully and compellingly explored, and I liked how I'd find myself rooting for one character initially, then against her down the line. I found the ending clever if a bit abrupt; I was least invested in the modern-day storyline for most of the book, but I think the ending justified including it. (Keeping this intentionally vague!) I have no doubt this will do well at the bookstore and I look forward to discussing it with customers. Thanks to NetGalley and TOR for the ARC.

Lesbian vampires, female rage, morally gray characters? Consider me signed up! If you loved Addie LaRue, I think you’ll also love Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. This story follows three vampires whom we follow in different centuries with an invisible string tying them all together. This is very much a character driven story following these three women that grapple with fear, trauma, and rage each with unique experiences that span decades and centuries.

The first half of this book very much sets the mood and history, and the lore of the vampires themselves unfolds throughout it all. The second half had brilliant pacing and I was absolutely sunk into the story and desperate to know where it would all come together. The darkness, yearning, and humanity that is woven through every word takes on a life of its own. If you’re looking for a dark sapphic vampire romance, Schwab absolutely hit the nail on the head - or the stake through the heart?

Toxic. Lesbian. VAMPIRES. I love an evil woman, more than a morally grey one, and our lovely villain here is EVIL. This book takes place in two timelines, one starting all the way back in the 1500s, and the other starting in 2019. I usually find myself favoring the older timeline to the newer one in books like this, and I feel the same way here. It's difficult to bounce between the story of a centuries old vampire and an eighteen year old college student and not feel annoyed by her ignorance and naivete. For most of the book, I actually imagined it would be better without the modern timeline. Fortunately, Schwab was able to create a balance in the story that a lot of writers lack in these situations, and the character found a place in the story to click in where her own story was crucial to the final chapters. There are things I wish had been played into more, and a few I wish had been completely left out, but this is a very nearly perfect book. The characters sing and the prose is bewitching, if I wasn't a Schwab fan before, I certainly am now.

It’s gay. It’s multiple povs. It’s deep it’s dark it’s my first ve Schwab book and after this it won’t be my last.

I've been looking for a book to evoke the same feelings as Addie LaRue since the moment I finished it.

Schwab did it again.

This book got stuck in my brain every moment that I wasn't reading it. I loved the timelines crossing, the intrigue, the depth of character, the way the narrator gave us just enough information to keep us trying to find the connections.

I cannot wait for the public to get their hands on it so I have someone to discuss it with.

4.5/5
Thank you @torbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

I did my first ever re-read last month and it was Addie LaRue so when this one was approved I was still on a high from Ms. Schwab and jumped right in. I know this review is early…like way early, but I couldn’t help myself. Thankfully, this one delivered a tale of savage love, lust, complex relationships and deadly deals. Do you ever read an authors words and it feels almost like poetry that feeds your brain with food and energy you didn’t even know could exist? That is how I feel about the words on the pages of VE Schwab’s books! I loved each of these separate women and in their own tragically complex ways! This book is a slow burn, methodically written tale that that will completely immerse you in a deeply atmospheric world filled with emotion, love and sadness. This is not like Addie as it pertains to the actual story but is similar in the sense that it is a sweeping love story that spans over a long period of time. If you have loved her books in the past, I think you’re in for a treat!

I loved this book! I went in blind and I’m so glad I did. I loved how the 3 characters were connected. I enjoyed the plot and history so much.

I had to sit with this book for a bit after I finished it before I could write a review. I’m still not sure I’ve quite got my thoughts in order. Like all of VE Schwab’s books, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil features strong, complex characters and immersive settings. I thought it was an excellent examination of how a person could change and grow (or in some cases, deteriorate) when time and lifespan aren’t issues. Maria, Lottie, and Alice all come from very different backgrounds and approach their lives in different ways, but all three just want to be free to live their own lives, make their own choices, and be seen for who they are, which is something I think we can all relate to.

Most people who know my reading tastes know that VE Schwab is my favorite author, so when I got early access to this, I couldn’t wait. I actually couldn’t recall much of the premise besides “toxic, lesbian vampires” so I just dove in and tried to find the story myself.

This is 100% in the same vein as Addie LaRue, so if that book wasn’t to your taste, I don’t know how much you’d enjoy this one. Personally, I LOVE Addie, and Bones has so many similar vibes, from the flashbacks to the characters.

The writing is, as always, beautiful. Though I couldn’t seem to glom onto this one as much as Addie, or any of Schwab’s other books. The first half was definitely slower, and if it wasn’t for the second half picking up, I was leaning towards a 3-star review. I preferred Charlotte’s POVs to Maria’s, and felt that it was hard to grasp a thread of consistent plot. It’s not until Charlotte’s introduced that things really come together. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, it seemed to happen very fast and there wasn’t any closure with Sabine and Charlotte.

When I say this book is a triumph I mean that in no small way. I no longer stay awake late into the night reading books unless they are THIS GOOD. Schwab's characteristically atmospheric writing is on full display as we go on a voyage with these incredibly complex women navigating relationships across time. When I finished this book, I held my kindle to my chest and just sobbed at the beauty of it all. Yes, the draw of sapphic vampires will draw in a ton of readers, but I hope they stay for the masterclass on what it means to truly live. I'm so glad I preordered this so I can read it anew immediately!

P.S.. Schwab confirmed that this one takes place in the same world as Addie and there is a small easter egg to confirm that! I *think* I saw it, but to be honest when this comes out in June I will 100% be doing a re-read of Addie AND Bones just to be sure!

3.5 stars.
So first of all this is a sexy, dark, and compelling novel—I didn’t really like any of the characters (they were all flawed and kind of messed up), but they were very interesting to follow and I every time I picked it up I felt transported to this dark grim world (which is always my favorite part of Schwab’s writing). That being said, it was a little too sexy and dark for my liking—there’s a reason I avoid romances and horror. So for craft and writing this is a four star, for my own enjoyment of it I’m lowering it down to a 3 and rating it in the middle.

I’m so obsessed with everything V.E. Schwab does and i’m always convinced it cannot be outdone… and then it is! The characters… the setting… it’s magic.