V. E. Schwab is one of my favorite writers and I'm having a great time reading her newest book. I'm not done yet but I couldn't wait tomleabe a review. Beauty prose and well developed characters.

FEEDBACK IN SPANISH.
Gracias Macmillan y Tor por el ARC en NetGalley ✨.

Sin duda, el nuevo libro de Victoria es una obra maestra. Y como buena obra maestra se debe de tomar su tiempo para apreciar. Es un libro lento, pero tiene su razón de serlo.

La historia está contada a tres voces en distintos tiempos. Tenemos a María (posteriormente Sabine), Alice y Charlotte (Lottie), que cuentan su historia ANTES y DESPUÉS de su fecha de muerte.
Personalmente, aunque la historia esté a tres voces, considero a Sabine como la protagonista, pues toda la historia gira entorno a su mera existencia.

En 2023 pude conocer a V.E. Schwab y hacer una entrevista con ella gracias al equipo de Ediciones Urano México y yo traía un pin de Taylor Swift en mi gafete de prensa. Me habían comentado que Victoria no es exactamente una fan de Taylor Swift, pero cuando vio mi pin me dijo “mi próximo libro tiene vibras de Reputation, de Look What You Made Me Do” cuando le pregunté de qué trataba me dijo únicamente tres palabras: vampiras, lesbianas y tóxicas.

No hay mejores tres palabras para describir el libro.
La historia empieza con María ANTES de ser Sabine, cuando apenas era una niña en una pequeña ciudad española en los 1600s y, cuyo mayor miedo, era que su vida cambiase. Un día, en medio de un tumulto de gente, se encontró con una mujer que nunca había visto antes. Una viuda. Una mujer que, en medio de la noche, le habló sobre la forma en que ellas como mujeres podían hacer con sus cuerpos mucho más que solo tener hijos. Algo que María nunca olvidó.
Poco tiempo después, María se ve a sí misma comprometida con un Vizconde. El problema es que, por más que lo intenta, no logra enamorarse de él. Entonces recuerda lo que la viuda de dijo hacía unos años, y María hace todo lo posible para evitar quedar embarazada.
Es ahí cuando se da cuenta de que sus sentimientos a su esposo no son reales, pues ella siente atracción por las mujeres. Pero, sobre todo, anhela una vida libre.

Después está Alice, cuya historia comienza en el presente (en 2019) y, lo único que quiere, es empezar una nueva vida. Lejos de los fantasmas de su pasado en Escocia y, sobre todo, del gran peso que representa en ella su hermana. Alice, que vivió toda la vida a la sombra y que todo lo que hacía era para complacer y estar a la par que su hermana, encuentra su vida hecha un desastre una noche que decide salir de fiesta y se encuentra con una misteriosa mujer y con la que decide pasar una noche en la cama para demostrarse a ella misma que puede hacerlo, sin importar qué digan los demás.

Y finalmente está Lottie. Su historia es narrada en 2019, pero inicia desde los 1800. El problema con Lottie, es que siempre amó demasiado. Y, entre ese amor, lo único que quería era que su vida fuera únicamente para ella y nadie más. Una vida libre, de la mano de una mujer a la que pudiera amar sin prejuicios.

Las tres protagonistas de la historia son mujeres que anhelan una misma cosa: la libertad. Y en la búsqueda de esa libertad es que descubren que “la muerte es una forma de libertad”, por lo que es mucho más que el vampirismo lo que termina uniéndolas. Es este deseo de ser libre y poder amar sin preocupaciones. Claro, cayendo en algunos problemas en el camino al no saber cómo usar la libertad otorgada por la muerte.

Es un libro lento, sí, pero así es como debe ser contada esta historia. No se puede tener empatía por tres mujeres que han cometido errores e incluso crímenes durante toda su vida si no se conoce su historia. Así que a lo largo del libro estamos leyendo por qué son de la forma en que son y, lo más importante, qué las llevó a ansiar tanto la libertad que serían capaces de morir por ella.

Un libro con mucha representación queer y con un toque gótico maravilloso. Valió por completo toda la espera.
V.E. Schwab jamás decepciona.

This has been one of my most anticipated books of the year, and after binging it this week, I can confidently say that it exceeded my expectations! BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL is the toxic lesbian vampire story of my dreams!

This book has the same air of magic and mystery as Addie LaRue, but with an extra splash of darkness. It was told in multiple POVs and timelines, but it seemed so seamless as we moved through the varied characters and storylines. The first 25%ish of this story felt like a slow-burn as the tension built, but once the sharp teeth came out this story hit the ground RUNNING and I could not stop reading!! The pacing got faster and faster as the story went on, and at the end I was whipping through because I needed to know what would happen!

At its core this is a story about obsession, about hunger, and about the innate power of women. It’s about love and rage and grief and revenge. I wish I could erase it from my brain and read it all over again.

This was a great story! Very character driven. I enjoyed the characters and eleven of they were often unlikeable I enjoyed spending time with them and seeing what makes them tick. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and felt silly that super old vampires die so easily but I did enjoy the story very much!

What I liked:
Your classic Schwab world building. I became so entranced with the characters. Even the "villain" of the story is written in a way that you kind of even care about her.
I loved the way she intertwined traditional and new vampire lore. My favorite bit is that while vampires are immortal they do begin to rot from the inside out.
Lots of queer romance that is explored in so many ways because of the changing time periods in the story.

What I Disliked:
That ending was abrupt. In fact, that is the main reason I knocked the review down to 4 stars. We get so much build up and then everything in the last twenty percent or so of the story happens so quickly.

Totally unhinged lesbian vampires. What is there not to love? I adore everything V. E. Schwab writes, but I think this is my new favorite of hers.

If Addie LaRue was a lesbian vampire....

While I have enjoyed most of Schwab's titles, not all hit the mark. While good, I felt this dragged a bit. Enjoyed the world building, however!

Ugh... this was a struggle for me.

I don't think fantasy is for me haha. It was so slow and I barely was able to get to the 150 pages and I unfortunately skimmed the rest of the book. This really felt like a YA book to me. I haven't been that impressed with Schwab's work.

It felt super rushed at the end and it was not something I would recommend. Unfortunately, this one was not for me.

2/5 stars

Wow. Just wow. I do not have the words to describe how this book made me feel. There was times I was rooting for people I shouldn’t be, and wishing corruption, if only to drive the narrative. I sympathized with Alice, wanted more for Sabine, and wished for Lottie’s happiness. How many years does it take to corrupt a person and for them to completely change their core values. Such a unique perspective where you sympathize and root for someone, only for them to become the villain. I’ve always been a huge fan of V.E. Schwab, and this book will likely be my favorite read this year.

This was slower paced in the same realm as Addie. But with vampires. The theme of toxic lesbian vampires was prominent. Lovers to enemies was an interesting take!

I have loved every book that I have read by V.E. Schwab, I have always said my favourite book of theirs is A Conjuring of Light but I think that has just changed.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is toxic, sexy, emotional and incredibly complex. The way Schwab is able to create characters with such amazing depth is showcased across her catalogue but this title in particular I think is her best character work yet. They are all so flawed and simply enthralling. Schwabs prose is also nothing short of twisted and lyrical in the best possible way.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil sucks you in and doesn't let you go. I found myself staying up almost all night just to stay in the minds and lives of these characters. This book is full of feeling, I feel as though that draws you in far more than the plot but I wasn't mad at it at all. It is filled to the brim with obsession in so many forms and I found myself obsessed with it in return.

I know this book has been said to be closest to Addie LaRue out of Schwabs titles but I found the characters and dynamics far more reminiscent of Vicious which I personally loved!!

I won't be shutting up about this book anytime soon and just bought a ticket to Schwabs release tour!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC.

VE Schwab is an auto-read for me, so I went into this completely blind. I had NO idea what the story was about except that it revolved around 3 different women in different timelines. In short, This was everything that I WANTED Addie LaRue to be. My two big complaints with that book were that I felt like she really missed a trick by not having Addie remark on or engage with the history happening around her and that it felt like it was the same story on repeat just in different timelines. In this story, Schwab rectified both of those shortcomings while maintaining the emotional rawness that she brought to her writing in Addie LaRue. Addie LaRue felt like a real departure from her other works in presentation and style, and this one seems to be following in those same footsteps. This story is very character driven, but not so much that the characters are all that's happening here. That being said, these women are raw and brutal and so well written, and while there is a villain here, that villain is introduced in such a way that the reader sympathizes with the character (intentionally not using pronouns to leave things as unspoiled as possible). Schwab artfully ties the three women's timelines together and slowly reveals the how and the why of the present day dilemma. Not only do her characters remark on the historic events happening around them, they engage with them, and this story never feels stagnant. It moves and breathes and keeps pushing forward, setting it apart from Addie LaRue, in my opinion. Where that story felt like "girl meets boy, girl sleeps with boy, boy doesn't remember her" on repeat for hundreds of pages, this one is original and complex. I loved it. If you liked the writing of Addie LaRue, I think you will love this one, as it adheres more to that style of Schwab than the Schwab we saw in the "Shades of Magic" or "Villains" series. Definitely recommend.

THIS BOOK IS SO FREAKIN GOOD!!!! 😆✨
I always want to be a vampire…but now I want to be a lesbian vampire 😭😭🧛‍♀️
This has taken badass FMC to a whole level!

Definitely a new favorite for me!!!
I loved EVERY second of it!
I took my sweet time reading this because I truly did not want it to end.
The writing in this book, WOW!!
I was there and no one can tell me otherwise in every century!! (I’m still there 😭)

HIGHLY recommend!!…and recommend going in totally blind like I did. This story will suck you in and it’s phenomenal 🖤🖤

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil aligns with your strong preference for historical fiction with dark, emotional themes (e.g., war, family, survival) and interest in vampiric elements, as seen in Twilight, The Originals, and Dracula. The book’s queer sapphic focus and exploration of immortality could appeal if you enjoy fresh angles on familiar themes like forbidden love or rebellion. However, its nonlinear structure across three timelines feel disjointed. There is an emphasis on toxic relationships. Before enjoying consider whether you’re drawn to experimental storytelling that weaves fantasy into historical settings or prefer tighter, era-specific plots grounded in realism.

I've always loved the way V.E Schwab builds her worlds, and this is another read that had me hooked from the start. I initially felt for Maria (Sabine), but she certainly took her lust for blood and connection to a different level - I enjoyed this immensely!

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of this book.

I wanted so badly to love this book. The concept of a Sapphic vampire love story mixed with an uncommon villain arc was an excellent idea on Schwab's part. I don't think there is a story told quite like this one that doesn't have a male at the center and I enjoyed that part. Schwab's writing is always poetic and beautiful. she articulates the characters feelings very well, no notes there at all.

The problem is just that it was all too much. Too long (it took me over a month to read) too much unnecessary detail, too much trauma bonding, it suffered from being a little indulgent. Some editing to trim up the overly descriptive visuals of people's hair, people's clothing, estates, homes, ballrooms, it just got us too far off of the plot. The ending was too quick, and frankly just not believable. Not to spoil anything, but it was all too easy after everything we'd been through with these characters.

I wish I had enjoyed it more but the plot suffered from purple prose and the ending was rushed. I think people who are extremely visual on their minds will take to it more than I did, but otherwise I wanted it to be more focused on plot and storyline.

unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. The setup had me so intrigued, but when we hit over the halfway mark and I still had NO idea what the point of the story was... I kinda lost interest. We spent so long on Sabines story and imo irrelevant details and characters, and didn't even meet Lottie, until late in the story. Alice's story was the one I was most interested in, but the conclusion to her story was so unsatisfying to me. The ending as a whole felt rushed and I was left with a "wtf did I just read" moment, and I still dont know what the point of the story was. Nevertheless thank you for the ARC, this one was just not for me, but I am sure other readers will enjoy it!

V.E. Schwab was put on this earth to be a storyteller. My god.

She continuously proves that no one can write switching timelines like she does. You get sucked into these characters’ minds, only to then be snapped out of it and see things clearly from the outside, but then she tricks you into doing it all over again. They are all so flawed and fickle, but then, so is life (kinda the point here). It’s a slow disaster unraveling, and yet, it somehow ends in such a satisfying way.

Don’t crucify me (no pun intended) when I say this, but I’ve never been fully drawn to vampire media. So I don’t put this lightly when I tell you that this is one of my favorites from her. By far. Right up there with Addie LaRue.

first of all, huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an e-ARC of this book. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025… and let me tell you, it delivered. at this point, i’d probably read v.e. schwab’s grocery list and give it five stars.

did someone say toxic lesbian vampires? because YES. this book gives us three distinct POVs, and i genuinely loved each one. the characters are so complex, flawed, dangerous, beautiful, and so full of rage and grief. i loved watching their stories unfold across different time periods and continents. this book most definitely felt like historical fiction wrapped in a dark fantasy shell and it carries a bite.

as a history nerd, i especially loved how we got to travel through different eras and cultures. you can feel the passage of time while you’re reading, the weight of it, and how it shapes each of these characters. the writing is very similar to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, so if that’s a book you loved, i really think you’ll love this too. it’s lyrical and emotional but also deeply unsettling in the best way.

i’m already counting down the days until i can get my grubby little hands on a physical copy. i need it on my shelf. like now 🖤🥀🪦🗡️

"Bury my bones in the midnight soil, plant them shallow but water them deep, and in my place will grow a feral rose, soft red petals hiding sharp white teeth.”

4.5★ this book reads like a slow, strange dream. it’s quiet, a little messy, sometimes beautiful, and definitely hard to forget. it builds slowly, and before you realize it, it’s sitting heavy in your chest. (the perfect autumn read)

➺ the atmosphere is what grabbed me first. it's damp, cold, and unsettling, like stepping into a forgotten room where the air hasn’t moved in years. the world is shadowed and still, and the characters feel more haunted than alive. nothing is ever loud in this book.

➺ schwab’s writing focuses a lot on emotion and tone. it’s poetic, yes, but sometimes it felt too much. there were moments i needed more clarity, more structure. i lost track of the plot more than once, but i kept going anyway because i really do love her writing.

"Is it life, if there is never death to balance it? Or is its brevity what makes it beautiful?"

“Some people keep their heart tucked so deep they hardly know it's there. But you have always worn it like skin. It will make your life harder. But it will also make it beautiful.”

➺ this is a book built on mood. there’s a lot of pain, a lot of ache, and while the pacing dragged in places, by the last third i was fully pulled in. the story follows three women - maría, charlotte, and alice - across different timelines... and at first their lives feel disconnected, but eventually the pieces start coming together in a way that makes the slowness of the earlier chapters worth it.

"Life is messy. People, too. And you can tie yourself in knots, trying to make yourself feel better, or you can face the truth." "Which is?" "No one should play God. Least of all us."

➺ if you like stories that don’t rush to explain themselves, that live in gray areas, and that leave you feeling a little hollow when they end, then this might be for you. just don’t enter with expectations. some books don’t need to wrap things up neatly, they’re meant to be felt. it’s a story that stays with you, not because of what it explains, but because of how it makes you feel...

➺ tropes & themes:
– multiple timelines / interwoven lives
– morally gray characters
– toxic relationships
– lovers to enemies
– cat × mouse dynamic
– feminine rage
– forbidden love
– desperate bargains
– historical fiction elements
– coming of age through pain
– tragic beauty
– quiet horror / gothic vibes

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC.