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.

This one had such a cool, dark vibe that I really enjoyed! The writing was super atmospheric and pulled me in right away. There were a few parts that felt a bit slow, but the world-building and the eerie tone more than made up for it. Definitely worth a read if you’re into a haunting story that stays with you!

At this point, VE Schwab could write a grocery list and it would be enthralling. Her writing is so lush and seductive and reading her books is always An Experience and Bury Our Bones is no different. Billed as "toxic lesbian vampires" this book delivers on it's promise.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fierce female leads, character driven stories, sapphic romance, vampires, and stories spanning centuries.

5/5 shiny stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Oh, to be a feral rose. 🌹🩸
Ugh! The way this book sank its fangs into meeee! SO GOOD.

The writing of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is exceptional. I would love to take a class by V.E. and try to absorb some of her talent. She always knows how to impress me and make me hungry for more.

What an amazing vampire story. It captures the classic archetype in a creative way. It has both familiar lore and fresh ideas. The story is told from 3 POVs and spans across time periods. The first being Maria, who lives in Spain in the early 1500s. The second POV is Alice, a college student in the year 2019 and the third is Lottie...whose path crosses with Alice's at a party. I loved disticnt and fully developed each character was, and how the author perfectly brought it all together.

🎧 The sneak peek of the audio was brilliant. I love how the POVs each has its own narrator to voice the part. The Scottish accent was perfection and Julia Whelan is an all time favorite narrator for me. She's amazing and I could listen to her all day.

If you like the storyline of Interview With a Vampire, you'll like this "toxic lesbian vampires" novel.

This book was so fantastic! The characters were so engaging and the writing was so beautiful, I loved everything about it. This is my new favorite V. E. Schwab book and I can't wait to see what she writes from here.

Thank you for the arc.

V.E. Schwab has crafted another stunning story filled with vivid settings, haunting histories and toxic relationships. While it took me a bit to fully immerse myself into this world, I found myself falling into this atmospheric tale. It was beautifully horrifying and addictive.

While the ending did leave me wishing for more, I ultimately loved this book and enjoyed reading it.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 6/10

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for my advanced copy!

It’s no secret that I am a huge V.E. Schwab fan. I’ve loved everything of hers that I’ve ever read, and this book is no different.

This isn’t just a story; it’s a full-body experience. V. E. Schwab takes you on a dreamy ride through the centuries, Addie LaRue style. It follows three women: María in 1532 Spain, Charlotte in 1827 London, and Alice in 2019 Boston, each searching for freedom, connection, or revenge, and slowly unraveling in the process.

The emotions, the atmosphere, the slow spiral of characters you can’t help but love…I can’t get enough. Schwab has described this book as “toxic lesbian vampires,” and while I love the simplicity of that statement, it’s also so much more. The relationships are messy and intense, full of longing and manipulation, and are completely addictive. It’s not so much a romance as an obsession, and Schwab captures that thin line between love and destruction so perfectly.

The writing is gorgeous. It feels like a mix of poetry and pain all at once. And that ending will stay with me for a long time.

There’s no way I can do this book justice, so if you’re into sapphic stories that are dark, emotional, and a little unhinged in the best way, you should read this! It will ruin you, and you’ll love every second of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC.

Bury Our Bones in Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab is a haunting, emotionally rich vampire novel that masterfully blends dark sapphic relationships with classic lore. The narrative spans centuries, following three complex characters whose stories are both brutal and tender. Schwab’s writing is vivid and accessible, capturing atmosphere without excess.

The women in this book are fierce, flawed, and deeply sympathetic, making for an engaging, unpredictable journey. While the ending left me conflicted, it doesn’t overshadow the novel’s intricate storytelling and emotional depth. A beautifully crafted, if occasionally bittersweet, read.

Short synopsis: Three different timelines, and the stories of how three Vampire women connect through their “deaths” and the lives.

My thoughts: This was such a slow burn, and while the story felt long I couldn’t imagine any details being deleted. I kept thinking about these characters and how their stories intricately weaved together, leading to quite an ending!

The way this story was told, there was toxicity, fighting for women’s rights, grief, love, rage, sadness, loneliness and grasping on to a semblance of control. These girls individually went through some pretty terrible things from the 1500s being forced to marry just to bear children, the 1800s parading around in hopes of “wooing” a man, and the uncertainty of modern day safety. I loved how each women stood for themselves and made a comeback in their own way.

Read if you love:
* Vampires
* Toxic relationships
* Lovers to enemies
* Sapphic romance
* Spanning centuries
* Cat and Mouse