oh where to start.

this book is truly breathtaking (see what i did there). this is a marvelous piece of sapphic literature that has so many metaphors, incredible foreshadowing, and a story that will haunt me forever. I saw myself in all 3 of our main characters, each of the characters are so fleshed out it would be easy to tell who’s point of view you’re in without the headers at the beginning of the point of views. the main theme of this book is one that feels like it’s impossible to talk about without spoiling the major character changes and stories within this book. It was truly a roller coaster of a book. i’m so glad that i read this slowly and soaked in all this book had to offer because the quotes, the metaphors, the way Schwab can foreshadow, it has me in awe of her writing and the story. the soil and the way the characters talk about the midnight soil, it’s almost like it’s another character of the book. haunting and alluring from beginning to end, this will definitely go down as one of my favorites.

thank you Tor for the advanced copy of this book. all opinions are my own.

I love my toxic lesbian vampires!

Great for fans of Addie.

Schwab has this incredible ability to explore the human condition through non-human entities. I love her idea of magic being just outside of our normal perception. It makes the mundane magical.

This book was fabulous. I had loved The Invisible Life of Addie Larue so I knew I had to read this and I was not disappointed! I was totally pulled in by the concept and description and immediately fell in love with the characters. We already bought multiple copies for the store I work at!

Bury Our Bones is the type of book that I inhaled slowly, wanting to savour every moment to make sure I didn’t miss a thing - and boy am I glad that I did. At it’s core, Bury Our Bones is a book three different women and how their stories collide, about their Hunger, Want, Rage, and the Freedom to Love and Live life freely. I can’t compare it to anything I’ve read before. This book is extremely character focused in the best possible way, if you asked me to describe the plot I would put it simply; three seperate women spanning decades and times all have an interconnecting story. This is that story. Oh, and they happen to be Toxic Lesbian Vampires and are all in completely different stages of their Vampirism.

I haven’t read a lot of other books by Victoria Schwab, but each time I do I’m struck down with how profoundly her writing effects me - I don’t think I’ve ever read more a more beautiful and haunting prose. I’m also starting to believe I’ll never read a book by Schwab and not be left feeling raw and vulnerable, but in the best possible way. This, along with the storytelling timelines spanning centuries through time, had me in an absolute chokehold. The level of detail we get into Vampires and Lore was the perfect touch, I’ve read quite a few Vampire books and absolutely adore how Schwab adds her own touch to this.

I was drawn to each of our characters like a moth to flame, their development, trauma, hunger and destruction was gripping - Sabine, Lottie and Alice were all morally grey and flawed in their own unique ways. How their lives unfold and merge makes for a truly gripping story. The shifts in the POVs, small details and how simply intentional everything was written truly stuck out to me.

What would you do if you were given the chance of immortality? Just how twisted would you become for love? Three women, three different time periods.... and are all interconnected by the blood they crave and the lives they destroy because nothing says drama like having a toxic vampire ex girlfriend killing anyone who gets close to you. This is a story about hunger, about rage, and about obsession. It's a story about craving... craving love, craving blood, and craving freedom. This was such a unique vampire story and the ending absolutely floored me. I love the way you see how each of the three main characters are shaped in their lives before becoming a vampire and after... and how their new powers bring out their natures. I love just how different each of the three characters are and how you can understand just what makes these women do what they do. It's such a unique vampire story and I would absolutely recommend it!! V.E. Schwab just has such a magical way of writing and capturing your attention and she absolutely knocked it out of the park.

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I love V.E. Schwab. I love her writing and all of her previous books. I also love vampires! I was so excited for this novel; however, it fell flat in comparison to her other stories. Of course, the writing was stunning and the story was fascinating, but it felt so drawn out. I also had a difficult time truly connecting with the characters and their journeys. I know the exact reader who will love this book, so I am still excited to recommend it to others!

"We are the roses that grew in the midnight soil," he says, eyes bright as candles now. "Our thorns are sharp enough to prick. We are watered by life, and with its bounty, our roots grow deep, our blooms unmarred by age. In fact, for us, time fortifies, renders us more noble.We are no monster, no mean thing. We are nature's finest flower."

Though this may come as a surprise to her Addie LaRue fans, Schwab's latest is a tale of vampires; nasty, bitey vampires. This is definitely a horror novel.

As is usually the case in books that feature characters living centuries apart, I found one woman's story far more compelling that the other's, but the narrative joins together nicely in the latter pages of the book.

This is beautifully written, and if the violence doesn't bother you, I think you'll find it a lush saga worth reading.

Here's my favorite bit, where one character describes to another the benefits of being a widow:

"Two kinds of women have leave to wander through this world unmolested. Nuns, and widows. And I am not close enough to God to be a nun . . . "

" . . . I did have a husband. Once."

"How did he die?" she asks.

The widow's smile widens. "Slowly."

Yikes!

How is it that I can be fairly ambivalent to Alien Romance, yet 100% onboard with Sapphic Vampire Whateverthisis?

There wasn’t so much a plot as a meandering journey, but I find myself entirely satisfied.

Lush and atmospheric settings, fleshy, morally grey characters, and lore – both common and not so – made this one of my favourites of 2025 so far.

“It’s a lie that you only get one story”

Toxic, lesbian, vampires you say??

Count me in.

The vibes of this were spectacular. I was taken away to Spain in the 1500’s, London in 1800’s, and New York City in the present day.

The writing was beautiful and atmospheric. I never wanted to leave this bloody world.

The story melted together so perfectly, but was also twisty! I loved!

This is probably going to be my favourite book of the year. The was V.E Schwab writes is so mesmerizing and so immersive. I couldn't put this book down and will be thinking about it all summer long.

in 16th century Spain, Maria, a free spirit, wants to remain free but knows she must marry so she picks out a viscount, allures him, and weds. Things don't go as she beleived, feeling more trapped than ever, until a mysterious widow grants her freedom but not in the way Maria suspected. Charlotte, in the 19th century, is sent from her home to llive with Aunt in London after she is caught kissing her best friend. It is The Season, and it is not her time to be presented so she tries to remain as unseen as possible until she befriends Sabine filled with informaton and offers her the love and companionship she desires. in 2019, Alice leaves Scotland to attend Harvard while having flashbacks of her older sister Catty. She tries to focus, make friends, but the lingering thoughts of her sister plague her need to be a new Alice. A one night stand with Lottie leaves Alice in a headspin and confused - an aversion to sunlight, endless hunger, and fangs. All three women across the storylines are queer and vampires. The book jumps forward and backward in time in an intricatley layered web that eventually combines together in 2019. The vampire mythos is unique while weaving in common lore. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are unique, distinct characters each with their own driving need - freedom, love, and loss. The various needs weave the plot tighter together in a suspenful supernatural tale that comes to a tense cliffhanger and ends with a satisfying twist.

I love V.E. Schwab's books. She is one of my favorite authors - middle grade, YA, adult. This one did not disappoint.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab is haunting, lyrical, and quietly powerful.
VE Schwab can do no wrong.

First off, the writing in this book was beautiful.

This book tells the story of three women from different times and how their lives intersect. Toxis Lesbian Vampires is a pretty succinct description but it’s about love and obsession, freedom, self discovery and strength. I loved everything about this. The characters were so vividly drawn, and their motivations (even the bad stuff) so believable.

Probably up on the top 5 books I have read this year. I listened to the narration - unbelievable! This was written well and who doesn’t love to read about toxic lesbian vampires?? Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

4.5⭐️ 1532, Spain - New bride Maria is struggling with an overbearing husband and a role she does not want to play, when she meets an alluring stranger who will give her a life changing opportunity. 1827, London- Charlotte lives a happy but cloistered life, but when a moment of forbidden intimacy leads to her banishment, a beautiful widow presents an invitation she cannot refuse. And in 2019, Boston, a one night stand following a college party will leave Alice with more questions than answers. “This is the story about life— how it ends, and how it starts.”

Wow, this book held me in its grip from start to finish. Filled with many elements I love, including subtle gothic horror vibes, very atmospheric settings, characters who are endlessly fascinating and hello, vampires!, it’s hard not to be completely mesmerized by the story VE Schwab has so masterfully spun together for us.

As we journey through time with each of our three main characters, some in the very distant past and some in the near present, we walk in each of their shoes as one by one, they each struggle with their desires for more, only to be felled by the curse of life everlasting. I ultimately found myself the most enthralled with Maria’s character, especially as it brings us back in time to 1521, Santo Domingo, Spain, and could not turn the pages fast enough during her perspective. She is the powerhouse of vampires, and steals every single scene she is in. And yet, the connection between all three women is just as engaging.

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

This story is filled with the most beautiful prose, something that the audiobook narrators, particularly Julia Whelan, who portrays Maria— potentially another reason I loved her character so much. They only helped to enhance the already spellbinding plot line and breathed life (pardon the pun) into each of these dynamic women. It is for this very reason that I chose to do an immersive read, reading the physical book for detail and the audiobook for performance value.

One important note— If at all possible (and believe me, I get that this is hard), I would suggest not going into this book wanting The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. By far one of my favorite books of all time, it is near impossible to duplicate it or even top it, and expecting that will only make you appreciate the beauty of this book less. And that would be a big disservice to both yourself and the author.

CW: graphic violence (vampires being vampire)

Read if you like:
▪️gothic horror
▪️epic sagas
▪️toxic lesbian vampires
▪️cat and mouse
▪️morally grey characters
▪️stories of revenge
▪️gorgeous prose

Thank you Tor for the advanced copy.

This is a pretty unique and lyrical take on vampires that explores what women hunger for: to be seen, to be loved, to know themselves. I enjoyed this book, but it took me a really long time to get through it–the pacing was achingly slow, often leading to an interesting character development then abruptly changing narrators.

I usually enjoy Schwab’s characters and fall a little in love with them as I’m reading, so I think I liked this one a bit less because I didn’t like or feel incredibly invested in Alice, Charlotte, or Sabine. The resolution happened so soon and with little fanfare, so the ending felt unresolved to me.

“Stories matter…When you live long enough, they’re all you have.”

V.E. Schwab writes stories that transcend time. They capture entire lives, histories, and experiences. They show the “what-if” if supernatural or monsters existed…while also showing how they DO exist. They highlight the bad and the good in the world. They demonstrate how to fight back. They hold you hostage until the very last page, where you’ll be lucky to think about it for years to come.

I will never tire of Victoria’s writing. It’s truly just an honor to get to spend this minuscule amount of time within her mind.

Whether you’re a fantasy lover or not, I highly recommend picking this one up. I usually struggle greatly with fantasy, but this book is rooted in realism. It’s rooted in the possible. It’s rooted in the what-if.

I love how she crafted this story around three very different women who are all hungry in one way or another—for attention, for power, for control, for recognition, for answers, for love. To be seen.

And you feel all of this one every single page.

It’s true this is a story about vampires, but it’s also so much more. It’s about love, life, and loss. It’s about searching and contentment. It’s about always feeling in need for more. It’s about knowing when enough is enough. And as Victoria likes to say, it’s about toxic lesbian vampires. Because that’s true too.

It might be a couple weeks after release, but I had to savor every word.

“All things are touched by time, and we are no exception.”

This was a spectacular book that I won't be forgetting anytime soon!! I loved everything about this book from the structure to the way the three timelines ended up connecting. This is all I can put into words right now, but just know that this is a new favorite book of mine.

💌 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘

I was elated to pick this one up after I heard about the premise. This book doesn't whisper; it lingers. Like soil beneath fingernails or a bruise that never quite fades, Bury Your Bones in the Midnight Soil is a quiet unraveling: elegant, aching, and unapologetically queer.

Told through the voices of three women across three centuries, the story is less about vampirism as a genre convention and more about vampirism as metaphor: for hunger, for deviation, for want that exceeds what a woman is told she’s allowed to have. Each of Schwab’s characters aches in her own way. Each reaches for power, not always gently, not always cleanly, and the consequences are as beautiful as they are brutal.

The prose is deliberate and dreamy, saturated with rhythm and repetition. At times it reads like a prayer. At others, like a curse. Schwab isn’t interested in quick thrills or traditional plot arcs. This is a character study in obsession, inheritance, and transformation. If you’re here for twists and turns, you might feel adrift. But if you’re here to feel, to sit in the space between sorrow and fury, you’ll be swallowed whole.

What struck me most was how intimately Schwab writes about longing: not just romantic, but existential. The longing to be seen, to be known, to belong to oneself without apology. It’s a deeply queer text, in both content and form, and it doesn’t tidy up its messiness for the sake of comfort.

Some might call it slow, but I’d put it as patient. It demands your attention and it may be a slow-burn, but it gives something back: a sense of recognition, of echo, of shared hunger.

I can see how it may not be a book for everyone. But for the right reader? It will ruin you gently.

4/5 ⭐️

🤍 Thank you @netgalley and @tor for the eARC!

3.5 stars

I want to start this review by saying that I adore V.E. Schwab! I have read almost everything she’s written and have loved most of it. I’m so sad because I struggled with this one a bit.

One of the things I love about Schwab’s writing is the detail. She delves into the details to create a great atmosphere, feelings, and characters. We do get a lot of the rich detail, which does slow the pace down. I didn’t mind too much when it came to two of the storylines. This story spans 500 years, and she does a great job with two of the character storylines. Where I struggled was the modern timeline. I could not get into Alice’s storyline, and she seemed more of an entitled brat than a character on the hunt for revenge.

Maria’s story is brutal but not surprising. She’s living in a time when her voice and opinion don’t matter. She thinks she’s entering a marriage that quickly turns against her. She is just trying to find peace, but at what cost? Her story is the majority of the book, and by the end, you feel for her deeply. It begs the question, is the grass always greener on the other side?

Charlotte might have been my favorite timeline. I wish we would have gotten a little more time with her storyline. She doesn’t quite understand what she bargained for, and we see her struggle with that decision. In the end, did she leave one cage for another? Alice’s timeline isn’t as long as the others. We get little blips of her current situation and then back to Maria. I didn’t have time to develop any emotions about her.

I had to agonize over my rating. There are many things I enjoyed about this, but a few bigger issues. I disliked the ending. We have a long, drawn-out plot, and the ending is about 2 seconds. I’m sorry, but there’s just no way that the ending is believable! Regardless, I think this is still worth the read if you love Schwab and vampires.

Thank you, Tor and Netgalley, for the e-arc. All thoughts an opinions are my own!