Bury our bones in the midnight soil
Author V. e Schwab
Out now.
Rating 4 stars 8.00 CAWPILE


This book. Was a whirlwind, one that I was expecting but one I was not expecting all at the same time. This was a well woven story of three women, three women in a time where life begins for them when it ends. I felt the pain, the heartbreak for all three but I also spent the time feeling the love poured into the page. I feel that this book will be one I will come back to and I will fall in love in with, it has all the potential of 5 stars, I just wasn’t quiet there. But this is still an excellent book and Schwab once again brings a story to life.

I enjoyed the interwoven stories and finding out the pieces as a story that led all the way back to the modern time. The 1500s will always be my favourite as this is my era and hearing names that I know really well made me smile.

This book will hit you in the feels and I cannot wait to hear all of your thoughts on this because I know this will be a book I am going to have to reread to pick up other things I have missed. Because I am sure there are little clues that I missed when I was reading it. So I cannot wait to delve into it again.

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What a beautiful prose! V.E Schwab never ceases to amaze me with her writing and storytelling.

This is a sapphic vampire story about three morally grey women who were turned into vampires at different timelines and who meet at different points in the story.

Their relationship is toxic and the characters are really flawed, trying to find their place in a society governed by men and other ideals.

This is the kind of story that isn’t to be rushed out but savored and enjoyed.

I really loved following Alice, Sabine and Lottie’s journey and this is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read finished reading it.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this ARC!!!

I love how it weaves together the lives of three women across centuries and crafts a story that’s haunting and deeply emotional.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab was a haunting and genre-defying read that pulled me in with its rich atmosphere and layered storytelling. Spanning nearly five centuries, the novel follows the lives of three women—Maria, Charlotte, and Alice—whose fates intertwine in complex and often tragic ways. I was especially captivated by the way the story moved through time: beginning in 1532 Spain, where Maria, desperate for freedom, takes on the identity of a mysterious widow and becomes Sabine. Then, in 1827, London, Sabine transforms Charlotte, sparking a relationship that slowly fractures. Finally, in 2019, Boston, Alice, a Harvard student, is unknowingly turned by Charlotte, and her quest for answers brings all three narratives together.

I found Schwab’s writing to be lyrical and immersive. She captures the tone and mood of each period, making each setting feel alive. What struck me most was how the novel explored heavy themes like identity, desire, power, and the psychological toll of immortality. Eternal life is portrayed not as a gift, but as a slow, consuming erosion of one’s humanity.

Each of the main characters felt deeply human, even in their most monstrous moments. I was drawn to Maria/Sabine’s inner conflict about freedom and identity, and I found Charlotte’s arc both tragic and relatable in its portrayal of emotional detachment. Alice, as the modern-day lens, helped ground the story and added a fresh perspective to the vampire mythos.

That said, I did struggle a bit with the nonlinear structure. The frequent timeline shifts, especially early on, felt a little disorienting and made it harder to settle into any one story. I also thought the pacing dragged in the middle, losing some of the emotional momentum that had built so strongly in the earlier sections.

Despite those small issues, I found this to be a powerfully written exploration of immortality and identity. Schwab offers an introspective take on the vampire narrative.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Pan Mcmillan for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

You know how sometimes you sit and devour a book in one sitting and you have a great time while you're in it and then you close the book and walk away and never think of it again? I like to call those popcorn books: there’s not much substance to them but it feeds the craving for a snack, and you enjoy it while you're eating it, but you'll be hungry again in 20 minutes.

This is not a popcorn book.

This book is an indulgent, rich dark chocolate cake. It's layered and complex, and sometimes you can only take one bite and come back to it later because it is too decadent to consume all at once. And the taste of it lingers. You find yourself thinking about it, looking forward to getting home and taking another bite.

It's not even my favourite kind of cake, but when it is good, not even I can’t resist a good chocolate cake - with all the layers and the fancy frosting...

This book is an indulgent serving of the rich writing VE Schwab blesses us with us every time she puts pen to paper.
So even if the story isn't your favourite, you'll find yourself wanting to come back to it for another decadent sentence. Another rich chapter. Another layer that lets you glimpse into the complexities of her mind.

And like a layered cake, each layer has a slightly different taste, and you find yourself enjoying some more than others, but together? TOgether they create something unique and wonderful. And you can’t help yourself. So sit. Take another bite.

“This is a story about hunger.”

We begin with Maria. Following her childhood and how she grows from wanting more to wanting everything. Maria is insatiable hunger and all the things we are willing to do to sate it. How far we're willing to go for what we crave and how the ultimate cost might be parts of ourselves.

“This is a story about love.”

We meet Alice. She's the need to break free and to get answers and to not settle. Alice is rage. No - Alice is RAGE. She's not taking no for an answer. She’s demanding to be heard and to be given her space in the world and to not be dismissed. She's the fight for the self and the refusal to cut down the parts that make her her.

“This is a story about rage.”

And we get to grow with Charlotte. Sometimes Lottie. Sometimes Carlotta. Charlotte is feeling different and wanting to be accepted. She is the ache of never good enough and why, why, why. She is the hope that the world will one day accept you… and settling down for what you think you deserve instead, because that is what you are told you are worth. Charlotte is love. And all it costs you.

“This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.”

I wasn’t gripped from the beginning, since we follow my least favourite POV from about the first 60% of the book, but I had everything I hoped and dreamed for this book on those last 40%. And that ending was one of the most satisfying ways this story could have ended and I praise Schwab for not being scared to go for it!

I am once again pledging my undying love to VE Schwab. The writing, the atmosphere, the character work, are all beautifully done.
And while Bones may be the more supernatural spiritual successor of Addie, yes. But don't make either of these books the disservice of making them exist in comparison to each other.

– Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own and reflect my honest reactions. –

She’s done it again 👏🏼 VE Schwab proves why she is a master of storytelling with this book 🙌🏼♥️ Her signature prose—beautiful, immersive, and evocative—paints a world that feels both hauntingly intimate and expansively grand. Every sentence is crafted with care, weaving a narrative that lingers in the mind like a whispered secret. I felt myself entranced from the very first pages….

The storytelling is, as expected, utterly engaging. Schwab has a way of pulling readers into the fabric of her world, threading mystery, emotion, and tension seamlessly through the plot. This was plainly visible in A Darker Shade of Magic, but in Bury Our Bones, Schwab takes it to the next level. It’s the kind of novel that keeps you turning pages deep into the night, unwilling to step away from the characters and the journey they undertake.

And then, of course, there are the strong female characters. Alice, Sabine…. ♥️ Schwab has always excelled at writing characters who are complex, resilient, and deeply human, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is no exception. Each protagonist is richly developed, carrying strength not just in their actions but in their flaws, vulnerabilities, and ambitions. They are women who challenge, inspire, and demand attention—not just within the story but from the reader as well.

Overall, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a stunning addition to Schwab’s body of work, a novel that mesmerises with its prose, captivates with its narrative, and resonates with its unforgettable characters.

“She grits her teeth and raps her fist against the wood, waiting for the poetic moment when the door will swing open, and the girl who came into her life (and left with it, like a prize), will have to look her in the eyes, to see what it’s like when your past comes back to haunt you.”

I’d heard rumours that Schwab’s forte was vampire stories, and now I can see why she has this reputation. Immortality is a recurring theme in her books and yet it always feels new and interesting each time she describes it. Everything just feels so real; every smell, every sound, every heart beat.

I particularly like that this book focuses on 3 women, each from different time periods, following them through multiple centuries, exploring their roles in society and showing us how their morals change as they become stronger and more deadly.

As always Schwab’s world-building is incredible, the lore feels enticing, and each character is given such a full back story you feel like you’ve known them for centuries. If the book hadn’t been so long and well-rounded, I’d miss it already.

Favourite quote:

“One thing you learn when you live as long as we do, is that nothing’s permanent. Who you were isn’t who you have to be.”

Thank you NetGalley for the arc, this book is available from tomorrow!

DNF @ 20%
This pains me to say, but I just wasn't connecting to any of the characters and I didn't care for the plot... it was slow
I may go back to this at a later date but for now I'm putting the book down...

I've read other book by this author and LOVED them, I just don't think this one is for me

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is beautifully written. No surprise there, Schwab’s prose is reliably stunning. The Story feels like Addie LaRue meets Vicious, and since I only liked one of those books, it was always going to be a mixed bag for me.

I enjoyed Sabine’s perspective for the most part, but (as has often been the case with Schwab’s work) I struggled to connect with the characters, Alice, especially, never quite drew me in. The second half stumbles with pacing issues and a few choices that didn’t quite convince me.

This was supposed to be my make-it-or-break-it book with Schwab. In the end, I liked it just enough to keep reading her work… but I’m not sure for how many more books.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Bury my bones in the midnight soil. Plant them shallow and water them deep. And in my place will grow a feral rose . . .”

I own most of V.E. Schwab's books in one form or another, but this is the first to get off my tbr. It certainly won't be my last!
Schwab's writing feels like it flows right into my soul.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil follows three different women in different times, and you see how they connect.
I highly suspect that this story will stay with me for a long while.

Unfortunately I couldn't read this book because the PDF file was not compatible with my Kobo reader.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What. A. Feminist. Masterpiece. Bury Our Bodies in the Midnight Soil has officially unhinged my jaw.

V.E. Schwab, you chaotic genius, you’ve done it again. This book was eerie, empowering, and beautifully written in the way only Schwab knows how. Without spoiling it all I can say is this was an incredible story about 3 feral and unapologetic women.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go light a candle, scream into the void, and continue worshipping at the altar of Schwab. 🕯️📖✨

Thank you for the ARC!

This. Was. Too. Long.
Ok now for my actual review 😂
First of all … toxic lesbian vampires? You had me at toxic 💅🏼 I loved the messiness of the whole thing and my inner 14 year old loved being back in the world of vampires. However. FARRRRRR too much of one POV. A little too much of another. And not enough of the last. Even though this book was too long, I still feel like other bits could have been fleshed out. Less page time for a certain Señorita would have helped with that I think! But also I wanted a bit more of her AFTER you know who left. I did enjoy it for the most part I promise.
3.75⭐️ rounded up

the way i just started crying towards the end of the book— that’s how you know it’s a good one because it catches you off-guard.

BOBITMS follows our three main characters— maría, lottie & alice— whose stories are interconnected. they’re also TOXIC. VAMPIRE. LESBIANS. need i say more?

maría is a complex female character who you both understand (at times) but also hate, at least for the second half of the book. lottie was my favourite! she reminded me of rebekah (“the originals” tv show)— “but i haven’t lived at all”— when she finally found herself to be free, she didn’t even get the chance to live. alice is the character you’re likely to understand the most, who you empathise with the most. i can’t even hate her for that ending because frankly, it was deserved. catty was my favourite side character— i saw what was coming for her a mile away and yet i still sobbed when it happened. her rage and her pain was understandable, and a part of me felt like she left so alice didn’t feel obliged to separate herself from eloise for catty’s sake, so she didn’t have to choose.

I met Victoria Schwab a few years ago and she is so lovely! At the time she only had the Shades of Magic series under her belt, I loved Addie LaRue so had high hopes for her new standalone and it did not disappoint!

Bury our Bones spans 3 different timelines, the 1500s Maria a passionate but repressed young woman with flaming hair whose only hope in life is to attract a suitor who will take her out of her boring life in a small village, until she meets an intriguing widow who changes the course of her life forever. Lottie in the 1800s after an ‘incident’ at her family’s country minor, she is sent to London for the season and to learn how to be a proper lady and find a husband, her life like Maria’s is mapped out for her, until she meets an intriguing widow. Present day, Alice moves to America to pursue college away from the cobbled together family that she has never felt a part of, always the wallflower until a night spent with an intriguing purple haired girl changes the course of her life forever.

3 women tied together by blood and midnight soil. This book is full of intrigue, a mystery, romance and love that passes through time and skirts the border between love and obsession, stepping into the realm of danger.

Despite being 560 pages long I managed to finish this in one day it was so good it kept me turning the pages. I absolutely loved it!

Really enjoyed this, although slightly slow to start and get in to (it is all relevant for the story though!).
Love Victoria's writing style, and her ability to really make you feel how the characters feel. This is only my second ever sapphic book I've read, and I 100% enjoyed this more than the other one. This was a story about love and what it feels like to have it but also to lose it, and it utterly immersed me.

I’ve never read a Schwab but I’ve been drawn into the hype machine of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil so whimsically requested the ARC expecting a rejection and MY GOD. Her prose is beyond stunning, the descriptions of places and people pouring from her pen in a way that feels effortless but oh so intentional. It is poetry, capturing the details of lives and places like an anthropologist studying the world, and refracting in those observations the perspective of the characters we follow. The strength of those characters - headstrong Maria, calculating, vicious Sabine, insecure, broken, Alice and romantic, withering, Lottie - bellows from the pages, and it’s far too easy to get lost inside of them and experience their worlds - so different - through their eyes. Schwab’s prose is biting, her claws sharp and gleaming as she dissects the societal structures which constrain these women, and so deftly dismantles them with an arched brow, and a sharp tongue. I felt so deeply for them reading their stories; I felt emboldened like Maria, free and bloodthirsty like Sabine, I felt a sadness and kinship with Alice, and wistful and mournful like Lottie. I felt these women beside me and every night as I devoured Schwab’s story I became them through their beautifully written experiences - such is the power of fantastic literature, which is transformative and evocative, visceral, bloody and deeply resonant.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc!

v. e. schwab never fails me! as someone who fell in love with this author from her series 'a darker shade of magic', i knew i had to request this arc as soon as it was available. 'bury our bones in the midnight soil' is a dark, twisted tale following three women and their stories as they grow vampiric roots. the book explores each character's follies and vices: desire, hunger, greed, bloodlust and the plot threads together deliciously and the women's stories become tangled.

i enjoyed this book so much! each character was so fleshed out and so distinct from each other - i loved how their stories intertwined and how each girl had their own individual character arc. to me, alice was the most interesting - her meekness felt so familiar and there was a sense of curious dread as it made way for something much more sinister. i think this book explores vampiric existence so well - in particular, the dichotomy of human emotions and life everlasting. the longing for company, the desire for love, the need for friendship - all starkly contrasted with the utter disregard for human life. i would 100% recommend this to fans of amc's 'interview with the vampire' and lovers of toxic lesbian vampires in general.

I don't think I can review Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil without dropping one potential spoiler - although it is a point I see mentioned in some of the author blurbs, so I think it's justified, if you want to go into this story in delightful ignorance of the central idea, stop reading now?

Still with me?

Well...

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is very much a vampire book. Across three timelines - one starting in 16th century Spain, the second in 19th century England and the third, present day Boston, MA, we see the workings of these ancient, corrupt creatures. It's actually often on familiar ground in its exploration of the idea, showing up the consequences for these long-lasting, but not immortal, monsters. The solitude. The loss of any possible human connection as mortals age and die. The need for secrecy. The ethical dilemma, when one's existence depends on taking human lives, and often.

Where VE Schwab adds something of her own to the conceit is in her chosen monsters - or perhaps I should say victims.

María is a peasant girl in medieval Spain. Blessed - or cursed - with good looks she seizes an opportunity to get out of grinding poverty and toil, but finds herself in an unfamiliar world without allies or friends. The life of a noblewoman is even more circumscribed than that of a poor girl. Can María repeat her trick and turn the table son the stuffy aristo who she's married?

Charlotte is a wealthy young woman in 19th century England. Like María, her only future seems to be a loveless marriage - until she meets a dazzling foreign contessa who awakes forbidden desire...

Finally, Alice, a young Scottish woman who's arrived to study at Harvard, has already made her move for escape, and has no wish to go any further, but she has little say in matters following a student party...

Each of these three stories is substantial and receives generous space in Schwab's novel, the book cutting back and forward. I don't always enjoy this device, the writer has to really know what they're doing but Schwab brings it off handsomely - with one "but...". This is the inevitable risk that any reader will enjoy one of the timelines more, or less, and resent some of the switches. For me, I found time spent with Alice a little frustrating. She wasn't a character I warmed to very quickly, and it didn't help that while the other two women's stories are more or less chronological, with Alice we get both her "now, in Boston" story and also callbacks to her previous life in her rural Scottish town and her difficult sister. The latter often interrupt the "now" timeline very abruptly and sometimes, very annoyingly. In particular I found Alice's sister, Catty, who these segments often dwell on, difficult.

Alice's dilemma in this book is - spoiler coming - that having been "turned" and (unlike the other two women) "turned" pretty much non consensually, she wants to work out what has happened to her and, if possible, get revenge. Alice is a new vampire, and that's a fairly simple motivation, unlike those of María and Charlotte, both of whom have spent long decades or even centuries becoming who they are. Alice's family history (fifteen years before, her mum died, her dad remarried, Alice is friendly with the new wife, Catty hates her and behaves in an increasingly bratty way) doesn't really affect that or bear on her current situation so these parts of the novel while I think insightful in terms of family dynamics, read as a distraction from the main story.

Which is a shame, because the main story is terrific! We see lots of gore. We see jealously. We see the tedium of a centuries-long existence. The loss of family and friends. The different vampires here cope with, or endure, this situation variously but with a consensus that there is a hollowing out process going on, robbing all, in the end, of their remaining humanity. (How to deal with that?)

Schwab also deftly portrays a rather vampire-specific, but immediately recognisable, strain of abuse and coercive control which, once you stop and think about it, absolutely fits with the situation. (Do bear this element of there story in mind if that's something that you might struggle with).

Above all this novel is superbly plotted, with the dance of her vampires across the centuries well choreographed to bring them together and ignite a final conflict with a few twists I absolutely hadn't anticipated. At the level of the writing itself, Schwab is always excellent of course and Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil is very, very readable.

So overall, I enjoyed Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil, and would recommend it, with the one caveat above.

I had exceptionally high expectations for the new book from my favourite author—with a concept that seemed tailor-made for me, no less—and it blew every one of them out of the park. More atmospheric and lyrical than it is fast-paced and plot driven, the book follows three female vampires born in different time periods and drawn together by a latest victim. A book about the queer experience as much as it is vampirism, it perfectly encapsulated the complications faced by sapphic women in a male-centred world—isolation, rage, desire—which is something that you can tell is deeply personal to the author, and that I’d been hoping Schwab would write about for a while. Its darkly toxic romance is perfect for fans of Interview With the Vampire, or fans of Schwab’s previous work like the dark gods of Addie LaRue and the cat-and-mouse obsession of the Villains series. The timelines and perspectives jump around a lot but never became confusing, showing us a glimpse of the past or a peek into the present at the exact moment it was needed. This made it all too easy to root for each of our three conflicting narrators even when they were doing things that definitely shouldn’t be rooted for, and really dialled up the shock factor of the ending—although, ultimately, it was the only way to wrap up this epic tale spanning the course of centuries. A story of hunger and decay to really sink your teeth into, this is one that’s going to stay with me for a long time.