I think it is very difficult to write a multi-timeline novel with different characters and tie the different stories together in a way that doesn't feel forced. I was already a little sceptical of the concept of this book because of this, and sadly it was no exception. This book was just ok - it was definitely very character driven, but I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Moreover, I was expecting the three POVs to be equal, whereas the whole book felt like the story of one character with the other two slotted in to tie everything together at the end. Charlotte's POV was dull and uninspired, whereas Alice's POV had so many flashbacks it should've been a separate coming of age book. Maria definitely had the most interesting storyline of the three, but even that felt largely uninventive and repetitive - a woman in the 1500s being oppressed by society etc. etc. The author had nothing new to contribute to vampire literature so again the whole story felt quite mundane. I still gave it 3 stars because there were parts I did enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil portrays a story over 500 years of women taking up space, something that was ignored when the story begins. The three characters followed within this story, each carving out a space for themselves despite being told they don't deserve it. They do everything that is right for them, instead of following what is right for the world. To call these women toxic is their birth right, as how could they be any other way in a world that they had to bend to be seen? They care only about their hunger and how they can satiate it. It's mesmerising to behold and empowering to read.

The characters are all toxic in their varying individual ways. They each use that toxicity to carve and crave and grow and crumble.

The writing, as always, is gorgeous. Each word carries a weight and is proportionately balanced by the next. There is poetry to the way Schwab writes, that I will never be exhausted by. My appreciation and awe constantly grows with each novel I read.

This is a novel that will leave you hungry to read again and again. It is not meant to be devoured and digested, but it's beauty, it's journey is best savoured and appreciated again and again, drawing something new for each life it contains. Because it contains many different lives, and just as each left these women hungrier for the next, each read will leave you hungry to enter these pages again.

I have been waiting so long for this book! I remember Schwab talking about writing it years ago at an Addie book signing in Yorkshire, so I was so excited to finally be able to read it! And as always with everything Scwab writes, it was incredible. The atmosphere, character builds and pacing of the book was perfect. Would recommend this the buyers for sure!

V.E. Schwab is one of my favourite authors so when I heard her next book was "Toxic Lesbian Vampires" I couldn't wait to read it - I devoured it in just a couple sittings!

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is so many things at once: an exploration of complex women; a treatise on how grief shapes lives; a love letter to sapphic love throughout the ages; a commentary of patriarchy; and a thrilling tale of vicious vampires. Whilst some books feel empty without a central 'plot' to follow, Schwab's women are so intricately created that simply following their stories and discovering who they truly are is more engaging than any mystery or battle.

I adored how each of the women were entirely unique, whilst still connected by their hunger. The unveiling of their stories was so perfectly timed that I was simultaneously happy to jump to another timeline while wishing I never had to leave the perspective I was in. What I loved the most was that these were not all 'good' women - their morals were questionable, their actions at times inexcusable, and their thirst impossible to satiate. Schwab has sited the queer undertones of Interview with the Vampire (and the recent TV adaption in particular) as an inspiration, and I can confirm that the twisted relationships found here are truly the lesbian answer to Louis and Lestat.

Vampires are having an incredible 'comeback' at the moment and Bury Our Bones should be at the top of everyone's lists.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is very much the darkest sister to Addie and I loved her.

Each of the main characters was a delight, but I think my favourite has to be Maria. I loved our time in Venice and I do kind of wish as we approached the end that we would have stayed with her more, but Alice, and Lottie were great too.

Lottie's story, in particular, and her ending really resonated.

Perhaps, the thing about this book that was best for me is that it ends leaving you hungry for more and for a book that spends so much time showing you that you can drink your fill, but you'll always be hungry, I have to admire that.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a vampire book that intertwines the stories of three women, individual but bonded across time and space, through beautifully painted historical settings. And in doing so it becomes a realistic and almost truthful account of what it means to live forever.

This book being described as ‘toxic lesbian vampires’ is the most accurate description you could give this book. I loved seeing the lives of the three women and the multiple timelines. Their lives were entwined in such an interesting and beautiful way and my heart was bursting with all the emotions at the ups and downs of their long (and short) lives. If you love the writing style of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue then you’ll love this.

Oh my life, this book! I'm not usually one for vampires, being squeamish about teeth biting, and blood, and all that jazz...but this book hooked me from page one. The writing is sublime, the prose lyrical, the story seductive and sinister, enthralling, dark, disturbing and heartrending. The novel is told through the eyes of two women - Lucy in the present day, and Sabine in the past - both night walkers, blood drinkers. Abominations in the eyes of some. Vampires in the eyes of others. Page by page, chapter by chapter, I was pulled along towards the inevitable explosive conclusion as the lives (or deaths) of these two women, once lovers, collided - and imploded. Schwab is a powerful writer, able to conjure a visceral sense of longing, craving, yearning - hunger - in only words. Excellent. All the stars, and then some.

V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a dark, seductive dive into the raw and messy lives of three women, spanning centuries and intertwined in ways that feel both hauntingly inevitable and deeply tragic. This story is an exploration of obsession, power, and the desperate, visceral desire to be remembered.

We follow Maria, Charlotte, and Alice, each of them navigating the complexities of their own worlds and identities, bound by the soil beneath them. Their stories take place in 1532, 1837, and 2019, but Schwab’s use of voice and prose makes these transitions between time periods feel seamless. Each character is uniquely crafted, with distinct personalities and flaws that make them as captivating as they are destructive.

The vampire aspect is beautifully done here, free from the melodrama that often surrounds the trope. Instead, Schwab’s vampires are raw, real, and full of rage—each one a reflection of the desires and hunger that have shaped them. What truly sets this apart, though, is the way Schwab brings her characters to life. They are neither wholly good nor evil, but rather, they exist in that grey space where everything they do feels so much more human—driven by the complexities of emotion, love, and loss. This is a story about longing—whether it’s for love, power, or simply to be seen—and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the emotional current of their experiences.

What makes this novel even more poignant is how Schwab handles the relationships between her characters. The intricate, often tumultuous dynamics bring the full weight of their struggles to life. Their toxic love, jealousy, and thirst for connection unfold with an intensity that takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions. You’ll find yourself rooting for them even as you cringe at their choices. It’s raw and intoxicating in the best way.

As a fan of Schwab’s work, I can say this is one of her most emotionally charged and gripping novels to date. Her mastery of language is evident in every line, and the way she weaves together history, the supernatural, and her characters’ inner turmoil is nothing short of mesmerizing. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a must-read for fans of gothic fiction, complex relationships, and unforgettable characters. It’s a novel that will stay with you long after the final page.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars.

V. E. Schwab is an auto-buy and auto-read author, I adore the authors writing style and the stories created.

This story has a dark edge to it and I love how the characters evolve as we get deeper into the thick of their journeys. This book delves into the way women are treated and seen as less than men by society and the people in their lives. The women in this story battle with their place in the world and how they fit, they seek autonomy and a power of some sort to just be themselves.

This book very well depicts how you may get what you want in the end, but it’s never how you envisioned. Power corrupts and tempts, but very rarely gives you the end result you seek. I feel a lot of mixed feelings about the women in this story, but I enjoyed their journeys and the tangled web they weaved.

Looking forward to my next read by this author!

The depressive book slump I am about to enter will be one of massive proportions all thanks to this gifted copy from @bookbreak

Bury our bones in the midnight soil has everything. I dont know how @veschwab did it but she beautifully intertwined historical fantasy, regency, and urban fantasy into one brilliant novel. I could not put this down, even as it sucked out my soul and ripped out my heart. 

You follow 3 separate women through 3 separate timelines as they each find themselves buried in the midnight soil, only to be born again as a feral rose. A feral rose, with blood soaked thorns. This has all the themes of a unique vampire novel, with underlying themes exploring unhealthy, toxic and abusive relationships, war, famine, family and found family. 

This could potentially be one of the best books I've ever read. The way it had my brain and heart in utter knots. 

I am broken, VE and it is all your fault. I expect penance in the form of more fantastic novels in the near future. 

Be sure to pick this one up, especially for Addie lovers, on 10th of June!

#buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil
#veschwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my all time favourite books. It’s a book that makes me feel very special when reading, like I’m experiencing it from the very depths of my soul, stepping into another plane of existence. I reread it every year and I’ve collected many beautiful editions of it.

When I heard V.E. Schwab describing her upcoming release as ‘Addie’s toxic older sister’ I was desperate to read it, to find another story that makes me feel the way that Addie does.

And I’m very glad to say that Bury Our Bones truly did deliver that feeling and more. I was lucky enough to go to an event with Schwab where she talked about the book, about how she wanted to tell a story about women taking up space, about stepping into their own power and letting themselves be seen in all their glory. Those themes are such an important part of the story and from the first breath taking page, I was completely and utterly lost in Schwab’s beautiful prose and agonisingly delicious depth.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to read about strong women with good hearts, who stand up and do what is right. But there is something incredibly satisfying about toxic women, who instead of doing the right thing for the world, do what is right for them. Who demand to take up the space they have been told they don’t deserve, who care only about their hunger, and how to satiate it.

Just like Addie, this is a book that you won’t even begin to be able to scratch the surface of on a first read. I know I’ll be reading it over and over for years to come, highlighting and memorising quotes, desperately searching for myself in the grey of the characters.

I’m so unbelievably grateful to live in a world where V.E. Schwab tells stories.

Thank you so much for allowing me to review this book ahead of publication!

I had mixed feelings reading this book: firstly, Victoria's writing was absolutely phenomenal as always. The way she describes places and characters never ceases to amaze me.

I of course thought the idea of having horror, gothic vibes, VAMPIRES and LGTBQIA+ rep all mixed together, I think this book fills a gap in literature we've been having for many years.

What I didn't enjoy so much about the story is that it is very character driven and even though learning the back stories of our three main characters was interesting and key to the story, I felt like after a while the story was dragging a bit and the real action and plot development starts more towards the end part of the book which for someone who likes a more fast-paced approach was a bit boring at times.

“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.”

V.E. Schwab has done it again. Obviously as a huge fan I’m not surprised, but what did surprise me is the way she managed to incorporate traditional vampire lore but still add something new. She stays true to some elements but makes subtle tweaks to others and what is left is quite simply, brilliant!

This book has been described as toxic lesbian vampires, which is entirely accurate, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s feminine rage. It’s love and passion. Grief and hope. Friendship, frustration and defiance, all wrapped up in a story that spans multiple centuries, continents and languages. It’s atmospheric and lyrical but brutal and unforgiving - I adored it 😍

The three main characters - Sabine, Charlotte and Alice - are very different but have so much in common. Each of them wishes for a different life, to be free and to be seen. Each of them wants to be loved. All of which makes them relatable, but doesn’t mean they are all likeable. As the story unfolds, and we learn more about the history that links these three women, not everyone’s motives are clear and I couldn’t wait to see how it would end.

This was beautifully written, and despite the story being told from three different points of view, jumping back and forth across a timeline that spanned centuries, it never felt confusing or slow.

I was fully immersed in the story and can’t wait to see readers reactions when it is released into the wild.

All the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher (Pan MacMillan) for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

Victoria E. Schwab once again delivers a beautifully haunting tale filled with lyrical prose, rich atmosphere, and deeply compelling characters.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a mesmerising blend of gothic mystery and emotional depth, weaving themes of loss, resilience, and the power of stories. Schwab’s storytelling is both chilling and heartfelt, making this an unforgettable read. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this book! It has multiple POV and I couldn’t wait to get back to each persons to find out what happened next. Such a captivating book.

🖤 Blood-drenched, Lyrical & Ferociously Beautiful 🖤

“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.”

There are stories that linger—and then there are stories that consume you, sink their teeth into your soul, and refuse to let go. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is the latter. A haunting, blood-soaked tapestry of desire, rage, and the brutal ache of eternity, Schwab delivers something feral, intoxicating, and utterly consuming.

I went into this with impossibly high expectations because The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It hit hard, it resonated deeply, and it’s one I will keep rereading forever. So, naturally, I highly anticipated this—and Schwab did not disappoint.

Spanning centuries and continents, we follow three women—each bound by hunger, by longing, by the cruel weight of time. Schwab’s prose shifts and transforms with each perspective, weaving a hypnotic, toxic, achingly human narrative that is as grotesque as it is beautiful. The way each individual story unfurls and intertwines creates something rich and deeply immersive—never once breaking its hold, always dragging you deeper, making you ravenous for more.

This book is a love letter to monsters—to the women who refuse to be tamed, to the ones who burn, who hunger, who haunt the shadows and carve their own place in history. It brims with yearning, obsession, and a hunger so visceral it left me breathless. It’s a story about womanhood—about being unapologetically no one but yourself, about the defiance of existing on your own terms, untamed, unshackled, and unrepentant.

I devoured this book. I was obsessed—completely, utterly lost in it. It is relentless, violent, intoxicating, and sexy—everything I hoped for and so, so much more. Schwab has taken gothic horror and drenched it in female rage, desire, and the aching, desperate need for connection. It is a story of control—of the power men have held over women, of women reclaiming that power, of the grip that love, obsession, and time itself can have over us.

It is a book of absolute perfection, and I already cannot wait to reread it again.

If you crave stories that feel like a fever dream of blood and longing, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is an absolute must-read.

“the world will try to make you small. It will tell you to be modest and meek. but the world is wrong”

if you’re a fan of Addie Larue, you’ll love this. It follows the same kind of writing style and story telling. It’s very deep dive and explorative into the characters past lives so you can watch them grow into how they exist now, it’s setting the threads of time and pulling readers along so we can understand each event that led to our current time. I did very much love the three characters and exploring their different lives. seeing a powerful intelligent girl play upper society into getting everything she wanted, seeing a carefree artistic girl run from fear into the arms of a lover turned devil, a modern born girl filled with anxiety living in her sisters shadow. I think from a feminist point of view it was such a beautiful story into the way society may have changed but the burdens placed on women have not, how each and every non man faces challenges and fears that stem from the same place and the things we must do to survive these.

there are two reasons why this is not four stars for me.
1) my biggest critique of Addie was the lack of oomph. listen I’m a thought daughter and I can ponder my place in the world for hours, but when it comes to a story I want to be grabbed and hooked in. there were a lot of times through this where I felt that lacking because of its explorative nature.
2) the ending. nearly 600 pages of exploring their lives and maybe 70 of the characters actually together so we can see the pieces slot. I wanted more of their head to head. more of them finally meeting and us seeing these characters we’ve learnt so well and their interactions together.

So let me start by saying Vicious by this author is one of my fav books of all time so I will always read anything she writes but damn this book dragged. Don’t get me wrong it was a decent vampire story, I liked a lot of elements but did it need to be 550 pages? No definitely not. The ending left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, it didn’t feel final and left me thinking what was the point! The writing as always was stunning but not my fav by her by no means.

V.E Schwab is one of my favourite authors and I absolutely love that each book she writes is so unique. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil follows the story of how the main female characters encountered and became vampires. I felt it was a little slow paced at times and it took me a while to get into. However once I did I loved the unravelling and questions that arose as I read on. It is a book that I have kept thinking about in the days after finishing it.