3.5 Stars

I went into this knowing almost nothing about it, and am not 100% sure how I feel about it! it was a slow-burn (maybe too slow in places!?), gothic vampire story full of poetic storytelling and queer longing. I can't get past a feeling of it being more focused on setting the right tone, rather than developing the plot, but it did keep me reading. Not what I expected, but I’m glad I read it... I think!

I had this on pre-order, so when I saw it on netgalley I was thrilled! Wow! It did not disappoint.
I loved the way we see 3 different ladies lives, and how they merged together to come to the present. So beautifully written and poetic.
I do hope a sequel comes, to see where Alice continues on.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I find V.E. Schwab to be a marmite author for me, I either absolutely love them or I really don't. Unfortunately even with all the beautiful writing in this book it was just not one that i enjoyed. Will it stop me reading her next book - absolutely not! I would never say don't read it, give it a try it may be for you, the writing is top tier as always.

I may try again in the future. I just could not connect to the main characters and the writing style.

I went in that book having no idea what to expect. I’d read the blurb but it didn’t really say much about the book, but « lesbian vampires » sounds right up my alley.

The stories of these three women, across centuries, intersected in such a captivating way. Each character has a story to tell, and as you read you just know there is more and more coming and you can’t wait to see it unfold.

In all honesty, the structure of the book makes it difficult not to compare each of the three women against each other, as the story go and some chapters are more interesting than others. But the way they merged, in the end, was fascinating. Some of it expected, some of it being revealed as the pages are turned, until you realise how easily you’ve been led to get right there.

In the beginning, I really enjoyed Maria’s chapters. Her fierceness and her anger are relatable, and her exploration of her newfound freedom in vampire form and her wandering across Europe were some of my favorites parts. In comparison, Alice’s chapters felt a bit less interesting, as her character is more naive. There was too much dissociating for my taste, with back and forth between her present and her past, which adds up to the back and forth between characters already and just prevented me from really getting into her story.

I did really love how we got introduced to Lottie’s character, only for her to disappear immediately, and for us to start looking for her. At every turn of page I wondered if this was the moment where we’d see her again, and how they would all finally connect.

I enjoyed all the three women’s perspectives, but I liked Lottie and Maria’s strong voices the most, and having such a long period of time of seeing them both evolve definitely made their characters have so much depth and strong voices.

My favourite book of the year so far???

This was my second V E Schwab book after addie and I have adored them both. It’s really telling me I need to get into more of her work.

This book was a masterpiece, the multi pov and different timelines worked incredibly well and felt like they flowed effortlessly.

This was at its core an exploration of freedom, love, grief and change. I was hooked.

Sabine was one of the most compelling characters and I just wanted to read more and more about her. The way patterns formed with time, the question of what does freedom cost?

If you love vampires and morally grey characters, then this is the book for you!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc ✨🥀🦴

Have you ever discovered a book and instantly thought “yup, this one was made for me?” That’s exactly how I felt when I heard that one of my favourite authors ever was writing a book with the tag line toxic lesbian vampires.

Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil follows three women, Sabine, Charlotte, and Alice. Each of them represent a different sort of vampire, a different blend of monster and human, and we follow them throughout their own lives and as their stories begin to intertwine.

At its core, this is a book about hunger, about longing, love, loss, and death, and I absolutely devoured it. It was so atmospheric and immersive, and I absolutely loved V’s take on the vampire lore.

Our three central characters were so incredibly fascinating to read about. They were so messy and morally grey but also so engaging and I really enjoyed getting to know each of them. I also loved how unapologetically lesbian this book is, and I loved reading about all of the relationships between these women, in all of their toxicity and messiness.

Unsurprisingly, the writing of this book was just simply stunning. If you enjoyed Addie LaRue I think you’ll definitely like this one - not only are there some nods to Addie, it also has the same character-driven, beautiful style of writing but honestly to me it felt like a step up in terms of writing. Every single page was gorgeous and the passion that V. E. Schwab put into this book is so apparent.

I honestly think this might be my favourite V. E. Schwab book ever and I am so excited for it to come out so everyone can sink their teeth into it and love it just as much as I did.

Actual rating 4.5.

I finally read my first V E Schwab, and I loved it! This is such a rich, compelling novel set across centuries and travelling across the world. Whilst some of the themes feel familiar (a controlling, dangerous partner for one), applying them to lesbian vampires certainly adds a different twist! It’s dark and gruesome at times, but beautifully told and captivating.

I had to DNF this at 58%.

I really feel like A LOT of this could have been cut, especially the Alice memories. I just didn’t connect to the characters and didn’t see the point of this book.

Thank you @netgalley @panmacmillan for arc copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.

It’s easy to approach a book with high expectations, but even easier to be let down. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil not only met my expectations it exceeded them. This book is mesmerising, the characters deeply real, and the story is one you can’t help but get lost in.

This story blends elements of modern gothic with light horror, exploring themes of love, loss, and loneliness in a way that feels both delicate and raw. While the plot may not rely on action packed moments, it’s the characters who drive the story, making every page feel intimate and alive. Starting with Maria’s perspective, Schwab sets a historical stage before gradually unfolding the supernatural, creating an atmosphere both eerie and familiar.

Though vampires are a classic element of dark fantasy, Schwab’s approach is entirely fresh and original Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil isn’t a retelling, but a completely new, stunningly crafted narrative

This book isn’t about grand battles or saving the world, it’s about something much deeper. It’s a raw, poetic journey into the heart of human connection, one that leaves you feeling understood and profoundly moved. Thank you really enjoyed reading this.

Oh my lord, where to start with this book? This beautiful love letter to women, to queerness, to yearning... I could not get enough.

This was my first read by V.E Schwab, and I'm so glad I went in blind. The only things I knew for certain was that it was a tale of toxic love and sapphic vampires. But that's barely scratching the surface.

This story explored existentialism to it's very core -- more specifically, It's a study of the human condition through the lens of womanhood. It's the yearning to be free from predatory men, a testament to women's (lack of) bodily autonomy, and all of the burning rage that comes with it. It poses the question; 'what does it mean for a woman to truly be "free", and is it worth the cost of her humanity?'. We get the privilige to explore this question thoroughly, trough the coarse of centuries.

"If you are so fond of living, why reject the gift of life?"
"Is it life," he counters, "if there is never death to balance it? Or is it's brevity what makes it beautiful?"

The narrative follows three distinct characters from as early as 1532, all the way to 2019. The plot isn't action-packed, and it doesn't need to be. Eventually we start to see how all three stories connect, overlappning like a tapestry, weaving seemingly unrelated threads together to create a larger picture. Furthermore, the lyrical prose and atmosphere of this book is more than enough to hook it's claws into you and refuse to let go.

I feel the need to note, though, that this is a character driven story, and you need to be in the right mood to truly appreciate the intricate character study that this book is. You need to let this story simmer, take your time with it -- don't rush! For it is gorgeous, it is viscious, hungry, and toxic. It truly is a sapphic vampire fever dream (with a dash of gothic horror, my favourite kind). And I personally enjoyed every blood-soaked second of it.

"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."

A quick side note before I finish this review: I have not read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (that's about to change), but from what I know of that book I do think that the storytelling in Bury Our Bones and Addie LaRue are very similar. So it's probably quite safe to say that if you liked Addie LaRue, you will like Bury Our Bones also.

TLDR: A tale of ravenous hunger, female rage and sapphic yearning. Perfect for fans of Addie LaRue, but with toxic vampires, gothic horror and angst. Gorgeously lyrical prose and the study of the human condition -- the perfect combo for any litfic fiend, like myself. This is a slow paced, non-linear narrative with character driven storylines att it's centre.
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The is book was gritty and amazing the plot was incredible with the multiple POV, however I did struggle with the mixed time frames but that’s a personal preference. Failing this, the book was phenomenal and people need to pick this up.

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley.

I very much enjoyed this book. I loved the fact that there were a few timelines presented that gave an over arching plot and we could see how the characters progressed. I love the language of the book, I found it very beautifully descriptive without being flowery. V E Schwab has a great way of pulling emotions from me with the words that she choses.
The story follows three women caught up together in obsession and possessiveness. I really liked the way all the characters were protrayed and at how their stories were told. If I were to rank the V E Schwab books that I have read I would put this behind Adie Lerue but before the Shades of London series in enjoyment for me. This one definitley has a more sombre gothic tone in comparrison to the Shades Series.
The ending took me by surprise but I really liked it.

V.E. Schwab's stories are just pure masterclasses. Every time I pick one up I know I'm going to be head over heels in love with it and then bereft when it has ended and yet, somehow, it's even more so than I can anticipate.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is another story I will cherish forever and no doubt come back to like I have with Addie.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was... good. I enjoyed it, for the most part anyway. It had that typical Schwab slow burn until the last 20% or so when the story took off, but there was just a little too much repetition for me in places, almost word for word in some cases as well as it feeling a little too slow burn for my liking for me to truly love this one.

The standout part for me in this was the characters, and it really did feel more of a character exploration that a plot fueled story. We start the story in 1521 with Maria, the first character we meet and the first turned. She is complicated... they all are, but Maria is definitely the most complex. She is someone who always wanted more, even before she was turned, someone who has used her beauty to carve out a life for herself. People see her as nothing more than prey, but she is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and will do whatever it takes to ensure she gets the life she wants.

Next we jump to 2019 where we meet Alice, someone desperate to shed off her old life, become someone new after moving from Scotland to Boston. Weighed down by a grief we can't see she finds herself a pawn in a game she had no idea she was playing. One that will certainly change her. Our final POV doesn't pop up until around the 50% mark, but I think Charlotte might be the character that stuck with me the most. Shipped off to London after her brother catches her and her best friend sharing more than a chaste kiss, her life goes from running free in her family home to debutante balls, corsets and eventually Sabine. It's easy to see how Charlotte could fall for her, and even easier to see why she stayed so long, desperate for the person who freed her to return.

None of these characters are nice, good, wholesome. They all carry their own grief, their own weights from their past lives, some more recent than others. But it's their pasts that shape them, that mold them into the creatures they become, Sabine unwilling to be tied down to anything, Charlotte never willing to turn anyone after what happened to her. The tagline of 'toxic lesbian vampires' really does sum them up well. They're monstrous, vicious, uncaring of who they hurt, and I do think Schwab did a great job of showing just how much of their humanity they lose over the years.

It's a story filled with love, but not the soft, fuzzy kind. This love is filled with teeth and desperation, want and need, it's a love more akin to ownership than anything truly romantic. Sabine so desperate to never feel owned again after her experience of marriage, yet does just that to Charlotte when she turns her. Their initial love burns off swiftly into something more toxic, abusive in so many ways. It's so easy to look at Charlotte and ask why didn't she leave, easy from an outside perspective at least, but anyone who has been in a relationship they're desperate to save whilst it's slowly burning down around them can testify that's it's the hardest thing in the world.

As you can see, there was plenty about this book that I loved, but it just felt like a slog to get through at times, and had the characters not been as compelling I absolutely would have DNF'd it. There was so much repetition surrounding becoming a Vampire as well as life after. We spend a lot of time with Sabine when she is freshly turned and see her go through the learning curve, only to go through it again with Charlotte, and for a time Alice. Sometimes things were almost described word for word as they were previously, and it just really slowed the story down in parts. Something not helped by Schwab's penchant for a slow burning story. I normally don't mind it, it's worked for all her other books, but this was the first one I felt was a little too slow, and that made the ending feel rushed, as well as a little convenient. I think I would have preferred a little more of an open ending like we got in Addie, because this just came across as a little too easy.

If you've enjoyed Schwab's previous works you'll probably enjoy this one too. I do seem to be in the minority with some of my more negative feelings. It's still beautifully written, filled with prose and lush writing that really help transport you into the story, and each voice was diverse enough that you didn't have to wonder which POV you were reading, there were just a couple of issues that stopped this from being the five star read I hoped it would be.

we’re following three women across three different time periods, all dealing with identity, power, desire, and the kind of hunger you can’t satisfy with a snack. think: girlhood + immortality + bloodlust. sexy, sad, gothic stuff.

✦ maria, 1532: pretty girl. big dreams. small town. ends up stuck in a castle playing rich wife, but she wants MORE. more blood, more power, more freedom. she’s a menace in the making.

✦ charlotte, 1827: cottagecore debutante turned scandal queen. she falls for a rich widow (👀) and trades repression for a messy, high-stakes romance with a price. elegance meets danger. think regency sapphics but toxic.

✦ alice, 2019: modern-day college girl trying to outrun her past and pretend she’s not spiraling. spoiler: she’s spiraling. one impulsive hookup sends her down a rabbit hole of secrets and violence and oh yeah—revenge.

this is NOT your cutesy vampire story. this is blood and teeth and yearning that hurts. these girls are NOT likable. they lie, rage, manipulate. and it’s DELICIOUS.

highlights:
• the writing? disgustingly gorgeous. like it wants to bite you.
• the whole “toxic lesbian vampires through time” vibe? unmatched.
• “addie larue” melancholy + “vicious” feral energy = this book
• not one timeline felt boring once things got going (tho the start IS slow, ngl)
• the ✨sensual tension✨ was chefs kiss. sexy but not smutty. just intense enough to make you sweat a little.

lowkey complaints:
• the ending? low-effort. it felt like schwab had a deadline and hit submit.
• charlotte’s timeline came in super late and felt undercooked. like girl we just met u 😭
• you’re not gonna like anyone. and that’s kinda the point.

but listen. i was locked in. the whole time i was like “what the hell is going on” but in a fun way. this is about messed up girls making worse decisions and looking hot while doing it. and you WILL eat it up.

final take:
if you like beautiful prose, historical drama, broken women with blood on their hands, and chaotic sapphic energy—run, don’t walk. it’s giving cursed, it’s giving iconic. not perfect, but unforgettable.

This story is told over centuries and follows 3 different women and how their stories intertwine. It follows their relationships and how they go from friends to lovers to enemies.

I did enjoy the story however it took me a while to get into it. I didn’t really have a connection to any of the characters which is why I struggled with it at the start but it was an interesting tale. I loved the last half of the book as the pace seemed to pick up. I like V. E. Schwab’s writing style and would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, V E Schwab and Pan MacMillan/Tor for this ARC

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #books #arc #netgalley #arc #veschwab #buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil

A dark, disturbing love story....lesbian vampires....a beautifully described story that spans centuries.

All of these can describe this story. My first by V.E.Schwab, but it is so vividly written that you feel truly invested in the lives of Sabine, Charlotte and Alice.

I’m genuinely blown away by this masterpiece of a book! The writing is phenomenal and the plot was exactly what I wanted.
Whoever told me this was the female version of Interview With The Vampire, I owe you my firstborn

Wow. How do I even start to review this beautiful, monstrous, insane book? I’ve seen it described as ‘toxic lesbian vampires’ and yes, absolutely that tracks. But it’s also a history of female oppression and rage and a celebration of that anger. It’s also devastatingly sad… what dregs of humanity can you hold onto when you’re human no longer?

The book spans hundreds of years and it’s told from the point of view of three young women; Maria, Alice and Charlotte. At first I thought one thing linked them - their vampirism - but actually now I’ve finished the book I think it’s a lot of things. Grief, the wish to escape and the desperation to be ‘more’. I felt myself absolutely drawn into their world and I loved how the author makes you love them… and then start to hate them a little, the more you learn. At least that’s how I felt!

I loved seeing the different snapshots in time that the women occupied and the friends, lovers and enemies that they make along the way. Everything felt so believable and realistic… I can completely imagine these ageless women walking amongst us, at the edges of society but also hiding in plain sight. The widows of the world.

I absolutely recommend this book but especially for fans of historical fiction and for anyone who enjoys reading about women’s wrongs. Because oh boy, these girls are monsters, but they all approach it in a different way.

Read BOBITMS for:
✨ Toxic lesbian vampires
✨ History spanning centuries
✨ Celebrating women’s wrongs
✨ From girls to monsters
✨ Immersive storytelling
✨ Powerful and emotional
✨ Three interwoven POVs
✨ Glimpses of moments in time
✨ Can women truly achieve freedom?

A massive thank you to Tor for an eARC of this enthralling book. It’s available on 10th June!