4.5 stars

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a moody, lyrical novel that blends literary fiction with subtle horror elements. As always, Schwab's writing is beautiful and prose-driven. Much like Addie, Bury Our Bones is more of an atmospheric experience rather than a plot-driven one. While there aren't sharp twists or plot-driven shocks, the horror seeps in quietly, through the slow decay of characters facing immortality. There's an undercurrent of female rage that runs through every POV, though Charlotte is my favorite, as a master-class in self delusion (we support women's wrongs).

I'd probably read Schwab's grocery list at this point but if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Carmilla, or An Education in Malice, this book is worth picking up. Toxic lesbian vampires forever.

Rating : 4 ★

My Interview with the Vampire fan-self fell in love with vampires again !

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is such an interesting tale and will be perfect for you if you love :
🥀 gothic settings & eerie vibes
🦇 sapphic vampires
🍷slow burn story
🪦 female rage

Told from three different povs and different time lines, we follow Sabine, Charlotte and Alice as their lives intertwine. The three women are so different but at the same time so similar and the way V.E. Schwab brings them to life is mesmerizing.

As always, I adore Schwab's writing. It's poetic and sharp and Bury Our Bones reminds me a lot of Addie LaRue in that aspect. The story is slow and we take our time with characters development and settings and that's exactly what I love to read about.

Female rage and female power are at the core of the story and feed our characters' actions and choices. While the majority of the book focuses on Sabine's life, we learn more and more about Charlotte and Alice as the story progresses, the place they take and role they play in it.

Interview with the Vampire is one of my favorite classics of the genre and even though I'm getting tired of Vampires being over-used and mis-treated in modern literature, Schwab did a brilliant job with this book. I'm mentioning Interview with the Vampire because I'm seeing a resemblance between the two and can easily imagine inspiration being drawn from the former - and I'm not mad about that.

I wish Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil would have kept focus on Sabine as well towards and until the end as to have a proper insight of her changes and ultimate downfall. In the same way I would have loved for some moments to have been written more in depth (I can give as an example <spoiler>when María kills Sabine : I thought the scene was too easy and rushed).</spoiler>.

This is a slow read, yet hard to put down.
This is a Romance, yet not a love story ...
Or is it ?

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Tor and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Happy release day to this beautiful and harrowing book!!

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

I really enjoyed savoring this one, taking my time with it and dwelling on it.
I've been wishing for something like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60521937-a-dowry-of-blood">A Dowry of Blood</a>, ever since reading it a few years back, and I found this book filled the gap that Dowry left.

Also also, read if you like female rage (which we do, yes yes 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️)

"Never walk alone at night, they tell you, if you’re a girl. And it isn’t fair. Because the night is when the world is quiet."

Schwab once again cements why she is one of my faves, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future!

4.5⭐

Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a much anticipated book this year and much anticipated from Schwab as I believe she has talked about this book in previous years. It has garnered a lot of attention for that. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed by this book and I actually felt bored throughout most of it.

We start far into the history of one of the characters where we learn how she became who she is by the time the story catches up to our (2019) timeline. While I understand why Sabine turned out the way she did, I didn't really care about her or her story. In places it is very drawn out. The whole story is, really. When Alice told one of the other characters to hurry up their 'story' as explanation to her, I felt that. I felt that throughout the entire book, honestly.

We clearly don't just follow Sabine. We also follow Alice, and nearing the end Charlotte. I found Alice's story the most compelling because she was someone we can all put ourselves in her shoes, suddenly becoming a vampire in our time. She was also an easy character to follow. Sometimes I found her recollections of her and her sister a little annoying but by the end it made sense as to why they were there. The ending, the choice Alice makes, was bold and I can really appreciate it. But it wasn't enough for me to enjoy the book in the end.

I was bored for most of the book. When the characters don't interest you and there isn't that much happening, a story can become boring very quickly. The story is drawn out and the writing did nothing to draw me in this story. This is Schwab, so I persisted to see if the ending was still worth it. Not really but as I said, I'm still pleased that Alice did that.

Having said that, this book is a mixture of her Addi la Rue and Vicious. Neither of those worked for me at the time. But if one or both of them are books you really liked, you might be more drawn to this than me.

Wow - for my first VE Schwab read this book did not disappoint! I kept hearing it described as 'toxic lesbian vampires' and you know what, they weren't wrong. VE Schwab's writing style is definitely something I vibe with and this book solidified that for me, which means it's time to pick up some of her other books.

The setting, the characterisation, the plot - I loved all of it. This book didn't take me long to read at all because I was so hooked.

Unfortunately, I'm DNFing this at 33% after trying to read it for two weeks. I wanted to enjoy this, I absolutely adored Addie LaRue and was hoping for more of the same but this just didn't work for me.

The pacing is very slow, it takes a long time for the vampire stuff to start - I've literally just got to it before I DNFd. The vampire side of things is ok but it just isn't enough to keep me engaged, the characters aren't very likeable either.

The plot is also non-existent! It feels like the story is just wandering around and nothing is going on, there should be an identifiable plot to a story - especially over a quarter of the way in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor for making my dream come true and providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler: I am screaming. This was the most addictive story.

This is how you write vampires. Vicious, sexy, dark and flawed. I love vampires, and V.E. Schwab did it absolutely perfectly. They are all so different from each other, but still share the hunger, the wilderness. Toxic lesbian vampires, dare I say more?

The tales of the three women span across centuries. They are tales of love and lust and chaos. Their stories sank their teeth into me and did not let me go. I am not sure they ever will. Their love devoured them, consumed them like fire; if you could even call it love. More like obsession, lust and passion. More like poison. They knew it was toxic, yet kept coming back for more.

Before I start talking about the characters and what made them so special, I need to mention the writing. Lyrical, but dark and engaging, it drew me in like a moth into a flame. The book didn't have a structured, linear plot, but it made up for it with feeling. I couldn't read the book, I felt it all the way into my soul. The story was not about what happened, even if that is a big part of it. I think it was mostly about how it felt- like a deep sadness, an ever consuming emptiness and starvation.
Schwab's prose just gets better and better with every book. When she called this one the opposite of Addie, she meant it.

Without spoiling it, the ending left me staring at the ceiling at 4am. Much like our characters, I was left craving more, questioning everything I knew about life. And sometimes you need an ending like that. One that stays with you, like a comforting heaviness onto your chest.

Onto the characters. Firstly there was Maria- the definition of female rage. A simple girl who always knew she wanted more from life than just being a wife. She was craving power, and freedom and to live how she pleased. And that's exactly what she did, even before the turning point when she bit destiny by the throat. She knew what she wanted and was not afraid to take it, from her husband's riches, to later his life and Sabine's whole identity. Damning the consequences, she was all about the thrill of the chase. She was the definition of the obsession you want to dedicate your days to. The one you want to dedicate your nights to.

Charlotte-Lottie. More tame, a naïve girl whose only mistake was to fall in love with the wrong person time and time again. She felt like a fever dream. She felt human. She was enjoying her life, while still being a bridge between the maturity of her real age and the youth of her heart. She was love, pure and open.

And Alice? Alice was revenge. She was angry, not just at what happened to her family, but at what happened to herself. She demanded justice, even if she had to make it herself. She started off as an unwilling participant, but the tangled story she became a part of changed her. Alice was just starting to live.

Pure artistry, the book showed women through history. It was a big love letter to female rage and loving women.

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

4.5 ⭐

Toxic sapphic vampires. 💋🗡️🩸🥀

There is very little wiggle room when it comes to writing stories about vampires while trying to stay true to the base myths and lore, but I loved the creative liberty V.E Schwab took with certain elements in this novel.

'The last thing these men will ever feel is fear. And it will be her doing.'

This is what I imagine would be the aftermath if women were given a machete and free will to do anything with no consequences. When it comes to women committing violence against men, I am blind, your honor, I cannot testify.

This novel is the embodiment of violent obsession, unbridled rage and heavy grief.

(A vampire having a panic attack was not on my bingo card, but the struggle is real.)

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an early proof in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Upload will go up on Wednesday 11th

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!