Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc!

"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."

Honestely, if this doesn't excite you, then I don't know what will.
This book follows three very different women through the centuries, navigating the afterlife in unique ways. The story takes us to Spain, Venice, Rome, England, Germany, France and Boston, immersing the reader in these beautiful places in historic settings. If you've ever read a book by V.E. Schwab, you know that her writing is magical. Her prose has the ability to transport you to different cities and to live life through the eyes of her protagonist. This, and Addie LaRue, are truly peak beautiful writing. I read a lot, and in the endless sea of wonderful books I am confident to pick out this authors work by her distinct writing style.
The story sounded very intruiging, yet I could not help but to feel a little disappointed. This book promises to be fantasy and a sapphic romance, yet I felt that the story excelt in neither of those aspects, Seeing the vampire theme, I expected more lore and worldbuilding, which we did not get - for reasons that make sense in the context of the story, but still. The romance portion of this book starts at about 60 % and is not quite what I expected.
The book promises us the story of three girls, intertwining in the present day. I expected them to have an about equal part in telling the story, but it felt more like a 70/15/15 split, with the last POV beginning at about 60-70% of the book. Following our, as I would call her, main character is interesting, yet I sometimes felt that the story could have been told in a more streamlined fashion. I know that the flowery writing is pretty much the whole point of this novel, but I just cannot help to think that it kinda felt like a drag at some point.
I quite liked the characters and really appreciated their distinct writing. Their personalities really came out in their POVs, with Alice being an overthinker stuck in the past, Maria taking the freedom she always desired and Lottie longing for love. Honorable mention goes out to some of the side characters who made this book really special. I could have read a whole book about the other vampires we meet, especially the ones in Venice - V.E. Schwab, I BEG you for a spin off, please.

Overall, the writing was absolutely absolutely stunning and if you liked Addie LaRue in particular, you will love this one. For me, there was just too little progression in the story and there could have been more background lore. Still, I enjoyed my time reading this one and cannot wait to pick up more of this authors work!

This is only my second book after Addie Larue and it was amazing! I loved the writing style, it made me feel like i was in the story and I continued to stay captivated throughout. I will be reading the rest of this author's books immediately.

I was completely hooked by this one! I loved Maria’s story in particular and when charlottes story collided, it couldn’t have been done in a better way. I loved every single character, from Sabine’s ruthlessness to lottie’s gentle more humane approach. Enjoyed every minute!

My favourite Schwab book to date! Absolutely fantastic!

This book is definitely the soul sister to Addie LaRue!

I adore everything V E Schwab writes, and her books are all unique in their own right! But this book is 100% for the Addie LaRue fans, whilst being entirely its own story! But it has the elements we love: the spanning centuries, all the bittersweet notes and strong female characters!

🩸🌹🩸🌹

Premise:

The book follows 3 women at different time periods, each trying to escape their own kind of pain or societal trappings.

First Maria in the 1500s, who marries for a chance to escape, only to find herself more trapped. But is offered a chance of freedom by a mysterious widow.

And Charlotte in the 1800s, sent to London society for a season to find a husband, despite knowing she prefers women. And seeks out a new friend to help her escape.

And Alice, in modern day, who is running away from her past and meets a stranger on a night out, and wakes up to find her life has completely changed.

And did I mention, it’s a book full of toxic vampire lesbians?

🩸🌹🩸🌹

I was completely hooked with Maria’s story at the start, given her headstrong nature, but Schwab definitely takes us on a journey of corruption and toxic-ness, and soon everything blurs when you try to work out who you are rooting for!

And whilst Alice’s story/nature took me longer to click with, I loved seeing her discover her new found vampirism and how she becomes stronger! And her trying to test out pop culture vampire lore made me chuckle 😅

Charlotte’s story was incredibly strong as well. Especially the darker nature it took, with the toxic relationship / controlling dynamic.

And the way it all came together at the end, was fantastic! It truly was a Schwab-like ending, but I really enjoyed it.

Lastly, I adored the time spanning element of the book. The number of centuries and countries we explore are fantastic! London society was definitely my favourite (but that’s probably just the Bridgeton fan in me 😅)

Definitely recommend for any fantasy fans. Especially anyone who likes a slightly different take on vampire lore! Or if you just like morally grey female characters!

This is going to be my worst review ever because i genuinely do not know what words to put here that will get my words across at how much i love this book!

Thank you so much bookbreak/Pan MacMillian for accepting me as part of the blog tour for this incredible read! I will have my words in order for when my review is due to be posted!

One thing I do know is I will be screaming about this book for the rest of the year and possibly after!

I have throughly enjoyed every V.E Schwab book I've read thus far and this one is no different.

This was such a delicious world to sink my teeth in and I loved it. I don't usually go for historical books but there was a magical quality in the descriptions for each century throughout this book that it kept me enticed.

The characters are so fascinating that I couldn't help be drawn into their stories and want to follow their journey to present day.

Part of me wishes I'd listened to the audiobook because that is one phenomenal cast!

There's a reason this is one of the most anticipated books of the year. Schwab has a true gift for creating characters that cleft their way into our hearts and refuse to leave. This is a book that's dark, disturbing and, like Addie, aches with the lingering desire to be seen and to find a place in a world where life becomes insignificant. It charts the fortunes of 3 young women, all of whom are buried in the midnight soil. Spanning 400 years we follow, Maria, Lottie and Alice as they each face their new fate in differing ways.
Deeply poetic and raw, this novel is a piece of beauty. Terrifying and dark it explores humanity and what makes us human. I found it almost impossible to put this book down. One of my favourite novels of this year, it places Schwab firmly in the top 10 fantasy authors of the century.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a dark, seductive triumph. An exquisitely written, gothic character study that blends haunting beauty with raw emotional power. Following three women across centuries and continents, this standalone novel offers a visceral exploration of hunger, obsession, and the cost of immortality, all wrapped in lush, lyrical prose that refuses to let go.

Though steeped in vampiric lore, this story is far more than a supernatural tale, it’s a poetic meditation on female rage, longing, identity, and the inescapable pull of desire. Schwab masterfully crafts three interwoven narratives, each distinct in voice yet harmoniously entwined, examining the lives of women who defy, devour, and endure. Their connections unfold slowly, building a hypnotic momentum that crescendos with emotional and thematic weight.

This is not a plot-driven novel in the traditional sense; it is a deeply immersive experience, meant to be felt more than followed. The tension lies in the characters - their yearning, their grief, their destruction. Schwab doesn’t romanticize their darkness; instead, she honors it, showing how power, love, and pain can transform and consume.

For readers who loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Vicious, this is a natural progression. It's lyrical, brutal, introspective, and unapologetically queer. At times violent, at others tender, it’s a story of monstrous women who refuse to shrink, and of the aching need to belong even as you destroy what you touch.

Schwab has delivered one of her most personal and arresting works to date. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a literary gothic gem, It's sapphic, sensual, and utterly unforgettable. It doesn’t just explore the human condition, it sinks its teeth into it.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil tells the intertwined stories of three women spanning centuries from the 1500's to the present and how each learns to embrace their new life as a vampire.

I adore V.E. Schwab's writing and this was no exception. Each character is written so beautifully and the era is captured wonderfully. If you loved the slow but luxurious writing of The Secret Life of Addie LaRue I know you'll enjoy this book too.

It's an intricate novel with lots of details to take it. The ending felt a little abrupt after spanning the years of these characters but, none the less, I felt enraptured by it. A lush and beautiful book.

I knew from the first page that this book would be astounding. Three intertwined stories of women who fight to live their lives without any regrets. The depiction of the vampires in this book was very refreshing. It followed a similar base to the usual vampire description, but it had a new twist to it that I admired. I think it was the first book in a while in which I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. The ending took me completely by surprise. This story is one of those that will stick with you for years. I've been a big fan of V.E. Schwab's works, but this is definitely my favorite.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

With Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V.E. Schwab delivers a gripping and heartfelt novel exploring themes of yearning, eternal life, and the silent pain of wounds that have lasted for centuries.

Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are three women from separate time periods, each drawn together by a mix of darkness, desire, and a mysterious cursed land. Though their lives are separated by centuries, their stories gradually intertwine, creating a powerful and personal narrative that spans generations.

V.E. Schwab has a remarkable talent for creating characters that feel genuine—flawed, relatable, and powerful in their vulnerability. That’s exactly how I felt reading Addie LaRue, especially with her poetic, beautifully crafted writing style.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is really about how memory and who we are connect, and what it means to take control of your own story. It talks about the weight of the past, chasing after love, and finding the strength to decide who you want to be—even when time and fate seem to be in control.

The only downside is a small factual error: unfortunately, you can’t actually see the spires of Canterbury Cathedral from Margate, which was a little distracting for those familiar with the area. But this doesn’t take away from the overall power and beauty of the novel.

This novel is haunting, beautiful, and something you won’t be able to forget.

This was excellent. I did not know what was going to happen to these women to begin with but really enjoyed their background stories, each so different but we'll told. The characters were strong and individually interesting and then .........

Thank you to Net Galley and V.E. Schwab for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4.5/5
Ending 4.5/5
Interest 4.25/5

Overall 4.25/5

-I have always loved V.E. Schwab’s books. And this is no exception. She has a way of writing stories where we only get the full picture at the very end of the book. Usually, in movies specifically, I don’t often like this because I get confused, even bored. But it didn’t happen in this book. I was amazed at the storytelling aspect of the book and combined with the great plot, I got an amazing book. The different perspectives evolving depending on the time period, the events and the introduced characters was so well done.

-Maria was such an interesting character. Through the centuries, we really get to see her revolution from being a human woman trapped to be a wife to a man she doesn’t love to then her being this all powerful vampire. Truly, I loved her evolution. Alice and Lottie were interesting as well but I didn’t feel like we knew them all that well despite having their backgrounds sort of. In a way, we didn’t actually get to see them live those lived unlike Maria / Sabine where we saw her live every moment. If that makes sense.

-The ending of the book was where I was truly bamboozled. Like I said, we never truly got the whole picture until the very end of the book so when everything unraveled, it was amazing. From jaw dropping to amazed, I had loads of reactions.

I really liked the writing in this book. But I found it really hard to want to pick up the book. The writing was beautiful and it hasn’t put me off reading this author but this book just didn’t work for me.

"It is hard to know what one is capable of, until it becomes a matter of necessity. But I hope I'm not forced to find out."

OKAY MS. SCHWAB. She WROTE this book though. I feel like it's been a lifetime (or actually several??), but not a bad way. I was drawn into the story and lost in it almost immediately. The imagery and word choices, every word, they are so purposeful, Schwab playing with your mind on every page, toying with the edges of ideas you already have forming before you even realize she's done it. From the first page Schwab lays little crumbs and you can't help but to snap up every one, eager and searching for the next. It's part of what makes this book unputdownable. I love the way she incorporates what we already know to be common vampire lore without overcomplicating the "magic", but also still making it completely her own. There is a lot of wrestling with the meaning of life and death, what you do with both, how you answer to them, which I found to be a meaningful layer to the overall story, which also explores love, loneliness and grief. Each of the characters have left an imprint on me, even the ones that only grace a few pages. Their parts all so meaningful no matter how small. Every word I think of to describe the main trio, I feel also describes the story itself so well. Bold. Passionate. Layered. After all this is a complicated love story with high stakes (no pun intended). Every angle that V.E. Schwab approaches, she tackles so fully. I was constantly left in thoughtful reverie, trying to decide who is right, who is wrong. Following the metaphor of being "buried in the midnight soil" throughout the book is like a scavenger hunt. The entire concept is pure poetry and it's laced through every part of this book so beautifully. I think the word "vampire" is only used like 4 times in the whole book and I found that to be very impressive. There are so many more specific things I want to say, but I fear they will give away too much of the flow and turn of events throughout the book, so I guess you'll just have to read it yourself!

I absolutely adore V.E. Schwab! I was lucky enough to see her talk on her paperback tour for Addie Larue where she mentioned her next book was going to be ‘lesbian vampires’ and I could not stop thinking about it. And here we are.

I am obsessed.

This book is another home run for Schwab. She continues to dominate in the genre and keeps going from strength to strength. It was everything I needed and more. Her prose is electrifying. She had me hooked from the get go and I could not put the book down!

Toxic lesbian vampires? I can’t think of anything more perfect! Schwab has such a talent for creating complex characters you hate to love and love to hate, and will keep you changing your mind how you really feel about each character. The way she wove together each of their stories was magnificent.

I cannot wait to yell about ‘Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil’ to everyone I can because it is incredible and utterly unforgettable.

I half read and half listened to this one!

Loved it! The characters/ timelines/ everything. I'm a big Schwab fan.

Didn't feel like a long book either.

Great narrator too.

Thanks to the publisher for the aAlc and eArc received through NetGalley!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the early copy!! I’m not a vampire book girlie at all, but V E Schwab as always managed to write something to completely immerse myself in. When she says “toxic lesbian vampires” she REALLY means it but for some reason I adore reading about horrible women killing it, literally and figuratively. I had a hard time connecting to one of the three main characters, but I LOVED Lottie, and this book featured such a satisfying villain origin story as well. Would definitely recommend to anyone, even if vampires aren’t necessarily your cup of tea- believe me, you’ll like this

I’m going all teeth, no apologies. If you’re looking for a rage-soaked, morally complex sapphic vampire tale that leans into the cycles of grief, violence, and power, this is it. Schwab’s latest is a slow, character-driven spiral through centuries of history, trauma, and desire, told in prose that’s equal parts sharp and syrupy, always ready to draw blood.

We follow three queer women, Sabine, Charlotte, Alice, each trapped in their own era (1532, 1837, 2019), each carving out space for themselves in worlds that want to cage them. Schwab doesn’t flinch from the toxic or the violent. If you want your vampires messy, angry, and bound by threads of love and grief that transcend time, you’ll find yourself at home here.

Immortal women fighting for autonomy, stitched together by shared hunger and trauma, cycling through abuse and revenge, always reaching for something that tastes like freedom. Pain and power passed down like inheritance, always returning, never quite healed.

But, and it’s a real “but”, this is a book that asks for your patience. The pacing drags at moments, especially through the middle, and the heavy, character-first focus means plot sometimes takes a back seat to atmosphere and introspection. Schwab’s writing is lush, and she knows how to twist a knife with a single phrase.

If you need a neat resolution or a tidy bit of catharsis, look elsewhere. But if you want to linger in the ache, if you want a book that’s unashamedly queer, obsessed with the messiness of womanhood, and unafraid to gnaw on the bones of love, loss, and fury, then this is for you.

TL;DR:
Rich, poetic, and gloriously toxic. Sometimes frustrating, sometimes transcendent, always ambitious. Come for the vampires, stay for the rage and heartbreak. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the right reader, it’ll be the most important book they pick up all year.

3.75 overall rating.
3/5 for the story.
4/5 for the writing.

this was such a unique and beautifully written book. bury our bones in the midnight soil follows three women, vampires and lovers, whose lives unfold through rich storytelling, and i found it nearly addictive. their individual stories were captivating and detailed, and i loved how immersive the atmosphere felt. the writing was absolutely stunning, smooth, and incredibly easy to get lost in. i would honestly read 10,000 pages of v.e. schwab’s prose.

that said, the ending didn’t quite land for me. the final act felt rushed and left me a little confused. i was hoping for more clarity and connection between the characters as their stories came together. there was a lot of potential in that closing section, and i wish it had more emotional impact and meaning.

overall, a really enjoyable read with incredible writing and atmosphere. this was my second schwab book, and i’m absolutely reading more of her work this year. big thanks to netgalley for the arc!