I love VE Schwab, but not the biggest fan of Urban Fantasy so it took me a bit to get into. Once I hit the true plot of the book I was sucked in though (Ha, pun). Schwab has such a beautiful way of writing that she can bring any story to life. I loved the different characters, especially the historical POV.

Once again, another banger from V.E. Schwab. This book has been on my TBR for awhile, and I was so excited to finally receive an ARC of it! Schwab writes with such an exquisite tenderness and lush descriptions that I couldn't stop turning the pages and needing to find out what happens next. I loved the sapphic representation (toxic lesbian vampires? sign me UP), and how Schwab did not shy away from creating difficult female characters. I loved the alternating POVs, and thought that Schwab did an excellent job of handling several different timelines.

V. E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a beautifully dark novel that explores immortality, grief, and female resilience across time. The story follows three women: Maria, Alice, and Charlotte, whose lives are connected by a shared fate and a centuries-old legacy. Although they live in different time periods and locations, their stories are intertwined by the heavy cost of immortality and their struggle for agency in a world that often seeks to control them.

The novel takes us readers through a variety of historical settings, including Santo Domingo de la Calzada, London, and Boston. Each place is richly detailed, bringing the past to life while drawing connections between these distant times. Schwab’s world-building is immersive and vibrant, making it easy to get lost in the different historical landscapes.

At the heart of the novel is the theme of immortality. Maria, Alice, and Charlotte are all sapphic vampires, and their eternal lives are both a gift and a curse. While immortality offers them endless time, it also brings the burden of loss, grief, and loneliness. Schwab explores this tension beautifully, showing how living forever can be both empowering and deeply isolating. The story dives into the emotional and psychological toll of immortality, examining what it means to live when time no longer has an end.

Schwab’s writing is lyrical and haunting, creating a dark atmosphere that pulls readers in. The novel shifts between different timelines with ease, and each section adds layers to the story, deepening the connections between the past and present. The pacing is steady, and the emotional depth of the story makes it hard to put down.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of feminine strength and rage. The three women fight not only for their survival, but for their freedom in a world that seeks to silence them. Schwab doesn’t shy away from darker elements, including body horror and the consequences of immortality, giving the story a raw, visceral quality. I would definitely look up TWs.

Overall, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking tale that mixes historical fiction with supernatural elements. The novel’s rich world-building, emotional depth, and haunting atmosphere make it a compelling read. If you’re a fan of V.E. Schwab’s previous work, like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, or enjoy dark, atmospheric stories with strong themes of immortality and feminine power, this book is a must-read, in my opinion.

Gay women battle oppression, demands from their families and that famous unquenchable thirst in Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.

Schwab is clearly a skilled storyteller; this is a multilayered historical novel smoothly delivered with crisp movement. Creative use of the 'must be invited inside' vampiric lore. Protagonists are young lesbians, and some outside the intended audience will be able to relate to characters - not because they are especially likable but because of situations they are placed in. Charlotte (19th century, British, highly empathetic) is drawn with the most vivid strokes of our three main syringed-toothed ladies.

Fans of Carmilla will love this. Throw on some Bauhaus and give it a go.

The fantastic Fingersmith by Sarah Waters or The Buffalo Hunter Hunter are similar novels worth checking out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the review copy.

A tale as old as time…vampires, but vicious, toxic lesbian vampires, say less. Three women bound by their bones buried in the midnight soil who crash in and out of lust, power, manipulation, grief, and rage. Vampire fans this may be your new favorite. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced copy for an honest review..

Bury Our Bones In the Midnight Soil by V.E Schwab is a stunning and beautifully written book following three woman who are all planted in the same soil and all of them grow teeth.

When I got approved for this book I screamed in pure joy. And this book didn’t disappoint. It is a captivating novel about grief and loneliness and the lengths woman specifically can go to be free. I specifically was captivated by Sabine’s character anytime her chapters came up I was enthralled. I wouldn’t even realize I had read like 50 pages because I was so invested in her.

The strongest part of this book was how well V.E Schwab was able to make you feel what the characters are feeling. The grief and loneliness when I read Charlotte’s perspective, the need to be free and wild and unbound while reading Maria and Sabine’s chapters. The anxiety and fear in Alice’s parts. The way you can see how they change over time but stay true to the core parts of themselves is beautiful and tragic. I love my toxic lesbian vampires.

My only negative thought for this book is if you aren’t invested in the characters you aren’t going to like this book. It is HEAVILY character based; these characters are the plot. The woman’s stories and life are the soul of the book. I had a slight moment when reading Charlotte’s perspective where I got a little bored and because of that I struggled to fully give this book a five star, but I want to ignore that because of everything else especially Sabine. I cannot express enough how much I love Maria and Sabine.

If you like
-Toxic lesbians
-Beautifully written characters
-Tragic characters
-Heavy character focus where they are the plot

You will love this book!!

This one started off so strong, from the first chapter it gripped me and I was so excited to see where the story would go. When I found out this was sapphic and about vampires? It sold me! Unfortunately, about the 20% mark this fell flat for me. The pacing was a bit off, it was hard to connect to the characters. I was hoping by the 50% it would pick up, and it did a bit when we were met with the third main character. It still felt like there was no plot. What I did love was the writing, and the concept of vampires and toxic woman. I just wish there was more to it and the ending was anticlimactic.

THANK YOU to Tor and Netgalley for this e-arc!

Wow I don’t know what to even say? The tag line from the queen herself - toxic lesbian vampires - truly sums up this whole book in the best way.

Three women, tied together in the midnight soil as they say, span centuries in an entangled web of danger, cat and mouse games, grief, and HUNGER.

VE Schwab has knocked it out of the park with this one. I didn’t even know to want a vampire book like this!!! I was enthralled the entire time. Each character was crafted with care and depth. They were all flawed and yet so gripping. I loved this tale so much and wish I could bottle up the feeling of reading this to keep with me like Maria does her trinkets.

This is the kind of time-spanning, wickedly full of life and whimsy and lore fantasy story I love to read!!! What an absolute masterpiece.

All the stars ever, seriously I am obsessed with Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil and you will be too come June 10!!! Run, don’t walk to your local bookstore.

This book has elements of both the Vicious series and Addie LaRue in it. Sapphic vampires, toxic relationship, morally grey characters, traveling the world, beauty and terror.

Maria burns as brightly as her fiery red hair, Sabine is sly and seductive, Alice is young, inexperienced but with a weighty past. Lottie/Charlotte is a quintessential dreamer. Schwab blurs the line between victim and agitator, leaving you questioning who, if anyone, is good.
The characters are well developed and vivid, the writing is peak Schwab. Beautiful, literary and provocative.

I would highly recommend to fans of Schwab and others who enjoy lengthy all encompassing stories.

eARC received from NetGalley.

"Time makes poets out of all of us."
"Where others rot without, we rot within."
"Careful. In nature, beauty is a warning. The pretty ones are often poisonous."
So many great quotes i couldn't choose one!
4.5 stars!

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil surprisingly marks my second Victoria E. Schwab read, following The Secret Life of Addie LaRue. I had been holding off on reading Vicious, but when I received an ARC of this book, I couldn’t resist diving in.
A "toxic lesbian vampire" story is definitely what this is, despite the slow start. I found the build-up enjoyable, and the chaotic resolution at the end was absolutely thrilling.
While reading, I felt an atmospheric nod to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (whether intentional or not). However, Schwab’s writing style is much more feminine and striking, which gave the story its own distinct flavour.
I don’t typically enjoy books with dual timelines, and at the start, this one did feel somewhat disjointed. However, small clues hinted at a connection later on, though I did feel as though I was reading two very different novels at times. When I eventually reached the point of connection, I was completely off in my predictions about how Sabine and Alice were linked, which is a testament to Schwab’s excellent storytelling.
The descriptions of the transformation from human to creature—and ultimately to vampire—were compelling and oddly satisfying to read. She made you feel the ache of the Sun as an illness, and the feel of a door not yet invited into as an intense pressure.
Victoria E. Schwab portrays killing, particularly in Sabine’s case, as an act of freedom. She almost romanticizes it, setting the stage for the other girls’ experiences as vampires and their struggles with empathy towards humans.
Also have to add, my favourite chapter had to be Maria reborn into Sabine which was an iconic girl boss moment.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated books of the year!

Schwab has done it again. An enchanting, mysterious, and deeply engrossing novel that somehow flips the script on the vampire novel, Bury Our Bones is incredible. Utterly unputdownable until the very end.

Solid book. I love vampires and lesbians so this ticked boxes for me. Do I think that this book is that different from Interview with a Vampire? No. Do I think that if you've read that you'll be like "Is this LeStat and Louis but ladies?" Yes.

V.E. Schwab has done it again, weaving a mesmerizing tale that spans centuries with exquisite detail. The three vampires at the heart of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil are richly drawn, each with depth and nuance that make their stories unforgettable, all captured in Schwab’s signature, spellbinding style.

When I first started this, I really enjoyed it but it soon became so repetitive and eventually I hated every character to exist in it. The writing was beautiful as always, but I don't know I don't enjoy vampires and this book was LOOOOONG. If you like Addie LaRue, you'll probably enjoy this.

**Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!

I didn't know I needed a vampire book in my life, but it seems I did. Alternative time lines and POVs kept this one interesting.

When I started reading it was slow going because I hadn't yet been hooked into the story. Then I read slowly because the writing is so beautiful that I wanted to savor each word; pausing frequently to highlight phrases that captured my attention. By the end, I was reading slowly because I didn't want to finish. But end it must, and afterwards I was left staring at the ceiling, bereft and processing this journey. As I sit here trying to process what I've just read and cobble it into a review, the words swirling in my brain are: haunting, lyrical, thoughtful, atmospheric, immersive, sad, timeless.

Three stories are intertwined and weave their way through the centuries. Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are all interesting and full-fleshed out characters yearning for more. The story is character driven, slowly meandering with haunting prose as it twines their stories together. It is quietly powerful and slow to build, full of love, loss, anger, yearning, and hunger. It's both thoughtful and thought-provoking; hauntingly lyrical and by the end was un-put-downable.

Schwab has a plethora of fans thanks to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and here's my take: if you're looking for Addie 2.0, this isn't that. There will never be another Addie, and this is not intended to be a replica. Bury Our Bones is a masterpiece in its own right, darker and more visceral, with a unique storyline and complicated characters. Highly recommend.

V.E. Schwab put her soul into this. The characters were so fleshed out & compelling that you couldn't help but love & hate them viscerally. This is a lengthier novel that takes you through time with your characters. For that reason there may be places in time that feel drawn out or mundanely repetitive, but such is the nature of immortal life.
As someone who has grown up in a time of vampiric media, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil scratched that itch for me. Schwab plays around with the classic lore while also making her rules.
Overall Schwab has BLESSED us with Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. My expectations were high and exceeded.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Six out of 5 stars!!! The best book I have read all year. Maybe in my whole life?

No but everything about this book was perfect, from the writing, to the characters, to the way the storyline flowed. V.E. Schwab made me feel so immersed in the story with this one.

Reading this book was an emotional ride, one that left me both satisfied and deeply moved. V.E. Schwab has once again proven her remarkable ability to craft a story that goes beyond just a plot, creating a connection to both the characters and the readers themselves.

The emotions within this book are palpable, from grief to rage, love to loneliness, and moments of hope scattered throughout. Schwab expertly intertwines the stories of three women, Maria, Sabine, and Alice, each from a different era, yet each one struggling with a similar hunger that drives them in ways that are both compelling and complex. The way these characters are developed with their individual struggles and desires make it impossible not to feel deeply invested in their journeys.

This isn’t a fast-paced, action-packed book; it takes its time, allowing the lyrical prose to sweep you up and captivate your attention. There’s a tenderness to the relationships between the characters that is quietly powerful, and the intimate moments between them carry a sense of longing that is beautifully portrayed.

The slower pace allows you to truly take in the details and reflect on each character's path, making the experience all the richer. This is a book that begs to be read slowly, savored, and appreciated for the depth of its characters and themes. When you reach the end, you’ll realize there's no way to rush the journey, since that's what really sticks with you.

For a book I’d been eagerly anticipating all year, it didn’t disappoint in the least. It was everything I hoped for and more. V.E. Schwab clearly poured her heart and soul into this work, blending elements from her past writing into something that feels uniquely her own. If you’re a fan of her work, this book is a must-read, and if you’re new to her writing, it’s an excellent place to start.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review!!

V.E. Schwab can do no wrong in my eyes!! 😮‍💨😮‍💨 wow I cried, I laughed, I giggled and was kicking my feet! This gave me everything and more !!! What an amazing compelling story! Beautifully written and executed to perfection. So atmospheric, so gripping. If you haven’t preordered this book PLEASE do your self a favor and do it!! This gave me the dowry of blood plus the invisible life of Addie larue ! Pure perfection!