4.25 stars for the HOT(!), TOXIC(!), LESBIAN(!) VAMPIRES!!!!

V. E. Schwab, I can't believe you've done this! The girlies were out there SLAYING the patriarchy, turning feral under the light of the moon, and growing teeth so sharp that they tore themselves from the grips of time itself. All while violently recreating themselves in beautiful, terrible, extravagant, exhilarating, addictive, and always frightening ways.

"More and more she thinks of cutting it off. Her hair. His hand. Depending on the day."

This book held me up against the wall by my throat from the start, where we meet a headstrong girl in 1532 Spain who thirsts for freedom. She finds that freedom, and her own unfathomable strength, and starts writing her own story, in blood.

"...the way she feels when those men are in her arms. When they are weak, and she is strong. When they are trapped."

This is a coming-of-ages-and-ages-and-ages story. It's a story of seeking more, and of finding more than you wanted. It's a toxic ex story where you get revenge on your man, but then become the toxic ex yourself. It's the story of escaping the things that cage you. It's a story of how, even in death, the heart looks for places to love and be loved. It's the story of hunger. Eternal, undying hunger.

"We are the roses that grew in the midnight soil...Our thorns are sharp enough to prick. We are watered by life, and with its bounty, our roots grow deep, our blooms unmarred by age. In fact, for us, time fortifies, renders us more noble. We are no monster, no mean thing. We are nature's finest flower."

Thank you to the publisher for my electronic copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and look forward to buying it when it's released.

While this story was interesting … it was also very depressing. I love Schwab’s writing. It is very beautifully written. But literally so much sadness. There was no real “good feeling” at the end of this book and it left me unfulfilled. Unfortunately, I just feel like it could have been done so much less depressing.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the e-reader ARC.
And to V.E. Schwab for another beautifully, painful, and epically gorgeous piece of art.

From the very first page, V.E. Schwab immerses us in a world where the line between humanity and monstrosity blurs. The deep descriptions of emotions resonate with a haunting clarity, allowing me as a reader to truly feel the characters' struggles, joys, and sorrows. This is not just a tale of vampires; it's an exploration of what it means to be human, to love, and to grapple with our darker instincts.

The violence in the story is not gratuitous but is instead portrayed with a visceral intensity that underscores the characters' internal conflicts. Each act of brutality is steeped in meaning, which forces me as a reader to confront the complex concepts of morality and survival. V.E. Schwab skillfully juxtaposes moments of tenderness with scenes of exquisite violence, creating a powerful tension that kept me engaged throughout the story.

What sets this story apart is its fresh perspective on the “vampire”. The narrative challenges traditional notions, presenting the vampire not merely as a creature of the night but as a reflection of human fears, desires, and vulnerabilities. This innovative approach invites readers to ponder the nature of existence itself, making it a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

Overall, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a book that not only tells a compelling story but also invites us to examine our own humanity, making it a standout in contemporary literature. Highly recommended for those that loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and are seeking a rich, immersive experience in a beautifully crafted world.

In “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil,” V.E. Schwab showcases her signature lyrical prose, painting scenes with an almost dreamlike quality that feels both haunting and ethereal. I went into this book hoping for a different experience after feeling underwhelmed by The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Unfortunately, this book left me with similar impressions. Schwab’s writing is undeniably beautiful and achingly evocative; each line feels crafted with such care and precision. However, I found myself wishing for a bit more from the plot—a pattern I’ve noticed with her works. That said, I have no doubt many readers will fall under its spell, and I look forward to recommending it to patrons who seek atmospheric, introspective reads.

Thank you to V. E. Schwab, Tor, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

V. E. Schwab has done it again. The complex morality of monsters seeking connection and love, while hungering and feeding on the lives of mortals. Three women through the centuries and their stories and deaths intertwining. The author herself described it as a Toxic Lesbian Vampire book, and it is an apt description. I'm recommending this book to any- and everyone.

Take AMC's version of Interview with the Vampire but make it toxic lesbians. PERFECTION.

I love Schwab's modern take on vampires. From the new spins on basic lore to the exploration of what immortality takes from you, Schwab has created a new vampire story that feels darkly atmospheric and introspective. There is gothic allure in her prose, but at times you forget you are reading a vampire story and instead you are pulled into the character's complex histories and moral struggles—making the journey feel hauntingly personal. The overall effect is an evocative experience.

If you've read some of Schwab's other books this one combines aspects of Addie and Vicious. An intriguing take on the vampie story with these characters all toxic in their own way.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get a chance to read this book early (and just in time for Halloween season!!). It is such a wonderfully haunting and atmospheric story, I could not put it down. I personally love female villains, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil really delivered on that front. There are some minor hiccups (grammatical errors and two separate background characters appear to have their names changed from one page to the next) but I’m assuming that since this is an ARC those will get cleaned up before publishing.

Perfect for fans of Interview With the Vampire and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

There is much I want to say about BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL, but precious little I want to give away so early, except for this: it is my favorite standalone V. E. Schwab book, without question.

If THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE was a guiding candle lit upon the wick of Schwab's vulnerabilities, hopes, and wishes, BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL is a roaring bonfire into which Schwab threw her entire being—heart, blood, bones, and all. Long described as her toxic lesbian vampire novel, her ode to Florence + the Machine, and an homage to the work of Anne Rice, BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL is a gorgeous, blood-stained story of ravenous hunger, vicious love, and what it means to be free at the cost of your own humanity. In terms of Schwab's work, it lives at the delicious intersection of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE and VICIOUS—an indulgent and violent history of immortality and otherness that only Schwab could write, and it is everything I could've asked for.

I can't wait for this book to land in the world—signed and full of love and ready to bite—but most of all, I can't wait for you to meet the three women at its heart. If you haven't preordered it already, I'd highly encourage it. This is one you can't afford to miss.

It’s the love child of the storytelling in Addie LaRue and the morally grey (black) characters of Vicious… but make it sapphic vampires.

this book feels like the soul of VE Schwab and I’m so here for it.

A tour de force about three women who just want to live life on their own terms, not defined by any man or society as a whole. A life of freedom. A novel that shows vampires in a different light that humanizes as much as it demonizes them as monsters. When first turned they still have human traits that over time erode. Beautifully written, I can already read it a second time. , I think this is Schwab’s best yet.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was beautifully written, and reminded me a lot of the invisible life of Addie larue. It really took it's time unwinding the story and taking you through each beat slowly. The characters were well thought out and full of life, and I was engaged until the last page. I only wished for more of Alice!

Schwab’s writing is unmatched as always. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was everything I wanted it to be and more. The writing was stunning and melancholy, and I felt each character’s thoughts and emotions as if they were my own. This is one of those books that will definitely stick with you for a long, long time.

This book was everything it was hyped up to be and more. Incredible characters and a captivating plot all wrapped up in V. E. Schwab’s lyrical writing. Absolutely worth the read and would 100% recommend this to any fantasy historical readers out there.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a dark and seductive story about three women who liberate themselves by embracing monstrousness. Maria is a young bride who longs to escape her husband's control. Charlotte is a fresh-faced debutante who longs for adventure and excitement. Alice is an anxious college student who wants to feel like a more confident version of herself, if only for one night. Schwab weaves their journeys together with an expert hand, captivating readers with her lyrical prose and delivering a conclusion that is equal parts satisfying and unsettling.

Bones is a fresh take on classic tales of vampirism. It's about hunger and rage and grief and our soul-deep need for connection. I love that every time I thought I knew where the story was going or what decisions the characters would make, I was wrong. They surprised me over and over again, and it was delightful to read.

The quality of Schwab's writing is lovely, as always, and I think her readers and readers who enjoy explorations of humanity and monstrousness in literature will devour it.