There’s no shortage of excitingfantasy books coming out in 2025, and V.E. Schwab’sBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilhas been on my radar since the beginning of the year. I’m thrilled to report that it’s every bit as exciting as its “toxic lesbian vampire” premise and marketing suggests. Schwab’s latest delivers on its great concept and accomplishes even more with its multi-perspective, century-spanning narrative about three women whose fates are intertwined in unexpected ways.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilopens with Maria, who doesn’t fit into the life laid out for women of the 16th century. Everything from Maria’s relationship with her husband to her vibrant red hair refuses to bend to the world she lives in, so she finds solace in a widow who offers her freedom. That freedom takes her down a darker path, one that demands blood, but grants her power and time as a result. Maria’s story takes up much of Schwab’s novel, but Alice’s 2019 narrative and Charlotte’s 19th century journey are interspersed throughout the book as well.
Like Maria, Charlotte and Alice don’t necessarilyfit.While Charlotte faces many of the same challenges — an indifference to the men she’s meant to marry, an attraction to women at a time when such things are frowned upon, and a desire to be free — Alice simply wants to escape the grief and self-consciousness that’s plagued her for years. At its core,Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilis about three women seeking out the freedom and futures they desire, all while the world they live in tells them to do the opposite.
Its Themes Are Handled Impressively
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilis an ode to feminine rage, and it’s spectacularly done, with lines and paragraphs readers will highlight and revisit over and over. All three of Schwab’s leads are layered and complicated, and they’re forced to navigate worlds that aren’t made for them. This ensures that, even when they’re at their worst, we still want to root for them — at least, until we don’t. Their anger is palpable and warranted, and it ensures the emotional blows as they become monsters are even more devastating.
The author never shies away from the difficult realities of what these women are forced to sacrifice in becoming undead.
The vampire lore in Schwab’s novel feels simultaneously familiar and fresh, and the author never shies away from the difficult realities of what these women are forced to sacrifice in becoming undead.Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilgrapples with whether the payoff is worth the price. Unfortunately, that’s a question women are often faced with when seeking freedom, whether it’s by adapting to the world around them or railing against it.The feminist themes of Schwab’s novel land incredibly well, and it’s refreshing to see more sapphic representation in the vampire subgenre.
The relationships throughout the book are also mesmerizing and complex, and Schwab masterfully captures everything from the sensual moments to the darker, more heartbreaking ones. The novel successfully demonstrates how a relationship can rot and turn sour, going from a seemingly loving bond to something far more sinister. It’s worth looking up trigger warnings for abuse, though Schwab handles the topic with care.
Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil Is Lyrical, Lush & Impossible To Put Down
Even After 500 Pages, V.E. Schwab Leaves Readers Wanting More
Schwab knows how to handle atmosphere, andBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilis lyrical and lush, which is perfect for this dark vampire story. The book’s prose is powerful, and the backdrop fully immerses readers in the story.The ruthless nature of Schwab’s world makes it nearly impossible to look away, even when the characters are cruel or violent. Readers will find themselves fully invested, wishing to know how the three women’s stories connect. Just as they lose sympathy for one lead, they’ll become more invested in another.
This back-and-forth makes it exceedingly easy to fly through all 500 pages ofBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
This back-and-forth makes it exceedingly easy to fly through all 500 pages of the book,which is gripping and fast-paced despite its length. And even after passing the 500-page mark,Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilcould probably go longer. The only complaint I had while reading was that there wasn’t time to explore certain turns and dynamics towards the end. While the book’s conclusion is satisfying and works for the story, I’d have liked to see more of the final timeline before bidding these characters farewell.
V.E. Schwab’s Latest Feels Reminiscent Of Vicious & Addie LaRue (But May Be The Author’s Best Work Yet)
Those who enjoy Schwab’s previous books will definitely want to pick upBury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil,which feels most reminiscent ofViciousandThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.The novel has the moral complexity ofVicious,along with its dark setting and toxic character dynamics. However, its riveting reflections on time, love, and mortality manage to be even more compelling than those present inThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
While it’s hard to chooseSchwab’s best novel— too many of the author’sworks are 10/10 fantasy books—Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soilis certainly a contender. Before reading it, I didn’t think Schwab’s storytelling and prose could get much better. If nothing else, this novel proves that Schwab’s craft is still evolving, and in the best possible way.
