Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

Hauntingly Beautiful but Uneven: A Slow-Burn Story That Doesn’t Quite Stick the Landing

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab There’s something undeniably captivating about V.E. Schwab’s writing. From the very first page, she pulls you in with her atmospheric prose and immersive storytelling. I often find that I can be a quarter of the way through her books, completely engrossed, yet if someone asked me what the plot was about so far, I’d probably shrug and say, “Not much has happened—yet.” That’s the beauty of Schwab’s narrative style: it’s slow-burning, character-focused, and emotionally rich.

In Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, Schwab introduces us to Sarine, Alice, and Lottie—three women whose lives, both mortal and vampiric, are intricately bound together. Their stories unfold in layers, and I particularly loved how their humanity is never overshadowed by their supernatural elements. Sarine, in particular, stood out as one of the most vivid characters I’ve read in a while. She’s complex, flawed, and so fully realized that she almost feels like a living person. The thematic threads—grief, power, identity, and the legacy of violence—are woven with Schwab’s signature subtlety. The way everything eventually ties together is satisfying and smart, but I did have issues with the book’s pacing. While the first half is engrossing in its emotional build-up, Lottie’s character is introduced far too late for my liking. Her arc, though important, feels rushed and underdeveloped, as if we’re speeding through vital context that should’ve been explored much earlier. The ending, too, didn’t quite land for me. Without giving spoilers, I’ll just say the resolution felt too abrupt and somewhat unearned. After nearly 600 pages of build-up, I expected more depth and nuance in the conclusion. It’s not just a matter of not liking what happened—I also felt the way it was written lacked the careful attention Schwab typically gives her finales.

If this is your first encounter with V.E. Schwab, I wouldn’t recommend starting here. While Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil has moments of brilliance, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The finesse and emotional resonance Schwab is known for are present, but feel more scattered in this novel. For longtime fans, there’s still plenty to enjoy—compelling characters, rich worldbuilding, and haunting prose—but be prepared for a slightly uneven experience.

“Live long enough and things begin to rot…”

RATING: 4/5