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

 

 

 

 Title: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Author: V.E. Schwab

Pages: 514

Publisher: Tor

Release Date: 10th June 2025

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 This is a story about hunger. 
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada. 
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets. 
 
This is a story about love. 
1827. London. 
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined. 
 
This is a story about rage. 
2019. Boston. 
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge. 
 
This is a story about life— 
how it ends, and how it starts. 

 

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review: 

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan* 

In 1532, María lives in a small town and dreams of more. She makes a decision that will change her life forever. 

In 1827, Charlotte reluctantly arrives in London to stay with her aunt. At a ball, Charlotte meets an alluring widow who offers her a new life. 

 In 2019, Alice is a college student in Boston having left her homeland of Scotland behind to see the world. Then, after spending the night with a stranger, Alice finds her life derailed and she wants vengeance. 

 

I have a mixed history with this author's works - I was a big fan of their earlier books, but I've found over the last few years that I've liked the concepts more than the execution. So, I was a little hesitant going into this new novel, however, I did enjoy this overall. 

María, Sabine, Charlotte, and Alice were all interesting characters who I empathised with. It was interesting to find out more about them and to see where their decisions led. 

The different time periods the novel was set in were interesting. 

The plot held my attention throughout, but I think it did help that I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrators were very good. The pacing was maybe a little off at times, and there were a few things that bugged me, but I found this to be an enjoyable novel with interesting themes. 

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.