Welcome to week one of our Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Read Along! This month, we’re diving into V.E. Schwab’s latest gothic fantasy, filled with haunting imagery, forbidden desire, witches, and slow-burn vampire tension. If you’re a fan of dark, character-driven fantasy with emotional bite (pun intended), you’re in the right place.
This read along is part of our July Bite Me Box—a book box for fantasy romance lovers. Don’t worry if you missed this one—August’s box features Arcana Academy by Elise Kova and it’s already shaping up to be another reader favorite. Grab your box here!
Prefer to watch instead of read? I’m also chronicling this read along in weekly vlogs. You can check out the video for this week right here and follow along as I rant, react, and spiral into theories.
Let’s talk about this book—because wow, it starts off strong.
From the very beginning, young Maria hooked me. Her fierce presence and calculating thoughts immediately stood out. I loved how instead of reacting emotionally, she smiled at the idea of revenge. That moment told me everything I needed to know about her. We’re going to be rooting for her.
The setting with the witches and the widow is lush and ominous, and I already sense this will be a major theme as we move through the book.
Now, I’ve got a big theory brewing: what if Lottie is actually Maria—transformed, immortal, and navigating the world as a vampire? Their emotional connection and mirrored energy are too strong to ignore. Especially considering Alice…
Let’s talk about Alice for a second. She’s awkward, shy, soft—and I love her. Her scenes are full of longing and loneliness. When Lottie pays attention to her, it’s this aching kind of beautiful. I couldn’t stop smiling—and then hurting—because you know something big is coming.
But is Alice sick from blood loss…or is she changing? We don’t yet know how turning works in this world, but I’m watching closely.
Alice’s family dynamics also caught my attention.
Her past is heavy, especially with the strained relationship with her stepmother. And her older sister—the one with real memories of their mother—hasn’t been fully explored yet, but I think that’s going to matter. Maybe not in obvious ways, but I’m bracing for something dark.
And Maria’s fiancé? Yuck. I could smell the toxicity the moment he appeared. I’m hoping for an epic downfall—and soon. I’ve got a hunch Maria’s going to become the new Widow, and the symbolism there would be so satisfying.
And then Sabine…
Okay, that twist? I did not expect Sabine to die so soon! I was certain she’d be a larger part of Maria’s narrative, and V.E. Schwab completely upended my expectations—in the best way. It’s made me question everything about where the story’s headed next, and I love that.
Now I’m left wondering: is Maria truly Lottie? Or am I connecting dots that aren’t really there? I guess we’ll find out in week two.
What’s next in the read along?
Next week, we’ll read through the next section—stopping right before Alice returns, on page 231. We’re going to unpack more of Sabine’s story, explore Maria’s transformation (maybe?), and hopefully learn more about what’s going on with Alice.
If you’re reading along, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop them in the comments, tag us on socials, or join our newsletter for weekly updates and behind the scenes reveals.
Did you miss this month’s book?
Don’t worry—our August Bite Me Box features Arcana Academy by Elise Kova, a magical academy fantasy full of secrets, power, and passion. It comes with exclusive goodies, themed bookish items, and get the book for our read along’s shipped straight to your door. Supplies are limited, so order your August box here!
Want more like this?
Subscribe to the Bite Me Box newsletter to stay updated on future boxes, read alongs, and giveaways. Click here to join and get a little magic in your inbox each week.
Until next time—happy reading, and I’ll see you next week for our Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Week Two discussion!
Leave a Reply