Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Read Along – Week Two: Sabine’s Hunger, Alice’s Rise, and Burning Hearts
Welcome to week two of our Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil read along! This section cracked the world wide open—and honestly, we’re getting into some serious blood, lore, and monstrous transformation.
Prefer video format? Watch the vlog for Week 2 here and spiral into spoilers with me.
Maria is Sabine – and the Monster is Unleashed
Okay, let’s start with where I was wrong. Maria isn’t just connected to Sabine—Maria becomes Sabine. And though I was hoping for more time with the original Sabine, I get it. This story belongs to Maria now, and her transformation into a vampire is ruthless and unsettling.
She becomes something near a serial killer—keeping tokens from victims, hunting without care, and acting out the same entitlement and fury she had in life…only amplified. Her rage feels justified, but it also curdles into something darker now that she’s no longer human.
And yet—I’m still rooting for her. Is that unhinged? Maybe. But this is a vampire story, and I want Sabine to find a shred of peace. Or power. Or both.
Vampire Lore Done Schwab-Style
V.E. Schwab plays with vampire myths in a way that feels both classic and fresh. We get the hunger, the grave dirt, the fear of burning, the need for invitation—but with twists.
Daylight weakens, but doesn’t burn. Holy symbols have no power. Vampires have mortal hearts. And the hunger? It’s poetic. Terrifying. Tangible.
There’s a moment where Sabine is warned about how being burnt alive is the worst because the heart burns last. That line. It stuck. Especially because…
That Church Scene — And the Coffins
Sabine and her companions start hunting in churches. But the twist? Their victims get the last word. They’re nailed into coffins and burned alive, while Sabine falls into a crypt—temporarily trapped. Brutal. Brilliant. Exactly the kind of savagery I love seeing in dark fantasy.
Alice’s Transformation Is Everything
Alice isn’t as present in this section, but her arc? It’s major. She’s starting to transform—not just physically, but emotionally.
She’s no longer apologizing for existing. She’s not shrinking to fit. She’s stepping into her power, letting the predator rise, and watching her instincts take over. It’s beautiful. It’s violent. It’s earned.
And the moment with her sister Catty?
Catty breaks a bottle, licks Alice’s wound, and radiates chaos. That whole exchange was wild—and totally setting up something dark to come. Catty’s energy is volatile, defiant, emotional, selfish. It’s only a matter of time before everything explodes.
Sabine’s New Mentor: Matteo
Enter Matteo—Sabine’s newest mentor. I really like him. He brings structure to her chaos, teaches her to claim space, and introduces a kind of magical grounding. She’s not running wild anymore—she’s learning how to settle into her power.
Compared to her previous mentors, Matteo represents control, intention, and growth.
But even as Sabine learns, she doesn’t stop feeding. In fact, she lets herself grow fond of her next victim—then kills her anyway. The hunger wins. It feels like foreshadowing for something even darker coming.
Is Sabine losing her humanity for good?
What’s Next
Next week, we’ll dive into the first Charlotte section—reading up to page 378. We’re nearly at the end, and the stakes are high. (Pun intended.)
Missed last week’s post? Catch up on Week One here.
Want to join us for next month’s read along? Our August Bite Me Box features Arcana Academy by Elise Kova! Don’t miss this magical academy fantasy romance. Order your August box here.
Until next week—
Keep reading, keep theorizing, and keep the blood flowing.
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