Schwab has impressively woven a compelling character drama and feminist critique into a horror thriller. But with so many moving parts and timelines, it’s inevitable that something has to suffer. I felt impatient every time we jaunted into Alice’s modern time, which is less enticing than the lesbian affairs that unfold in the other sections. The story lines eventually thread together, though not until well into the novel’s 500 pages. I found it well worth the wait, though, because of the sumptuous descriptions of place and time, and the slow-burn melodrama between each of the women ... Bury Our Bones gets at this idiosyncratic feeling with a tale told sharply but sweetly enough it goes down as easy as that happy-hour cocktail that, surprisingly, knocks you flat.
In Schwab’s hands, even the well-trod territory of immortal bloodsuckers turns fresh and new ... I found myself almost giddily delighted with Schwab’s yes-the-ton-but-also-vampires take—all three women are essential to the story, and following each of their intertwined stories from the beginning provides depth and importance that isn’t achievable without that level of detail ... The collective human imagination has always been intrigued by the competing aspects of vampirism—immortality and vulnerability—but has any other author this talented explored how both aging and power sit differently in women’s bodies than men’s? That’s the unique spin that Schwab brings to age-old vampire lore, and what a rich theme it proves ... A complex, rich, rewarding novel ... A riveting read. Fans who responded to Addie based on its inventiveness, complexity, era-spanning scope, historical detail, and gorgeous writing will certainly enjoy the same qualities in this book. And Bury Our Bones is also poised to appeal to an entirely different audience from Addie. It’s darker, less reassuring, more idiosyncratic. Fortunately or unfortunately, that tone feels ideally suited to the times we live in today. Some of the best feminist fiction doesn’t stop at promoting women’s rights, but allows us to revel, cathartically, in women’s wrongs. In Schwab’s capable hands, those wrongs feel oh so right.
Despite my initial hesitation, I was hooked after the first page. This book is absolutely exquisite in its execution; I had to force myself to put it down so I could do things like eat and sleep. I would recommend reading this when you have a long stretch of time to do so. Because having to stop is the most heartbreaking thing you’ll do ... Schwab sews such strong threads for each of her characters, showing how deeply interconnected their stories are, and how they shape one another. These three women feel so unbelievably real to me ... V.E. Schwab has created such clear, present characters who jump off the page fully formed. If you’re like me and tend to shy away from fantasy because it feels like too much, do yourself a favor and pick this book up anyway. You won’t be disappointed.
An entrancing tale of three lesbian vampires spanning five centuries ... The vampires’ intertwined stories explore the centuries between them, ultimately reaching an unexpected yet satisfying conclusion ... Schwab’s fantasies are always a big draw, and this enticing tale of lesbian vampires that crosses centuries will be irresistible to her many readers.
But while Bury Our Bones is certainly a work of fantasy and horror, it is not the idle wanderings of a mind divorced from reality. Schwab’s findings are not that surface-level. Instead, she actually watches (and forces readers to watch) as at least one of the characters is drained of her humanity, torn from the things that make her human, even when her blood does not ... In terms of vampire lore, Schwab has not only made the phenomenon her own here, she also has crafted her own mythos that withstands the tests of time and logic, enriching her prose and allowing it to exist as something that stands eternal while still feeling fresh and new ... Her heroines are vicious and near-evil, but they are also hauntingly, exquisitely beautiful. It stands to reason that three vampires created by the same author would be similar, but her talents are on full display here, meaning that each character is so distinct she could come from an entirely different book ... Paired with the centuries-spanning time leaps, this could (and even perhaps should) mean a narrative that feels incoherent or incohesive, but Schwab is deeply comfortable in this space, penning what is easily her best, most ambitious and most unique novel yet—a vampire book that is as immersive as a life lived throughout centuries, but that also still feels brand new and exciting. I have never before seen an author so confidently and creatively navigate such different timelines and women, but Schwab makes light work of her task here. Even when there is not a central conflict driving the plot, you feel just as tense as if there was a murderer chasing down your favorite protagonist ... Captivating, spellbinding, and keenly attuned to our social issues and downfalls, Bury Our Bones feels like the natural successor to Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.
A beautiful meditation on queer identity against a supernatural backdrop ... Alice’s flashbacks to Catty are particularly moving, and subtly play off themes of grief and loneliness laid out in the historical timelines.
An epic and emotionally resonant tale about three lesbian vampires connected through the centuries ... Schwab crafts intricate backstories for her leads, beautifully balancing the humanity and monstrosity of all three women while chronicling their transformations over time. The result is a haunting and worthwhile story about cruelty, grace, love, and what it means to live forever.
