How three centuries of lesbian vampire lore mirror a single coming out journey
In short: V. E. Schwab’s latest dark fantasy isn't just a collection of monster stories; it is an autobiographical map of her own life. By weaving together the lives of three vampires across different eras, she explores how the search for freedom and identity can span centuries.
Published in June 2025, 'Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil' follows three lesbian vampires: María (1532), Charlotte (1827), and Alice (2019). While they inhabit vastly different worlds—from a rural Spanish estate to Victorian London and modern-day Boston—their narratives are structurally linked by Schwab’s personal history. The author revealed that these specific storylines represent the three distinct eras of her own coming out journey, crafted as independent arcs before being unified into a single narrative.
The novel explores the evolution of queer identity through the lens of vampire mythology. Seeking liberty, María fled a tyrannical wedlock during 1532 to join Sabine, a widow who transformed her into a vampire. Centuries later, Charlotte finds a similar bond with Sabine in London, only to witness the tragic erosion of Sabine's humanity as she becomes increasingly possessive and violent. The cycle concludes with Alice in 2019, whose journey through Boston serves as a modern reflection on these historical echoes.
Critics have noted the book’s ability to balance human vulnerability with monstrous behavior. While some reviewers found Alice's contemporary arc less compelling than the historical ones, others praised the work as a 'beautiful meditation on queer identity.' By drawing on classic lore like Carmilla and Anne Rice, Schwab creates a narrative that mirrors real-world cultural shifts, specifically highlighting the constraints placed on women's rights and the enduring nature of seeking autonomy.
The story emphasizes the cost of survival. Sabine’s transformation from a liberator to a predator illustrates how isolation can warp identity over decades. This thematic weight is underscored by the novel's atmosphere, which critics describe as both haunting and emotionally devastating, serving as an 'apt story for our current culture' regarding expectations and personal agency.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
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