#be advised

New two shot called The Flesh is Willing.

Books of 2025: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V. E. Schwab.

While VICIOUS continues to be my all-time favorite Schwab book (hell, one of my all-time favorite books, period), BONES is the one that gave me an Epiphany about Her Storytelling Mode.

I suspect that when people say "there's no plot, Schwab is such a Vibes Writer" (primarily about ADDIE LARUE and now again about BONES), what they mean is the story is driven by Tension rather than Conflict. Sure, not a ton of Plot Worthy Events happen in BONES (and I don't recall them in ADDIE, either, but I read that a while ago), but the braided timelines and shifting POV carry the story's momentum by design. You're not supposed to ask "ugh okay so what HAPPENS, who is the ANTAGONIST and what is GOING ON," you're supposed to ask, "Who are these people? How do they connect? How and why are these three toxic lesbian vampires intertwined, where do their separate stories dovetail, what is their relationship to one another, and where does it go?" The story is less about What's Happening and more about Who's Happening, and the split timelines and POVs draw you through the book by virtue of what's left unsaid and what's revealed when.

Obviously, that flavor of story isn't for everyone, but I thought this was a really well-done example of a tension-driven story--what you don't know keeps you reading. Like with VICIOUS, the intercut timelines and POV shifts were engaging and propulsive. While BONES is paced much more slowly than VICIOUS, it uses the same tools to accomplish something similar (multiple POVs, timeline hops, slow doling out of information).

I liked all three perspectives--Sabine and her hunger, Lottie and her love, and Alice and her rage (and also her Anxiety, I found Alice most relatable lol). The pitch of "toxic lesbian vampires" is SO accurate it hurts, and this book was a lot more consistently sensual than, say, VICIOUS.

It was also a VERY slow build. We didn't start really getting any concrete answers about how everyone connects until page 307 (of the 533 in my copy). Personally, I think the atmosphere and curiosity did a good job of carrying interest until that point, but if you're looking for something quicker paced, this is absolutely not for you.

I also didn't find it an especially unique take on vampires or A Vampire Story. Schwab picked and chose which elements of lore she wanted to include and how, which was Fine (I'm not a huge Vampire Lit Connoisseur). I wouldn't call this an especially original story, in terms of worldbuilding, but I thought it was executed so well that it didn't matter: Schwab pulls you through a story by how she tells and structures it, not necessarily by the Big Shiny Things Happening In It or Hot Vampire Takes. And there were, like I said, absolutely unapologetically toxic lesbian vampires, so if that's a big draw for you, check this out for sure.

Overall: I really enjoyed it! I sped through the last ~150 pages way past my bedtime, because I Had To Know (although I did find Lottie's endgame convincing of Alice to be predictable--tragic, but predictable, which may have been the goal). The ending did feel slightly rushed, compared to the long slow mosey up front, but I did have a good time, and I'll keep insta-buying Schwab's releases as they come out.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dames & Dragons (Podcast) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Queen Tenevine/Queen Consort Lilia, Queen Tenevine/Captain Lorea Characters: Queen Tenevine, Queen Consort Lilia, Captain Lorea, Also in supporting roles, Maeri (Dames & Dragons), Fran (Dames & Dragons), Corbin (Dames & Dragons), Slake (Dames & Dragons), Falen (Dames & Dragons) Additional Tags: Pining, so much pining, Marriage of Convenience, Love Triangle, court intrigue, Battle Couple, Canon-Typical Violence, Spoilers for A Court of Spears, Spoilers for The Weeping God Summary:

Queen Tenevine and Queen Consort Lilia's marriage makes sense. It gives Tenevine's claim to the throne legitimacy, gains the support of Lilia's father--and Lilia already knows about Tenevine and Lorea.

There's just one problem.

Lilia's in love with Tenevine, too.

It's a school shooting story with this one chick playing the hero who saves everyone.

I am not bringing it up because "Eugh, no one should watch it because it degrades actual tragedies and promotes the god-complex of white and pretty blondes weh weh weh!" No.

The movie's not out yet and I just bring it up to warn people who would find this type of plot uncomfortable and/or upsetting. Just watch out.

Law and Order: Criminal Intent 8x11 (Lady’s Man)

bonus: