Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil? What did you like most about the novel? What did you like least?

2. How did this novel compare to Schwab’s many other fantasy or horror novels such as Gallant or A Darker Shade of Magic? What similarities and differences stand out?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Emotions lie at the heart of Alice and Charlotte’s character arcs, while Sabine tries to run from her feelings. Which character’s outlook did you find most relatable? Why?

2. Alice’s memories of her sister, Catty, inform her development and growth. Is there a relationship in your life that holds a similar significance to you?

3. If you awoke to find yourself transformed into a vampire overnight like Alice, how would you respond? Would you feel angry like Alice, powerful like Sabine, or guilty like Lottie?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Schwab examines gendered expectations and social norms over the last 500 years. What does she suggest about the current state of gender equality in the 21st century?

2. How does Schwab’s novel function as a meditation on queer identity? What elements of the characters’ experiences reflect the prejudice and anti-gay bias toward the LGBTQIA+ community in a contemporary context?

3. What message does the novel convey about what it means to be human? What connections do you see between the novel’s examination of humanity and contemporary discussions around artificial intelligence?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Schwab uses three distinct points of view (POVs) throughout the novel. How does this structural choice allow her to explore the three protagonists in different ways? What does this approach add to the narrative that a single POV might miss?

2. How do the novel’s changing geographical settings and varied timelines impact the narrative? How does Schwab use the structure to add elements of realism to her fantasy world?

3. How does Schwab engage with the vampire fiction genre? What tropes does she utilize or subvert? What elements make her story unique within the genre?

4. What is the importance of names in the text? How do names influence each character’s arc (e.g. María becoming Sabine, Sabine refusing to use Charlotte’s nickname of Lottie, etc.)?

5. How does the motif of blood function in the narrative? How does its symbolism impact the various characters’ developments and the overall plot?

6. There are several romantic relationships in the text, though romance is not the main narrative focus. Would you classify this book as a romance novel? Why or why not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Schwab states that she was influenced by Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which has been adapted into a film and a miniseries. Imagine an adaptation of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil—would you make a film or a series? Who would you cast? Why?

2. Create a playlist of music that spans the 500 years that Schwab covers in the novel, starting with songs written by composers from the 1500s and ending with songs from the late 2010s.

3. Describe a sequel to the novel. Where do you imagine Alice ending up? What does her life look like ten years in the future?