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Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
112 reviews
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredible, I wish this book was a peice of cake so I could eat it. Scratch that a whole cake so I could consume so much of it that I become sick (in a good way).
The storytelling is immaculate, and the lesbians incredible.
Loved every second of it.
The storytelling is immaculate, and the lesbians incredible.
Loved every second of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Schwab uses nonlinear storytelling to pull you in and paint stunning portraits of the lives of these feral roses. Some parts almost feel like feminist literature, expressing the fear women feel around men, the crushing weight of the social structure of patriarchy, and how these women turned to violence to escape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was beautifully written but honestly a tough read for me. Schwab does purple prose perfectly, but it was long and slow and very, very dark. The way she switches POVs was very unique and led to a really satisfying, deep third act.
I needed more of Alice’s storyline. The fact that Sabine and Charlotte’s POVs were written so thoroughly and descriptively and then from Alice we only got flashbacks, it made me care a little less about Alice’s story. We knew Sabine and Charlotte so intimately by the end, and while we got Alice’s tragic backstory, we didn’t get enough of her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Suicide, Stalking
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i really enjoyed this book! the way it looks at women’s choices and lives over the course of centuries, how there was often little freedom to be had and few real choices to be made, is really powerful. i thought that sabine especially was an interesting character and we get to see a lot of her development and why she is the way she is. she was never soft or kind or empathetic, and it was fascinating to see her become both entirely new and never change.
alice also undergoes a lot of change, but i think in a less interesting way. i wish we got her story in a different order, and then i might have found her more compelling.
we see the least of charlotte in the beginning and i think in some ways that is to the story’s detriment. it makes it hard to understand the turns that happen for her character in places and i wish we got a little more time with her and alice together.the last 80 or so pages feel pretty rushed; alice goes from not trusting charlotte at all to agreeing to try and kill her 500 year old ex. and succeeds!! i think this really takes away from how powerful sabine is supposed to be, and we really do get as much build as i think this point of action deserved. i think the story goes exactly where it needs to, but the pacing in the end is off.
i also felt like the flashbacks to alice’s past sometimes felt choppy and like they didn’t quite fit, but had to be put somewhere for us to understand her backstory. i think the organization and structure of those pieces could have been adjusted.
overall i really liked the book and i love the way it’s written, with some great powerful lines placed perfectly. i loved the ideas of internal rot vs external perfection, the tastes and flavors of emotion in blood, the theme and symbolism of the soil and flowers, and the themes of women’s freedoms in the world and what compromises might appear worthwhile to gain access to freedom.
alice also undergoes a lot of change, but i think in a less interesting way. i wish we got her story in a different order, and then i might have found her more compelling.
we see the least of charlotte in the beginning and i think in some ways that is to the story’s detriment. it makes it hard to understand the turns that happen for her character in places and i wish we got a little more time with her and alice together.
i also felt like the flashbacks to alice’s past sometimes felt choppy and like they didn’t quite fit, but had to be put somewhere for us to understand her backstory. i think the organization and structure of those pieces could have been adjusted.
overall i really liked the book and i love the way it’s written, with some great powerful lines placed perfectly. i loved the ideas of internal rot vs external perfection, the tastes and flavors of emotion in blood, the theme and symbolism of the soil and flowers, and the themes of women’s freedoms in the world and what compromises might appear worthwhile to gain access to freedom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Toxic queer vampire romance is a good summary, but I felt it was more than that.
I really enjoyed reading a book which had feminist perspectives throughout! The queer characters are multifaceted, and yes, in some ways it’s a love story, but the characters have flaws and the central driving plot line isn’t love per se. The elements that resonated with me the most were navigating spaces that are hostile to or rejecting or subjugating us, the ethics and morality in subjugating others when you’ve been marginalized, the meaning of life and death, and addiction. The characters are complicated, and while I didn’t always like them, I did often root for them.
I listened to the audiobook version and it was pretty engrossing. I really enjoyed most of the narration, though I was a little confused whenthe initial switches to different narrators happened, because I hadn’t yet figured out what the main plot was or whose voice was whose. I really enjoyed the Scottish narrator most of the time, except when they did the Sabine quotes, because it just sounded so different and off from the prior two speakers. That brought me out of the story a bit. however, I think they did a really good job in general throughout the book believably doing different accents and dialects from different areas.
In some areas, I felt the plot dragged a little. I wish the pacing was a little more… steady? For example, we spend time withMaria early on, and her attraction to her maids and Charlotte to her friend, and yet - why? I guess I didn’t see how those plot lines were woven in to the later storyline, but maybe I’m missing something.
I also foundAlice quite annoying most of the time, except at the very beginning and end of their storyline. I sort of wonder if this is a moral failing in me as a person? She was just so, so whiny, and I didn’t want to listen to her complain and refuse to believe/accept her life and the changes in it, or hear her blame everyone else instead of trying to move forward more productively. I don’t know, she felt entitled to me. What does it say about me as a person that I feel that way about the modern character dealing with modern expectations for women and queer people? I’m not sure if I’m confronting some of my own shitty beliefs and internalized misogyny and patriarchy about women, or if the character is really and truly annoying. I’m also not sure if I just missed until the very end that her sister had died, because that made her grief and complaints a lot more understandable and humanized her for me. I wish it was a little clearer to me in the writing which of those it was though, so I’d have an easier time processing/reflecting.
I really enjoyed reading a book which had feminist perspectives throughout! The queer characters are multifaceted, and yes, in some ways it’s a love story, but the characters have flaws and the central driving plot line isn’t love per se. The elements that resonated with me the most were navigating spaces that are hostile to or rejecting or subjugating us, the ethics and morality in subjugating others when you’ve been marginalized, the meaning of life and death, and addiction. The characters are complicated, and while I didn’t always like them, I did often root for them.
I listened to the audiobook version and it was pretty engrossing. I really enjoyed most of the narration, though I was a little confused when
In some areas, I felt the plot dragged a little. I wish the pacing was a little more… steady? For example, we spend time with
I also found
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story is magnificently haunting yet sexy, mystical yet relatable, gothic yet modern. This is a 6 star read for me. Literally my perfect book! A gorgeous mix of historical fiction, supernatural fantasy, contemporary college girl, with the right mix of toxically beautiful dark romance binding it all together. If you thought the vampires besides the cullens were the most interesting part of Twilight (especially James and Victoria), you will adore this book and Sabine. If you like Marina Thompson, Eloise, and Franchesca from Bridgerton, you will love Charlotte. I don’t have a great comparison for Alice (modern day main character) but she is equally fascinating, hyper realistic to my own personal experience as a college girl who doesn’t quite fit in- but in a relatable way, not a “I’m not like other girls way”. And don’t worry- these vampires feel REAL, not cloaked in ridiculous fantasy like twilight. The way they come into being and discover their powers and limitations is very realistic and not overly trope-y. Overall, I am OBSESSED with this book. I want to read ten more just like it!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Mentions of character seeking abortifacients/contraception to prevent pregnancy.
Brief chapters covering world wars and acknowledging the death and tragedy of those eras.
Spoilers: Major and minor character death. Minor character is the main character’s older sister.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first V.E. Schwab book, and it does not disappoint. This is not a Twilight vampire book. This book is filled with tragedy, female rage, and a revenge plot that truly grips the reader. The level of creepiness is exactly what I LOVE. Also its lesbian vampires. What's not to love.
All three of our main characters have strong character development, for better or for worse and I love that you see how immortality affects them all differently.
V.E. Schwab's writing is extremely atmospheric and creepy in the best ways. It really made me feel like I was there traveling through time with them.
All three of our main characters have strong character development, for better or for worse and I love that you see how immortality affects them all differently.
V.E. Schwab's writing is extremely atmospheric and creepy in the best ways. It really made me feel like I was there traveling through time with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Schwab writes a story of longing and loneliness that is visceral and haunting in a way only she can. A dark Gothic tale of Alice going down the rabbit hole that is grief and vampirism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment