'Interview With a Vampire' Meets 'Bridgerton' in this 2025 Horror Masterpiece

Fans of Anne Rice’s vampire tales have numerous avenues to enjoy the genre. The original work has expanded with 12 more novels, been turned into a movie, and adapted into a successful TV series with a fourth season in development. While many imitators took Rice’s sympathetic monsters and toned them down for young adult romance, V.E.

Schwab’s 2025 novel, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, stands out as a true spiritual successor. Schwab plays with the genre’s established themes and structure to create something fresh and original.

In this vampire-centric story, three unreliable narrators weave their tales across centuries, each harboring secrets and lies. The novel begins with Maria, a young girl in 16th century Spain who is trapped in an unhappy marriage and faces abuse from her husband and in-laws. Seeking a better life, Maria accepts an offer to become a vampire, known as a "feral rose."

As Schwab explores Maria’s journey, she draws parallels to Interview with the Vampire, emphasizing the loneliness and danger of letting oneself get too close to others.

The novel's vampires face an inevitable loss of humanity as they face the consequences of their eternal existence. Schwab highlights the toxic dynamics of these relationships, where the fear of losing themselves and hurting loved ones looms large. While the story is filled with intimate scenes and beautiful descriptions, it also delves into the darker aspects of vampire life.

A significant portion of the narrative shifts to Regency London, where Charlotte, another young woman, finds herself entangled in the world of balls and suitors. Like Maria, Charlotte receives a poisoned offer of a new life as a vampire, and Schwab weaves a compelling story around her, exploring themes of agency and the fight for control over one’s destiny.

The novel also features Alice, a shy college student at Harvard who, after a one-night stand, wakes up as a vampire. Schwab tackles Alice’s struggle with trauma, identity, and the challenges faced by modern-day female vampires.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a testament to the enduring legacy of vampire literature, breathing new life into the genre while staying true to its roots. Schwab masterfully weaves together the stories of Maria, Charlotte, and Alice, each grappling with the complexities of love, identity, and survival in a world where vampires defy societal norms. Through teary confessions, outright lies, and clever omissions, the novel challenges readers to question the stories people tell and the power of manipulation.