V.E. Schwab has no shortage of popular fantasy books, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is getting a lot of attention as one of 2025’s biggest new releases. Schwab kicked off her writing career with The Near Witch back in 2011 and has since gone on to publish a range of best-selling stories spanning the adult, YA, and middle grade categories. From her thrilling Shades of Magic series to the dark and charming Gallant, Schwab’s books all manage to hook readers from start to finish.
In fact, Schwab hasn’t released a bad book to date — but naturally, some releases leave more of an impression than others. Whether it’s because they deliver epic conclusions after years of build-up or because they feature compelling characters and themes, Schwab’s best books prove memorable long after readers finish the final page.
10
Vengeful
Published In 2018
As the long-awaited sequel to Vicious, Vengeful had many expectations hoisted upon it ahead of its 2018 release. And the second book in Schwab’s Villains series recaptures the dark atmosphere and complicated dynamics of the original novel, all while adding feminine rage to the equation. Marcella makes for a compelling new character, but sadly, that’s not enough to completely replicate the appeal of Vicious. While its 4.13 average Goodreads rating speaks to its quality, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original.
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Of course, Vengeful being published later means it benefits from Schwab’s growth as an author between the two books. Even so, there’s something special about Vicious that just doesn’t land as well here. While Vengeful is worth a read and certainly among Schwab’s top releases, the author has stronger novels on her backlist. This one feels a bit underwhelming compared to the others, especially when it comes to the journeys continued from Vicious.
9
Our Dark Duet
Published In 2017
Schwab’s Monsters of Verity duology, published under Victoria Schwab, doesn’t get nearly as much love as it deserves. While it’s by no means the best series she has put out, it delivers a charming and entertaining story with a unique concept. This Savage Song introduces that premise impressively, but it’s the finale — Our Dark Duet — that truly shines. Our Dark Duet raises the stakes of Kate and August’s story from the first installment, and it doesn’t hold back when it comes to emotional punches. The ending is sure to leave readers in their feelings.
This means that the finale might not be for everyone — some readers will no doubt be disappointed with the direction it takes — but it’s executed well and leaves a strong impression. Our Dark Duet deserves a spot among Schwab’s greatest releases for that alone, though its lovable characters and atmosphere are also highlights. Sadly, Monsters of Verity is lower on the author’s backlist in terms of influence. There’s a reason it isn’t as well known as the author’s bigger hits, as they prove a bit more memorable.
8
Gallant
Published In 2022
Another one of V.E. Schwab’s books aimed at a younger audience, Gallant proves a great addition to her lineup — and it’s surprisingly underrated. Following an orphan named Olivia as she’s plucked from Merilance School for girls and brought to her mother’s mysterious home, Gallant is a lush and whimsical narrative that’s fully enhanced by Manuel Sumberac’s stunning illustrations. The novel is atmospheric, well-paced, and compelling — and it tackles some big emotional themes in a thoughtful way.
Gallant highlights Schwab’s abilities when it comes to crafting worlds and characters, and it’s a wonder this book isn’t among her more popular works.
Gallant highlights Schwab’s abilities when it comes to crafting worlds and characters, and it’s a wonder this book isn’t among her more popular works. Its 3.71 average Goodreads score would suggest it’s not as strong as her more mature stories, but that’s simply not the case. However, the fact that Gallant is on the shorter side and not part of a larger series does make it feel a bit less memorable in the long run. And the author certainly has the ability to go deeper in some of her lengthier adult standalones.
7
The Fragile Threads Of Power
Published In 2023
The Fragile Threads of Power is a sequel to Schwab’s Darker Shades of Magic series, and while there’s a lot to love about the 2023 novel, it still falls below the original three books on a ranking. That said, it’s higher than some of her older or lesser-known novels. The book benefits from her constantly evolving prose, as well as the fact that readers are already invested in its world and characters before diving in. Such things contribute to its impressive 4.27 Goodreads rating, and they ramp up the excitement for future sequels.
There’s a lot of potential in the stories being told in The Fragile Threads of Power, but it has yet to match the original trilogy — though there’s a good chance its sequels will. It starts off a bit more slowly paced than the others, and it does depend on nostalgia from the first series to get going. It’s still well-written and well-crafted, but so are most of Schwab’s books. And some are simply more powerful and memorable than this one.
6
A Darker Shade Of Magic
Published In 2015
A Darker Shade of Magic marks a strong start to Schwab’s Shades of Magic series, intertwining the stories of Kell and Lila in a masterful and seamless manner. The world is introduced with ease, and the various versions of London present an exciting and unique concept that sets this book apart from other fantasy stories. Kell and Lila are both incredibly compelling characters to follow, and the pacing and plot make it easy to fly through A Darker Shade of Magic. But the series only gets better from there, so the 2015 novel remains the weakest in its own trilogy.
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That’s evident in the way book one’s average 4.04 Goodreads rating jumps to 4.20 with book two and 4.30 for book three. But even so, there are few flaws to be found in the first installment of this trilogy. If anything, A Darker Shade of Magic doesn’t break into the top half of Schwab’s best books because it’s a beginning, and thus, feels a bit lower-stakes than many of her other releases. It’s fun, but the full emotional impact is saved until later in the story.
5
A Gathering Of Shadows
Published In 2016
A Gathering of Shadows, the second book in the Shades of Magic trilogy, takes a step up from A Darker Shade of Magic in many ways. The characters feel more fleshed out, the relationships have a better foundation, and the story itself moves along in a more thrilling way. A Gathering of Shadows is one of the rare sequels that doesn’t suffer from second-book syndrome at all, building on all the strengths of its predecessor instead. It doesn’t compare to the finale, which is among Schwab’s top three books, but it does land on the upper half of a ranking.
Of course, because A Gathering of Shadows is the second book in a trilogy, there’s only so much it can do in terms of resolving storylines — and that prevents its emotional impact from matching that of Schwab’s best standalones and the final Darker Shades of Magic book. These have proper endings, which cause them to hit harder when it comes to stakes, feelings, and commentary. And Schwab has a talent for mastering all those things when wrapping up her stories.
4
The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue
Published In 2020
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the best Schwab book for many readers, and while I can’t place it at the top of a ranking, it certainly deserves to be close. The novel follows a woman who makes a bargain to live forever and be forgotten by those she meets, all to avoid an unwanted marriage. Obviously, this leads to a bittersweet existence for the book’s heroine, though it raises all kinds of questions about identity, human relationships, and mortality. And Schwab handles the topics stunningly, both in terms of prose and the direction of the story.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue may be Schwab’s most beautiful book, and readers will likely find themselves thinking about it long after they’ve finished it. There’s so much to love about the story, and there’s a reason it boasts a 4.17 average Goodreads rating. That said, the characters don’t feel quite as unique as those present in two of Schwab’s other works, and the fantasy elements are a bit understated. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is still great, but Vicious, A Conjuring of Light, and Schwab’s newest novel take the top spots.
3
Vicious
Published In 2013
Vicious is one of Schwab’s earliest novels, and it’s a testament to its greatness that it still lands at the top of her lineup. Opening with Victor and Eli as they unlock the science behind extraordinary abilities, readers follow the two as they go from friends to nemeses, with each bent on revenge against the other. This creates a dark narrative with incredibly complex characters, but it’s impossible not to get invested in their fates either way. Vicious is thrilling in its execution, and it showcases the sort of moral complexity that Schwab is best at.
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Of course, with most of Vicious’ characters being unlikable in some way, the story may not be for everyone. And there are certainly places where Schwab could have gone deeper into these arcs and the narrative. While I love the story as-is, it might have benefited from the way Schwab’s storytelling and writing evolved as she continued to publish. Its prose and execution are great regardless, but later works — like A Conjuring of Light and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil — surpass it in both areas.
2
A Conjuring Of Light
Published In 2017
The Shades of Magic series is Schwab’s lengthiest and most memorable story overall, so it should come as no surprise that its thrilling conclusion is the author’s second-best novel. A Conjuring of Light is everything readers could ask for in a finale, taking the characters and story threads of the previous two books to all-new heights. The stakes are higher, there are wonderful character moments, and there’s plenty of action. And best of all, A Conjuring of Light will leave readers feeling satisfied with its ending — one of the most important things for a final installment to get right.
Although there aren’t many things to complain about when it comes to A Conjuring of Light, I do think the Shades of Magic books feel a bit more in line with standard fantasy fare. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but its characters are overall pretty likable, even if they have their weaknesses. This doesn’t necessarily hurt the book, but as Schwab is so great at challenging readers with more morally questionable casts, I think one book about less admirable characters proves even better than A Conjuring of Light and its predecessors.
1
Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil
Published In 2025
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is V.E. Schwab’s newest book, and it’s already her best. Schwab’s exploration of feminine rage and identity is messy but compelling, and the lush atmosphere she creates in this centuries-spanning novel is unmatched. Schwab shows off all her talents here, from her ability to capture setting and scope to her knack for writing villainous characters you can’t help but enjoy. The dynamics in this novel are handled with care, with the author unpacking the nuances of toxic relationships and the ways in which misogyny shapes women.
The book’s themes make Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil incredibly relevant, and the prose is more stunning than ever.
The book’s themes make Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil incredibly relevant, and the prose is more stunning than ever. There are so many great lines and observations, and despite the story feeling immersive and steadily paced, it’s one readers won’t want to put down. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is V.E. Schwab at her best, and it makes me excited to see what the author will do next.
Source: Goodreads
