Author Guide | BookFairy
๐ About V. E. Schwab
Victoria Elizabeth Schwab (born 7 July 1987) is an American fantasy author best known for her imaginative fictional worlds, morally complex characters and stories exploring the boundaries between life and death, good and evil, memory and identity.
Publishing as both Victoria Schwab and V. E. Schwab, she has written more than twenty books across adult fantasy, young adult literature, children’s fiction, supernatural horror and graphic novels.
She also writes collaborative mystery fiction under the shared pseudonym Evelyn Clarke, alongside British author Cat Clarke.
Born in California, Schwab studied at Washington University in St. Louis before establishing a successful writing career. Her debut novel, The Near Witch, was published in 2011.
She is now internationally recognised for novels and series including Vicious, Shades of Magic, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Gallant and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
Her fiction frequently examines the consequences of extraordinary abilities, the meaning of identity and the difficult choices people make when confronted with power, immortality or impossible circumstances.
๐ Why Read V. E. Schwab?
Schwab’s stories often challenge traditional distinctions between heroes and villains.
Rather than dividing characters into clearly defined moral categories, she explores their motivations, vulnerabilities and decisions.
Some recurring themes in her writing include:
- Morally grey characters: protagonists who cannot easily be classified as heroes or villains.
- Identity and memory: questions about what makes someone memorable and what remains when the world forgets them.
- Power and responsibility: the personal consequences of extraordinary abilities.
- Death and immortality: the cost of survival, resurrection and living beyond an ordinary human lifespan.
- Magic and parallel worlds: imaginative systems governed by carefully developed rules.
- Belonging and isolation: characters searching for a place in worlds where they feel different or unwanted.
Her books range from dark adult fantasy to atmospheric ghost stories for younger readers.
โ๏ธ Victoria Schwab, V. E. Schwab and Evelyn Clarke
Although her books appear under different names, they belong to the same author’s bibliography.
Victoria Schwab
The name Victoria Schwab has been used primarily for children’s and young adult fiction, including:
- The Archived
- The Unbound
- Everyday Angel
- Monsters of Verity
- City of Ghosts
V. E. Schwab
The name V. E. Schwab is particularly associated with adult fantasy and speculative fiction, including:
- Vicious
- Vengeful
- Victorious
- Shades of Magic
- Threads of Power
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
- Gallant
- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
Some editions of earlier books have subsequently appeared under the V. E. Schwab name.
These are not separate original works.
Evelyn Clarke
Evelyn Clarke is a shared pseudonym used by V. E. Schwab and Cat Clarke.
Their collaborative mystery thriller The Ending Writes Itself was published in 2026.
The novel introduces another dimension to Schwab’s writing career, moving into mystery and publishing-world suspense.
๐ V. E. Schwab’s Books and Series
๐ค Villains
Genre: Adult Fantasy / Superhuman Fiction
The Villains series examines power, revenge, friendship and the unstable boundary between heroism and villainy.
Its central characters, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, begin as friends before their experiments with extraordinary abilities lead them towards increasingly destructive conflict.
๐ Reading Order
- Vicious (2013)
- Vengeful (2018)
- Victorious (2026)
The series also includes shorter companion fiction, including Warm Up.
Victorious, published in October 2026, concludes the principal trilogy.
๐ฉ Shades of Magic
Genre: Adult Fantasy / Parallel Worlds
The Shades of Magic trilogy introduces several versions of London, each with its own relationship to magic.
The novels follow Kell, a rare magician capable of travelling between worlds, and Delilah Bard, an ambitious thief searching for adventure.
๐ Reading Order
- A Darker Shade of Magic (2015)
- A Gathering of Shadows (2016)
- A Conjuring of Light (2017)
The trilogy combines worldbuilding, political intrigue, adventure and a complex system of magic.
๐งต Threads of Power
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
The Threads of Power series returns to the universe introduced in Shades of Magic.
It introduces a new generation of characters while continuing elements of the earlier trilogy’s story.
Published Books
- The Fragile Threads of Power (2023)
Although it begins a new series, readers will appreciate many of its connections more fully after completing Shades of Magic.
๐ฉธ Monsters of Verity
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
In the Monsters of Verity duology, acts of human violence give rise to supernatural monsters.
The series follows Kate Harker and August Flynn as they navigate a divided city where the boundaries between human and monstrous behaviour become increasingly uncertain.
๐ Reading Order
- This Savage Song (2016)
- Our Dark Duet (2017)
The two novels form a complete story.
๐๏ธ The Archived
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Supernatural Mystery
The Archived introduces a world in which the dead are preserved as records of their lives.
The series follows Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper responsible for ensuring that these preserved histories remain where they belong.
๐ Reading Order
- The Archived (2013)
- The Unbound (2014)
The universe also includes the companion short story Leave the Window Open.
๐ป Cassidy Blake / City of Ghosts
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy / Ghost Stories
The City of Ghosts trilogy follows Cassidy Blake, a girl who can see ghosts after surviving a near-death experience.
Accompanied by her ghostly best friend, Jacob, Cassidy encounters supernatural mysteries in different cities.
๐ Reading Order
- City of Ghosts (2018)
- Tunnel of Bones (2019)
- Bridge of Souls (2021)
The series is an accessible introduction to Schwab’s supernatural storytelling for younger readers.
๐ Everyday Angel
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
The Everyday Angel trilogy follows an angel tasked with helping young people face difficulties in their lives.
๐ Reading Order
- New Beginnings (2014)
- Second Chances (2014)
- Last Wishes (2014)
The three novels have also been published together in collected editions.
๐ Standalone Novels
The Near Witch (2011)
Schwab’s debut novel is an atmospheric fantasy set in a village surrounded by mysterious moorland.
The story explores folklore, fear, suspicion and the consequences of long-buried secrets.
The novel was later republished, introducing it to a new generation of readers.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020)
One of Schwab’s best-known standalone novels, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue explores immortality, memory and the human desire to leave a lasting mark on the world.
Set across several centuries, the story follows a woman who makes a supernatural bargain and discovers that no one she meets can remember her.
The novel combines historical fantasy, philosophical reflection and an exploration of loneliness and connection.
Gallant (2022)
Gallant is a Gothic fantasy novel about Olivia Prior, a young woman drawn towards a mysterious family estate.
The story combines haunting imagery, supernatural mystery and questions of belonging.
Its atmosphere and compact narrative make it a distinctive entry in Schwab’s bibliography.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil (2025)
This standalone dark fantasy explores immortality, desire, hunger and the lives of women across different historical periods.
The novel develops Schwab’s continuing interest in the relationship between power, identity and the consequences of choices that extend beyond an ordinary human lifetime.
๐ต๏ธ Mystery Fiction as Evelyn Clarke
The Ending Writes Itself (2026)
Authors: V. E. Schwab and Cat Clarke
Published as: Evelyn Clarke
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Six writers are brought together on a remote Scottish island, where they must compete to complete the final work of a famous novelist.
The novel combines a closed-circle mystery with commentary on the literary and publishing industries.
It is the first novel published under the shared Evelyn Clarke pseudonym.
๐จ Graphic Novels
Schwab’s fictional worlds have also expanded into graphic storytelling.
Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince
This graphic-novel series explores events within the Shades of Magic universe.
Reading Order
- The Steel Prince
- Night of Knives
- The Rebel Army
The graphic novels provide additional background to the magical world introduced in the original trilogy.
ExtraOrdinary
ExtraOrdinary expands the Villains universe through graphic storytelling.
It offers another perspective on Schwab’s fascination with extraordinary abilities and their consequences.
โจ Short Stories and Anthologies
Schwab has contributed shorter fiction to collections and anthologies.
Selected works include:
- Warm Up โ a story connected to Villains.
- Leave the Window Open โ connected to The Archived.
- First Kill โ published in Vampires Never Get Old.
- The Ash-Born Boy โ a companion work associated with The Near Witch.
Her shorter fiction expands existing worlds while also allowing her to experiment with different narrative approaches.
๐ท๐ด V. E. Schwab in Romanian Translation
Several of Schwab’s best-known works have appeared in Romanian.
Shades of Magic / Culorile magiei
Published in Romania by Nemira and its Armada imprint:
- Partea รฎntunecatฤ a magiei โ A Darker Shade of Magic
- Adunarea umbrelor โ A Gathering of Shadows
- Invocarea luminii โ A Conjuring of Light
Threads of Power / Firele puterii
- Firele fragile ale puterii โ The Fragile Threads of Power
Standalone Novels
- Viaศa invizibilฤ a lui Addie LaRue โ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue; Bookzone.
- Gallant. Conacul bรขntuit โ Gallant; Bookzone.
- รn miez de noapte sฤ ne รฎngropaศi โ Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
The separate bibliography will document verified Romanian publication years and distinguish earlier editions from later reprints.
๐ Where to Start Reading V. E. Schwab
Schwab writes across several age categories and fantasy subgenres.
The best starting point depends on what kind of story a reader prefers.
For Adult Fantasy Readers
Start with A Darker Shade of Magic.
It offers a strong introduction to Schwab’s worldbuilding and magic systems.
For Readers Who Enjoy Morally Grey Characters
Start with Vicious.
The Villains trilogy challenges familiar assumptions about heroism and extraordinary power.
For Readers Who Prefer Standalone Fantasy
Choose The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
Its themes of memory, identity and immortality make it an accessible introduction to Schwab’s writing.
For Gothic Fantasy Readers
Try Gallant.
For Dark Fantasy and Immortality Stories
Read Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
For Younger Readers
Begin with City of Ghosts or The Archived, depending on the reader’s age and preferred level of complexity.
๐ฆ V. E. Schwab on BookFairy
๐ Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil (2025)
Author: V. E. Schwab
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Gothic Fantasy / Vampire Fiction
Series: Standalone
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil explores immortality, desire, hunger and the lives of women across different historical periods.
BookFairy has a dedicated review examining Schwab’s dark fantasy novel, its characters, atmosphere and themes.
Read Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil โ BookFairy Review
More V. E. Schwab reviews will be added as they become available on BookFairy
๐ Complete V. E. Schwab Bibliography
For a comprehensive chronological catalogue of V. E. Schwab’s books, explore the Complete V. E. Schwab Bibliography on BookFairy.
The bibliography includes works published as V. E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab, and Evelyn Clarke, covering adult fantasy, young adult fiction, children’s books, novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels, collaborations, omnibus editions and Romanian translations.
You’ll also find publication dates, recommended reading orders for series such as Shades of Magic, Villains, Monsters of Verity and Cassidy Blake, together with links to existing BookFairy reviews.
๐ Explore the Complete V. E. Schwab Bibliography โ