Absolutely brilliant, heart-wrenching, terrifying gothic horror and I'm definitely a fan. The author has such a spellbinding way with pulling the reader directly into the tale and not letting go! I love gothic horror and I'm now a huge fan of this author. Well done!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
My Darling Dreadful Thing releases May 14, 2024

Roos and Agnes are two women who are able to be possessed by a spirit, though they refer to them as their spirit companions.

This was neither the mystery, nor the gothic/horror story I was expecting. Instead, I found it to be a constant state of questioning Roos’ mental well-being.
The pacing was too slow to achieve the desired effect, and I couldn’t get a grasp for the setting; it clearly wasn’t American, but it didn’t feel European either.

cw: trauma, child abuse, sexual violence, racism, misogyny, homophobia, restrictive eating, incest

My Darling Dreadful Thing starts off at a slow pace and gradually amps up the melodramatic Gothic atmospheric pace. Part Sapphic love story, part mystery, and part horror.

Johanna van Veen's prose and character's had me invested. I couldn't help but root for the main protagonist Roos and figure out how the story would unfold. Each character I could tell something was a little off with them and shows the good and evil in all of us.

If you are looking for the horror right from the start, My advise would to be patient. One of the problems I had with the novel were the moments Roos has her sessions with the doctor. At times it helped move the story along and other times it was distracting. So the pace gets a little uneven.

Overall it is a very solid fantastic read and I am looking forward to future novels by Johanna van Veen. I can't wait to see what she will write next.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Horror + LGBTQ

This is a novel that incorporates elements of horror, gothic, and queer literature into its narrative. Roos Beckman is the main character in this tale, and she is in possession of a unique ability from the beginning. While her age in the story is not explicitly mentioned, she is mature enough and knows what she is doing. Her mother makes good use of this ability by forcing Roos to attend all the gatherings where people want to make contact with the deceased. Roos acts as the medium at these gatherings.

A number of significant characters, such as Ruth, who is a spirit that has been around for centuries and travels with the main character, are responsible for altering the course of the story and moving the plot forward. Agnes, a wealthy young widow, develops feelings for Roos and eventually asks her to move in with her in her manor.

The novel has such an eerie atmosphere, be it the setting or the séances. They all contributed to making it such a haunting story. I think the book is well-written, and the author has the ability to make the situations very intriguing.

I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to fans of the horror genre, especially the supernatural one. I just wish the characters were more developed. Although the main character is multifaceted, I really wish the book invested more in making the reader understand more about Roos by telling us her background story. I wouldn’t say I was a big fan of the queer love story here, but I think it was effective overall. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before you decide to read the book since it has many disturbing themes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Is it preemptive to say this is my favorite book of 2024? Probably. But I don't see how another book is going to be able to top this one for me.

A blend of women's fict, sapphic romance, paranormal and psychological horror written into a dark, beautiful, gothic [debut!! 🤯] novel. My Darling Dreadful Thing really is a tragedy at the surface, but an undying love story at it's bones.

We meet FMC Roos as a small child, terrified and abused by "Mama" and forced to perform in fraudulent séances. Ruth, a ghost, is bonded to Roos; she is Roos only companion and form of solace.

Eventually Roos is sold to a widow, Agnes. Together they live in the derelict Rozentuin Estate, and find love and understanding in each other. The past doesn't stay buried, and comes to haunt them. Roos must choose between Ruth and Agnes.

I finished reading a few days ago and still haven't gotten this story off of my mind. Heartbreaking, eerie, and unputdownable. I will definitely be buying myself the physical book the moment it is published on May 14th for my home library.

Thank you to @sourcebooks @poisonedpenpress for the advanced review e-copy through @netgalley . I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for review.

"My Darling Dreadful Thing" is a Sapphic horror that will leave readers to ask themselves what is truly real?

This haunting mystery follows Roos, a young twenty something girl in the 1950's, telling her story to a doctor that must find the truth in a series of murders. Is Roos to blame, or is what happened actually real? The readers get to follow Roos' story from the beginning, her abusive childhood and growing up under "Mama's" domain. Mama ran a hard household, using Roos as a gimmick in her Seances to talk to the dead. However, one day her abuse ran cold, and Roos found herself to be tied to a spirit companion Ruth.

Ruth was dead, there was no doubt about it- but she kept Roos company. Protecting her from the unknown and the dangerous. One day a woman shows up, a young widow named Agnes Knoop, requesting Mama's services talking to the dead. Agnes held a fondness for Roos, and soon took her away to her manor, and away from her abusive mother.

Agnes and Roos grow close, and soon each realize that they have their own demons from their past. As their truths come to the surface, someone ends up dead. Flash forward to common day, it's up to Doctor Montague to determine if Roos' demons are real, or are they fabricated of her own mind?

The novel has a very set pace, and I really enjoyed that it wasn't strung out with more than it needed to be. The author does a great job describing the details of the run down manor, the bog, and the séance room Roos was forced to suffer in. In all, this queer horror will keep readers entertained as they learn that the truth may not be what it looks like. 4.5 rounded up.

𝕸𝖞 𝖉𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 by Johanna Van Veen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this E-Arc.

“Spirits like her are not drawn to the happy and carefree; they want salt, be it blood or be it tears.”

Johanna has expertly crafted a story that is filled with emotions of love, despair, and the yearning for acceptance. I loved how the story was narrated by Roos, who was helping a doctor determine if she was fit to stand trial for a murder she was being accused of committing.

The writing style reminded me of Shirley Jackson, and the story's atmosphere reminded me of "We Have Always Lived in the Castle". I found myself questioning the intentions of each character, both human and spirit, and trying to figure out who hurt whom. Every wrong guess I had along the way surprised me.

The companionship between Roos and Ruth was one of a kind, and I was happy with how their story ended. This is a great gothic tale mixed with an unofficial love story. I'll be on the lookout for more of Johanna's work in the future.

While I think this was interesting in concept, I'm afraid that overall I just didn't enjoy my time with this one. For starters, this is a bit of slow pace, in terms of plot. That, coupled with the fact that there is a lot of telling being done as opposed to showing really bogged the story down for me. Also, I felt as though the ending sort of petered out in a way that wasn't very satisfying given the amount of build-up that happened.

The central romance, I'd argue, didn't really feel very authentic. Mostly because Agnes didn't feel wholly like a character and Roos's infatuation with her never really felt more than that. Truth be told, none of the characters really felt like they could stand on their own to me. Some of that, I think, was due to the narrative-style. It's told primarily through Roos's 1st-person narration and it's very stilted and drawn out to the point of pain at times. I just never really felt invested in any of the characters or their relationships.

I will say that I didn't really appreciate a certain reveal near the end of the book. It's something I don't like in books and having it thrown in here just felt... cheap.

There's also an attempt at muddying the waters a bit with bits of transcript between Roos and a psychologist. The whole "is it real or just part of Roos's imagination?" thing gets thrown about but it never really seems to hold too much weight. I never really felt like the discussions of mental illness in this book felt like they were there other than to be a "twist".

While I think the ideas were interesting, this just didn't hit the mark for me on multiple counts. The horror never really strayed beyond surface level and the mystery seemed pretty easily telegraphed from the very beginning. Overall, disappointing to me, I'm sorry to say.

A new twist on a classic tale about fate, longing and legacy.

This was a gorgeous book. I couldn't put it down, but I forced myself to take my time so I could really relish the atmosphere and story.

The pacing was perfect, never feeling rushed or stagnant. The writing was clear and concise and the character development and world-building were both well done. I found the fantasy elements accessible and the suspension of disbelief wasn't a hard ask. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

I enjoyed the writing style, which flowed nicely and made the reading go smoothly. The characters were well-written with some being more gray than black-and-white. The parallel narrative structure of Roos recounting the story to a doctor, and the doctor keeping notes of what he actually thought about it, was interesting.

Sadly, this book was not for me. If I didn't feel compelled to fully read a book that was given me as an ARC, I would have stopped reading at 50% mark. Before that point the writing and what was left of the mystery kept me going. At 50% we figure out how the rest of the book is going to go -- maybe not the minute details, but the overall plot beats. It is obviously helped by the narrative structure of actually being told in the very beginning that our protagonist is standing trial for murder.

If I liked Roos, I might have been more willing to read the second half, but I don't like such naive characters. Don't get me wrong, she was very reasonably naive, based on her background, and on what she was being told and not told by other characters. And this is thankfully not a miscommunication trope at all either. She was by all accounts a fleshed-out person, just not the one I cared for. But other people would.

Oh my, book peeps…this one checked all my boxes!!! 🙌

✅ Spooky
✅ Creepy
✅ Spirits
✅ Derelict house
✅ Characters you love
✅ Characters you love to hate
✅ Twisty twists

This is one of those that is going to have me thinking about it for days, maybe even weeks! HIGHLY recommend this one!!! 🙌

So glad I preordered it so I can own a physical copy!! 😍 So looking forward to reading more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Johanna Van Veen for allowing me the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review!! ❤️

TW: trauma, mental health, child abuse, sexual violence, racism, misogyny, homophobia

I really loved this. The idea was so unique and had all of my favorite themes in a book- psych, horror and (as the author's note states) a love story at it's core. I especially love that the scariest characters were also the most lovely. I don't think I'll stumble upon a story like this ever again. I'm sad it's over

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

Its cover and synopsis really caught my attention and it has been an incredible read.
Roos Beckman has a special relationship with a spiritual companion invisible to others, Ruth, a cadaverous figure who has been dead for centuries. However, when wealthy widow Agnes Knoop attends one of Roos's seances, a connection is made between them. Roos is taken to the dilapidated estate Agnes inherited after her husband's death, where there is a sick woman, strange smells and mysterious statues. Despite the horrors lurking in the mansion, the attraction between Roos and Agnes is undeniable. But the situation is complicated when a murder occurs and Roos, a woman with a history of "hysteria", becomes the prime suspect. Now, she must prove her sanity and innocence to discover who or what the real culprit is before she loses everything she loves.
I found this a gothic, intriguing and supernatural read.
It's everything I look for in this type of story.
I enjoyed the characters and their relationships and the setting which I found spectacular.

𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐞𝐧
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐲
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓 ⭐️

A beautifully written eerie and unsettling tale of Roos and her spirit companion, Ruth who meet Agnes and her spirit companion, Peter in the 1950’s.

Another book that when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking of it. I had to know what was happening.

I love how the story explores the idea of mental illness vs seeing and connecting with spirits. If we don’t see them, are they actually really there?

I don’t want to give anything away but 100% recommend if you like:
-Gothic Horror
-Medium Paced
-Paranormal
-Creepy Atmosphere

Also, look how gorgeous that cover is!!!! 🖤

Thanks to @netgalley, @poisonedpenpress & @johannavanveen1997 for this eArc.

Don’t forget it’s released 14th May!

#bookstagram #gothic #horror #gothichorror #bookstagrammeruk #netgalley #netgalleyuk #books #gothichorrorbooks #gothicbooks #bookworm #bookstaghouls #books #booksandghosts #paranormal #netgalleyreads

A queer take on the classic haunting gothic novel. It reminded me of the world’s created by Sarah Waters and “Bone Rites” by Natalie Bayley.

Roos lives a bleak life posing as a fake medium under the oppressive thumb of “Mama”. Her only companion the ghostly Peter. Agnes is a well to do young woman drifting through life after the death of her husband. Her only companion the ghostly Peter. Both women are trying to make sense of their pasts while the promise of a future together seems to be possible. But are the spirits that surround them real or the result of a shared delusion?

This is a well written novel that can be read in one sitting. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing, as well as make you question what’s real. The duel timelines and narrative are woven together expertly and feel organic to the overall story. My only complaint is there wasn’t a part of the story told from Agnes’ point of view. I understand why that wasn’t shown because the main storyline was the life and evolution of Roos and it still would’ve been interesting to see Agnes’ POV.

This was a good book that I strongly recommend.

After about a week has passed and I changed my 5 stars to a 4. I enjoyed the story but it has not left a lasting impression and I fail to recall the ending.

This is a 100% me thing- but my 5 stars go to books I can recall the entire story and that leave a lasting impression.

This is not to dismiss the book- it is well written and a four star book in my eyes.


Previous review description still stands:
This book has everything— horror, blood, ghosts, imagery, mental health, queer relationships, trauma and more.

It’s a gothic horror novel with many elements that keep you wondering- “what really happened”. This book is from the point of view of what can be considered an unreliable narrator. You learn about Roos and who she is, where she’s from, and why she is the way she is- a frail woman with a ghost companion- who is forced to do seances for mama. She meets Agnes in one of those seances and things change for Roos. This book goes between the past and present- the past being Roos telling her story and the present being Roos’s interview with the Doctor, who’s job is to figure out whether she is sane or not to be found guilty— Roos is on trial for murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- lots of imagery and just overall the atmosphere of the book I felt as I read it. The characters were developed well and it truly felt like I was watching a movie play out in my mind.

Poor Roos and Poor Agnes and their love.

This is gothic horror at its finest.

I was immediately hooked from page one. I love the drama of a seance and a spirit companion made it even better.

The cover drew me in first. It matches the vibe of the book so perfectly. It’s disturbing yet beautiful just like the book!

If you are a fan of Rebecca, I think you’ll love this. I found many similarities between the two but this has a darker feel.

I would definitely read more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Johanna Van Veen for the opportunity. I have written this review voluntarily.

Not my usual choice of books, going to be honest only wanted to read it because the cover spoke to me! Glad I did! I love how descriptive the author was with telling the story of the two women who are more alike than they know! I love the characters, it’s a little graphic (mainly in the descriptions) but it’s wonderfully written!

A beautifully written exploration of the the mind and soul.
“My Darling Dreadful Thing”, is a story of a young woman, Roosje, whom has a spirit companion named Ruth. She conducts seances for her mother with the assistance of her spirit companion. That is where she meets Agnes Knoop.
We follow her story through mixed elements of story telling that keep the story intriguing. Fans of horror and gothic books should absolutely pick this one up !!

I adored my reading experience and I am so intrigued to see what else is to come from the author!!

The prose in this?? It is so gothic and beautiful, and I like the framing device of the main character narrating it to a counselor who’s recording the sessions. That kind of thing automatically piques my interest.