A perfect read for those who loved The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling and Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu!

Blood on Her Tongue delves into the unsettling bond between twin sisters, Lucy and Sarah, set against the backdrop of 1880s Netherlands. When Sarah becomes mysteriously ill after an obsession with a bog body found on her husband's land, her condition deteriorates, leading to violent and cannibalistic behaviors. Lucy embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her sister's transformation, confronting themes of family loyalty, body horror, and the supernatural.​

Van Veen's writing is immersive, blending psychological distress with vivid descriptions of grotesque transformations. The novel's structure, with its repetitive beats and claustrophobic setting, amplifies the sense of dread. The inclusion of queer history adds depth to the narrative without distraction. Just like her novel, My Darling Dreadful Thing, Blood on Her Tongue is atmospheric and crawls into your bones, compelling you to keep reading.

Another great read from Van Veen! I thank the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read & review this book!

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Yes, I read an ARC of this one, so my review is quite late, but this one totally deserves the attention. Johanna van Veen is back at it again with another atmospheric, gothic horror banger! This slow burn is dark, eerie, and beautifully written, keeping me drawn into the story from beginning to end. With some body horror, this had me saying, “omg eww… but okay what happens now?” 👀😂

This sophomore novel from Johanna van Veen solidified her as an author I will always be excited about. If you want to experience a book with body horror, bogs, sisterly love, a dog, madness, vampire vibes, and a skin flake, then read this one!

This is the second novel I've read by Johanna Van Veen, and it just confirmed to me that she is, in fact, one of my favourite authors. I do not naturally gravitate to horror, but when I have, it is usually to authors such as her. Before you read this novel, be sure to read the forward; it does prepare the reader for what lies ahead. Yes, it is creepy, yes, it is bloody, but it's also a whole lot of fun. This novel will keep you entertained from start to finish. In fact I was so intrigued that I read it in a day!
Set in what I believe to be the Victorian era, Lucy receives a very unsettling letter from her twin, Sarah. Sarah's letter is incoherent, pleading, and desperate, and her handwriting is beyond agitated.
Sarah's letter was soon followed by her husband's letter, requesting Lucy come to Sarah's assistance.
Lucy isn't completely surprised by this; madness, after all, does run in the family.
When Lucy arrives, in an effort to discover the cause of her sister's madness, she begins to read Sarah's journals. These journals aren't just a person's recollection of the day's thoughts and events; they are also scholarly in nature. It seems a body has been found on the property, but not any body, a Bog Woman wonderfully preserved centuries after her demise. Sarah's obsession over the Bog Woman seems to have ignited her madness, so much so that we, the readers, start to believe that she may, in fact, be possessed by the Bog Woman's spirit because soon Sarah ceases to be Sarah as Lucy has known her to be.
As with most Victorian stories, the male characters are far from sympathetic. For instance, Sarah's husband is dismissive, condescending, and extremely narcissistic, which makes him an unsympathetic character. However, Van Veen does not paint the sisters as sympathetic characters either, but it does get the readers rooting for them at the end.
This novel is highly atmospheric. It is gruesome, suspenseful, and quite humorous at times (to the expense of a couple of characters). I enjoy Johanna Van Veen so much because, despite the heavy themes, the plot is gruesome fun. If you are not a fan of body horror, maybe stay away from this one, but if you enjoy a good, gruesome, spooky tale, you'll definitely enjoy Blood on Her Tongue.

I absolutely loved this messed up little book.

We follow our protagonist, Lucy, as she visits her twin, Sarah, who is extremely ill. She tries to figure out the cause of Sarah's condition and discovers it might be tied to a mysterious body that was pulled out of the bog, a rock lodged between her teeth...

This was such a unique take on vampires and I loved every second of it. I'm already a little obsessed with vampire media, so to have something this fresh is wonderful. The imagery, the prose, the love between two sisters, this book had it all. And, as always, men turn out to be the biggest monsters of them all. 5/5!

Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen is a gothic horror novel set in 1887 Netherlands. It follows twin sisters Lucy and Sarah, whose deep bond is tested when Sarah becomes obsessed with a centuries-old corpse and starts exhibiting strange, ravenous behaviour. Lucy uncovers dark secrets about her sister and herself, as she fights to save her sister from madness and supernatural forces.

The premise, the Cover, as well as writing and setting are very intriguing. I immensely enjoyed the letter correspondence between the sisters, unravelling more and more about the mysterious corpse Sarah found in the bog and became obsessed with. Their relationship is close, but also codependent, as Lucy barely feels like a whole character for the majority of the story, she feels empty, directionless and obsessed with her sister (and her husband). Sarah, being the more passionate one, offers a bit more to the reader, although in the end both fall flat as also highly unlikeable. They justify even the worst of behaviour, and for me, it crosses the border of relatability. The men in this book are even more flat and basically all bad, a lot of this can of course be directed to the time the novel is set - but the mix between these bland bad men and the self-righteous egoistical sisters does not make an appealing blend. They just all end up unlikeable and the book despite it all feels quite emotionless.
I did enjoy the gothic setting and atmosphere, although it could use some more purple prose and melancholy.

Overall around 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

It's the late 1800s, and something sinister is afoot with our protagonist Lucy's twin sister Sarah.

Locked away in her husband's estate for the protection of herself and others, is this another case of the sexist disease <i>hysteria</i> or something far more real... and dangerous? Secrets and even stranger hungers plague Sarah, resulting in incredibly odd and occasionally violent behavior. Her letter begging for help couldn't have prepared Lucy for the reality of the situation, of how far her sister's mind deteriorated.

A long-dead body Sarah was obsessed with to a frightening degree make the likelihood the woman would be sent to an asylum all the more likely. Such interests are not for finely bred ladies, of course her mind shattered her husband cries. Out of sight out of mind, better to keep her oddness far, far away. Her previous bouts of mental malaise the final nails in the metaphoric coffin for her sanity. She's become convinced the bog body discovered on the grounds is out for blood, specifically hers.

Can Lucy solve the mystery of what's happening to her beloved sister before it's too late? These strange cravings and obsessions must be part of a greater plot... they must be. Sarah can't truly be mad! Just how far is Lucy willing to go as things spiral out of control? What will she do if Sarah has become something else entirely? How far do the bonds of sisterhood reach before snapping?

Much like the ghost story of van Veen's novel <i>My Darling Dreadful Thing</i>, the author has shown an uncanny ability to weave horror, fantastical elements, and a historical setting into an all-consuming wonder. Her last novel is one of my favorites from 2024, which made the chance to read this ARC a real treat and honor! I'm unfortunately a bit late to the game due to some personal things, yet don't let this delayed review misconstrue my excitement to read this story.

Vampiric fiction, especially of the Gothic variety focuses heavily on power imbalances and obsessive longing. The desires long buried within finally given freedom in the light of day. The acceptance that to have power and eternal life someone else must pay the price to keep the scales of reality in balance.

In this novel, the vampire tale is blended with the mystique of bog bodies and Victorian obsessions with the dead. Autopsies and discussions of mummies were commonplace for the wealthy looking for a bit of intellectual stimulation. The uncanny acts and ramblings of Sarah could be warning signs she's turning into a creature of the night, yet the desire to understand the unknowable via the sciences make most in this novel believe she's suffered a mental collapse.

Those sensitive to discussions of mental illness and those afflicted being treated poorly should be wary reading this book. This is done with purpose to shine a light on how those who are a bit odd or need extra help—especially women—were locked away or tortured instead. This is a Gothic Horror novel so things do get quite dark, yet never gratuitously so. The pain and cruelty has a purpose to open one's eyes to both the past and the present, it isn't there to revel in the abuse of women.

This was a great, spooky, harrowing read! Lucy and Sarah as main characters of this story was so perfect — their dynamic, their resentment and love for each other, all of it was fantastic. The supernatural element was squirm-worthy but excellent, and loved Lucy readiness at having to deal with it by virtue of her sister being at the centre. This is a brutal and unapologetic book, and definitely feels like the epitome of celebrating womens' wrongs. If that's the kind of book you're looking for, BLOOD ON HER TONGUE will not disappoint!

give johanna van veen full ability to write whatever she wants. this is a horror book with some real nasty moments, but it’s also incredibly FUN. like, i was giggling to myself at some points. and i love any horror that celebrates women — their rights AND their wrongs, and there’s plenty of both to be found here. just an excellent little novel.

I really enjoyed this spooky story! The family dynamics were interesting even without the supernatural element, but I loved the twists and turns too. I liked the back and forth with the letters from Sarah in the beginning, as they gave me a chance to know who she was under normal circumstances vs what she became. Definitely recommend this unsettling book!

Haunting and richly atmospheric, this novel weaves together folklore and female fury in a voice that demands to be heard. Van Veen’s prose is lyrical and razor-sharp, pulling you deep into a world where truth and myth blur. It’s a fierce, unforgettable story that lingers like a whispered warning.

Well that was trippy, in a very weird and good way. Lucy rushes to her sister, Sarah’s, side following an illness, which came on after the discovery of a strange body in the bog at her property, Zwartwater. Upon her arrival, Lucy finds her sister gravely ill but it is an illness unlike any she has seen - Sarah is emaciated but excruciatingly strong and has an intense desire for blood.

A bizarre and intense gothic story, with some honestly very unlikable characters. But it works!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

Johanna van Veen, please never stop writing!
I loved this author's debut novel My Darling Dreadful Thing so I was very excited and grateful to have been granted an ARC of her new book, Blood on Her Tongue and, needless to say, it did not disappoint! In fact I can already say this is going to be one of my top reads of the year.

This excellent gothic novel has everything: twin sisters with a special bond and lots of secrets, family drama, supernatural horror elements, lots of blood, some spicy scenes, men being men, bog bodies, a charming and creepy atmosphere and... yeah, more blood. What's not to love?
The story is intriguing, fast paced, a lot of fun, but it's the writing that I find absolutely incredible, so beautiful and elegant, yet dynamic and brutal at times - exactly my cup of tea.
I loved the ending and especially HOW the bond between sisters won over everything (I won't say more but please do yourself a favor and read this book!).

This author is officially now one of my favorites of all time, and I don't say this lightly, but I would read anything Johanna van Veen writes: her horror stories just hit different, and I am here for all of them.
5 stars.

* I'd like to thank Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"They say a husband and wife are one flesh, but you are my twin and thus my other half."

3.5 stars. Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen is a 2025 gothic, queer horror release. Set in 1887 Netherlands, it follows Lucy as she goes to see her twin sister Sarah after receiving alarming letters and a telegraph summoning her. The novel centres around Lucy and her relationships with Sarah, her husband Michael, and the girls' childhood friend and doctor Arthur. We learn that a body was found in the marshes of Zwartwater ("Black Water"), Michael and Sarah's estate, and Sarah soon became fascinated by it before falling ill.

I enjoyed the characterization and the relationships explored. Besides Lucy, Sarah, Michael and Arthur, we also have Michael's cousin Katye. Between these 5 characters you get like 3 messy love triangles, affairs, marriage proposals, etc which added a layer of interpersonal drama I didn't expect but enjoyed. The main relationship though is the twin siblings, which also ties into the Gothic double motif. I really enjoyed some imagery van Veen used like the worm cut in half and mirrors, and scenes where people mistake the two. It's kinda hard to talk about this without spoilers, but I know some people will appreciate that this is a queer horror novel where the central sapphic relationship isn't abusive. Well, it's a bit debatable and I wouldn't call it healthy, but in a sea of queer vampire novels where an abusive sapphic relationship is part of the horror (Carmilla, The Wicked and the Willing, House of Hunger), I think some readers will enjoy a more positive "Go Lesbians!" take.

"Dying for someone is easy. If you really want to help her, stay alive.”

The novel begins each section with a quote from Bram Stoker's Dracula which it also evokes in its epistolary style, threading various letters, newspaper articles and diary entries into the story. I liked the different formats even if the book didn't do anything new with its form (though it doesn't have to).

The language was easy to read and this is a really approachable horror and gothic novel, however it might leave a little to be desired for readers who are already fans of the genre. For example, with the historical setting and clear references to Dracula, I think I found that some of the modern language used took me out of the story. I can understand using the f-word from time to time for emphasis but some anachronisms really took me out of the story like "heaps better" and "something fierce." This also hindered the atmosphere of the novel for me. I wanted to be in Zwartwater - this dank swamp where the water drowns everything and the manor that stands crooked because the foundations are sinking into the soft ground. But the writing took me out of it unfortunately, even when it wasn't a weird phrase, the language could feel too modern in general.

The book creates horror in a variety of ways (the central mystery of what's wrong with Sarah, the unknown, tension between the characters, sexism and misogyny) but the main element is the body horror. We have some period typical medical stuff, an autopsy, death and decay, the smell of corpses, bodily fluids and blood (obviously). The book made me go "EW!" out loud multiple times, so I would say it was pretty successful. There's also a different take on the vampire here which is something I can appreciate. (view spoiler)

I was a little disappointed just because I was so hyped for this book, but it was still good. I would say it feels similar to Krystal Sutherland's House of Hollow in tone and body horror vibes. Funnily enough I also gave that book 3.5 stars, I think I prefer slower paced horror than both these books, which I would say is medium-fast paced? Blood on Her Tongue was 368 pages but it felt a lot shorter because it was so easy to read, and I read it all across 2 days (besides from a few false starts). It definitely did keep my attention with the plot and mystery, and I enjoyed the messy relationships.

Incredible. Delectable. Gritty and atmospheric. I loved every second of this book. One of my favourite tropes to explore is two sisters finding each other through it all. I loved the way that this felt so much like a good-for-her companion to Dracula whilst also being a completely different story all together.

I kindly received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley to review and I ate it up. Five stars, probably going to be a favourite for the year.

I enjoyed this author's previous book but I possibly liked this one even more. Codependent twins! Bog bodies! Dead daughters! Murderous hunger!

The main character is an unmarried companion to an old lady, whose science-minded married sister becomes violently sick and disturbed in the mind after finding an old corpse in the bog surrounding their estate. (A very gothic setting.) You have the creepy atmosphere, the mysteries, and the creeping sense that something is really wrong with Sarah.

I'd say the plot is quite predictable, but that's not really the point, rather the atmosphere and the characterization, which were both worth the read.

Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen is a gothic slow-burn that simmers with dread beneath its polished historical setting. Set in the misty expanses of 1887 Netherlands, it tells the unsettling story of twins, Lucy and Sarah, as their once-inseparable bond becomes twisted by secrets, illness, and a creeping, almost folkloric horror.

Where the book truly shines — and why I think it would make a fantastic adaptation — is in its visual and emotional potential. The story lends itself beautifully to a limited series or a tightly directed film: haunting landscapes, a decaying estate hiding generations of secrets, and two actresses tasked with conveying an intense sisterly bond strained to the breaking point. You can almost see the flicker of a lantern in the dark, hear the ragged breath of something not quite human moving through the halls.

Still, the middle dragged in places, slightly muting the urgency of the plot. A tighter focus and a more vivid exploration of the "possession versus madness" question could have elevated the story into something truly unforgettable.

Overall, Blood on Her Tongue is a dark, moody gothic with rich atmosphere and strong emotional stakes. Fans of Crimson Peak or The Haunting of Bly Manor would likely find a lot to love here — and with the right hands, it could absolutely come alive (and haunt us) on screen.

4

setting: the Netherlands
rep: sapphic side character

Johanna van Veen knows how to write gross atmospheric historical horror! I've enjoyed both of her books so far, and I really appreciated the sister relationship in this story. Note - it is mismarketed as a queer book (at least by Netgalley) - Sarah, the protagonist's sister, is sapphic, but Lucy is not. P.s. there is some seriously gross eyeball stuff going on in this book.

While I thought this book did great with the atmosphere and gothic vibes, the characters kind of ruined it for me.
At first, I was very intrigued by both Sarah and Lucy; their relationship is beyond codependent, but I really enjoyed the glimpses of what happened in the past and all the references to the woman who was found in the bog. That bog lady was my favorite part! I loved the research that went into finding out who she was and how she ended up where she did.

The sister relationship got weirder and kind of more sinister, and while I found the dynamics interesting, I really didn't care about either of them that much. I liked the side characters, I'm talking to you, Mrs. van Dijk, and loyal companion Pasha
. The whole book was a slow burn, which felt right for the tone of the story, but didn't give me any moments where I didn't want to put it down.
While this one didn't fully work for me, I've enjoyed this author's previous book, and will be reading whatever she comes out with next.

<b>Very saddening 2.75👯‍♀️</b> (Edit after rereading)

<b><i>“She did not suck on ribbons for their color, though; she simply liked the sensation of the thin wet silk on her tongue and against her lips.”</b></i>
- If this was said before the speaking of your dying sisters’s husband, I would’ve thought you were something else!

<b> Thank you so much NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Johanna van Veen for giving me this eARC and exchange for my full and honest opinion! </b>

<i><b>‘Blood On Her Tongue’</i></b> is both slow and fast paced. A lot of things were <i>mediocre</i>— more so heading into the middle— which I feel should be really hard to accomplish when writing gothic/vampiric-esque fiction, but van Veen unfortunately was able to do just that with this story, and I hate that because I know she can do it based off word of her debut!

This was disappointing to me as those are some of my favorite things to read about and I was excited about this release, especially since the beginning was really gripping and suspenseful. I’ve heard great things about this author’s debut (to which I will be reading next) to be excited about this book, the synopsis to the looming danger of <i>‘what is it?’</i>during our first handful of chapters, I was ready for a fleshed out story containing elements of what you’d expect in a gothic read! Except it became rather plain and spark-less after a while, as if the story lost itself throughout.

:(

<b><i>‘Afraid she’d drop it and lose it between the heavy sheets, she did the only thing she could think of to keep it safe: she popped it into her mouth and held it under her tongue.’</b></i>
- What a strange one Lucy is. It’s giving me Yellowjackets flashbacks lol.

I didn’t like Lucy as our protagonist or just as a character. Lucy is someone who is sickly obsessed with her twin, which I guess is why she selfishly does what she does with her twins husband and acts the way she does in certain situations. But again, I just felt she never has <i>real</i> reasons to her behaviors and actions—though a bit interesting of a dynamic that could’ve really soared. I just really didn’t get it or <b>her</b> in full, and maybe it’s because we don’t see their relationship before Sarah turns.

Either or, her weird devotion to Sarah and perhaps ‘wanting’ to be her, is flat! Feels to me, the whole ordeal with that was just for some extra “gothic essence” and unsettling vibes. I mean she has no real character reflection all throughout the story nor development and depth to her drastic’s so..

Sarah/not-Sarah was definitely my favorite character(s) out of our pretty ordinary cast but fucked up cast lol. Her letters and parasite self was highly interesting and unsettling. She gave me more of a real gothic-esque character than our main girl Lucy, who just—again— feels flat in comparison. I mean, Lucy was so obsessed with Michael and his sex to do what she claims she always needs to, and that’s helping Sarah and (newly, her feeding). The other characters felt either flat as well or just not enough time was spent with them.

<b> SPOILERS IN BETWEEN BELOW PORTION</b>

<u><b>Departing Thoughts</u></b>

- Being that this book is set in 1887 Netherlands. Tone, words, and settings felt modern lots of the time.
- This story has very interesting concepts that helps with immersion.
- Love the take on vampirism and the takes in it.
- Story would’ve been better told if not solely through Lucy’s perspective.
- It does have disgusting/ grotesque moments, author did that right and if that’s what you need right now, this has it!
- Author really knows how to write an eerie scene don’t she!
- The whole ‘men are terrible, see let’s keep showing how’ to prove this as historical and gothic was irritating after a while because all the men SUCKS SO BAD!
- Rushed climax that wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted it to be.
- Wasn’t as queer as I was expecting, confused why it was advertised as such. Katje (side character) and the constant use of <i><b>‘queer’</i></b> as an adjective is the most you’re getting if you’re looking for queerness. We should’ve had more show not tell regarding her and Sarah’s relationship, but this was done just period.
- Gothic elements slip after the resurrection. Inconsistencies as well as things that were seeded at the start just never bloomed.
- Really great writing though and will read authors other work!


<i>** Will probably try this read again once it’s released**</i>

It wasn’t really my favorite. Honestly, a bit difficult to get through. I was really hoping for more since the synopsis sounded so interesting. I’m going to try to read it again some other time and hope that I enjoy it the second time around. Will come back to this at a later point with an updated review if the second read changes any feelings or perception. Love me a good unhinged/horror book so definitely looking forward to coming back to this novel.