Johanna Van Veen does it again!! An absolutely blood-thirsty gothic tale! 🙌

I loved the Lucy and Sarah (and Not-Sarah) characters!! Definitely a lot of bloodshed in this one (and some very much deserved)! 🩸

Highly recommend to horror lovers, especially fans of gothic and sapphic horror! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Johanna Van Veen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! Looking forward to reading more from you as always!! ❤️

I'm going to call this a 3.75. Overall, this was a very intriguing book, and every time I picked it up, I didn’t want to stop reading. That said, I found the journey more enjoyable than the destination. Some books get better once you sit with them, but unfortunately, this was the opposite... the more I 'digest' it, the more certain issues start to surface. Still, I really enjoyed the experience, so I’m settling on a 4-star rating, even if I might feel differently a few months from now.

What I liked... The sister relationship was incredibly engaging. Sarah and Lucy were each a bit weird and interesting on their own, but together, they were a whole different kind of weird and interesting. I found Lucy’s need to re-evaluate their relationship after everything that happened to Sarah especially thought-provoking. I also appreciated the fierce loyalty between them - it was a ride-or-die, "I'll do messed-up things for you," all-consuming kind of bond. It was way too messy to be healthy, and I just loved it.

I also thought the plot was compelling. There was just enough mystery to keep me hooked. While it wasn’t anything extreme, the author did a great job sprinkling in unknowns and little puzzles that made the story feel engaging the whole way through.

My issues... I wasn’t a fan of how things played out with Michael and Arthur.

(Warning: slight spoiler ahead)

Michael being "a bad guy" wasn’t surprising, but Arthur’s turn disappointed me. I’m not a fan of the "all men are bad" trope, and this book leaned into that a bit at the end. Arthur could have been morally grey but ultimately redeemed himself - realizing he was being unfair to Sarah maybe. Honestly, he could have died scuffling with Michael, and it would have accomplished the same thing. He didn’t need to be as crappy as he was.

I also found Mrs. Van—whatever—kind of unnecessary. She didn’t ruin anything, and her presence added some intrigue, but by the end, she just felt a little... random. Maybe a different wrap-up to her involvement would have worked better. It wasn’t a huge issue, but it stood out enough.

Anyway... I don't think my issues are major flaws. I think this is more a case of it not being my typical read. I rarely pick up horror, so the fact that I enjoyed this at all says something about the author’s skill. I’m sure plenty of people would love this, and I’d be comfortable recommending it to others!

Johanna van Veen's "Blood on Her Tongue" is a compelling gothic horror novel that masterfully intertwines themes of sisterhood, madness, and the supernatural. Set in the atmospheric backdrop of 1887 Netherlands, the story follows Lucy as she endeavors to save her twin sister, Sarah, from a mysterious affliction linked to an ancient bog corpse. Van Veen's evocative prose immerses readers in a world brimming with eerie tension and vivid imagery, making the novel both unsettling and captivating. While some readers might find the detailed body horror elements intense, they serve to enhance the narrative's chilling impact. Overall, "Blood on Her Tongue" is a dark, visceral, and deliciously disturbing tale that feels like a brand new 19th-century classic, bristling with gothic horror and mounting dread.

Blood on her Tongue is the second novel from up and coming gothic horror enthusiast Johanna van Veen and to say that I’m enamored with her would be an understatement. With the rise of gothic horror in popular media we will be seeing more authours delving into the pits of horror, but not everyone truly understands the assignment. I’m glad to report that Veen does indeed.

There is so much that goes into writing a lyrically stunning gothic horror book, from intention to pacing and not everyone succeeds at that. There were a couple issues that I did have with the pacing in the front half of the book but my few problems were quickly rectified in the latter half. The push and pull was well done but there were many times in the first half that I wanted to get closer to the horror and drama. If you stick with it, the give is worth it but the drag earlier on did have me questioning a couple of times.

A longing and yearning tale between two twins was the heart of this horror ridden story and I will root for them beyond the grave. The gothic aspects were incredibly well done and as an immense gothic lover, I’m incredibly hard to please. While the balance eventually works itself out, all the other pieces were there. From a unique plot, to the imagery and lyrical writing, and tropes that I expect to partake in when reading a book like this. Blood on Her Tongue is a sickly feminist tale that will have you quavering until the last bloody page.

Now THIS is the perfect example of a gothic horror romance. This book was atmospheric, beautiful, Sapphic and bloody in all the right places.
I know a lot of you may argue that this isn't a gothic romance, but let me be the first to tell you that it most definitely is just maybe not in the way you think or were hoping. There isn't much "spice" or even kissing, but the devotion, the want, the longing that Lucy portrays in her love for Sarah is definitely there and present on these pages. The Lucy from the very beginning of this story and the Lucy at the end of this story are two totally different people, driven mad and willing to do unspeakable things driven by the love that she has for her sister and if that isn't a gothic romance than I don't know what is. The story line of these unhinged women kept me seated until I was completed and I really did enjoy almost every second of these two sisters relationship. From the ambiance of the story itself to the gothic imagery and of course the gore, Veen out did herself with the writing.
The only real issue I had with this story was the pacing. At times the book itself was slow and drawn out in finding out just what ailed Sarah, and then at the next turn of page it was like a whiplash were everything was happening all at once. The ending was really the biggest issue of this for me, it just felt very rushed. I was hoping we'd maybe get a little more of where Sarah & Lucy went and we were just kind of left with them vanishing. We didn't even get a small excerpt from Mrs. Van Dijk in the newspapers small article about the family, which I was certain there would be. I was also hoping their aunts story may have made more of an impact for the girls, just besides telling the reader why they are so terrified of asylums. Overall the ending rushed and incomplete.
While the ending may have felt rushed, overall the story didn't. Veen did a great job with the imagery in her scenes, and most of them played out like a movie in my head. The gothic atmosphere was alive and well throughout the entire story, complete with the tell tale gothic house, the fog and rainy weather. The gore was perfect and creepy, and the added sensory effects to most scenes really helped tie in with the horror. I highly enjoyed this new vampire life creature. The word vampire is never directly used, and I really enjoyed that because vampire isn't really the correct word for what Not-Sarah is. The gothic vampiric undertones are still very frequent and present but this new creature was like a breath of fresh air because who doesn't love a new monster? I really can't wait to see what monster comes out of Veen next.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Would you still love me if I was a worm” takes on a new and absolutely horrifying meaning in “Blood on Her Tongue”

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy for an honest review!

This was an absolutely grotesque, surreal, unsettling experience of a read and I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like it. That said, I enjoyed this.

The story was initially appealing to me from the description, and I was drawn in by the premise of a bog body being found and then things getting insane (to say the least). The plot was thrilling and I never quite knew where it was going. I had just so happened to recently read “Dracula,” so I loved that “Blood on Her Tongue” has a similar format which I felt added to Sarah’s story. Lucy’s devotion to her sister (like I said, would you still love me if I was a worm) was quite gripping and I loved seeing the mental turmoil and great lengths Lucy went to to protect her sister.

One downfall to the book is that with the setting being 1887 and with frequent references to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I did find that the language/voice was not always consistent. At times, it had that gothic, old English feel, but it often felt as if that veil slipped and I felt myself pulled from the atmosphere due to certain phrases that did not seem to fit in. I wish this element was a little more refined as it did end up being a bit of an issue for me while reading.

That said, I give “Blood on Her Tongue” a solid 4 stars!

And here I thought this was going to be a new and exciting take on vampire lore. And if not, I thought at least the book would be enjoyable.

But it ended up being neither of those.

I was seated and ready in the first third of the book. The Gothic vibes were vibing. The FMC's cursed/infected sister was biting family friends. The FMC ate a microscopic smidge of her sister's skin. Dark, gross, and the book seemed like it was delivering on its promises.

But after that, it started to become unintentionally silly. Right after the FMC's sister's death, the FMC has sex with her brother-in-law?? And then she gets a marriage proposal from their family friend while she's panicking about her sister's corpse making noises in the coffin??

While I love Gothic horror, I know it has its silly moments (lbr, vampires are campy as hell). But this felt kind of ridiculous considering that the FMC's sister just died. Later on, the FMC references the "would you love me if I was a worm?" meme and that legitimately took me out. (I'm not sure if this was intentional but it made me snort.) There was another line where a male character calls the FMC, "my sweet little fuck" and that straight up took me out of my reading experience to the point where I couldn't recover from it.

Other than that, the story itself was pretty standard Gothic horror fare with its creepy setting, misogyny galore, lack of bodily autonomy and women's rights, and subverting sexual norms. The writing wasn't anything to rave about. The characters, their actions, and even the FMC's thoughts felt like they were fulfilling stereotypes and tropes instead of being written as fully realized characters.

While I didn't dislike my reading experience, I wasn't all too disappointed when this ended up being a quick read.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this arc.

Johanna van Veen’s Blood on Her Tongue is a visceral and hypnotic descent into obsession, desire, and the razor-thin line between love and destruction. From the first page, the novel grips you with its lush, evocative prose and refuses to let go, drawing readers into a feverish, almost dreamlike narrative where emotions burn hot and consequences are inevitable.

At its core, Blood on Her Tongue is a story of hunger—both literal and metaphorical. Van Veen crafts characters who ache for something just out of reach, whether it be power, control, or a love that teeters on the edge of ruin. The writing is intoxicating, filled with imagery that is both beautiful and grotesque, making every scene feel rich with tension. The novel pulses with a dark sensuality, exploring themes of obsession and transformation in a way that is as unsettling as it is compelling.

The pacing is relentless, and the novel thrives on its ability to keep the reader in a state of unease. Each chapter pulls you deeper into its world, where every touch, every word, feels like a potential trigger for something monstrous. Van Veen masterfully balances psychological depth with raw, physical horror, making this a read that lingers long after the final page.

If there’s any challenge to Blood on Her Tongue, it’s that its intensity never truly lets up. The book is unrelenting in its atmosphere, which may overwhelm readers looking for moments of reprieve. But for those who enjoy fiction that leaves them breathless, this is an unforgettable ride.

Dark, poetic, and utterly consuming, Blood on Her Tongue cements Johanna van Veen as a bold new voice in literary horror. This is a novel that doesn’t just ask to be read—it demands to be felt.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This was not what I was expecting.
Let me rephrase that: I was expecting the first half of the novel, the mystery behind Sarah’s illness (is it possession, is it something more?), the creepy atmosphere, secret lovers, the letters and newspaper clips, the growing menace…
I was definitely not expecting the second part. I will even say I was certain the book was reaching its climax (something that happens when reading in digital and not paying attention to the length of the book) and suddenly it all changed, the pace was quick and less gothic, the weirdness exploded… and it was so entertaining! There is this conundrum about the decision of the main character that was nagging at me but hey, it was not my place to judge, just to continue reading and surprising myself with the turn of the pages.
A weird, enjoyable experience, a ‘new’ imagining and a voice that makes everything feel important and make you wonder whether it is a clue or just a beautiful description.
Beware of bogs, by the way.

This book was so much fun! It’s gothic, it’s horror, it’s creepy… it’s the perfect book for those who love Dracula, or those who have recently watched the new Nosferatu. The vibes are perfect for a dark, rainy atmosphere! This is the perfect read for horror fans missing a good story set in the 1800s.

I love the way this story was told. The letter format with the traditional chapters is a great combination for this kind of story. The letters give it that older vibe. I also love the description! The scenes are so vivid in my mind, I could picture each detail so well.

The setting is cool, the characters are great. The plot is a little slow, but it picks up and turns into a great story! Thank you NetGallety for the arc! 3/5 ✨.

4.5 stars

Blood on her tongue is the perfect book if you’re into gothic, creepy, atmospheric stories.

Lucy receives troubling letters from her twin sister, Sarah, letting her know that she is unwell. She travels to her home to try and help, but she quickly realizes just how unwell her sister is. A few weeks prior to this, the body of a woman was pulled from a nearby bog. Sarah has become obsessed over the mysterious woman and her mental health has spiraled out of control. Lucy must figure out what is going on before she loses her sister forever.

I loved the historical aspect of this book. It really puts into perspective just how terrible women were treated in 1887. I also found the relationship between the twin sisters very interesting. It showed just how terrible sisters can be with each other, while also loving them fiercely.

This book is written beautifully. It fully immerses you into the story. It’s incredibly disturbing at times and goes into every gory detail. If you’re into gothic horror, I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

📖 Blood On Her Tongue 📖 by Johanna Van Veen

-To be released March 25, 2025-

I'm hardly likely to pick up a horror novel of my own accord. However, I was looking for something a bit different on #NetGalley and Blood On Her Tongue caught my eye. This cover art is 🤩 So when I was given the chance to read an advanced copy, I thought why not?! It's always good to step out of your comfort zone once in a while. Even if I was a little apprehensive 😬

It's 1887 in the Netherlands. Lucy has received word that her twin sister Sarah is unwell. Upon arrival at her sister's estate, she finds Sarah is speaking nonsense and is wasting away before her eyes. Her sister's bedside table is filled with journals and notes regarding the recent discovery of a deceased woman found in the surrounding bogs. Sarah becomes increasingly sick, agitated, and dangerous, causing a local doctor to diagnose her with temporary insanity brought on by a fever of the brain. Lucy must figure out how to help Sarah before action is taken to put her in an asylum.

I know horror is not my typical genre. I've kept that in mind as I write this review. This story has an interesting take on a classic horror theme. It was interesting how the author chose to spin that element. The story is dark, bleak, and everything I think lovers of this genre enjoy. It was not my favorite, though. It's strange, and a couple of parts are really gross. And not in a blood and gore sort of way. Although there is a lot of that. One scene was just straight up disgusting.

The writing was okay. Lucy and Sarah's characters were interesting and had some surprising moments. I felt the ending was wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted to know just a little more detail at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for an early copy of this book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Language: 🤬🤬🤬🤬

#horror #books #reading #reader #ilovereading #lovetoread #igbooks #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #arc #coloradoreader #alwaysreading #readmorebooks #readreadread #tbr #2025reads #newrelease #scifi #dark #creepy #horroraddict #theturquoisereadingroom

Blood on Her Tongue
By Johanna van Veen
Release Date: March 25th, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

Brief Synopsis:

The Netherlands, 1887. After the discovery of a centuries-old corpse buried in the bog near Sarah’s home, Sarah starts acting strange. Her twin sister, Lucy, is called to help care for her. Lucy quickly realizes there’s more to Sarah’s odd behavior than the brain fever she’s been diagnosed with. Something dark has taken hold of her sister, but is it madness or something more sinister? Can Lucy save Sarah? Or will she be locked in an asylum with no way to satiate her newfound hunger?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one! This was the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I was definitely impressed. The writing was excellent. I loved the set up. I was completely obsessed with the corpse found in the bog. How had it gotten there? Who was it? Why had they been killed in the fashion that they were killed? I needed to know everything! And then the sister that was exposed to the bog body starts having unnatural cravings?? Uh, yes please, tell me more!

My biggest gripe with this book was that the main character sometimes frustrated me. At times, she struggled to make certain decisions, which is understandable, but her indecisiveness caused the pacing to lull. There was a point about 2/3rds in that drug on because she didn’t know what she wanted to do. It caused me to lose a little of my original excitement for the story. I was satisfied with the ending, but it didn’t hit quite as hard as it could have had the lull not happened. 🤷‍♀️

Anyway! I still had a lot of fun with this one, and recommend checking it out!

Ratings:

Plot- ⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️ /5
Characters- 💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️ /5
Pacing- 🐢🐢🐢🐢 /5
Overall- 🩸🩸🩸🩸 /5

Read if you like:

▪️ gothic horror
▪️ Nosferatu vibes
▪️ bogs
▪️ stories told partially through diary entries, letters, newspaper articles
▪️ unusual/interesting take on “vampires”
▪️ female rage

I went in expecting a dark sapphic gothic romance, and this book is NOT that. There are sapphic romance aspects, but the main focus of the book is the bond between two twin sisters.
The horror aspects are done really well, though I never quite fell in love with the characters, and it didn't feel like there was very much growth from any of them.

This book is "my type" on paper. A great cover, vampirism, bog people, a lesbian love affair, creepy twin vibes. Yet, it was not enough. The writing felt shallow, I could not connect to Lucie or Sarah (or Not-Sarah). It also felt disappointing that despite all the signs pointing to Lucie and Sarah having a co-dependent, unequal relationship, there was no actualization of the power imbalance between the two. Everyone is waiving a red flag, but you're just repeating the same toxic behaviors. I found that disappointing.

Blood On Her Tongue is Delightfully Vicious!

Johanna van Veen returns with another Victorian nightmare, masterfully weaving readers' deepest fears into a chilling, atmospheric tale. At its core, Blood On Her Tongue explores the haunting bond between twin sisters, Lucy and Sarah. When Lucy returns home upon hearing of Sarah’s failing health, she quickly finds herself entangled in a web of unsettling mysteries—Sarah’s mysterious illness, the eerie presence of a bog woman, an infestation of ticks, and a string of clandestine affairs that threaten to unravel everything.

Van Veen’s signature storytelling shines through in this intricately layered novel. The mysteries unfold through a compelling blend of letters, scientific notes, and other unconventional narrative techniques, immersing readers in the process of unraveling each enigma. This structure not only enhances the immersive quality of the novel but also masterfully balances the tension between the supernatural and the scientific, keeping me hooked late into the night, desperate to piece it all together.

Beyond the eerie mysteries, Blood On Her Tongue is also a stunning exploration of family bonds and the intricate ways in which relationships shape fate. The psychological depth of each character, their interwoven histories, and the delicate threads that tie them together make for an utterly engrossing read. Van Veen’s talent for crafting an intricate web of connections ensures that every revelation lands with maximum impact, making the novel’s conclusion all the more satisfying.

Dark, unsettling, and completely mesmerizing, Blood On Her Tongue is a must-read for fans of gothic horror, from the twisted family dramas of V.C. Andrews to the psychological torment of Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. If you crave an eerie, mind-bending tale with a bite, this is the book for you!

This book. THIS BOOK!!! Devoured it, loved it. The story begins and you kind of already know where things are going, but that doesn't stop you from turning the page and reading the next thing that happens because this book is that good. The atmosphere, the vivid descriptions of things you wouldn't really want to look closely at. A somewhat new take on vapires that I truly enjoyed.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Johanna van Veen for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride, this book had me hooked from the begining & I had such a hard time when I needed to put it down for life task. I never really new exactly where it was going and it kept me guessing (with all the creepy and gross factors) until the very end.

This book was a crazy ride almost from the very begging. It felt like almost all our characters had some loose screws. The way this book was written had me in a constant state of unease, as well as the way some scenes were described I had to sit for a bit and process what I had just read. That being said if you aren't the biggest fan of body horror or gore be prepared going into it. I really enjoyed this book and it was actually one of my anticipated reads for this year so I am not only glad that it did not disappoint but also that I got to read it early.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you for the ARC I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot was well written, it held me in its grips and I could not put it down. I loved the detailed writing and some of the descriptions had me cringing!
The story really had me thinking about what I would and wouldn't do for my family.
Such a well written horror that had me captivated from the first page.