The perfect book to start one’s gothic horror journey. Set in the 19th century Netherlands, Lucy must go to her twin sister’s aid when she receives letters that suggest some sort of madness after her sister Sarah finds a bog body.
Starting with the atmosphere of the book, it was phenomenal. Everything you want in a gothic piece gloomy weather, candle lit rooms, cobblestone streets and Victorian houses. Van Veer does an incredible job throughout the entire book with her descriptions that keep you completely immersed in this world and setting.
Plot wise van Veer’s slow burn of Sarah and her descent into becoming something other was so well written. There’s a big idea of how far would one go to protect the one the loved, or someone who was once someone they loved.

Blood on Her Tongue was a creepy, atmospheric horror that I had a crazy ride on when reading. I really enjoyed it because when I say gothic horror....this is what I am talking about. This was my first book by. Johanna van Veen but it did not disappoint!! Her prose truly made feel like I was part of the story and experiencing everything right there along side our MCs. I can't wait to read more of her work! Thank you to netgalley and poisoned pen press for providing me an early ARC of this book!!!

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the atmospheric elements of this book. The descriptions of the settings and situations were beautiful, and I really felt like I was in the places our characters were in. I enjoyed Lucy for the most part, but she slightly annoyed me because she is so naive (she's young, so I get it). The plot was great, and I enjoyed the letters and articles that split up and aided the narrative. Overall if you're looking for a gothic fantasy horror I would recommend it.

Blood on Her Tongue is a dark, gothic tale which takes a unique spin on vampires. This is not for the faint of heart as it contains quite a bit of body horror.

Whilst deeply in the realm of horror, the writing is lyrical and enchanting. The story itself is very character driven yet the story is well woven and complex.

I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC.

Genuinely, I am shocked by how much I disliked this book. I desperately wanted to like it, and it had me for 30% in, then fell off the rails. Been jumps through so many hoops to justify the story here, and it misses the entire point of gothic horror while trying desperately to cling to the aesthetics in a failed attempt at storytelling.

First off, Lucy is a trash main character and would literally choose a parasite that killed her sister over literally everyone else, because she’s easily manipulated and has zero true backbone. That is, unless she’s defending her awful sister and this awful parasite. Lucy’s actual lack of personality is unpleasant, and rather disappointing when you realize she’s the reason her sister lost the fight with this parasite and then she pledges allegiance to said parasite like a simpering idiot. And no, she does not become “girlboss” by killing a bad man and then a good man (because he wanted to do the right thing and was right about her being a spineless turd) and running away with her sister’s parasitic corpse.

The whole plot with Katje also bothers me, because it felt shoehorned in and frankly, as a queer woman, I do t appreciate queer rep that isn’t truly rep but is just a way to add a bit of “surprising gay shock value” to horror literature. It’s tasteless and borderline offensive to make the three queer women in a book someone who was in “hysteria”, an abuse victim, and a fucking evil parasite. Just SAYING.

And finally, this plot was disappointing. I had high hopes at the beginning, but honestly at 40%, 65% and 80% I was close to a DNF. I’m thoroughly disappointed by how meandering and painful the plot was. Also honestly this story was basically just Under Cover by Tamsyn Muir in a different setting and also worse.

This story was flawed on so many levels. It failed to be gothic horror, symbolic, psychological horror, and also failed completely as a narrative. I wish this was better because I truly wanted it to be better, but it wasn’t. It was childish, poorly formed, and left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Beautifully written, macabre, and atmospheric. Tense, mysterious, and somewhat frightening. Subtle clues were dropped throughout. Initially, I thought the book was going to be about one thing, and it turned out to be something else entirely. At times, "Blood On Her Tongue" feels like a fever dream. It felt very reminiscent of when I saw the (2024) version of Nosferatu. In the sense that both stories are dark, twisted, sad, and oftentimes quite shocking. They also share the commonality of antagonists with an unquechable bloodlust, and in "Blood On Her Tongue's" case a lot more. Johanna van Veen even shares quotes from "Dracula," numerous times in the book. I think those looking for a fresh take on a traditional vampire tale would enjoy this. I will say the pace was a little too slow for me at times. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The ending actually made me laugh out loud. 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This is everything you want in a gothic horror! I was grossed out, on the edge of my seat, and could not put this story down. I was engrossed in the story. The ending was not my favorite, as compared to the rest of the book. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time with this one.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I’ve been rendered inarticulate. All I can say is that if you liked Dracula, Carmilla and even Saltburn (you weirdo 😏) then you would enjoy this book.

I spent the entire time just on the edge of my seat going ‘wtf wtf wtf’ over and over again.

What a beautiful, absolutely gruesome, enthralling tale this was! I was drawn in from the first page and kept entertained until the very last. This novel carries themes of mental illness, sisterly love, and self-worth. The gothic vibes and setting were absolutely on point.

I would highly recommend this to horror fans, particularly fans of gothic tales and body horror. Not for the faint of heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to this eARC. All opinions are my own

4-Star Review

This macabre, gothic novel is beautifully written, with a uniquely haunting style that takes a bit to sink into—but once it does, it’s impossible to stop reading. The eerie atmosphere and slow-burning tension kept me engaged, blurring the line between madness and the supernatural.

The bond between Lucy and Sarah is compelling, and the unraveling mystery is both chilling and intriguing. While I liked it a lot, I wanted to love it—some parts dragged, and I craved a deeper emotional pull. Still, the haunting prose and eerie twists make it a gripping read for gothic fiction fans.

Thank you, NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Blood on Her Tongue” by Johanna van Veen is a masterfully crafted gothic horror novel that immerses readers in a chilling tale set in 1887 Netherlands. The story follows twin sisters, Lucy and Sarah, as they confront mysterious and sinister events that test their bond and sanity. Van Veen’s evocative prose and intricate character development create a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. While some scenes are gruesome and may not suit all readers, those who appreciate dark, gothic narratives will find this book both captivating and unsettling.

I just finished Blood on Her Tongue yesterday and get ready, you guys. You think you know what you're getting yourselves into but it's not what you're expecting. I mean, ok, it is... in one sense. It's dark. It's atmospheric. It's bloody. But the dog knows. Ooooh man, does the dog know!

Set in the Netherlands in the late 1800's, the book opens with Sarah accompanying her husband to view a body that's been discovered in the bog on their property. She immediately becomes infatuated with it and writes to her twin sister Lucy about the strange thoughts and dreams she's been having ever since coming in contact with it. Not long after, Sarah becomes gravely ill, speaking gibberish and running a high fever. Her husband and their childhood friend Arthur fear she's going mad. Lucy rushes to her side in an attempt to save her from the asylum, but ends up coming face to face with a horror nothing could have prepared her for.

The set up and storyline will have you thinking vampires (sorry for the slight spoiler) but oh dearies, it is something much much darker and sinister... and ancient... and it is soooo fucking hungry!

Some of you may know that I typically do not do well with gothic horror, and if I'm being honest this one tried my patience a few times, especially with the whole 'men know better than women', and the marital affair (why do so many of the books I've read lately involve cheating, it's so cringe) and oh yes, I should have predicted, all the fainting or near fainting spells and female hysteria stuff that the ladies were afflicted with back then. But all those pet peeves aside, the story really kept my interest piqued.

Dripping with dread, the book delves into codependency, mental health, and the allure of the unknown all while challenging familial bonds. How far is too far when a loved one's survival is at stake?

I read Van Veen’s previous novel, which was her debut and it was certainly twisted, but this got way more dark. The graphic details of the horror that she was trying to portray was what gave this book a 4 star review. However, it is not for the feint of heart. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to just anyone. It is a love story, a story about sisters and what they will do to stay together, but at its core, this is a gothic horror story. The author has you rooting for the unexpected to happen, when if I told you what that would be at the outset, you’d never believe that to be true. I’m not sure I can stomach reading a book like this again, and yet I kind of can’t wait to see the sinister plot JVV cooks up next!

This was an interesting story that I had expected to love but found I couldn’t get into the story as much as I had wanted. I liked that it was a bit different to other gothic stories I had read recently however.

This dark and macabre novel delivers an exhilarating rollercoaster experience that pushes the boundaries of fiction. Not for the faint of heart, it immerses readers in a world brimming with gore, cannibalism, and sinister vampires. The plot twists caught me completely off guard, adding to the book's suspenseful allure.

What sets this work apart is its strong feminist undertones and a significant emphasis on mental health, offering crucial commentary amidst the horror. At times, I found myself almost feeling sympathy for the male characters, showcasing the nuanced perspective the author brings to the table.

In conclusion, this book is disturbingly captivating in the best possible way—perfect for those who appreciate a blend of horror with deeper themes. A truly unique read that leaves a lasting impression!

Blood on Her Tongue is a historical gothic horror that follows Lucy Goedhart, a rather ordinary and forgettable woman, as her loyalty is put to the test when her twin sister Sarah falls ill after becoming increasingly obsessed with a recently uncovered bog body.

It's chock full of toxic relationships, supernatural and societal horrors, and all around (intentional) discomfort as Lucy desperately attempts to find out what's wrong with her sister and help her before Sarah can be involuntarily committed to an asylum, their worst fear with their (supposed) family history of insanity.

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Writing-wise, the prose of Blood on Her Tongue is beautiful and has wonderful flow that only enhances the horror of the novel with stomach turning descriptions of body horror and the supernatural. Everything feels smooth and well put together and it was a generally pleasant read, even as the topic was anything but.

The early sections of the book were much slower, building up almost repetitively as Sarah devolved. But once we reach the climax, I felt like things fell short. There was an gorgeous reveal that made me shiver and then just... a lot of exposition and quick pacing that just wasn't as satisfying.

Though, credit where it's due: Van Veen's descriptions of vampirism as a form of parasitism were incredibly interesting and I do wish there was more building around it. It's one of the more unique takes I've seen, and there's definitely a lot of potential there.

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The most interesting aspect of the book is solidly Lucy and Sarah's somewhat codependent relationship. Sarah, bright and beautiful and intelligent, and Lucy, the constant second fiddle to her wonderful sister. Nonetheless, it is never even a question whether or not Sarah would give everything to protect her sister (the answer is she would) and despite living in her sister's shadow all their lives, Lucy is the exact same.

Though Sarah's psyche progressively devolves through the first few parts of the book, there's never a moment when Lucy gives up on her even when all seems hopeless. Lucy would do anything to protect her sister, and vice versa.

Everything Lucy does is for Sarah, which is why Lucy's hidden desire for Sarah's husband Michael is even more traitorous and unthinkable. In most cases, this could introduce another layer of complexity into Lucy and Sarah's relationship as they both want over the same man.

But in this case, I just can't see the appeal.

Michael is arguably just... awful. He is violent and temperamental, beats his dog, and generally shows little interest in his wife's well being. Michael liked that Sarah was smart and beautiful, but once he realized that she was smarter than him and once she was sick and no longer beautiful, he didn't seem to care about her at all.

It's clear that Michael is more symbolic than anything. He's the only thing that Lucy wanted for herself, and Sarah took him away from her.

Other than the relationship between the twins, most every other relationship in the novel just fell short. Everything felt pretty intentionally one-sided, and it was hard to see any of the characters other than Lucy or Sarah as actual people rather than props or problems.

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Overall, Blood on Her Tonguewas weird and unsettling, but mostly in a way that works. It's a great exploration of what makes people themselves, the selfless love you can have for others, and the selfishness at its core. A solid 3.75 stars that I'd gladly round up to 4.

(And for what it's worth, the sapphic stuff is pretty minor but pretty neat regardless. I just wouldn't go into this novel expecting it to be a focus.)

When I knew this was another gothic, horror set in The Netherlands I was sold. This book didn't disappoint at all. I also was weirdly interested in bog bodies when I was a kid, so i had a great time reading it.

This story was the right length for me and I do think that if it were written longer it would've dragged the story a lot, so this was nice. The body horror was very well written, it grossed me out quite a bit. I also liked the way the concept of vampires was written in this story, it felt different than the usual get bitten, die and you're a vampire story. I'm so impressed by the writing in general, also the descriptive atmosphere really makes you feel like you're there.

For fans of gothic horror I'd say this book is a must read.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press! <3

I wanted to love this one - and as soon as I started it, I thought I would…but the more I read, the less I was convinced about it.

It is dark, gothic and definitely morbid -I started it while having breakfast: definitely not recommended, but hey, that’s on me-, so it had all the vibes and right ingredients to be something really good. The plot is intriguing, the writing style had me hooked, the characters were all so interesting - for the first part, at least.

While reading the first part, I was sure this book would have ended up being a 5/5; it was a bit slow paced, but not in a bad way. By the second part, things started to change, rushed and unmotivated. The last part, which should have been the most interesting, as it answers the many questions, was the one I found the most boring. By then, I didn’t care about the characters, I wasn’t as intrigued as in the beginning.
The ending left me unfazed and uninterested, unfortunately.

Gothic, sapphic vampire story plus a family drama situation? I'm in!
This was a moody, eerie, and bloody horror with an interesting spin on the classic vampire trope. Fans of gothic horror, you will eat this up. A slow burn horror with characters you aren't sure you like or dislike. The setting is immaculate and you feel chilled the entire time. A slower-paced book overall, but worth the extra push to get through. The horror is certainly there but it isn't exorbitant or excessive. I hated Michael and while I didn't necessarily hate Arthur, I hated that he seemed to have no backbone when it came to the twins or Michael.
This is the first book read by this author and I will 100% be reading more from them from now on!

3.5 stars.

While I appreciate and like the direction that this book took with centering around sisterhood and specifically twins, this unfortunatley wasn't my favorite read. Lucy and Sarah definitley had ineteresting moments as twins, which was why their conneciton came into play as an integral part of the story. It was a bit slow at times and there were a few conversations around the 60-75% mark that felt too long or repetitive. I liked Lucy as a main character overall, it felt like I didn't like characters that weren't meant to be liked, but I didn't find them too interesting either and I found the side characters not explored well enough (Arthur, for example, confused me by the end of the book and Katje felt relly flat). Michael and Arthur felt like two characters that I was curious about, but it felt like more could have been done with them, especially Arthur.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.