"Blood on Her Tongue" was a gripping gothic novel that tackles feminist themes, especially those surrounding agency. The novel has several well-developed characters that were both lovable and despicable; their actions and goals really make you want to keep reading. "Blood on Her Tongue" has more gore than I was expecting (in a good way) and it definitely added to the plot. Some books add gore just for gore and not necessarily to advance the plot, as gore was used here.

This is what I wanted from a gothic novel. It kept a fast paced snappy plot rolling, while still crafting this atmosphere of dread, and capturing the dreary cold feeling of living in a leaky, decrepit, estate home. ALSO!!!! Hello toxic familial relationships- not only was there consistent action, the intrapersonal relationships between the characters were SALACIOUS, and I ate it right up. Also, speaking of the characters, at least the two main leads- Lucy and Sarah were wonderful. They were complex foils of one another, both are flawed and the book doesn’t shy away from showing you how they hurt each other as well as the other characters in the story.

Despite the tight plotting, a lot of the book itself is an examination of their bond, and the two sisters unpacking the unspoken baggage that’s built up between them during their adult years. They love each other more than anyone in the world, but as is a staple in gothic literature, love seems balanced on a knife’s edge with hate and resentment. The book spends a lot of time examining how far one might go for their family, and (for the millionth time) I LOVED it.

I would also be remiss not to mention the ending. Which was also… PERFECT. Without spoiling anything- this is a book that could have been ruined by a bad ending- so I was very nervous leading up to the final pages- only to be thrilled as all the prices started to slot into place exactly how I wanted them. The ending pushed this to a 5 star book for me

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Blood on Her Tongue.

When I read the synopsis- a gothic vampire novel- I was intrigued and excited. Blood on Her Tongue starts out strong- an unknown body found in the bog, staked to the ground with a rock shoved in her mouth. A mysterious sickness quickly follows, and Lucy rushes to her sister's side, seemingly too late. Unfortunately, this book was all downhill from there on out. Gory in parts (apparently I have an eyeball ick,) dragging in others, with a somewhat satisfying ending. My biggest issue with this book was the dialogue- this book takes place in 1887, but Lucy often sounds entirely too modern, and it kept taking me out of the story.

I think I lost brain power reading this book. I wanted to love this so much but I could not bring myself to care about this. The amount of times I nearly dnf this book but decided to push through hoping that it’ll get better since I’ve been seeing so many people loving this book. Yeah I should’ve just dnf. When I tell you that I feel like nothing happened in this book, even though a lot was definitely happening.

Also I was actually able to sleep peacefully due to this book. It knocked me out for the whole night. Who knew that it would happen.

I could not care about what was happening to her sister. Like I really couldn’t. Can we also talk how Lucy just pissed me off so much. Like I get it she’s your twin sister but like at this point you just have to accept what is happening. Like she discovers the truth and she’s like she’s my twin sister and I’m like sure she is.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Lucy receives a frantic letter from her twin sister Sarah begging her to come to Zwartwater Estate, she doesn’t hesitate. Sarah’s message is panicked and tinged with a familiar madness that Lucy cannot ignore.

At Zwartwater, Lucy finds Sarah horribly changed — gaunt, frail, and raving about an insatiable hunger she refuses to satisfy. Surrounded by her husband Michael, their childhood friend and doctor Arthur, and Michael’s quiet, young relation Katje, Sarah’s condition continues to worsen. As Lucy investigates, she uncovers her sister’s obsession with a recently unearthed body — grotesquely preserved and showing signs of brutal torture. Lucy must unravel the truth before Sarah’s illness consumes her — or before her mysterious hunger consumes someone else.

Comparisons to Stoker’s Dracula are apt here, but van Veen plays with classic vampire tropes in fresh and unsettling ways. Her monster feels both familiar and reimagined, and those craving more gore from their Gothic horror will be satisfied — Blood on Her Tongue does NOT skimp on the blood. Readers tired of Van Helsing and his band of bumbling vampire slayers will be delighted by the novel’s strong focus on female relationships. Here, the women drive the narrative — plotting, connecting, and claiming power in a genre that often sidelined them.

The decaying Zwartwater Estate is oppressive and haunting, and Sarah’s sickroom feels suffocating as outdated treatments — blood transfusions, laudanum in alarming doses — seem to push her closer to death. The looming threat of the asylum adds even more tension, although a tighter structure and a quicker pace would have made that tension sharper and the conclusion more impactful.

Final Verdict: Blood on Her Tongue is a satisfying gothic read — eerie, atmospheric, and rich in dread. Its originality, coupled with its focus on female bonds, makes it a worthwhile addition to contemporary Gothic fiction. Fans of Dracula and Carmilla will find much to enjoy, but I’d also recommend Hiron Ennes’s Leech for readers who connect with the book’s claustrophobic dread and themes of possession.

Twin sisters, toxic relationships, oh and the dead coming back to life and feasting on blood, what a time to be alive in the Netherlands in 1887. Lucy and Sarah are twin sisters, Sarah being the more beautiful, vibrant one while Lucy was the more reserved sister. They love each other but also envy one another... and when Sarah marries the man that Lucy is in love with things only get more twisted. Then Lucy gets news that Sarah is sick, refusing to eat, speaking nonsensically, and becoming obsessed with a centuries old corpse that was recently discovered on her husband's estate. Lucy hurries to find out what is wrong with Sarah while also dealing with the fact that she's been having an affair with Sarah's husband... but when Sarah begins to slip into madness, gouging out her own eyes... and then being presumed dead until Lucy hears her scratching in her casket... only for Sarah to come back to life... things only get more twisted. As "Not-Sarah" reintegrates into the household things only spiral further into madness as Lucy begins to realize that whatever has come back in her sister's body has an appetite... but also still has all the memories of her sister. Lucy now must decide where her heart lies, with the complicated relationship with her sister or with the man she's in love with but is realizing she never really knew. This was such an interesting story about the relationship between siblings, about the complicated and twisted sense of family and obligation, and most of all, the lengths we will go to for our loved ones. I loved the gothic atmosphere and the slight vampire vibes from this. The relationship between Sarah and Lucy was so fun to read and just so layered and complex. It's a fantastic read and I would absolutely recommend it!

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A gothic horror masterpiece, Johanna created a creepy atmospheric vampire novel unlike anything I’ve ever read. I was going into this expecting your traditional vampire lore but I was so wrong. I have a special interest in late 1800s medical and mourning history so this really was perfect for me, the amount of small details that were added really carved a special place in my heart for this author. This story asks how far would you go for someone you love even if that someone might not be the same person you knew. I can’t wait to sink my teeth in to Johanna Van Venn’s debut book immediately! (Pun definitely intended 🦷) Thank you to NetGally and the Publishers for the opportunity to read this early for review.

This was an incredible gothic novel. Johanna has struck again. I loved this story and was sucked in immediately. There were quite a few times where I cringed due to the gore; however, Johanna's author note made it very clear what to expect from the novel. I was invested in Lucy and Sarah's story. Also the men in their lives were INFURIATING and 100% got what they deserved. Not Sarah was so incredibly creepy and it was easy to picture her. I appreciated following Lucy's story and her struggle to determine if she would rather live with Not Sarah or not have a sister. Overall I really liked this one and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic horror.

This has been the year for Dracula-esque retellings and I am a huge fan of it. The second I read the synopsis for Blood on her Tongue, I knew my gothic horror loving heart was going to be a fan.

This has been the year for Dracula-esque retellings and I am a huge fan of it. The second I read the synopsis for Blood on her Tongue, I knew my gothic horror loving heart was going to be a fan.

Lucy and Sarah are twin sisters and not only share a face, but also the feeling that they are not a fully formed person without the other. Lucy is called upon by her brother-in-law to come care for Sarah who has fallen ill and seems to be rambling nonsense about a woman in the bog. Lucy is fearful that Michael will have her committed to an asylum as Sarah had a previous bout of insanity after the death of their small daughter. 

Blood on her Tongue is, as you can imagine, a gory scene full of blood, death and the sisterly bond that not even death can break. 

Is this a vampire novel? I don’t really think so in the traditional sense. There are certainly aspects of the vampiric trope, but also it is a new spin on the timeless tales of Dracula’s seduction and control and what becomes of the victims. 

This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of description of abuse and bodily fluids so please read the authors trigger warnings at the front before deciding to start. However, if you’re like me and see the art in this disturbing content, I highly recommend picking this one up. Blood on her Tongue will be available on March 25 2025 at your local bookseller or library.

********SPOILER ALERTS**********

As one of three sisters, I felt a draw to the connection between Lucy and Sarah. They not only love each other deeply, but they also have a competition between them. Michael was first Lucy’s love interest, but Sarah was able to win him over with her charm and wit. Therein lies the deceit and hidden affair as Lucy tries to outshine her frigid sister. 

The love connection between Sarah and Katje was weird for me. As much as Sarah continues to declare she is not, there was still the feeling that she was an abuse victim looking for another domineering relationship to give her direction. The sapphic scene was quite gruesome for the squeamish but did add an interesting turn to the whole feeding aspect.

Well, that was an experience.

BLOOD ON HER TONGUE is true gothic horror. It’s a dark, bloody mess of a story. It’s thought provoking, atmospheric, intense, well written, creepy, gory, and at times, tender.

I’m not going into any detail because this is a story that should be read with no preconceptions.

Definitely read the Author’s Note at the beginning. Johanna van Veen lays out what’s to come, and if you can’t handle that, you won’t want to go further.

*Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*

UTTERLY DARK AND UNHINGED YET POETIC

That's how I would describe this book. I should have known the level of darkness since there's a page of trigger warnings, but still...

I am not accustomed to this type of writing and theme, so it took a while for me to adjust. And you know what, I kinda like it — or maybe it's only this book, who knows?


Anyways, this is perfect for readers who like:
✅gothic horror vibes
✅dark and disturbing matters,
✅eerie and mysterious
✅historical setting

I rated this book 4.5⭐

This novel is infact a love story. One filled with blood and horror. One that asks if the only family you had left completely transformed into something outside of societal norms and beyond reality, how far would you go to keep them?

The more gruesome parts are fantastic, they all have great build up and tension before the incident takes place. And when it did it wasn't in a way I expected. Personally I have a hard time with historical fiction, alot of it tends to just be women suffering with no resolution. Here Lucy gets to push back at what is expected of her when it comes to protecting her sister. Lucy as a character is fascinating, she's very clasist and views her self as morally grey. She's always on the edge of a decsion, despite how moving quickly can only help.

I would recommend to fans of both historical horror and gross nasty women.

This book made me want to gnaw on something out of frustration. And then turn to vomit. The descriptions are so on point, so in your face, and in your eyes. I would eat and lick up every word and punctuation this author ever puts to page after reading this incredibly infuriating novel. I wish I could go into depth on why I feel the way I do about this, so I will be encouraging all I encounter to read this book.

Blood on Her Tongue was a highly anticipated 2025 release for me and what a wild ride it was! I thought the cover was gorgeous, read the premise and I was on board.

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister was one of my favorite reads last year, and I feel like this cured the book hangover The Bog Wife left me in — the two aren’t all that similar, I just love a bog setting, what can I say!

I really loved this book. It’s creepy as hell and the setting was absolutely perfect for the story. The horror was written really well and painted such a vivid and visceral picture in my mind (I hated it, it was perfect). I could feel it in my bones that some plot points were going to happen, but I still found myself shocked reading HOW they happened.

Consistently reading this late at night certainly was… a choice by me. It’s so creepy!!! But I ended up staying up until 3am last night desperately trying to finish the book.

It’s unsettling, eerie and atmospheric as hell with a gripping story about just how deep a sister’s bond will go.

I loved Johanna Van Veen’s writing style and am eager to read more of her work. Women in horror never disappoint, what can I say?

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC and the opportunity to read this book and share my honest thoughts!

First of all, I loved the setting of this so much! The Netherlands in the gothic late 1800s with all of its rules of polite society and the overarching feelings of darkness and mystery were a big reason why I was drawn to this book.

In this story, we follow Lucy, whose twin sister, Sarah, has become increasingly ill and perhaps even a little bit mad, if her jumbled letters are any indication. Lucy travels to the bleak and foreboding house Zwartwater where her sister and her husband, Matthew, reside, and learns of strange happenings with a bog body that were recently found on the property. And it seems as if Sarah’s illness and corresponding fits of madness coincided with the finding of that terrible bog body…

I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did this book touch on the love between sisters and that even more complex bond between twins, but also on feminine rage and the lengths one goes to for family. I will also say that it did contain a fair amount of body horror and gore, so be prepared if you a bit squeamish like me! While the author’s first book will remain my favorite, I enjoyed this gothic horror and it will remain with me for a while to come.

* Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Johanna van Veen for this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. *

I tend to go into horror books with a fair bit of scepticism, since I find they tend to get too outlandish or over the top at some point. Blood On Her Tongue, however, was written so beautifully that its the first horror I would describe as perfect. Beyond that one word, I can't think of what else a review might say about the story and how well it's written that might do it justice - its something one simply needs to experience to comprehend.

The way van Veen has written the story gives you such a deliciously eerie setting while flawlessly combining the supernatural with the realities of the era, in a way that really shows how much research she’s put into relevant topics of the plot. Anyone who loves gothic and/or horror stories would find that you won't be bored for a second while reading Blood On Her Tongue, and I can't wait to reread this in the future.

Whoa. This was an incredibly well-written novel, but it's not for the faint of heart. Lots of horror/gore with a side of women being treated very, very poorly. It's incredibly original - I expected a straight up vampire story, and this was definitely not that.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What in the world! I was so ready for a gothic romance, and got just the opposite, BUT a gothic story about twins checks most of my boxes so I was extremely excited to jump into this one.

Every single character in this book was unhinged and it was a great time. I never knew what to expect and when I thought I knew what was coming van Veen would prove me wrong again. The atmosphere and tension were done so well that I felt like I was the one going to be locked away in the asylum.

I also liked a lot of the commentary that was made about women (and men) and I was gripped from the beginning.

In the end all I can say is, good for you ladies! Give this a try, but be ready for the gore and a few unexpected twists.

actual rating: 1.5. this book freaked me out. i knew that it would be gothic and creepy but i didn’t think that it would be that bad. i was wrong. the book was that bad. i had to take multiple breaks because i couldn’t handle it. the characters were kind of lacking though. there were many times where i felt like the characters were “too modern” but that might just be me being a historical accuracy freak. also, the second half of the book was so bad. it was like the author gave up and was just spoon feeding us the information.

Blood On Her Tongue was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. I knew from the first chapter this was going to be an easy 5 stars.

The best thing about this book is its atmosphere. You will feel haunted, horrified and at times disgusted but it is done so incredibly well. This book is gothic horror at its best.

At its core this book is about twin sisters and their devotion to each other. The relationship of the sisters feels real even at its most toxic and obsessive. Lucy gets confronted with some really interesting moral and philosophical questions, the most obvious naturally being how far she will go to protect her sister.

As every good Gothic book needs, this book has an ominous estate - Zwartwater, named after the black water in the bog that surrounds it. Needless to say, the setting lends itself to some very chilling moments and atmospheric story telling.

Which brings me to the seriously beautiful prose of this book. The biggest draw of gothic literature is the beautiful descriptions of the utterly macabre and this book nails it in every chapter, every sentence.

If you are a fan of Crimson Peak and Carmilla, you will love this book.