If you don't know by now, my metric for horror isn't exactly what most would call standard. Having said that, "My Darling Dreadful Thing" was such a wonderfully creepy story, and Roos was, ultimately, such a sweet character. Her traumas are REAL, and there were many times I fumed for her, but despite everything she was subjected to, her love for Ruth, Agnes, and even Peter was so wholesome. In some ways, this added an undercurrent of melancholy throughout the story, but that only added to the tension and terror that filled the book. The vibes were a mix of Crimson Peak and The Conjuring Series with just a dash of Nefarious. I'd highly recommend it for people who like their horror heavy on the spirits and light on the detailed gore.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I loved that the author gives content warnings! It’s something I think every book should have. Now into the review-The novel is set in The Netherlands during the 1950s. I was so excited to discover this since I haven’t read many books set in The Netherlands!

The story goes back and forth between the main plot and transcripts of Dr/patient interviews at the end of each chapter. It made the plot feel more driven, and was a big reason why I didn’t want to put it down!

Agnes is part Indo, and we learn a bit about the culture as well as the history of Dutch colonization in Indonesia. I found it very interesting and learned a lot I didn’t know before about that piece of history!

Although the story is eerie and disturbing at times, it also has an undertone of warmth and affection, especially regarding the found family between the characters! The book slowed down a little bit in the middle but overall it was an engaging story. I enjoyed the complex characters and the unique ghost story aspect, with having spirit companion instead of being unwillingly haunted.

I did half guess a couple of the twists but they were still really well written! The novel was a quiet horror book with more disturbing imagery than fast paced action. The imagery of Ruth gave me nightmares and made me scared of the dark for sure

Fantastic gothic story with a haunting, atmospheric setting and sapphic romance subplot! I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for the author’s next book 🤍 I enjoyed the book and the story but it wasn’t exactly what I hoped for. It was slower paced than what I wanted/hoped for and I kind of expected more action based on the synopsis. It was good just not great, if that makes sense?

I’d recommend for anyone wanting a sapphic love story (that’s not a romance book), unique haunting/ghost story, or a gothic horror set in an eerie estate!

I'm the odd one out, I know, but this, while definitely gothic horror, didn't grab me in the way I'd hoped. Roos and her spirit companion Ruth (or is she?) move in with Agnes at her disintegrating home and creepy things ensue. It was intriguing but she lost me part way through, although I'm not entirely sure why (sorry). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Over to others who I'm sure will enjoy it.

The author, Johanna van Veen gives us a a trigger warning to start the book, so suggest people read that and see if they want to move forward. From there we talk about Henry James "The Turn of the Screw" and Gothic novels. That sets the stage for "My Darling Dreadful Thing."

Taking place in the Netherlands after War World II and in the 1960s and beyond, we follow Roos Beckman. Roos and her mother have a business allowing the living to still be visited by the dead. Roos has a spirit companion Ruth that allows to let go so that Ruth can take over and allow others to be visited by their dead loved ones. Until the day that Roos meets Ms. Agnes Knoop. Agnes is a widow and Roos thinks that Agnes wants word of her recently dead husband Thomas. When Roos is taken over by something else during the session, that leads to Agnes buying Roos and taking her back to her moldering estate.

So, there are a lot of Gothic elements at play. Scary old house that used to be the very thing, but is decaying. Dying relative with a lot of say, who may be up to some mischief. Roos and Agnes are both keeping secrets too. Combine that with us knowing that people died and Roos stands accused of it, you read the book to figure out who did what to whom and why.

What I thought really worked was that the book follows Roos point of view, but we also get interviews that are being conducted by a doctor along with case notes. Just like "The Turn of the Screw" you are left wondering about what is real, what is not, and whether Roos is insane or not.

I thought Roos was a great character who even at the end, does not seem to understand herself or even Agnes. I felt nothing but pity for her. I thought Agnes remained elusive to the very end. You also had to wonder about her and the stories she told. I liked the character of Doctor Montague who definitely wants to find out the truth.

The flow of the book though was up and down after we get to a key point of the book. After that I don't know, I just didn't think things hung together very well. Maybe because it just felt like at that point you had to wonder if Roos was telling us and even herself the truth. I think that's the main point of this book so I just went with it and let it go, but it was enough to have me just give this four stars.

The setting of old and decaying house reminded me so much of the home in the "Fall of the House of Usher".

The ending though I think did a great job of giving us that flavor of Henry James. You are left wondering who was telling the truth, if anyone, and if all the parties mentioned, outside of the doctor, were insane.

Roos’ only friend is a spirit companion, Ruth, only she can see and hear. Until she meets young, wealthy widow, Agnes. They have an instant connection and attraction. Roos goes to life with her in her crumbling manor. She narrates to her psychologist what went wrong and it ended with a dead body.

I really liked this one because it totters the line between paranormal and mental illness. You get both perspectives. I found the notes from the doctor interesting but the true heart of the story was Roos’ narration. I also enjoyed how in the beginning the author said if you stripe away everything at its base, it’s a love story. While you wouldn’t think so because it’s so spooky and perfectly gothic, it really is.

“Some things are so horrible that the only sane response is a bit of madness.”

My Darling Dreadful Thing comes out 5/14.

Not usually a Gothic fan, but the cover and title was too intriguing to miss. "In a world where the dead can wake and walk among us, what is truly real?" This statement alone is bizarre and eerie, so read on if you can stand the supernatural and creepy tale. It is so well written that the author shows off some amazing skills. At times I was confused, but kept reading to see how it would all play out...curiosity will suck you in.
The character Roos is a very confused character with her mom mistreating her and having her to participate in seance from a young age. When the very wealthy and eccentric Agnes visits, she asked her to come live with her at her crumbling estate. There is a strange attachment to Roos and it is a corpse-like companion Ruth. What makes it even weirder is Agnes also has a spirit companion/guide too. There is a conflict between them all and when dead bodies appear Roos is accused.
The story progresses with Roos point of view as she converses with a psychologist thinking Roos is mentally ill. She tries to explain that Ruth did it all because she is furious and desperate.... I'm not usually a literature reader of this type, but this was a supernatural trip that was well-written and entertaining even in its horror state.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this debut novel, a murder trial hinges on whether or not ghosts are real. This is the story of Roos Beckman, a girl with a spirit companion named, Ruth, who is forced to do seances for wealthy patrons, and endures horrific abuse at the hands of her (maybe) mother. Until one day, when Agnes Knoop, a rich young widow comes to claim Roos as a companion. Her motives lie in the fact that she too, has a spirit companion and so understands Roos on a whole other level.
But in trying to make Agnes happy, Roos commits an atrocity and people end up dead. Will she be sentenced to an asylum for madness or convicted of murder?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-arc.*

This might be the most beautiful writing style I encountered in a while. I loved the atmosphere, and the horror elements were incredibly well written - it truly sent shivers down my spine.

I enjoyed myself a lot trying to identify all the gothic classics (but not only) that influenced this work, and I adored all the little references to the TV series The Haunting of Bly Manor.

The dynamic between the characters was amazing. There was not much action, but it was an engaging and gripping story nonetheless. It was also a great example of a well-executed ambiguous ending.

I had a couple of issues with the logic throughout the book, but nothing major.

I would highly recommend this if you're looking for your next queer gothic book. Just please make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading it.

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna Van Veen
4.5⭐

Thank you Netgalley and and Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebook imprint for an advanced copy as an exchange for an honest review.

A gothic horror that I enjoyed?! Finally found one that's not vibes only.

I think this one actually worked for me is not only because the creepy, eerie feeling I got reading this, especially at the beginning but because I liked the character. I didn't know if I should trust her but also you felt bad so her at the same time.

The other thing I enjoyed, which might not be for everyone is the breaks between patient and doctor. I personally didn't mind them and found them a bit interesting.

I also recommend checking content warning the author wrote at the beginning of the book.

Release date is May 14, 2024

I wasn’t really sure how to rate this one. I definitely enjoyed the overall concept, I think the execution just missed the mark for me. That ending just wrapped up too neatly for the chaos that occurred only pages earlier.

I loved this book soooo freaking much! I completely ate it up and sped all the way through it.

It is the PERFECT amount of historical fiction, paranormal, haunting, poetic, mysterious… all of the elements to this book are in perfect harmony and balanced so well, nothing is over the top or over done.

The characters are alluring, the setting feels right. The intrigue about class, politics, race all things relevant to the time frame are posed in a way that is interesting and informative to the reader.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book it has my full seal of approval and recommendation! Please give this a read!

Thank you to Poisened Pen Press, Johanna Van Veen and Netgalley for the EARC.

Publish date May 14th 💜💜💜

What a freaking delight! This book was recommended to me, and I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did simply because I did not seek it out myself/chose it based on my usual interests.
Van Veen's prose is intricate, beautiful, well-paced, and atmospheric.
I loved the story, loved the characters, and the format of the storytelling worked well. The narration switches between Roos' first-person to the notes of the Doctor who is observing her while listening to the same tale we see slowly unraveling in front of us. The Doctor's notes often announce the next twist in the story, yet it all works beautifully, and the ending is not revealed until it is time to do so.
The presence of the kind Doctor who sees Roos and her story through his professional lens both questions the supernatural undertone of what had happened and gives it more credit.
Van Veen clearly loves her characters, and she took her time to know and understand them, which allowed her to show them in a beautiful and, at times, surreal light to us. While the book is morbid at times, I did not read it as a horror novel per se but more as a story of love, abandonment, loneliness, and belonging.

The book explores themes of sexual, domestic, and child abuse, abandonment, incest, sickness, same-sex relationships, and the afterlife.

Thank you, NetGalley, Johanna van Veen, and Poisoned Pen Press, for providing the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly this story didn’t hold my attention. Roos was (understandably) timid and isolated, which meant it took her a long time to actually accomplish anything and my patience is short for most stories that aren’t either fast moving or very descriptive. I couldn’t buy into her age (she was a VERY young 21) and her relationship with Agnes was bizarre. I liked the little nods to the horrors of colonialism though I would have liked that to be a bit more prevalent.

The interviews with the doctor were honestly distracting and didn’t add to the story, instead pulling us out of the progression of the narrative to talk about either spoilers or nothing of particular relevance to what was going on in the main story.

This is a STUNNING literary Debut from Johanna van Veen. This easily gets 5 stars from me. I was so impressed by how many multitudes this contained. This was a sapphic love story, a ghost story, and a murder mystery, amidst a sprawling gothic back drop. The prose and eloquence of feeling was so beautiful. The writing was precise yet flowery, and I loved how nothing was repetitive. This narrative absolutely ripped my chest open, tore my heart out and sewed it back in. This might possibly by my favorite read of the year, and I’ve read over 30 books this year so far.

The main character Roos, was a young girl in 1948 when she stumbled upon and bonded with her spirit companion, Ruth. Her mother hosts seances and uses Roos for her unique supernatural gifts for her financial benefit- all while abusing and starving her 21 year old daughter. One day a client visits, Mrs. Agnes Knoop, in hopes of connecting with her late husband Thomas. Agnes and Ruth share something special in that moment, and Agnes later returns to save Roos from her less than safe circumstances, and adopts her as a companion. Roos finds life with Agnes to be wonderful, but unfortunately the story continues.

Intermittently there’s chapters where Roos is speaking with a Psychiatrist who’s questioning Roos’ sanity for the sake of a murder trial, and is retelling this story to him, and by proxy- you, the reader.

if you love sapphic romance, gripping supernatural mystery/suspense/horror, wonderfully imaginative gothic settings, and a refreshing take on a ghost story, then this is the book for you.

I love when a horror with a perfectly creepy cover delivers!

This is a blend of gothic horror with a f/f relationship and a whole bunch of wtf. I loved the atmosphere and storytelling – you never quite know what is real and what isn’t!

Roos is a child who has bonded with a spirit and is forced to perform fraudulent seances with her mama. When a benefactor takes her away when she’s older, Roos finds she’s not the only one with a spirit companion and she has a lot to learn about the way the world works.

The gothic horror aspect was fantastic, featuring perfectly decaying manor and a sordid family history. Not to mention the descriptions of the spirit companions – WOW – super creepy and disturbing! There were a lot of elements to this novel that keep you entertained and wondering what possibly could have happened as we find out early that there have been murders.

Incredible debut and I will definitely be keeping a lookout for this author in the future!!

Title: My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna va Veen
Publication Date- 05/14/24
Publisher- Poisoned Pen Press
Overall Rating- 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My Darling Dreadful Thing is at its core a gothic horror. If you are a fan of gothic stories you won’t want to miss this one. It’s a bit of Frankenstien mashed up with The Haunting of Hill House. The author does a good job of setting you up with what to expect at the start of the book in her author's note. This is a very sad story and brings out a sense of dread throughout. I never felt like it was too dreadful to pick up but it certainly lives up to it’s title.

Other important things to note, throughout the story there are heavy themes of intense abuse and mental health. I don’t usually caution readers about these things however, that is the entirety of this story. The author wants you to know at the start that this is a love story. I can see that, I agree and the mental health aspects and abuse are so prevalent (not a complaint but I think as a reviewer it’s helpful to let others know about that for their own sake as well as expectations going into the story).

My overall feelings about the book are not that I enjoyed it or disliked it. I know that sounds pretty conflicting but that’s how I feel at the end. I enjoyed the characters and the story, the atmosphere and the tone. I’m not sure I was in the best headspace to soak in a novel of this accord which is why my review is setup to hopefully help you notice when would be a good time for you to read this.

I recently finished reading My Darling Dreadful Thing, a sapphic graphic horror book that perfectly caters to my love for gothic reads. The book had plenty of elements that I enjoyed, such as the blood-thirsty ghostly friends, cannibalism, and gore. However, the pacing of the book made it feel like a slow burn, which made it a bit of a challenge to get through. Despite the intriguing plot and the unique elements that it brought to the table, the pacing detracted from the overall experience and made it feel like a laborious read. Thanks to @netgalley for the arc to read for an honest review.

This was so boring. The premise: A+. The delivery: meh. I was expecting gothic atmosphere vibes but it was just sad and creepy and not in a scary way but uncomfortable. Idk if that was the intention. If it was then it was decided achieved!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"My Darling Dreadful Thing" by
Johanna van Veen is a chilling & unique gothic tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Part horror & part romance the story is told in a split-narrative structure.
I can't wait to read what the author decides to write next.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this E-ARC.

This book was not for me. It took everything in me to finish it. To be honest, I’m not even sure what happened. I really don’t know what this book was even about. For me, the description of this book and the actual book are not the same at all.

Roos can see spirits. According to her. According to other people she’s delusional. One day Roos meets Agnes. Agnes saves Roos from the horror of Roos’s mother who forces her to do seances.

After that it just feels forced. I’m not exactly sure where the book was supposed to be heading but it’s just not for me.