2.75? Ok so I am having trouble reviewing this one. There are some things that I loved: crazy eyeball horror and great gothic atmosphere! However, the overall story felt disjointed to me and the characters not fully realized to me. Also, wasn’t the biggest fan of her take on the vampyness of it all. I would still read from this author again for sure but I just didn’t overall have the best time with this one.
*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blood on Her Tongue is a WILD ride!

Unsettling. Gothically lush. Complex sisterly bonds.

If you are looking for a horror with a mix of mystery, look no further! You'll be sucked into the atmospheric eeriness and messy family drama that it will be difficult to look away from.

Lucy’s twin sister Sarah has suddenly fallen ill but with what no one can determine. It all begin when Sarah first discovered and began examining a long deceased body that was found in the near bog. As time passes Lucy quickly realizes she has to be the one to unravel what is truly happening to her sister in order to save her from herself and her hunger.

Did someone say girl dinner? This slow burn gothic horror read not only kept me engaged by its ever building tension and mystery but I was completely immersed in the atmospheric writing. I could easily picture the Victorian home and the eerie bog. This setting alone heightened the overall gothic feel of this hungry tale. Add in the at times graphic body horror and I found myself easily descending into the story, wondering if it was all supernatural in nature or if I was witnessing a journey into madness. Many times I felt nods to classic gothic literature while reading but was also happy to see more modern perspectives being highlighted, making this feel like a splendid mix of the two worlds. There are some trigger warnings with some gore being one along with mentions of SA and child abuse so do keep those in mind. However I did not find these to be overly off putting and just couldn’t get enough of this strongly character driven mix of gothic horror and mystery. If you are fan of chilling plots, morally grey characters, gothic atmosphere, vampiric energy, and some fungal filled horror then you will most definitely enjoy this darkly twisted tale.

Blood on her Tongue comes out March 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A very enjoyable gothic horror book that manages to feel both traditional and fresh. I enjoyed that the author followed a lot of classic story beats but managed to inject a lot of new intensity and a bit more elaborate lore into the story. While it was a little more gory than I'd personally prefer at points, the gory scenes made sense for the book and helped to inject some liveliness into the pacing.

My only big complaint is that the relationship between the sisters is never fully explored. There are a lot of hints of Lucy resenting Sarah, feeling like she's only a shadow compared to her livelier twin, and wondering who she is without Sarah. However, these issues are never resolved in a satisfying way. Lucy ends up getting pulled into the big quest to save Sarah and is never given any time to explore these more complex feelings. Ultimately, I'm left feeling like I would've rather the twins' contentious relationship not been brought up in the first place instead of having it get left hanging at such a weird point.

Blood on her tongue is a fantastic Gothic tale. I really enjoyed Lucy as a character. I always have an infitinity towards the more quiet and shy characters. She wasn't perfect, but she definitely wanted to do whatever it took to help her sister. I enjoyed the mystery to what exactly was going on with Sarah. I feel like the author gave a few misdirects/potential scenarios of what exactly was happening, and I was genuinely surprised by the truth. As someone who isn't a twin or has a sister, I did find Lucy's and Sarah's relationship at times a little maddening. They were almost toxic, but I guess sisters can be. The writing was fantastic as well, captivating and easy to read. There was a good amount of gore near the end, which I thought really added greatly to the conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC for my honest opinion.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: This was a well done gothic horror novel. It is kind of a vampire novel but a bit weirder than that. I enjoyed the uniqueness of it and how oddly vicious it was.

Lucy goes to stay with her sister, Sarah, when she learns that Sarah is sick. Sarah has been diagnosed with temporary insanity, something she suffered from after a miscarriage as well. However, this time the sickness seems different. Sarah found a body in the bog before her sickness, and some of the writings that Lucy finds around Sarah's study make her think this sickness might be related to something from the bog. Lucy has her own secrets and she must deal with those as she tries to figure out what is happening to Sarah.

This is very much a gory, horror story. There is some body horror in here, as well as flat out just yuck parts. There is also sexual abuse (kind of), violence, and a lot of people being generally not nice to each other. You have been warned.

This is an odd story, and it doesn't end up being what you think it's going to be when you start it. At first I thought it was going to be some sort of vampire horror story but it is much stranger than that.

I loved the strange setting in the bogs of the Netherlands in the late 1880's. This is a mysterious and eerie setting that fit the book perfectly. I also loved how complex most of the characters were. None of these characters are nice people; they are all selfish and messed up in their own special ways. Still, I couldn't help but be strangely sympathetic to them. Lucy with her loneliness and her life living in Sarah's shadow, Sarah with her sadness and her broken marriage that she hides from the world, and even the old woman that Lucy has been a hired companion to.

This book doesn't pull any punches when it comes to gory descriptions or vicious scenes; it is all described in great (sometimes nauseating) detail. I am not a huge fan of super descriptive body horror and gore, but it worked well for this book. I ended up liking this book just because it did what it was trying to do so well. It is a beautifully vicious gothic horror story. It doesn't shy away from women's issues and doesn't apologize for the selfishness of the characters or their moral grayness.

The descriptive writing is what really makes the dank, dark setting and characters come alive. This book has a strange sort of calm to it as well. In between the horrific scenes, these characters are just going about their day to day lives.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this, it was different and unapologetic in its viciousness. It is a gothic horror that doesn't shy away from the horror or the details. The characters are all questionable in their morals and actions, but somehow it works. Is this the type of story I want to read every day? Nope, it was a bit too gross and graphic for me at times. However, if you are into detailed gory body horror with some unique gothic twists, I would definitely recommend. This type of book is definitely not going to be for everyone, but what it does, it does well.

This is such an interesting take on the vampire concept and I’m kind of obsessed. We follow two sisters, Lucy and Sarah, living their life, writing letters. Until one day a body shows up in the bog on Sarahs’s property. Sarah is all like, let me get my notebook so I can sketch it. Shortly after, Sarah starts acting off and the writing in her letters becomes incoherent and disturbing. So Lucy goes to nurse her sister back to health, and then, things get intense. really intense.

I loved everything about this and need to read more of this author’s work asap! It’s disturbing with some intense body horror, delightfully weird, and a bit heartwarming. The relationship Lucy and Sarah share is complex and the exploration of their relationship was something I really enjoyed. The actual cause of what goes down is intriguing and thought-provoking. And while on the surface this is a story of a mysterious entity possessing someone it’s also a story about patriarchal systems and misogyny, which quite frankly are the real monsters truly.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

“A girl needs to eat.”

Blood on Her Tongue was gory and delightful!

Set in the Netherlands in 1887, the story immediately has an eerie feel. Throw in a dreary estate, a century old corpse, and a mentally ill sister? You’ve got a gothic horror.

Johanna van Veen does an excellent job setting the scene of the story - utilizing tropes such as a dark setting, a fascination with death, and supernatural elements. It is obvious from the beginning that Sarah, one of our main characters, is suffering from more than just mental illness. But, it’s interesting to watch as Lucy, her twin sister and our narrator, tries to separate Sarah’s history of illness from what’s happening to her. I enjoyed van Veen’s historical representation of how a woman’s mental illness likely would have been addressed during this time period. This fact plays largely into Lucy’s motivation to figure out what’s happening to Sarah.

“What was a person if not the sum of all they had ever thought and felt and lived through?”

Through the bond of Lucy and Sarah, van Veen presents readers with multiple questions surrounding identity and morality. What makes a person a person? How far are you willing to go for those you love? What if they’re not themselves? I loved this aspect of the story, as well as Lucy and Sarah. I thought their characters were interesting and that despite being opposites, they compliment each other in a way only sisters could. While they definitely stray from their sanity and create many messes, I respect their dedication to each other when it really matters.

If you enjoy gore, feminine rage, vampires, and sapphic lovers - this book is for you!

(Thank you to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press, & Johanna van Veen for this opportunity!)

**Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press/NetGalley/Johanna van Veen for this Digital ARC of Blood on her Tongue. Expected pub date March 25, 2025.**

Johanna van Veen has done it again, I just adore her writing. She has a way of enchanting you, which keeps you invested in the story from beginning to end. This Gothic Sapphic Vampire novel is truly unique, I can honestly say that I've not read anything like it in the vampire genre. The author has added a fresh new take on the vampire lore that was interesting and plausible. Definitely a must read for any vampire lover!

The atmosphere of this book is so eerily and intense. I was disturbed and delighted by every word. The plot is thrilling. The themes are engaging. The character dynamics are masterfully wound.

A really good gothic novel, gruesome and dark in the best ways.
The fact that the main relationship was between twin sisters is a nice change rather than the focus being on a romantic couple. Pretty grizzly in parts. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Blood on Her Tongue is a spooky, creepy gothic horror novel that pulls you right into its dark world. The story takes place in the Netherlands in 1887, where Lucy is trying to save her twin sister, Sarah, who is suffering mentally and physically from an inexplicable illness. The book mixes suspense and horror, while focusing on the strong sister bond between Lucy and Sarah.
As Sarah's condition gets worse - turning violent and hungry - Lucy struggles to protect Sarah from her husband Michael and the local doctor Arthur who want to have her committed.
I really enjoyed this book, it was gory and creepy, with supernatural undertones, while also focusing on the sisterly bond between Lucy & Sarah.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Blood on Her Tongue in exchange for my honest review.

"Oh, darling," he said, digging his thumb painfully into the soft tissue underneath her jawbone, "don't you know that, of all the sins that taint me, greed is the strongest? I always want what I shouldn't have. But I think you know what that feels like."

An exceptionally exquisite gothic horror tale that hooked me from the very beginning. The prose is a delight to read. It's so rich and descriptive, which I loved. I enjoyed Lucy and Sarah's dynamic and their obsessions. However, I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of that because it felt like the emotion was missing. Delving deeper into characters backstories would have helped flesh them out more. Regardless, I enjoyed the eerie atmospheric experience of reading this book and would definitely recommend it to other fans of gothic horror

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc!

'Blood on Her Tongue' has become one of my all-time faves! I am sooo grateful to @netgalley for blessing me with this elegant tale of terror.

I love EVERYTHING about this book. The setting, the plot, the characters, how it seamlessly weaves struggles with mental health issues of both modern and post-modern eras into the story without sounding preachy. The dialogue is so good,I’m absolutely jealous of van Veen’s ability to bring the characters to life!

Its horror, but sprinkled with mystery, historical fiction and a touch sapphic. Do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK!

5 *full* stars
Johanna van Veen's second novel "Blood on Her Tongue" is just as delectably perfect as her first.

Something about van Veen's prose feels like very gently and lovingly being ushered into a peaceful death.
I know I'm headed into some degree of bleak, unraveling demise, but I'm being carried there by the gentle whispers
of Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy.

It's just so darned comforting and bleak all at the same time.

Plot :
Lucy starts receiving concerning letters from her twin sister, Sarah, indicating that she may be experiencing another mental health crisis. Of particular concern
is Sarah's preoccupation with a corpse that she discovered in a nearby bog. Lucy feels compelled to travel to her ailing sister and quickly finds herself understanding her
sister a little *too* well.

If you are a fan of gothic horror, T Kingfisher's Sworn Soldier series, or the Netflix series Bridgerton (Or, like, you think you WOULD like Bridgerton if it was gothic horror), you need to pre-order this immediately.

Trust me. I'm telling you this as a friend.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have been dipping my toes into vampire books so I was really excited to read this one. I’m glad I did, because it was so much more than that. I loved the gothic horror in this book, it made it so eerie. I really liked the authors style of writing and felt that the pacing of the book was good. I tend to go for books that are bit more fast paced, but this book definitely pays off.

Gripping, gothic, creepy, eerie, and hard to put down!
Blood on Her Tongue exceeded my expectations with its interesting take on sisters, relationships, mental health, bog people and vampires. This book gave me such Nosferatu vibes it’s not even funny!! I just love how well this book captured the time period! also loved how the complexities of the sister's relationship were shown - the love, the devotion, the fights, the inflicted pain, and the bond.
There is also the mental health component. Sarah lost a child previously and suffered depression and did some questionable things. When her behavior came into question again, her mental health came under scrutiny.
The vivid description, the imagery, the intriguing characters, the originality, the plot, the gothic setting, and the writing were off the charts! I found this book to be wonderfully written, well thought out, and perfectly executed. There are some gruesome scenes so be warned. This book will not be for everyone, but for those that enjoy gothic horror with a bit of blood, this may be the book for you!

This is one of the first vampire books that I've picked up in a long time that didn't feel like it was written in the 2020s. It felt like it could have been written at any point in time. It's very much a vampire book, suspenseful, mysterious, and full of some ick stuff involving teeth. If that's what you're looking for then this is it.

This book was not what I expected at all, but it had me hooked from the start! While the characters were deeply flawed and their actions made me dislike them (all of the male characters were HORRID), I was totally gripped by blood-boiling feminine rage and the macabre mystery of the bog body. I love learning about bog bodies and mummification, so this was a fascinating premise. The story was dark, creepy, full of bodily horror and gore. Parts of it made me squirm (I hate eyeball stuff), but still, I couldn't stop reading! It did not go where I thought it was going to go, either, and I devoured the last quarter of it as things started coming together. It was the right blend of feminine rage, historical fiction, gothic atmosphere, and mystery, and I really enjoyed it!

First of all, I want I to thank Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this eARC. Here my honest opinion.

Set in the Netherlands in 1887, Blood on Her Tongue is a haunting gothic novel, infused with feminine rage and a good dose of body horror.
Sarah is ill, and her twin sister Lucy is taking care of her. The mysterious disease began after the discovery of a bog body.
Sarah was intrigued by the body and the mystery that surrounded it. Progressively, her interest turned into obsession, and her physical condition got worse and worse. However, most of all, it is her mental health that is of concern, as well as her an insatiable hunger.

Unspeakeble desires, guilty attraction, betrayal and a little bit of sapphic romance and erotic suspense for a horror story that is gothic to its core, and I really appreciated this aspect.

However, there are things that I didn’t like, first of all the “all men are bad” attitude: it’s too easy and too semplicist, and leaves me unsatisfied.
At the same time, it was hard for me to like someone like Lucy: her relationship with Sarah has something morbid, which goes far beyond being twins. Sometimes, it's even dumb in how over the top it is. Her desire for Michael is probably her only good point.
Moreover, the author explained too much too soon, breaking the tension. As a result, the last part of the novel is quite dull.
The final was disappointing. It's easy to understand that the idea of an erupt of feminine rage was cathartic for the author, but the result is incredibly silly. It just makes no sense.

In conclusion: some good ideas, and some successful scenes, but the desire to transform the story into a pseudo-feminist parable heavily affected the final result.