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.

This was delightfully dark,, unsettling ,gothic and atmospheric and i loved it ! It kept me on mute toes ‘til the ending and i loved it!

3.5 stars--I hate that my rating isn’t higher but there were just certain things I couldn’t get past, which is saying a lot for a genre I am incredibly biased toward and an author whose prior work I really enjoyed.

The first half of the novel was exactly what I wanted. The setting, prose, and mood were wonderful. While Lucy and Sarah’ enmeshment is something to expect in this genre, I thought the affair and dual betrayal eventually revealed was a great touch. Who am I to say no to a story featuring strange, twisted twins? Then there was the scene of body horror that was both intense and uncomfortable (I loved it). I was so into the story that I was able to ignore the use of modern phrases. Yet things started to go downhill for me with Sarah saying, “what gave me away?” I thought, okay, let’s see how this plays out! Then again at about 80% when they were separated, I had hoped the plot would take a different turn. I even made a note: “At this point I’m like, cool? Let the not-sister go?” And while we do get even more wonderful gore, I found myself not caring in the end.

Last month I read Hungerstone and Victorian Gothic which offer us that “good for her” violence we all love, but I didn’t find myself thinking “good for them.” Sure, Micheal and Arthur suck, but they’re not wrong that someone who mutilated an elderly woman and stab themselves in the eye should probably receive medical attention. And yes, I get it, the asylum wouldn’t actually provide Sarah with any help, but we cannot forget she is not actually Sarah. I was waiting for the realization on Lucy’s part that Not-Sarah is a parasite and, as such, is manipulative. We see it in the way she uses both Lucy and Katje to her own ends, leveraging the love both women have for her against them. But in the end, despite how others point it out and how much the truth distresses Lucy, she does not change so that she can step outside her sister’s influence. And I was also disappointed by the queer representation in this, how it is limited to one scene of gore and a later “passionate kiss.” I wanted more, much more, in terms of that.

Though I was dispassionate by the end, I would still say this book made an entertaining read. It swept me up much of the time which is perhaps why my disappointment is so pronounced.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy to read and review.

This was truly an insanely good book. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down at all. This is definitely for fans of horror and the gothic genre, and even more so for those that are obsessed with vampires and Dracula! Wholeheartedly one of my favourite reads so far!

I have read Dracula so many times over the years, and enjoyed it every time, and I felt like this read like Dracula in a lot of way. It was confusing, hard to keep a track of all the characters, dates and times, the language kept ebbing and flowing and the pacing was all over the place. I know that these all sound like drawbacks or flaws, but they’re really not!! All of these little things gave it that haunting and unsettling quality, and really meant that you had to be present when reading, completely zeroed in and focused on what was happening.

There were so many times that this book had me feeling squeamish and freaked out. Tons of gore and horror in its basest form, which when paired with the way the story was told left me feeling so uneasy and tense in the best way possible.

At its core this is a story of familial ties and sisterhood gone wrong, and just how far some people would go to try and protect and save the ones that they love and hold dear, even if it is ultimately in a horrific way.

I truly cannot believe just how good this was, or how quickly I finished it! This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think if you are a huge fan of gothic macabre literature that this will be an amazing read.

4. 5 stars

Truly, madly, and deeply fell in love with this book. The writing was visually interesting! Making it easy to devour. I never knew what to expect. But, that just made it all the more interesting. Most definitely its a refreshing take on the vampire genre.

And If you really love gothic reads then please, please, please! Pick up this book and add it to your collection!!!

My only true gripe is the ending. I was hoping for something more... poetic.

However, its still a great read with what the author chooses.
And I would maybe even love to see a film adaptation in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

An ominous dark gothic vampire story. I enjoyed it. There were a lot of characters I had trouble keeping straight, but other than that I liked the storyline and thought the author did a good job of building the creepiness. I liked that rhe story was unique yet had the familiar elements readers crave from vampire stories.

First of all, thank you Netgalley & Johanna van Veen for this ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m giving this book 2.75 stars because it had some horrific elements and the writing brought those elements to life for me. From the autopsy scene to last scene with Lucy and Michael. I could envision those things as I read them. And I like when a book can do that.

At times the storyline was very slow and some of the wording felt modern. I really wish Lucy would have had a different name for the creature instead of constantly saying “Not Sarah”. For me, that made Lucy sound too childish and unimaginative.

I still can’t figure out if Lucy was weak or simply so jealous of her sister that she’d do just about anything to take something/someone away from her.

The ending felt very rushed to me.