Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

3.5/5

From the blurb, I was immediately interested in "Blood on Her Tongue". With a mix of vampires and nature horror revolving around a bog body and twin sisters, it was definitely something that I wanted to read. Overall, I found it to be a good book!

I found Lucy and Sarah's relationship to be really interesting, especially through the letters between them that we see at the start. Their dynamic added to the story, and the fact that Lucy's love for her sister was the motivation behind all of her actions made her an interesting character. I thought all of the characters added to the story in their own ways, but with Lucy and Sarah and their relationship being the central point, they were definitely the most interesting.

Without spoiling the book, I thought this way of writing vampirism was super interesting too! It's not something I've ever seen before, which made it very unique! While the buildup to the reveal itself was a little underwhelming to me, I think the overall idea of it was a super interesting way and sets this apart from other vampire stories.

Overall, I thought "Blood on Her Tongue" was an interesting read! I wish the bog had been a little more prominent, but that's just me and my love of nature horror.

“Grief made people do strange things, yes, but it also made strange things happen to people”

This book was … troubling. Complicated. Dark. Twisted. But also thrilling and exciting at the same time. It felt exactly like it should have made me feel like if that makes any sense. It does in my head. But maybe I’m falling for the same madness that has overcome Sarah. Or was it madness? I feel like getting through the story following Lucy’s pov was great and falling in the same traps she did, fighting with the same strength she did to protect her sister … it felt resilient and powerful and relatable, at least for me. Big betrayals have been made in this book. Crazy things happen to the characters. But it was a kinda fantasy horror so … I’ve got nothing to complain about !!!

To start i loved the concept of the book and i love bog bodies but then for a story about twins sister, i was struggling to see the connection and chemistry between them. Even if they talked about it, it didn't felt proved throughout the book. Show, don't tell. The book fell short after a few chapters and the characters were all flat to me, a little too cliche of the genre that i was never surprised because "of course it would happen" and i'm not sure of the idea that was never really talked about if a creature using your sister's body is better than grieving

creepy eerie and gory, i was questioning my sanity all the way through. this was so good, had me wincing and looking away from the page in disgust. love it.

I don't think I've truly read gothic horror before this. The writing was excellent. I love how morality is portrayed in this book. This is my first book by Johanna van Veen and it was such a good introduction to the genre.

4.5 ⭐️

This is my second book by the author. “My Darling Dreadful Thing” was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and has made it to my favorite book list. I still think about it often. I freaked out when I saw this book was being released.


My opinions:

Johanna KNOWS how to do gothic horror! I was sucked into this book. The atmosphere was set so well, just like her previous book.
I did not want to put the book down and I was very very invested.

With “Dracula” quotes in the book, I also noticed the characters being named similarly, Lucy and Arthur. I am not sure if that was intentional or not.

The book took a little more of a sci-fi turn than I expected, but I liked that at the same time (verses a standard vampire tale). I wasn’t really sure what exactly was plaguing Sarah (I had my theories) until we heard it directly from “Sarah’s” mouth. I guess I wanted a little more on the origins of this parasite.

It was gross. I was eating when I came upon the period scene. 🤢 I felt like I could smell Sarah and the rot throughout the book. It was eerie. I could easily imagine how Sarah looked and it gave Dracula vibes.

I really really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait for Johanna’s next!

Thank you to the publishers, author, and NetGalley for access to the ARC of this book! I greatly appreciate the opportunity!

This was my first gothic horror and it didn't disappoint. It was so eerie and disturbing that I couldn't stop reading until the end. The historical fiction mixed in gives a sort of realism to the horrors in this damp and dark tale. I certainly wouldn't recommend for those with a weak stomach!

I absolutely loved Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen! This Gothic horror novel transported me to 1887 Netherlands with its eerie and rainy atmosphere, unsettling mystery, and a story that will stay with me for a long time.

The book follows Lucy Goedhart as she rushes to care for her twin sister, Sarah, who is suffering from a mysterious illness. But this isn’t just a simple case of sickness—there’s something deeply wrong, something that can not be explained by the doctors.
I loved how layered this book was, one one side there is supernatural creepy and mysterious things that Lucy just can not wrap her head around and then there are the men in their lives... with their misogynistic brains. yucky.

What I loved the most:
🖤 Gothic atmosphere that had me feeling suffocated (yes I like when books make me feel things).
🖤 The writing!! Johanna van Veen has this haunting prose that just slaps.
🖤 A deeply emotional and complex sisterly bond.
🖤 Horror elements that are both supernatural and visceral—some scenes truly made my skin crawl (in the best way!).
🖤 Exploration of power, oppression, and what women had (and still sometimes are) to endure.

Johanna van Veen is quickly becoming a must-read, auto-buy author for me. If you love Gothic horror that’s chilling and beautifully written, Blood on Her Tongue is a book for you!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

If you watched Nosferatu (2024) and left the theater wondering “Where can I get more of this?” Blood on Her Tongue is for you.

This book reads like a classic gothic novel, but where classic tend to imply the taboo or horrific, Blood on Her Tongue goes there. Much like the aforementioned film, there is decaying bodies, questionable sexual relationships, and a vampirism that is more akin to being possessed by a demon than gaining superpowers.

There were several scenes that I would say played jump rope with the limits of my squeamishness so consider that a trigger warning as well, and maybe don’t read this while eating.

All in all Blood on Her Tongue a well written page turner that I enjoyed to the end. And if all of the things I mentioned above did not bother then I most definitely would recommend this book!

Thank you for letting me have a chance to read this ARC.

I had different expectations when starting this book and it went a whole different way than i thought it would. It brings me to believe how much would one do for their family and vice versa. The only part i enjoyed was the bog and honestly that had big potenial to becoming so much more. Body horror in this book was so in detail it was good and honestly made me chill a bit but after a while i noticed it happened more often in the book that it felt like too much, however that could just be me.

The plot and way the story was going was very good however it just wasn't my cup of tea. I hope those who did read can appreciate it more.

Thank you again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me an advanced readers copy of this delicious ( no pun intended :) ) book.

After finishing this book, I was a bit confused as to how to rate it. I don't think I've read a Gothic novel before, but I'm alright with gore and blood and gruesome scenes, and I like suspense and horror. So this was right up my alley.

The first half was perfection: the set-up (The Netherlands, 1887), the characters (twin sisters, a doctor, a rich gentleman married to one of the sisters, but lusting after the other and a distant relative of said gentleman) and the ambiance (Autumn, a country estate) were so well executed you could feel the tension and the fear. The way it was partially told through letters was so good, it was reminiscent of Dracula.

The second half I found a bit messier. After the story builds up, tension is sky high and you don't know what could happen next, I felt that actually everything happened.
It kind of lost the Gothic vibe and it started concentrating more on sisterly bond and what we would be capable of doing for our loved ones. There was no more suspense and we were only left with bloody scenes that didn't make a lot of sense.

We got a bit more insight into the twins' past (losses of family members and mental health issues), but I really thought their relationship was a bit strange, overall. I couldn't really feel the love between them. Sarah loved to be in the spotlight, while Lucy stood in her shadow, appearing supportive of her sister, but deep down she always wanted to surpass her, I think. She always wanted to be the perfect and well-mannered young lady (you could see this in her monologues whenever she wanted or had to do something).

Certain things that I wanted more of are:
- Deeper dive into the mental health issues that ran in the family; tie it together with the present events. It would've been very interesting, for example, if at the end we would've found out this is all in Lucy's head and she was the center of everything, not Sarah.
- If there was an attempt and female empowerment, I didn't see much of it. We are told throughout the story that men are superior to women in so many aspects, while women are fragile things that at the first signs of stepping out of line from what society deems proper, they are immediately thrown into an asylum. I know this is historically accurate, but the only female rage I got from this is that two men are murdered at the end of the story by a woman and get away with it.

Overall, it was an interesting read. Very immersive and easy to follow. I only wished what was done in the first half, was done in the second half as well. Make sure to check for trigger warnings; it contains depictions of murder, death and cannibalism, among other things.
3.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

All I can say is woah… I was not expecting that.

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I’m relatively new to the horror genre, so maybe it’s me, but this book was not holding anything back! If you love gore, vampires, gothic vibes and maybe a touch of over the top, Blood on Her Tongue is your girl.

I devoured (lol) this book in a day. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing, the atmosphere, the writing, it was all perfect. The horror was horror-ing and my god was it gory. It made me nauseous most of the book, but I can’t complain because that’s exactly what I signed up for! Beautifully done.

I really enjoyed her previous novel “My Darling Dreadful Thing” and this one was even better! Bingable, gory, gothic, gripping. I enjoyed every second of it! The vampires concept was very refreshing and well written, the complexity of the characters was very enjoyable to read. The gothic atmosphere was EVERYTHING!!

Thankyou to NetGalley for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

This was a gripping, atmospheric read that mixed gothic horror with psychological suspense. The story follows Lucy as she uncovers the truth behind her twin sister Sarah’s mysterious illness, which ties into an ancient bog body found on their family estate.

I really loved the sister dynamic, it felt genuine and compelling. Michael, the husband, was easy to hate with his entitled, misogynistic attitude. He really got under my skin. Arthur, on the other hand, left me more conflicted, there was a lot of complexity there that I appreciated. Lots of fantastic side characters too who were well developed.

The writing does a great job of building tension, and the setting is perfect for the kind of eerie, unsettling story van Veen is telling. The structure with letters and journal entries kept me hooked and added a nice layer of suspense.

There are some elements which feel familiar if you are a fan of the gothic genre, but I think they were done well and with a fresh take.

One tiny gripe: the dog breed on the cover doesn’t match the one in the story. It’s not a big deal, but as a bit of a dog nerd, I noticed it.

Overall, Blood on Her Tongue is a dark, thought provoking book with strong characters and a plot that keeps you on edge. If you’re into atmospheric gothic thrillers with depth, this one’s worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC!

**2.5 stars** I was really excited when I got approved for this ARC but sadly, I was left unsatisfied with this book. I really wanted to like this one but as a lover of gothic, horror, thriller-esque novels, it ultimately felt short.

Set in the Netherlands in 1887, we follow Lucy rush to aid her sick twin sister, Sarah in her home. Lucy finds Sarah bedridden, looking extremely thin and delirious in which the doctor diagnoses her with temporary insanity followed by a fever. Lucy discovers her sister’s obsession with a centuries-old corpse found on the premises–an obsession that seems to fuel her psychotic episodes. To prevent her sister from being sent away to a lunatic asylum, Lucy strives to unravel the mystery behind Sarah’s illness and fixation.

I love books that fit in the genre of gothic horror and thrillers. Though I am squeamish with gore, this didn’t feel too grotesque–I almost wish it was more. There were quite a few violent scenes but there wasn’t enough suspense or gore to really encapsulate the scene. And since this book is marketed as horror, to that I will have to disagree.

I did enjoy the storyline, especially because there are a couple of scandalous relationships that I wasn’t expecting. The mystery did have me intrigued but it was quickly resolved and we read more about the aftermath which some may appreciate but may miss out on the tension and second guessing feeling. But it did miss that eerie element that this particular genre calls for.

As a lover of T. Kingfisher, this would be a good entry point to this genre. Otherwise, this was an okay read.

One of the hardest things about being an ARC reader is when you encounter a book that inspires conversation. You want to pick and prod at it, to confer with friends and see if they are having the same or completely different reading experiences than you—but you can’t, and maybe you won’t be able to for months. Such was my adventure with Blood on Her Tongue. I fell so completely into the rabbit hole that was this book that I immediately wanted to drag it over to my buddy read group and get their thoughts. In truth I haven’t felt so emotionally and intellectually rattled by a story in quite some time.
Dracula meets Daisy Miller, the greatest obstacle and strength I can see for Blood on Her Tongue is that it feels antiquated in its tone. The writing style is classical, but then it juxtaposes that approach with vulgarity, viscerality, and feminine rage that would have either been censored or not even acknowledged in the 19th Century, when this is said to take place. Normally, this sort of conflicting adjacency could cause a disconnect, but the way the plot gradually grows into this discordance through the experiences and observations of Lucy make the transition more empathetic than jarring. Like lifting a weight you couldn’t previously even hold.
Speaking honestly, this book is for people who have been doubted or infantilized, mansplained to, told they were less than for their gender preference, or for all those who read the classics and got sick of simpering, weak, women being told to go to bed and let the men handle it. I highly recommend it, but I also would advise reading it with friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3⭐️s

This was my first time treading a book by Johanna Van Veen and I must say, the writing style, for me, was a little hard to get into. I thought a lot of the journal entries went on for too long, especially at the beginning. We spent a lot of time talking about that dang bog body. I usually love a gothic horror book, especially when it’s about “vampires” but this felt less gothic are more gore in a sense. I did like how the author tried to make it more about it being a parasite than a vampire thing but this book just wasn’t for me. I don’t think anything in this book was original or new so I didn’t feel invested in it sadly. I’ve heard her other book My Darling Dreadful was good so maybe I’ll give that a try.

"a girl needs to eat," she said simply. And she ate alright. Van Veen left absolutely no crumbs in this.

*Thanks to Nat Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review*

This one checked all the boxes for me. I love a good gothic horror and this one was giving all the Crimson Peak del Toro vibes. I was loving the nods to Dracula (one of my personal favorite books) as well. The inspo behind this was highly apparent but still maintained it's ability to be quite unique. I was literally in the fetal position for some of the tense moments and it's been a long time since a book has done that to me. I'll be sleeping with the lights on tonight.

I also loved the commentary on female love. While I personally question the morality behind the decision making, at the end of the day these girlies did what was right for them (murder). And you know what? I'm all for it, girl power!!

I have two complaints which i consider *minor* and that is some of the scenes were a bit... odd lol iykyk. And at points, the plot points felt a bit self serving to make sure all the potential holes were all patched up (ex. "I won't need to eat again for awhile!"). However, in the grand scheme this book was creative, well written, and consumable (pls hold for my finger cake recipe). Needs to be on every tbr from here to New York, Milan, Paris, or wherever!

Omg!!!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this early!! Loooooved it!! It was sensational. Delicious. Devious and beautiful, I devoured it!!