Blood on Her Tongue is everything a gothic book should be! It was creepy, eerie, morally questionable, gory and mysterious as all great gothic works are. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, the characters' arcs were very intriguing and (my personal favorite) descending into morally questionable actions. The writing also helped with the atmosphere and successfully gave us insight on Lucy's thoughts in a way that evoked the big gothic stories. Definitely one of my favorite 2025 reads and looking forward to reading more from Johanna van Veen!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

It is a twisted, dark and disturbing book.

I forced my way through, but it was just not my type of book. If you are into shock factor, you may enjoy.

Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book in exchange of an honest review!
Okay… this book was a little bit all over the place. It had a great start, very disturbing, dark, creepy (in a really good way, that’s exactly what I like in horror stories). But around the 60% mark, there was a sudden change that literally made me believe I was reading an entirely different book with entirely different characters. I don’t think there was a great introduction for this changes, and they made the story lose the mystery that I believed made the plot so interesting.
The story had great potential, but I unfortunately don’t think it lived up to it.

Made me feel superior for having a normal and healthy relationship with my identical twin. Interesting exploration of codependency and parasitism and what it means to still truly be yourself. I wasn’t a huge fan of Lucy and Sarah was a much more compelling character. I thought van Veen did a good job creating a dark and creepy atmosphere. This wasn’t super scary but there were definitely some gory and graphic scenes that I cringed while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

The vibes are on point! The overall tone of female rage is a yes for me, and I loved the examination of sisterhood and loyalty. It’s got a great sense of foreboding and oppression, consistent with the theme of gender roles in this time and place. The vampire element was fairly unique, and the story surprised me in a positive way at several turns. I found the writing flows well, and the character of Lucy was vibrant.

Side characters are a little more flat, particularly the male ones, though that may serve a purpose in illustrating their (lack of) relevance to Lucy. Pacing chugs along excellently, it was a quick read for me. The body horror elements are STRONG and did give me the ick at times.

I enjoyed it, and I’m solidly a fan of this author, she delivers great feminist gothic horror!

Blood on Her Tongue was absolutely incredible. In all honesty, I was hesitant to read this new one because I loved my Darling Dreadful Thing so much. Surely it would not hold up to that! But amazingly, it did. This story was beautifully written with its ties to Netherlands in the 1800s, gothic tropes and complex family relationships. This story dove into ancient lore with talks of changelings and mystical bogs, all of which are creepy and intriguing. The title is blood on her tongue, but truly there is blood everywhere in this story. At the same time, it is well done and not grotesque. Johanna is becoming an icon in the horror world and I am here for it!

Holy… wow. To say I was left reeling after reading this book would’ve been an understatement. This was my first five-star read of the year, and the feeling I was left with after devouring this book in the entirety of one night makes it beyond worthy of that title. I’m still rather new to the gothic horror genre as a whole, but I’m so grateful that I’ve decided to step out of my comfort zone this year and read books like this. 

This was an eerie, unsettling, and exciting read! Every chapter had me clinging onto each word written, waiting to see what sort of madness would unravel next. I know this book won’t be for everyone due to the occasional detailed descriptions of gore and the shock value — but gosh, it was one of the things that hit home for me. There’s just something that I admire about a writer like Johanna Van Veen’s ability to make a reader’s palm sweat and stomach churn as they read.

Van Veen’s prose made it easy for me to immerse myself into this gloomy, gothic, eerie ambience that became almost addicting. For lack of a better terminology, ‘the vibes were immaculate’. 

There were definite undertones of feminism that were rooted into the story accompanied by a sapphic side story which were a definite bonus for me as well. 

There’s so much I could say in great detail that I loved about this book, but I really think it’s one of those books that you have to go into blind to fully experience for yourself. So even though I ended up annotating half of the book, I’ll refrain from sharing an excess of details. 

If you’re someone who loves gothic horror, the “good for her” trope / unhinged women in media, or lush prose that doesn’t feel overly contrived — you need to go purchase this book! Do yourself the massive favour.

What a great gothic tale about obsession, oppression, and thirst.

Our protagonist, Lucy, is a woman who deeply loves her sister-to the point of co-dependency. She is the meek to Sarah’s boldness, the proper to Sarah’s brashness. She is everything her sister is not. But she also is not above emboldening herself to protect her sister, even is that means tearing down the patriarchy surrounding her.

Sarah is a woman who longs to be able to do anything a man can, and it has come with unexpected consequences. Or did it? Sarah’s suffering is not what it seems, and may be a blessing in disguise for both her, and her sister.

I enjoyed this story and the push and pull of emotions as you venture further down the rabbit hole. It starts as a semi-typical vampire story but turns into a story of bucking against a system where men call the shots, and women are forced to comply. It also highlights the lack of bodily autonomy women had, and how women have the power to rise up and demand what should be given freely-dignity and choice. And Lucy’s power move? Absolutely bloody and unhinged.

If you are looking for a dark, disturbing, and bloody horror story, look no further.

Mmm mmmm mm it’s finger licking good.
Literally.

Dark, delicious, obsessed. I loved the twists and turns this book takes. Girl power am I right! Only criticism- a few plot holes at the end…. But we don’t need alllll the answers to enjoy this gothic tale ;)


Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!! Very honored to review this.

This book grossed me out in the best way possible! I am obsessed with how gripping it was, the gothic elements and the bloody scenes!

What a delightful eerie gothic tale, the characters were delicious and the vibes were immaculate. We were thrown into the Netherlands within the 19th century, the sorry follows twin sisters who’s bond is so ever strong but after Lucy starts receiving frantic letters from her sister Sarah she knows something is not right and travels back to the estate to be with her sister.

A fascination with a big woman becomes the catalyst in this eerie tale and we are transported into a carefully balanced mix of gore and insanity. As time passes Lucy begins to question the unquestionable, deciphering her dearest twins frantic notes she fears for Sarah’s life has she been possessed or is it just madness?

The prose was nectareous and extremely enjoyable, tastefully dark no pun intended.
I found this novel so unique, I’ve never read anything like it and thought it was so beautifully dark and took many twists that got your pulse racing.

Our twin sisters hold a strong juxtaposition, an unspoken vow to never hold secrets from each other yet there are lingering under the surface.

We also explore the hysteria of a woman, how women have been branded as dramatic if they feel passionate about something. It was refreshing to see justice against prejudice alongside a slice of the daily female rage.

This was my first novel from this particular author and I’m keen to say I will definitely be getting my hands on every novel written or to be written by this fabulous author.

A hearty 4.5/5 stars for me!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this decadent novel and thank you to NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an E Arc. I enjoyed this book but because I loved the author first book so much this one didn't hit as hard.

The author knows how to write a slow burn historical horror book with lots of drama. This has the strong sister relationship, what would you do to help your twin sister? how far would you go?

There's some intense and some gory scenes for sure, I think one of the reason why I didn't enjoy it as much is because the ending and because at times it felt a bit repetitive.

3.5

4⭐️- Blood on Her Tongue was incredible. It had everything you could want in a gothic horror with twists and turns and not one likable character. There were so many parts of this book that had me grimacing in the best way. I initially thought it was going to be heavy on romance, but that was not the case at all!

first of all, i loved my darling dreadful thing so obviously i had to read johanna’s next novel. from the beginning it was so atmospheric and immediately drew me in with the old timey southern gothic creepy vibe (much like her last novel teehee). any scenes including the bog body literally made me shiver and the sapphic subplot just made the book that much better. i really enjoyed the uniqueness of this vampire plot, it was definitely an interesting take and i think anyone who’s into sci-fi horror would surely be into this! overall i LOVED this book, as expected <3 thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC, can’t wait to get the physical copy!

i’m gothic horror will always hit so good for me i fear. this was sooooo good and aced the horror aspects so beautifully that i felt queasy and sick through some parts. the atmosphere and setting for the book was so detailed i could picture everything so perfectly in my mind. my only complaint for this is once it hit the plot twist things got a bit rushed, but i still thoroughly enjoyed. all in all… im a sucker for anything dark and eerie and strange where men (violently) get what’s coming to them

I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint.

I loved the main characters. Twin sisters Lucy and Sarah feel like such real, complete people. Not only was I intrigued by the plot, but I was also very invested in whether things would work out for the sisters. Despite the insane circumstances that Lucy finds herself in, her actions always feel logical to me. Without such strong, consistent characterization, I would not have enjoyed this as much.

I went into this thinking it would be a pretty straightforward vampire story. I won't spoil anything, but there's more going on here. The situation in the book is much more complicated than one sister being a vampire. It explores the bonds we share with those closest to us and how those bonds change when the unthinkable happens.

While the book does have its share of gore, it's always in service to the plot and the creation of a chilling atmosphere. Speaking of which, the atmosphere is spot-on. Dark, dreary, and constantly wet. Exactly what you want from gothic horror.

Creepy, surprising, and oddly heartwarming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

Uma história de horror com clássicos elementos do gênero, porém uma grata surpresa que foi além disso. Os elementos já esparados, estranhos, até mesmo nojentos e bem questionáveis foram realizados de maneira tão interessante, indo do lugar comum para algo tão diferente, de certa forma original e ousado.

Não estava dando nada para essa história mas a medida que avançava foi me ganhando, foi crescendo e crescendo, o contexto histórico é tão legal não somente de ambientação do lugar, de roupas e costumes mas comportamental, de uma educação para mulheres e homens tão precisa no ponto de passarmos raiva. A questão de ser loucura, especificamente histéria ou algo sobrenatural inominável mas que nos leitores suspeitamos do que seja, muito bom.

A relação dessas irmãs é tão complexa, cheia armadilhas até e momentos de ternura em situações tão extremas e estranhas, um amor e cuidado mas que não tem companheirismo e sinceridade no que esperamos e quando esperamos mas que não devemos subestimar, desde o começo isso confunde, incomoda. O contexto da loucura nesse momento histórico assim como a existência LGBT+ foram os pontos altos para mim. Gostei mais do que imaginava.

Agradeço muito ao netgalley e a editora por essa cópia antecipada.

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again, So, so, so good!

In Blood on Her Tongue, van Veen successfully bridges the gap between gothic classic and modern readers’ sensibilities, drawing a beautifully balanced tension that snaps off into rapid fire action.

“I’m in your blood, and you are in mine…..”

Set in the Netherlands, in 1887, Blood on her Tongue is a deliciously dark gothic tale. Nosferatu fans - run don’t walk to pick this one up. This is gothic horror in all its beautiful grotesqueness.

When Lucy Goedhart receives a frantic telegram stating her twin is deathly ill, she rushes to her sister Sarah’s aid. There she finds her sister on death’s doorstep, raving about a mysterious woman and a thirst for blood.

While we follow Lucy through a third person narrative, there are letters and diary entries woven throughout this tale written by Sarah, that help us get to know her before she fell ill. The epistolary elements were executed flawlessly and felt like real letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. Johanna van Veen has a beautiful writing style that captures what makes gothic horror so amazing. The atmosphere is lush yet suffocating; the characters and their dynamics flawed and compelling. A book about sisters at its core, and the monstrous things we will do to and for the ones we love; this is absolutely going in my list of top vampire novels to recommend.