Twins are always connected, they have a sixth sense about people and places. Except for Lucy and Sarah. Sarah becomes ill, and obsesse with corpses. Diagnosed with temporary insanity, Lucy tries everything to keep her sister out of the asylum. As Lucy unfolds secrets after secrets, she is beginning to think Sarah may have a worse problem on her hands. This was a wild ride, I loved it!

This gothic horror tale is a spine-tingling adventure, shrouded in darkness and suspense. It tells the story of twin sisters ensnared by sinister secrets, with surprising twists that challenge the boundaries between reality and insanity. The author's descriptive writing conjures a haunting ambiance, making it a memorable and unsettling read.

Absolute loved this. When Lucy travels to help her twin sister who is in the midst of a mental and physical battle with a corpse, we are brought in on the mystery of who was she and why was she. A addictive dark fairy tale that sinks its teeth in right away(literally)

This gothic horror tale was nothing short of a haunting journey, immersing the reader in a world steeped in shadow and foreboding. The author’s prose pulls you into a setting so vivid and chilling that you can almost feel the cold seep into your bones, leaving you simultaneously entranced and uneasy. Every page hums with an eerie tension, and the dark atmosphere twists around you, making you dread yet crave each wicked event lurking around the corner.

At the heart of this tale lie twin sisters, bound by secrets that gradually entangle them in an inescapable darkness—one that doesn’t merely haunt them but reaches out to ensnare those around them as well. The plot twists are shocking, strange, and yet utterly fitting for a tale as unsettling as this one. After all, what is gothic horror without its peculiarities?

The author’s skill in immersing you within the sisters’ worlds is nothing short of masterful. As their lives unravel in a fog of secrets and lies, you find yourself questioning what is real and what is the product of creeping madness. The lines blur so convincingly that, like the twins themselves, you’re left teetering on the edge, unable to fully discern reality from delusion. It’s a dizzying descent that makes this tale all the more terrifying—and unforgettable.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second novel by van Veen I have read and there is a very distinct vibe that she brings to her work that I means I will probably give anything she writes a go, but so far I have not felt entirely satisfied by it. The ingredients are all there, it just hasn't hit for me yet, though there were elements of this novel that I found really interesting and well done.

In this novel, the story follows Lucy, rushing to the bedside of her twin, Sarah. She has been receiving strange and disconcerting letters from Sarah ever since a body was discovered in the bog near where she lived. When Lucy arrives, Sarah is deteriorating quickly, experiencing strange symptoms and dangerously close to death. Can she survive whatever is happening to her or will she be turned into something else entirely?

What I especially appreciated about this novel, was it's approach to the vampire-esque creature at the heart of it. The lore and mythology van Veen builds around the creature is really interesting and she attempts something a little different while utilising classic vampire literature tropes. The blood at the centre of the story is also not hesitated over either, which I really appreciated, especially one scene involving a woman menstruating. I felt like van Veen really leaned into the passionate gorging aspects of the creature, without trying to make it twee or simply edgy. These aspects of the novel were really strong.

However, the characters in the novel were fairly weak. A lot of them suffered from a chronic case of telling not showing, and some didn't even get that. Characters who are supposed to have known each other since childhood seem to behave the same as those who have not, and there is very little development of any relationship outside of Lucy and Sarah's which, while at times was compelling, also felt fairly like they were still in the initial conception phase. Katje, in particular, was never given a character. While one could argue that this was simply due to Lucy's POV narration, I think that is a weak argument. There is never any answers as to why characters like each other or are compelled by each other. While the narrative plays with deception and lying, because the characters are not well established, it is difficult to truly feel engaged by the conflict. The ending was also a bit like a deflated balloon which left me with a lot of boring questions rather than excitement or catharsis.

I look forward to what van Veen writes next but this, while in places really interesting, just missed the mark overall for me.

"Don't deny this. You have craved the meat and the madness of it as much as I have."

Sarah and Lucy are twins. Lucy spends her days as a companion for an elderly widow, while Sarah is happily married and spends her time indulging into her current obsessions, including a body found on her property. But then Sarah falls ill and Lucy rushes to her side to aide her. He doctor and husband Michael think she is ill from brain fever and just needs time. But Lucy knowing her twin better than anyone suspects something else is at play, specially when Sarah's behaviour changes as does her appetite. But Lucy also has her own dark secrets to keep hidden.

I LOVED THIS !! It hooked me in right from the beginning. It is a beautifully woven gothic horror tale that had me hanging on every word. Loved the bleak atmospheric setting in the Netherlands.

The bodies in the bog have always held such fascination and was interesting how the author weaved them as part of the story and the curious take on vampire mythology.

Deals with family dynamics, gender imbalances, misogyny, mental illness, self harm, death of a child (off page).

Loved the relationship between Lucy & Sarah. Even with secrets between them, Lucy had such unwavering loyalty to Sarah's health and well being, even if it meant going against her own character standing up to Sarah's husband and doctor. Has some great eerie moments as well as straight out horror.

Prefect for fans of Camilla, Dracula, gothic horror, vampire horror, vampire gothic horror.
This ended exactly how I wanted it to. Johanna van Veen has done it again !

This gave me a Dracula meets Crimson Peak vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley & Poison Pen Press for the ARC opportunity, all thought are my own.

The plot is super unique and interesting. Pulls you in and keeps you wanting to read. Some parts of the story drag on, but overall super good.

Loved every minute of it! I can understand that some people might find the story a bit stretched out, but I could not get enough of the internal conflicts the protagonist was battling out with herself. The concept of vampirism as an actual form of parasitism seems fresh and intriguing. And how the author portrayed the relationship between the sisters was cuttingly accurate in its sometimes loving, sometimes volatile but always toxic seemed believable even in its most fucked up moments. I can't wait for her next book!

Not as great as My Darling Dreadful Thing. It had a lot of potential. I didn't really like writing references to Dracula such as "sister mine" in the letters, it was too on the nose.
I liked how Sarah was able to take part in research and have a fulfilled life that way, I just wanted more from the Bog Woman and maybe more contrast from Lucy, for example is she truly on the Bog Woman's side or not- I would have enjoyed reading and questioning her motives a bit more.

Johanna van Veen's Blood on Her Tongue stands as a chilling testament to gothic horror. A novel where the line between madness and mystery blurs, Blood on Her Tongue could be one of the best novels coming in 2025.

The Netherlands, 1887. Lucy's twin sister Sarah is unwell. She refuses to eat, mumbles nonsensically, and is increasingly obsessed with a centuries-old corpse recently discovered on her husband's grand estate. The doctor has diagnosed her with temporary insanity caused by a fever of the brain. To protect her twin from a terrible fate in a lunatic asylum, Lucy must unravel the mystery surrounding her sister's condition, but it's clear her twin is hiding something. Then again, Lucy is harboring secrets of her own, too.

Then, the worst happens. Sarah's behavior takes a turn for the strange. She becomes angry… and hungry.

Lucy soon comes to suspect that something is trying to possess her beloved sister. Or is it madness? As Sarah changes before her very eyes, Lucy must reckon with the dark, monstrous truth, or risk losing her forever.

The true draw of Blood on Her Tongue lies in van Veen's beautiful crafting of an eerie atmosphere and tension. From the very first page, Johanna immerses us in a world where it feels oddly both familiar and otherworldly. The setting itself becomes a character—a sprawling estate and bog shrouded in mystery—transporting us to The Netherlands, 1887.

Van Veen's story evokes a creeping dread that grows with every page turn. While the narrative is a slow burn, the burn is like eating a decent hot wing that makes your mouth slowly feel pain, but the taste is so good that in the end the experience was well worth it.

The creepy vibe is ever present but the complex relationship between Lucy and Sarah—twins who share an unbreakable bond yet are starkly different in disposition—is central to this tale. Sarah has descended into a maddening obsession with an unearthed body, while Lucy finds herself caught in the grasp of familial duty and personal fear. What lengths will Lucy go to protect her sister from institutionalization? The novel deals with codependency and sacrifice, challenging us to reflect on their own boundaries when it comes to helping loved ones.

In Blood on Her Tongue, van Veen blurs lines between sanity and supernatural, leaving us constantly questioning whether Sarah's affliction is rooted in psychological turmoil or something far darker. The author's ability to maintain the unknown adds layers of depth to the already intricate plot line, something that has us hooked to the very last page.

Despite the eerie ambiance and gruesome imagery—including moments that might make your stomach churn—the heart of this novel is its exploration of human emotion amidst chaos. It's really about love—the kind that binds families together even when faced with unimaginable horror—and how these connections can lead us down paths we never intended. Some darker than others.

As the disturbing climax of Blood on Her Tongue comes to a head it leaves behind a mark upon those brave enough venture that far into the book; haunting us long after we've closed the book.

Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen is not just another gothic horror but rather it stands tall amongst others in the genre with innovative storytelling coupled with richly detailed settings and outstanding character development. Blood on Her Tongue is an eerie, gruesome, heartfelt gothic horror that will stand with, or even above, the best horror novels in 2025.

This was very interesting, atmospheric and moody. A nice blend of modern and Victorian ideals. I love twin stories, so enjoyed that aspect of this story, too.

This was the spookiest read of the year for me, and an absolute winner. One of my favourite books of the year!
There is some gore, but just enough that I can deal with it. The sisterly bond was too convincing, the storyline eerie and good paced. I was in suspense the whole way through tbh, and I really really enjoyed it. I finished it in one day, something that few books can compell me to.

I love gothic books for their heavy psychological atmosphere that suggest a lot without falling into the blood, gore and sex of full-blown horror. Here, this wasn't the case, and I don't quite have the stomach for the perverse.
The writing is very good, I loved that the book was set in 1800s Netherland, cold and harsh, it fitted amazingly with the feel and I kept picturing scenes of the movie Babette's Feast. Which was rather unsettling, but also surprisingly creepy. It's such a nice move away from tropes.
But, I kept thinking "yuck yuck yuck" as I read, feeling myself grimacing and wincing and looking away from the pages in disgust. And I can't say that's what I look for when I pick a book. Thought it is an impressive talent from the author! She got all Stephen King's Dance Macabre advice to writers pat down.
I would recommend if you are looking for a feminist horror, and don't mind body horror, feeling queasy as you read, and a cast of deeply flawed colder characters.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: March 25, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I honestly did not think that anything could top My Darling Dreadful Thing yet here we are…WOW. I ate this one up. First things first BOG BODIES. Okay, now that we got that out of the way because I LOVE…let’s get to what I loved just as much. The writing was perfection and beautiful, the backdrop and setting couldn’t be better because The Netherlands is a beautiful backdrop always. The main question in this book that will have you thinking the entire way through — how far will you go to help your family. You will be sitting on the edge of your chair the entire time while you read this book unsure of where it’s going to go next and what is going to happen. I will 100% say that reading the trigger warnings before going into this book is a MUST so please do this. I cannot wait to see what Johanna van Veen comes out with next! An auto read author for me.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Gothic, Horror, Sister Relationships, Character Driven, Secrets, Revenge, Vampirism, Gore

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Poisoned Pen Press

So, I sat with this one for a good while before writing this review. What I am left with weeks after reading this is my overall love for this author. This book has such great sister bond, even to the point that had me questioning things...

Its the late 1800s and Lucy goes to visit her twin sister, Sarah, who has been unwell. Not only is the sibling bond there, its a twin bond, and these sisters are CLOSE. For Lucy, being separated is really hard, especially with Sarah's declining health, but upon arrival, she learns the level of unwell Sarah has befallen. Sarah had recently discovered an ancient body buried on her estate and has since been consumed by its presence. The doctor's diagnosis of fever of the brain inducing temporary insanity is really put under a microscope by Lucy when she begins to put the pieces together. There is something very wrong with the corpse, as well as Sarah's obsession.

Soon, Sarah's behavior is inexcusable and when Lucy begins to question her own sanity, that is when the book really starts propelling itself! What I expected to be a book about van Veen's depiction of vampirism turns out to be this amazing feminist thriller, where our female characters must advocate for themselves when the men in their lives are trying to keep them meek and controllable. I had so much fun reading this book!!

LOVED this! Bloody and gory and fucked up, with a powerful exploration of unhealthy family dynamics. I was particularly impressed by the way we inhabited Lucy's worldview and were naturally sympathetic to her while understanding she was deeply unreliable.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh man this book was a wild ride. This has to have been one of the most well written, grammatically correct and well edited book I've ever read. The author can put a single sentence together and make me see taste and smell the moment. Some of the gorey moments had me physically gagging and I am not mad about it because that shows you how in the moment to the writing and the scene I was.

The twins were so sociopathically obsessed with eachother. Their relationship was hella toxic but it made for such a good story. The betrayal of Lucy and Micheal was just amazing.

I really enjoyed the explanation that Sarah didn't turn into a "Vampire" but rather there was an entity that consumed her and took her over. That paired with the century with females not holding power and being sent to asylums for madness and the male dominance that the sisters had to navigate made for good plot.

My only negative feedback is just how little the characters had personality wise. Lucy was mostly obsessed with her sister. Sarah at least had hobbies and interests. But Michael was just a typical rich fuck boy who bangs his staff. The doctor was intriguinging and I was sad for his ending. Seemed like a cop out.

Either way I had a lot of fun thank you again Netgalley!

*Blood on Her Tongue* is an absolutely WILD ride. I usually like to structure these "reviews" as much as my mathematical mind will allow, but instead I'm going to leave you with my ramblings as I progressed through the book.

At the 49% mark:
• **LOTS of body horror.** Very Gothic. Some descriptions have been so disgusting that they've actually turned my stomach!
• I still have no idea where this story is headed but it's very good.
• This has been pretty slow overall but I'm not upset about that.
• Generally likeable characters though every single one of them is flawed. Hey, like real life!

At the 94% mark:
• **This book is a FANTASTIC, beautiful, Gothic oil painting up to the ~60% mark, then for the next 10% the painter keeps working the painting trying to make improvements but instead just makes it muddier and muddier. Then for the next 25% the painter goes all in and switches to acrylic paint so they can just layer over the muddy parts in an attempt to make it awesome again. Is it working? Ehhhhhhhh**
• This book reminds me of the video game *If on a Winter's Night, Four Travelers* which is a FREE indie game that you should absolutely check out if you enjoy the vibes of this book.
• Did they really say *fuck* this much back then?
• **Maybe this would be hitting harder if I had a sibling.** I think I don't get this twin/sibling bond as an only child..

In the end I loved the writing and the atmosphere and the horror elements were masterfully done, but to the detriment of this book's rating I personally could not relate at all to the the twin sister bond which was a foundational element of the story. But if you
• enjoy creepy, scientifically fascinating natural phenomena, OR
• are interested in new takes on familiar elements of the horror genre, OR
• have a sibling AND can appreciate an extremely slow burn
you will probably love this book!

*Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me an e-ARC of this book.*

"It was a curious thing to be watched so carefully by the dead."

If we ever build a canon for Gothic books, Johanna van Veen would be a part of it.
Not only did "Blood on Her Tongue" have ALL the crazy, spooky and messed-up elements we love, it was unique and refreshing in it's own way. The bond between the sisters is so strong, and Lucy is a character that made me sit down and think. She is so layerd and starts off as the weakest one of the two, but in my opinion she is strong and badass. The ending?!!! I cannot. Power, a twisted sense of justice and a great representation of what you would actually do for love.

I loved that the book was set in the Netherlands and used some dutch words here and there. It was fun to see how the two languages I speak were intertwined! As a Gothic loving dutchy, Johanna is an author I will continue to read!

This was a decent book for an old familiar trope. I read it and it kept me interested. I am however tired of this specific trope in horror fiction.