I absolutely loved this. A gothic tale with every page compelling me to move forward. I could not put it down and ate it up in no time.

This was my first ready by Johanna Van Veen so I was not sure what to expect but Blood on Her Tongue did not disappoint. I found the dark elements enticing and gruesome. I will be recommending this to everyone.

I really enjoyed this novel. I liked Van Veen’s previous novel as well, but I felt that in this she really grew as an author, her language is more mature, the story is tighter and she really digs into the gore of it all.

4.25 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like Johanna van Veen is becoming a solid author I turn to when I'm in the mood for a slow-burn Gothic mystery. The settings are always extremely atmospheric, and I feel like I'm actually in the book. I also really appreciate the detail to the characters, and their arcs as the story progresses.

Not only did I love the bond between Lucy and Sarah, I was absolutely obsessed with the vampire lore. It was very different from any other vampire book or movie I've seen, and I really found it to be a refreshing take on the genre. Unlike her previous novel, this one focused more on the bond between sisters rather than being an actual love story, which again, is a different kind of "love" from what we see in traditional vampire stories. I really appreciated this take.

The book did seem to get a bit slow in the middle, and overall the first half didn't have too much happening other than building the characters and leading up to the events in the second half of the book. I feel like it could have been condensed a little bit, but I still appreciated the build of the characters and the slow-burning mystery. The ending was absolutely brutal and filled with blood and gore. I am excited to see what Johanna has coming next, because she is definitely one of my new favorite authors of gothic horror.

I really liked the vibe and setting of this book, but I wasn't that into the plot or the characters. However I loved the writing, so I will definitely check out other stuff by this author.
I will definitely recommend this to people who enjoy gothic and macabre stories. This book would without a doubt have been amazing if I was more j to the plot and characters

When a mysteriously well-preserved corpse is discovered in a local bog on her estate, Sarah is fascinated. Although women of their time aren’t supposed to be interested in science and the natural world, Sarah and her twin sister Lucy are uncommonly curious and educated and entranced by the mystery. When Sarah suddenly falls ill and presents with unusual symptoms after examining the body, she writes to Lucy who immediately comes to aid her beloved sister. But after things start becoming stranger and stranger it becomes clearer and clearer that something sinister is at play that will test their places in society, and both reveal the cracks in and push the limits of their sisterly bond.

This was a weird, enjoyable little book with a great balance of suspense to horror. Nothing felt particularly gratuitous and all the side characters felt sufficiently fleshed out. Sarah and Lucy themselves are great foils to each other, and while many plot beats felt predictable, I enjoyed them nonetheless. I do feel the ending was a tad unrealistic and wrapped up a little too cleanly, but on the whole I’d highly recommend for readers who like horror and supports women’s rights and women’s wrongs!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy! All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The perfect book to start one’s gothic horror journey. Set in the 19th century Netherlands, Lucy must go to her twin sister’s aid when she receives letters that suggest some sort of madness after her sister Sarah finds a bog body.
Starting with the atmosphere of the book, it was phenomenal. Everything you want in a gothic piece gloomy weather, candle lit rooms, cobblestone streets and Victorian houses. Van Veer does an incredible job throughout the entire book with her descriptions that keep you completely immersed in this world and setting.
Plot wise van Veer’s slow burn of Sarah and her descent into becoming something other was so well written. There’s a big idea of how far would one go to protect the one the loved, or someone who was once someone they loved.

Blood on Her Tongue was a creepy, atmospheric horror that I had a crazy ride on when reading. I really enjoyed it because when I say gothic horror....this is what I am talking about. This was my first book by. Johanna van Veen but it did not disappoint!! Her prose truly made feel like I was part of the story and experiencing everything right there along side our MCs. I can't wait to read more of her work! Thank you to netgalley and poisoned pen press for providing me an early ARC of this book!!!

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the atmospheric elements of this book. The descriptions of the settings and situations were beautiful, and I really felt like I was in the places our characters were in. I enjoyed Lucy for the most part, but she slightly annoyed me because she is so naive (she's young, so I get it). The plot was great, and I enjoyed the letters and articles that split up and aided the narrative. Overall if you're looking for a gothic fantasy horror I would recommend it.

Blood on Her Tongue is a dark, gothic tale which takes a unique spin on vampires. This is not for the faint of heart as it contains quite a bit of body horror.

Whilst deeply in the realm of horror, the writing is lyrical and enchanting. The story itself is very character driven yet the story is well woven and complex.

I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC.

Genuinely, I am shocked by how much I disliked this book. I desperately wanted to like it, and it had me for 30% in, then fell off the rails. Been jumps through so many hoops to justify the story here, and it misses the entire point of gothic horror while trying desperately to cling to the aesthetics in a failed attempt at storytelling.

First off, Lucy is a trash main character and would literally choose a parasite that killed her sister over literally everyone else, because she’s easily manipulated and has zero true backbone. That is, unless she’s defending her awful sister and this awful parasite. Lucy’s actual lack of personality is unpleasant, and rather disappointing when you realize she’s the reason her sister lost the fight with this parasite and then she pledges allegiance to said parasite like a simpering idiot. And no, she does not become “girlboss” by killing a bad man and then a good man (because he wanted to do the right thing and was right about her being a spineless turd) and running away with her sister’s parasitic corpse.

The whole plot with Katje also bothers me, because it felt shoehorned in and frankly, as a queer woman, I do t appreciate queer rep that isn’t truly rep but is just a way to add a bit of “surprising gay shock value” to horror literature. It’s tasteless and borderline offensive to make the three queer women in a book someone who was in “hysteria”, an abuse victim, and a fucking evil parasite. Just SAYING.

And finally, this plot was disappointing. I had high hopes at the beginning, but honestly at 40%, 65% and 80% I was close to a DNF. I’m thoroughly disappointed by how meandering and painful the plot was. Also honestly this story was basically just Under Cover by Tamsyn Muir in a different setting and also worse.

This story was flawed on so many levels. It failed to be gothic horror, symbolic, psychological horror, and also failed completely as a narrative. I wish this was better because I truly wanted it to be better, but it wasn’t. It was childish, poorly formed, and left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Beautifully written, macabre, and atmospheric. Tense, mysterious, and somewhat frightening. Subtle clues were dropped throughout. Initially, I thought the book was going to be about one thing, and it turned out to be something else entirely. At times, "Blood On Her Tongue" feels like a fever dream. It felt very reminiscent of when I saw the (2024) version of Nosferatu. In the sense that both stories are dark, twisted, sad, and oftentimes quite shocking. They also share the commonality of antagonists with an unquechable bloodlust, and in "Blood On Her Tongue's" case a lot more. Johanna van Veen even shares quotes from "Dracula," numerous times in the book. I think those looking for a fresh take on a traditional vampire tale would enjoy this. I will say the pace was a little too slow for me at times. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The ending actually made me laugh out loud. 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This is everything you want in a gothic horror! I was grossed out, on the edge of my seat, and could not put this story down. I was engrossed in the story. The ending was not my favorite, as compared to the rest of the book. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time with this one.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I’ve been rendered inarticulate. All I can say is that if you liked Dracula, Carmilla and even Saltburn (you weirdo 😏) then you would enjoy this book.

I spent the entire time just on the edge of my seat going ‘wtf wtf wtf’ over and over again.

What a beautiful, absolutely gruesome, enthralling tale this was! I was drawn in from the first page and kept entertained until the very last. This novel carries themes of mental illness, sisterly love, and self-worth. The gothic vibes and setting were absolutely on point.

I would highly recommend this to horror fans, particularly fans of gothic tales and body horror. Not for the faint of heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to this eARC. All opinions are my own

4-Star Review

This macabre, gothic novel is beautifully written, with a uniquely haunting style that takes a bit to sink into—but once it does, it’s impossible to stop reading. The eerie atmosphere and slow-burning tension kept me engaged, blurring the line between madness and the supernatural.

The bond between Lucy and Sarah is compelling, and the unraveling mystery is both chilling and intriguing. While I liked it a lot, I wanted to love it—some parts dragged, and I craved a deeper emotional pull. Still, the haunting prose and eerie twists make it a gripping read for gothic fiction fans.

Thank you, NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Blood on Her Tongue” by Johanna van Veen is a masterfully crafted gothic horror novel that immerses readers in a chilling tale set in 1887 Netherlands. The story follows twin sisters, Lucy and Sarah, as they confront mysterious and sinister events that test their bond and sanity. Van Veen’s evocative prose and intricate character development create a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. While some scenes are gruesome and may not suit all readers, those who appreciate dark, gothic narratives will find this book both captivating and unsettling.

I just finished Blood on Her Tongue yesterday and get ready, you guys. You think you know what you're getting yourselves into but it's not what you're expecting. I mean, ok, it is... in one sense. It's dark. It's atmospheric. It's bloody. But the dog knows. Ooooh man, does the dog know!

Set in the Netherlands in the late 1800's, the book opens with Sarah accompanying her husband to view a body that's been discovered in the bog on their property. She immediately becomes infatuated with it and writes to her twin sister Lucy about the strange thoughts and dreams she's been having ever since coming in contact with it. Not long after, Sarah becomes gravely ill, speaking gibberish and running a high fever. Her husband and their childhood friend Arthur fear she's going mad. Lucy rushes to her side in an attempt to save her from the asylum, but ends up coming face to face with a horror nothing could have prepared her for.

The set up and storyline will have you thinking vampires (sorry for the slight spoiler) but oh dearies, it is something much much darker and sinister... and ancient... and it is soooo fucking hungry!

Some of you may know that I typically do not do well with gothic horror, and if I'm being honest this one tried my patience a few times, especially with the whole 'men know better than women', and the marital affair (why do so many of the books I've read lately involve cheating, it's so cringe) and oh yes, I should have predicted, all the fainting or near fainting spells and female hysteria stuff that the ladies were afflicted with back then. But all those pet peeves aside, the story really kept my interest piqued.

Dripping with dread, the book delves into codependency, mental health, and the allure of the unknown all while challenging familial bonds. How far is too far when a loved one's survival is at stake?

I read Van Veen’s previous novel, which was her debut and it was certainly twisted, but this got way more dark. The graphic details of the horror that she was trying to portray was what gave this book a 4 star review. However, it is not for the feint of heart. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to just anyone. It is a love story, a story about sisters and what they will do to stay together, but at its core, this is a gothic horror story. The author has you rooting for the unexpected to happen, when if I told you what that would be at the outset, you’d never believe that to be true. I’m not sure I can stomach reading a book like this again, and yet I kind of can’t wait to see the sinister plot JVV cooks up next!

This was an interesting story that I had expected to love but found I couldn’t get into the story as much as I had wanted. I liked that it was a bit different to other gothic stories I had read recently however.

This dark and macabre novel delivers an exhilarating rollercoaster experience that pushes the boundaries of fiction. Not for the faint of heart, it immerses readers in a world brimming with gore, cannibalism, and sinister vampires. The plot twists caught me completely off guard, adding to the book's suspenseful allure.

What sets this work apart is its strong feminist undertones and a significant emphasis on mental health, offering crucial commentary amidst the horror. At times, I found myself almost feeling sympathy for the male characters, showcasing the nuanced perspective the author brings to the table.

In conclusion, this book is disturbingly captivating in the best possible way—perfect for those who appreciate a blend of horror with deeper themes. A truly unique read that leaves a lasting impression!