I have a confession. Based on the title alone, I fully expected this to be a vampire book. It's not, but what I got instead was something weirder, darker, and honestly … better. I’m definitely not mad about it.

Set in the Netherlands in 1887, the story centers on Lucy and her twin sister, Sarah. Sarah has taken a sudden turn in health. She refuses to eat, she rambles about a recently discovered corpse on her husband’s estate, and seems to be rapidly slipping into what the doctors call “temporary insanity.” Lucy isn’t buying it. She suspects something else is going on. Something much darker.

I mentioned earlier that I thought this was going to be a vampire book and I stuck with that thought for a while, so the reveal of what was really happening with Sarah was a nice surprise. Even more of a surprise was the lengths to which Lucy was willing to go to save her.

The relationship between the sisters is (unsurprisingly) the heart of the book. It's tense, intimate, and complicated in that way only twin bonds can be, especially when trauma, guilt, and mystery start to mix. The emotional stakes feel just as high as the supernatural ones, and that’s what gives the horror real teeth.

And speaking of horror, this book is gothic horror done right. It's rich in atmosphere, unsettling in all the best ways, and filled with creeping dread that builds rather than blasts. I read My Darling Dreadful Thing by this author last year and enjoyed it, but this book felt tighter. The pacing is sharper, the tension more finely wound, and the horror is a lot more visceral.

And I do mean visceral. This book does not shy away from body horror. It gets gross. And while that’s usually not my favorite horror flavor (body horror and cannibalism are way up there on my personal 'no thank you' list), I have to admit—it works here. It’s not just there for shock value. It serves the story and genuinely adds to the growing unease. This one isn't just gross though, it's also emotional. We feel Lucy's intense need to rescue her sister. There’s something deeply satisfying about a horror novel that isn’t afraid to be weird, messy, and a little bit sad.

Bonus points for the audiobook: I listened to an advance copy narrated by Emily Tucker and she was phenomenal. She captured the quiet tension, the emotional chaos, and the full descent into madness like a pro. If audiobooks are your thing, I’d say this one is absolutely worth the listen.

I would absolutely recommend this one to fans of gothic horror, body horror (in manageable doses), and anyone curating their Halloween TBR. It’s spooky, strange, emotionally rich, and just twisted enough to leave you slightly off-kilter. In other words: perfect for all my fellow weirdo horror lovers.

This book was haunting and atmospheric. This book was creepy but also engaging though this felt very much like a slow burn horror to me. This book explores familial relationships and mental health which are always really interesting. I love that much of this story is told in letters. The narrator did a great job distinguishing that because I was worried that it would all sort of run together.

Going into the store, originally thought that this was going to be a Gothic romance story with vampires. It definitely did not turn out to be that way it DID on the other hand. I have a Gothic setting, which I loved, but there were no vampires and it was far from romance. There’s some weird little guys running around this story, but I loved him. The Gore? Through the roof. Some of the scenes had me squirming with how detailed they were for my Gothic lovers. This is a book to keep on your radar. I do not regret reading it and I enjoyed it.

I thought I knew what I was getting into with this book.

Boy was I wrong.

What I originally thought was going to be some sort of twist on a Dracula retelling ended up being a disturbingly unique gothic horror that surprised me at every turn. The way Johanna describes the scenery, the feel of fabrics, even the smells, gave the story such vivid details, and the way she did not hold back when it came to violence and gore made this such a wild ride.

I was able to listen to the audiobook, and I felt like Emily Tucker was an excellent choice for the narrator. She brought an energy to the narration that had me hanging on every word.

Not my usual genre so it was it took me a bit.
I did feel that Lucy was all over the place and couldn’t decide what she wanted. Still not really sure about this story.. it didn’t flow for me.

Atmospheric.
19th century?
The medical “expertise” are ghastly.
Madness, absolute madness.
Wouldn’t you do anything for your twin?

Enjoyed the gothic gore. Solid ending.

Yet again, Joanna has done it. This book was beautifully written. I was instantly pulled in by the gothic atmosphere and the creepy/horror elements. I will admit that I thought this was going to be a gothic romance but was happily surprised with the turns it took. I loved every moment of this book. I would not put it down. The further I got the more I needed to know where the story was headed. This book is for you if you enjoy gothic eerie atmospheres and a touch of the supernatural.

“Sarah had been a fully realized person, almost as if in herself complete. It was that exact quality that had made her so attractive, for it was rare. Lucy hadn't possessed it. Even with her twin next to her, she had often felt like only half a person, insubstantial and unfinished. That watery quality, that blurredness, must have been especially pronounced when she had been with Sarah.”

For full transparency, I purchased a copy of this book for myself back in April. However, I love physically reading gothic horror in tandem with an audiobook. When I saw the audiobook available on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it — and it did not disappoint! I would say it made my reading experience even better than if I had read the book with no audiobook.

The production was crisp and clear, and Emily Tucker’s narration was perfectly paced and full of emotion. It matched Johanna van Veen’s hauntingly stunning prose incredibly well.

I loved the setting of this story. The bogland was lush and atmospheric, the perfect backdrop to the eerie plot. I also appreciated the journal entries, newspaper articles, and letters that were interspersed throughout the book because they helped fully immerse me in the story.

I’d recommend this one to fans of historical gothic horror and to readers who love the exploration of strong sibling relationships. And if you do pick this one up, the audiobook is definitely the route to go!

Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review!

Review posted to Goodreads 6/9/25.

i’ve said it before and i will say it again: this book was so up my alley, it’s like i’m a raccoon in its favorite trash can. this book was flawlessly written and executed. the horror and gore were so incredibly affecting and visceral, it honestly made me squirm. i loved the depths we were dragged to. it was the highest of highs. i’m only one book in but i’m sunk for johanna van veen.

if the summary strikes your fancy, hop on for the ride. it is well, well worth the price of admission.

This book totally scratched my gothic horror itch. decaying settings, unsettling characters, yes please. The whole story drips with eerie atmosphere, like you’re constantly waiting for something to jump out from the shadows (and sometimes it does). It’s got that slow-burn dread that builds and builds until everything spirals into beautiful, spooky chaos.

This book sounded so so good but overall fell a bit short for me. There were things I loved about it but mostly it just didn’t hit.

The things I loved -

This author has a knack for descriptive writing. It’s the first of her’s I’ve read so I wasn’t really expecting it. It made certain scenes feel so realistic that I almost felt sick 😂 the gorey horror elements of this book really stood out in a good way.

The main storyline is a classic gothic vampire theme but another credit to the author’s writing - the language was unique. Calling whatever is going on with Sarah a parasite & the threat of her ending up in an asylum was a cool twist instead of just saying “she’s a vampire”.

The narrator (I did the audiobook) was great. Her voice was both easy to listen to but perfectly intense. And she fit the role really well.

Things I didn’t like -

At the beginning, it was hard for me to get into because the little supporting details of the main storyline felt more distracting than anything. Obviously it’s important to have other things going on than the main storyline (in this case, Lucy trying to save Sarah). But the other things here just didn’t really feel like they belonged. It made the story confusing for me, although it did get easier to understand towards the last few hours.

The ending just kind of happened. There weren’t really any twists, just a conclusion. And based on the blurb and genres for this book, I was expecting a little more. It left me unsatisfied in the end.

Lastly special thanks to Tantor Audio & NetGalley 🖤

Great character development. It was my first book of this author and it was very intriguing since page 1. Unique vampire story and definitely looking forward for more. The narrator did a great job on this one.

This review is difficult to write. I have been enjoying Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen. I lie the time period, the plot, characters, and the many aspects that make this story up. While I have enjoyed it for the most part, there have been a few thoughts from Lucy that have soured me. I also feel this book would be easier to read in print as I feel there are many small aspects that will really help the reader progress and put the mystery together. However, the narration by Emily Tucker is so well done and she is so easy to listen to. So it's hard because she is smooth on the ears but reading would probably help most readers remember more information. When I am able to get this book in print, I think I will give it another go from the start. I received an advanced audiobook from Tantor Audio through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars!

I received this audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley. I wasn't sure if this was going to work out for me because of the time period but I was pleasantly surprised. The end took a dark turn but I found it satisfying. I think fans of Buffalo Hunter Hunter might like this for the body horror and vampiric elements and fans of Slewfoot might like this for the feminine rage. This story also asks the questions, "What would you do to protect your sister?" and "What would you do if you found out she wasn't exactly your sister anymore?"

The narrator did a great job! I love this book! I will keep coming back for what this author writes. The narrator added to the atmosphere of the writing.

3.75/5

This was balls to the walls insane!!! Gory as all get out, gothic horror set in the 1800’s, vampire vibes… What more could you want!!!

I will say I wish the story moved along a little quicker and no drug out. It got a bit repetitive but I could see how it could be argued that it added to the spook factor.

Also these sisters? MESSY AS HELL!!!!! I ate it tf up

The audiobook was narrated by Emily Tucker and she was actual perfection. Her voice gave me straight goosebumps at multiple points.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for access to this audio arc in exchange for my honest review!

😷 A Mysterious Illness
⚰️ A Body Found
👻 Creepy Vibes
👭🏻 Twin Sisters
💔 Betrayal
😵‍💫 Chaos (lol)

Wow this book was something else! Absolutely creepy & interesting!

*I received a review copy for free in the form of an audiobook from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

I actually own the physical ARC so I was excited to have the audio to pair with it! The narrator did a fantastic job & was a perfect fit!

I really don't want to give much away so go read this one for yourself! 😍

Huge thank you to the author, MacMillanAudio, & NetGalley for letting me read & review this book. 💜

I liked the premise of Blood on Her Tongue, but the execution fell a little flat.

The book is divided into three parts. The first was full of tension, and I thought I was in for something great. Unfortunately, the story lost its momentum in the second part and started to drag. Things picked up again in the final section, and I flew through the ending.

The characters felt shallow and tropey, and by the time I finished, the whole thing came off a bit silly.

That said, I still had fun with it. It kept me guessing for most of the story, and the atmosphere stayed unsettling from start to finish. If you decide to read this one, I recommend the audiobook. The narrator brings a lot of life to the story, and honestly, I’m not sure I would have finished it without her.

𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓞𝓷 𝓗𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓾𝓮 🩸
By Johanna Van Veen
★★★

💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

I’m going to kindly say this audiobook wasn’t for me. It had a creepy setting, and plenty of gore. The gothic vibes were definitely there and I loved that aspect. However, I didn’t connect with the characters at all and sometimes I couldn’t tell if it was meant to be humorous or not. For me, Lucy was insufferable. I kept hoping she’d get better and she didn’t.

I will say I was really invested with everything that was going on; but mostly because I’m curious.


I still think other people should give it a try. Just because it wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be for you.

🎧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The narrator did a great job; especially with the accent. It gave it a nice touch. Unfortunately, the story itself didn’t do it for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the Early copy of this audiobook

Blood on her tongue by Johanna Van Veen. Seriously I don’t know what to say about this book. The story is unique, the experience, one of its kind. If you like mystery, thriller and a touch of horror this book is for you.
The story follows two twin sisters that will be always there for each other and in a very unique and unexpected world.
When I applied for this ALC, I thought I knew what I get myself into, a gothic romance maybe?This book is noting like that, rather it’s gothic, eerie and dark, mystery, full secrets that will pull you in. As this is set up in the 1800 ish era you can see that the mentality and the customs are according to that, even the idea of a men blood being “stronger” as that was the belief and not the reality.

This book was a ride, and the audiobook and the narrator Emily Tucker has done an amazing job brining this book to life.