Blood on Her Tongue
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Description
***
"I'm in your blood, and you are in mine..."
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 harbouring secrets of her own, too.
Then, the worst happens. Sarah's behaviour 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.
A haunting gothic tale for fans of all things supernatural, Blood on Her Tongue is refreshingly biting and unashamedly chilling, taking its place as a horror story for the ages.
Tropes
Gothic Horror
Sapphic Love
LGBTQ+
Supernatural Books
Book Information
Characteristics
5 reviews
Mood
Protagonist(s)
Pace
Writing Style
Posts
Sisters, Loyalty, and Gothic Horror
I really enjoyed this book. At first, Lucy, the “good” sister, got on my nerves - but not in a bad way. She changes a lot over the story and grows as a character. Funny enough, I actually liked the “bad” sister more. The relationship between the two sisters feels real and complex. There are a few gory moments, but the main focus is on the real struggles women faced back then - being called too emotional or hysterical, and always fearing that a husband or family member could have them sent to an asylum. The ending felt very satisfying. I would recommend this book if you like stories like this.
Die Niederlande, 1887. Lucy erhält einen Brief, in dem sie erfährt, dass ihre Zwillingsschwester Sarah schwer erkrankt ist. Sie verweigert jegliche Nahrung, spricht wirres Zeug und zeigt großes Interesse an der Leiche, die kurz zuvor auf dem Anwesen ihres Ehemannes gefunden wurde. Um ihre Schwester vor der Einweisung in eine Irrenanstalt zu bewahren, reist Lucy zu ihr, um herauszufinden, was wirklich mit Sarah geschieht. Dann nehmen die Dinge ihren Lauf: Sarah wird immer unberechenbarer und hungriger und Lucy muss sich die Frage stellen, ob Sarah vielleicht doch wahnsinnig geworden ist. Oder hat etwas von ihr Besitz ergriffen? 🩸 Dieses Mal halte ich mich kurz - und wenn ich ehrlich bin, fällt mir dazu auch nur ein Wort ein: Fiebertraum.
Ein verstörendes Horror Gothic Buch mit einer tollen Story rund um die beiden Zwillinge Sarah und Lucy. Ich bin förmlich durch das Buch durchgeflogen, da die Spannung fast durchgängig gehalten wurde. Dieses Buch ist nichts für schwache Nerven und mit einer der brutalsten Storys die ich bisher gelesen habe. Dennoch war es ein tolles Leseerlebnis in dem näher beleuchtet wurde, was man bereit ist für seine Liebsten zu tun.
A girl’s gotta eat 🩸
This book is bloody, disturbing and disgusting and I loved every single thing about it! When Lucy receives a letter from her brother-in-law asking her to come as soon as possible, she doesn't hesitate for a second. Something is wrong with Sarah, her twin sister. How far would you go to save your sister's life, even if she's no longer the person she used to be? The plot twists were amazing, and the whole story was so gripping and exciting that I couldn't put it down. Johanna van Veen managed to completely captivate me with her writing style and storytelling, and I loved everything about it!
The idea was GREAT...but well....
The first idea was really good. I liked how the author described everything in a very detailed morbid way, creating a spooky, disturbing atmosphere. I also really liked the protagonist and how women were portrayed in this novel. BUT... After reading the book i was left slightly unsatisfied for 2 main reasons: reason no.1: Why? How? The main plot doesn't even get explained really. It just gets touched upon, but no real depth. reason no.2: I was slightly disappointed by the end. It was a little flat. SPOILER: Like wdym they just leave? So here comes my alternative ending: Sarah is nearly dead because she was already sent to the asylum, so Lucy beggs Arthur and Micheal to visit Sarah a last time. They agree and Sarah convinces Lucy that there is no other chance for her to survive than to let the parasite take over Lucys body, that they become one Person. They do it, Sarahs Body dies and both live in Lucys body now. THIS HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
Many secrets and a lot of blood
I don't remember where I read it but inspite of some Dracula quotations in it this book has nothing to do with anything I would call a vampire book. It's a morbid, gruesome, bloody gothic book - and it's amazing. If you're in need of discerned descriptions of blood, guts and a dead body's "modifications" by accident - this is your book. With great love for details van Veen creates a tense atmosphere of feelings where the true nature and worth of every character and every relationship has yet to be proven. Rage carves out its way!
Weird, disturbing and unpredictable. The perfect gothic horror read.
I support women’s rights… and I guess women’s wrongs as well. This was an experience! The writing was so good, the plot, the characters, just chefs kiss. The story felt really original and I couldn’t stop reading. There’re some more gory scenes, so just be warned.
Düster, spannend und verstörend 🦇
Die Niederlande, 1887. Nachdem Sarah auf eine Moorleiche gestoßen ist, hat sie vermeintlich der Wahnsinn eingeholt. Um ihre Zwillingsschwester vor einem Schicksal in einer Irrenanstalt zu bewahren, macht sich Lucy schnellstmöglich auf den Weg zu ihr. Dort angekommen findet sie Sarah in einem fürchterlichen Zustand vor. Obwohl von Hunger geplagt, weigert sie sich zu essen, redet wirres Zeug und ist unfassbar wütend. Die Ereignisse überschlagen sich und Lucy muss sich der Frage stellen, ob wirklich der Wahnsinn oder nicht doch etwas Anderes Besitz von ihrer Schwester ergriffen hat. Die Geschichte startet super atmosphärisch und gruselig. Wir finden uns in einem alten Herrenhaus inmitten eines düsteren Moores wieder. Hier erwartet uns nicht nur übernatürliches Grauen, sondern auch der Horror eine Frau, schlimmer noch eine queere und/oder vermeintlich psychisch kranke Frau, zu dieser Zeit zu sein. Die Geschichte ist sehr bildgewaltig, definitiv nichts für sensible Mägen. Über ein paar Passagen bin ich auch nur schnell geflogen. Die Auflösung fand ich sehr interessant und gut umgesetzt, aber das Ende konnte mich dennoch nicht so richtig überzeugen. Die Charaktere wurden mir leider zunehmend unsympathischer und ich konnte die Protagonistin nur schwer nachvollziehen. Die moralische Fragestellung, die sich aus dem Ganzen ergibt ist aber auch unglaublich schwer zu beantworten. Alles in Allem ist es wirklich gelungener Gothic Horror, der einen zum Nachdenken anregt. Ich freue mich schon auf das nächste Buch der Autorin!
Düster, spannend aber konnte die Spannung leider nicht halten
Puh, äh - wo fang ich an? Zunächst hat mich das Buch total gefesselt. Es hat total mysteriös angefangen, war spannend und die Atmosphäre war total düster. Der Gore-Teil war schon eklig aber hat mMn auch zur Atmosphäre gepasst. Die Charaktere waren.. Besonders. Die hatten alle einen an der Waffel aber das fand ich eigentlich nice xD Die Männer in dem Buch waren, wie von 1887 zu erwarten, sehr Frauenfeindlich und anstrengend. Das hat mich leider sehr genervt. Leider hat das Buch für mich irgendwann eine Wendung genommen, die ich nicht so gut fand. Aber ich hab es mir fast schon gedacht, dass es so endet. Am Ende frage ich mich - wer war hier eigentlich besessen? Die kranke Schwester oder nicht doch unsere Protagonistin?
When I first started reading the book I was a little suspicious because I’ve never read a gothic book before. That confusion vanished after reading the first 50 pages. The story is extraordinarily interesting and unlike anything I’ve ever read or seen on tv before. The Book was an incredibly intriguing yet dark read. The story is set in a gloomy atmosphere, revolving around a woman found in a bog and her sister who becomes possessed. The plot takes some dark turns, including scenes where the possessed sister, Sarah, commits horrifying acts. In the end, Lucy, the sister not possessed, ends up killing a man and a doctor out of fear that her sister would be taken to a psychiatric facility for experiments. The story is set in 1887 in the Netherlands, adding a historical context that makes it even more fascinating. It was a unique experience, unlike anything I’ve read before, and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book but you have to be aware of the triggers. I don’t think anyone under the age of 16 should read it because it even gave me chills (and I’m 25 haha).
🌟🌟🌟 🌶️🌶️ Das Cover und auch der Klappentext haben mich sofort angelacht, als ich das Buch das erste Mal in der Hand hatte. Innerhalb der ersten 60 Seiten konnte es mich allerdings noch nicht so ganz überzeugen und ich hab erst einige Zeit später weiter gelesen. Insgesamt ist das Buch voll mit ziemlich viel Gore, die einem den Magen umdreht und einen schaudern lässt. Davon abgesehen sind die männlichen Charaktere definitiv Geschöpfe ihrer Zeit (Buch spielt um 1880) und haben mich regelmäßig zum Augen verdrehen gebracht. Gefühlt haben alle Charaktere dieses Buches nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank und ich habe mich mindestens die Hälfte des Buches gefragt, ob es auch nur einen normalen Menschen in diesem Buch gibt. Trotz den Längen und den ruhigen Passagen, in denen so gut wie nichts passiert ist, war das Buch auf gewisse Weise spannend und fesselnd. Nicht so wirklich eine Empfehlung von meiner Seite, aber auch kein wirklich schlechtes Buch.
Düster, spannend und schockierend!
Diese Gothic-Horror-Story war wirklich eine Überraschung. Ich mochte von Anfang an die Atmosphäre und war schnell von der Storyline in den Bann gezogen. Das Buch regt zum Nachdenken an und berührt viele interessante, aber auch aufwühlende Themen. Unbedingt lesen!
ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ࿐ྂ “If this is what death tastes like and death is as it tastes, then it is a dull thing indeed.” This was one of the reads i was most looking forward to in 2025 and it was disappointing. At first i really enjoyed it, i was hooked until i was halfway through the book, then it went downhill. It was just plain & boring, everything that made this Book interesting was suddenly gone and i don't understand why? A few things happened that made no sense to me at all and i still wonder why they happened in the first place. The writing style was pleasant to read and at least made it easy to finish the book, which is often not the case with horror books. - still a huge thank you to Netgalley & Johanna van Veen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I want I to thank Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this eARC. Here my honest opinion. Set in the Netherlands in 1887, Blood on Her Tongue is a haunting gothic novel, infused with feminine rage and a good dose of body horror. Sarah is ill, and her twin sister Lucy is taking care of her. The mysterious disease began after the discovery of a bog body. Sarah was intrigued by the body and the mystery that surrounded it. Progressively, her interest turned into obsession, and her physical condition got worse and worse. However, most of all, it is her mental health that is of concern, as well as her an insatiable hunger. Unspeakeble desires, guilty attraction, betrayal and a little bit of sapphic romance and erotic suspense for a horror story that is gothic to its core, and I really appreciated this aspect. However, there are things that I didn’t like, first of all the “all men are bad” attitude: it’s too easy and too semplicist, and leaves me unsatisfied. At the same time, it was hard for me to like someone like Lucy: her relationship with Sarah has something morbid, which goes far beyond being twins. Sometimes, it's even dumb in how over the top it is. Her desire for Michael is probably her only good point. Moreover, the author explained too much too soon, breaking the tension. As a result, the last part of the novel is quite dull. The final was disappointing. It's easy to understand that the idea of an erupt of feminine rage was cathartic for the author, but the result is incredibly silly. It just makes no sense. In conclusion: some good ideas, and some successful scenes, but the desire to transform the story into a pseudo-feminist parable heavily affected the final result.
Characteristics
5 reviews
Mood
Protagonist(s)
Pace
Writing Style
Description
***
"I'm in your blood, and you are in mine..."
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 harbouring secrets of her own, too.
Then, the worst happens. Sarah's behaviour 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.
A haunting gothic tale for fans of all things supernatural, Blood on Her Tongue is refreshingly biting and unashamedly chilling, taking its place as a horror story for the ages.
Tropes
Gothic Horror
Sapphic Love
LGBTQ+
Supernatural Books
Book Information
Posts
Sisters, Loyalty, and Gothic Horror
I really enjoyed this book. At first, Lucy, the “good” sister, got on my nerves - but not in a bad way. She changes a lot over the story and grows as a character. Funny enough, I actually liked the “bad” sister more. The relationship between the two sisters feels real and complex. There are a few gory moments, but the main focus is on the real struggles women faced back then - being called too emotional or hysterical, and always fearing that a husband or family member could have them sent to an asylum. The ending felt very satisfying. I would recommend this book if you like stories like this.
Die Niederlande, 1887. Lucy erhält einen Brief, in dem sie erfährt, dass ihre Zwillingsschwester Sarah schwer erkrankt ist. Sie verweigert jegliche Nahrung, spricht wirres Zeug und zeigt großes Interesse an der Leiche, die kurz zuvor auf dem Anwesen ihres Ehemannes gefunden wurde. Um ihre Schwester vor der Einweisung in eine Irrenanstalt zu bewahren, reist Lucy zu ihr, um herauszufinden, was wirklich mit Sarah geschieht. Dann nehmen die Dinge ihren Lauf: Sarah wird immer unberechenbarer und hungriger und Lucy muss sich die Frage stellen, ob Sarah vielleicht doch wahnsinnig geworden ist. Oder hat etwas von ihr Besitz ergriffen? 🩸 Dieses Mal halte ich mich kurz - und wenn ich ehrlich bin, fällt mir dazu auch nur ein Wort ein: Fiebertraum.
Ein verstörendes Horror Gothic Buch mit einer tollen Story rund um die beiden Zwillinge Sarah und Lucy. Ich bin förmlich durch das Buch durchgeflogen, da die Spannung fast durchgängig gehalten wurde. Dieses Buch ist nichts für schwache Nerven und mit einer der brutalsten Storys die ich bisher gelesen habe. Dennoch war es ein tolles Leseerlebnis in dem näher beleuchtet wurde, was man bereit ist für seine Liebsten zu tun.
A girl’s gotta eat 🩸
This book is bloody, disturbing and disgusting and I loved every single thing about it! When Lucy receives a letter from her brother-in-law asking her to come as soon as possible, she doesn't hesitate for a second. Something is wrong with Sarah, her twin sister. How far would you go to save your sister's life, even if she's no longer the person she used to be? The plot twists were amazing, and the whole story was so gripping and exciting that I couldn't put it down. Johanna van Veen managed to completely captivate me with her writing style and storytelling, and I loved everything about it!
The idea was GREAT...but well....
The first idea was really good. I liked how the author described everything in a very detailed morbid way, creating a spooky, disturbing atmosphere. I also really liked the protagonist and how women were portrayed in this novel. BUT... After reading the book i was left slightly unsatisfied for 2 main reasons: reason no.1: Why? How? The main plot doesn't even get explained really. It just gets touched upon, but no real depth. reason no.2: I was slightly disappointed by the end. It was a little flat. SPOILER: Like wdym they just leave? So here comes my alternative ending: Sarah is nearly dead because she was already sent to the asylum, so Lucy beggs Arthur and Micheal to visit Sarah a last time. They agree and Sarah convinces Lucy that there is no other chance for her to survive than to let the parasite take over Lucys body, that they become one Person. They do it, Sarahs Body dies and both live in Lucys body now. THIS HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
Many secrets and a lot of blood
I don't remember where I read it but inspite of some Dracula quotations in it this book has nothing to do with anything I would call a vampire book. It's a morbid, gruesome, bloody gothic book - and it's amazing. If you're in need of discerned descriptions of blood, guts and a dead body's "modifications" by accident - this is your book. With great love for details van Veen creates a tense atmosphere of feelings where the true nature and worth of every character and every relationship has yet to be proven. Rage carves out its way!
Weird, disturbing and unpredictable. The perfect gothic horror read.
I support women’s rights… and I guess women’s wrongs as well. This was an experience! The writing was so good, the plot, the characters, just chefs kiss. The story felt really original and I couldn’t stop reading. There’re some more gory scenes, so just be warned.
Düster, spannend und verstörend 🦇
Die Niederlande, 1887. Nachdem Sarah auf eine Moorleiche gestoßen ist, hat sie vermeintlich der Wahnsinn eingeholt. Um ihre Zwillingsschwester vor einem Schicksal in einer Irrenanstalt zu bewahren, macht sich Lucy schnellstmöglich auf den Weg zu ihr. Dort angekommen findet sie Sarah in einem fürchterlichen Zustand vor. Obwohl von Hunger geplagt, weigert sie sich zu essen, redet wirres Zeug und ist unfassbar wütend. Die Ereignisse überschlagen sich und Lucy muss sich der Frage stellen, ob wirklich der Wahnsinn oder nicht doch etwas Anderes Besitz von ihrer Schwester ergriffen hat. Die Geschichte startet super atmosphärisch und gruselig. Wir finden uns in einem alten Herrenhaus inmitten eines düsteren Moores wieder. Hier erwartet uns nicht nur übernatürliches Grauen, sondern auch der Horror eine Frau, schlimmer noch eine queere und/oder vermeintlich psychisch kranke Frau, zu dieser Zeit zu sein. Die Geschichte ist sehr bildgewaltig, definitiv nichts für sensible Mägen. Über ein paar Passagen bin ich auch nur schnell geflogen. Die Auflösung fand ich sehr interessant und gut umgesetzt, aber das Ende konnte mich dennoch nicht so richtig überzeugen. Die Charaktere wurden mir leider zunehmend unsympathischer und ich konnte die Protagonistin nur schwer nachvollziehen. Die moralische Fragestellung, die sich aus dem Ganzen ergibt ist aber auch unglaublich schwer zu beantworten. Alles in Allem ist es wirklich gelungener Gothic Horror, der einen zum Nachdenken anregt. Ich freue mich schon auf das nächste Buch der Autorin!
Düster, spannend aber konnte die Spannung leider nicht halten
Puh, äh - wo fang ich an? Zunächst hat mich das Buch total gefesselt. Es hat total mysteriös angefangen, war spannend und die Atmosphäre war total düster. Der Gore-Teil war schon eklig aber hat mMn auch zur Atmosphäre gepasst. Die Charaktere waren.. Besonders. Die hatten alle einen an der Waffel aber das fand ich eigentlich nice xD Die Männer in dem Buch waren, wie von 1887 zu erwarten, sehr Frauenfeindlich und anstrengend. Das hat mich leider sehr genervt. Leider hat das Buch für mich irgendwann eine Wendung genommen, die ich nicht so gut fand. Aber ich hab es mir fast schon gedacht, dass es so endet. Am Ende frage ich mich - wer war hier eigentlich besessen? Die kranke Schwester oder nicht doch unsere Protagonistin?
When I first started reading the book I was a little suspicious because I’ve never read a gothic book before. That confusion vanished after reading the first 50 pages. The story is extraordinarily interesting and unlike anything I’ve ever read or seen on tv before. The Book was an incredibly intriguing yet dark read. The story is set in a gloomy atmosphere, revolving around a woman found in a bog and her sister who becomes possessed. The plot takes some dark turns, including scenes where the possessed sister, Sarah, commits horrifying acts. In the end, Lucy, the sister not possessed, ends up killing a man and a doctor out of fear that her sister would be taken to a psychiatric facility for experiments. The story is set in 1887 in the Netherlands, adding a historical context that makes it even more fascinating. It was a unique experience, unlike anything I’ve read before, and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book but you have to be aware of the triggers. I don’t think anyone under the age of 16 should read it because it even gave me chills (and I’m 25 haha).
🌟🌟🌟 🌶️🌶️ Das Cover und auch der Klappentext haben mich sofort angelacht, als ich das Buch das erste Mal in der Hand hatte. Innerhalb der ersten 60 Seiten konnte es mich allerdings noch nicht so ganz überzeugen und ich hab erst einige Zeit später weiter gelesen. Insgesamt ist das Buch voll mit ziemlich viel Gore, die einem den Magen umdreht und einen schaudern lässt. Davon abgesehen sind die männlichen Charaktere definitiv Geschöpfe ihrer Zeit (Buch spielt um 1880) und haben mich regelmäßig zum Augen verdrehen gebracht. Gefühlt haben alle Charaktere dieses Buches nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank und ich habe mich mindestens die Hälfte des Buches gefragt, ob es auch nur einen normalen Menschen in diesem Buch gibt. Trotz den Längen und den ruhigen Passagen, in denen so gut wie nichts passiert ist, war das Buch auf gewisse Weise spannend und fesselnd. Nicht so wirklich eine Empfehlung von meiner Seite, aber auch kein wirklich schlechtes Buch.
Düster, spannend und schockierend!
Diese Gothic-Horror-Story war wirklich eine Überraschung. Ich mochte von Anfang an die Atmosphäre und war schnell von der Storyline in den Bann gezogen. Das Buch regt zum Nachdenken an und berührt viele interessante, aber auch aufwühlende Themen. Unbedingt lesen!
ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ࿐ྂ “If this is what death tastes like and death is as it tastes, then it is a dull thing indeed.” This was one of the reads i was most looking forward to in 2025 and it was disappointing. At first i really enjoyed it, i was hooked until i was halfway through the book, then it went downhill. It was just plain & boring, everything that made this Book interesting was suddenly gone and i don't understand why? A few things happened that made no sense to me at all and i still wonder why they happened in the first place. The writing style was pleasant to read and at least made it easy to finish the book, which is often not the case with horror books. - still a huge thank you to Netgalley & Johanna van Veen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I want I to thank Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this eARC. Here my honest opinion. Set in the Netherlands in 1887, Blood on Her Tongue is a haunting gothic novel, infused with feminine rage and a good dose of body horror. Sarah is ill, and her twin sister Lucy is taking care of her. The mysterious disease began after the discovery of a bog body. Sarah was intrigued by the body and the mystery that surrounded it. Progressively, her interest turned into obsession, and her physical condition got worse and worse. However, most of all, it is her mental health that is of concern, as well as her an insatiable hunger. Unspeakeble desires, guilty attraction, betrayal and a little bit of sapphic romance and erotic suspense for a horror story that is gothic to its core, and I really appreciated this aspect. However, there are things that I didn’t like, first of all the “all men are bad” attitude: it’s too easy and too semplicist, and leaves me unsatisfied. At the same time, it was hard for me to like someone like Lucy: her relationship with Sarah has something morbid, which goes far beyond being twins. Sometimes, it's even dumb in how over the top it is. Her desire for Michael is probably her only good point. Moreover, the author explained too much too soon, breaking the tension. As a result, the last part of the novel is quite dull. The final was disappointing. It's easy to understand that the idea of an erupt of feminine rage was cathartic for the author, but the result is incredibly silly. It just makes no sense. In conclusion: some good ideas, and some successful scenes, but the desire to transform the story into a pseudo-feminist parable heavily affected the final result.