Blood on Her Tongue (Deluxe Edition): A Novel

The dog lives.

3.5 rounded up

There are books that make me regret leaving academia, and this is one of them. Honestly, I’d happily sacrifice a misogynistic ass just to write a research paper—or, hell, a textbook—on this novel, unpacking every deliciously twisted theme and symbol.

If Carmilla, Dracula, a slasher movie, and anything from Mike Flanagan (specifically his take on Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher) had a chaotic, Gothic orgy, and the most unhinged participant got pregnant… congratulations, this novel is the resulting progeny. It’s uncanny, unnerving, and utterly unputdownable.

I adored the sapphic undercurrent and the exploration of dominant/submissive archetypes between the twin sisters. The Gothic doppelgänger motif weaves through beautifully, and blood flows both literally and metaphorically at every turn. Every pen stroke, every crimson drop, every whispered secret feels meaningful and menacing.

The symbolism is rich and gleefully gory: the pen as a tool of knowledge, a gift, and an instrument of murder. It’s intellectually satisfying while also delivering the kind of guilty-pleasure thrills that make your pulse quicken. Deplorable? Absolutely. Entertaining? In spades.

Perfect for Spooktober, this novel balances horror, intrigue, and darkly playful Gothic energy. It isn’t flawless—sometimes the sheer density of motifs can be a bit overwhelming—but I’d happily revisit its shadowy world again.

4 stars

What a fun and wild ride! If you like your horror atmospheric and a little chaotic with a strong Gothic feel and a supernatural twist, this one is for you.

With such rich detail that leaves nothing to the imagination, this is truly a gory delight for those who revel in the unhinged with an original flare.

Thank you Edelweiss and Poisoned Pen Press of Sourcebooks for this digital Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Johanna Van Veen does it again!! An absolutely blood-thirsty gothic tale! 🙌 I loved the Lucy and Sarah (and Not-Sarah) characters!! Definitely a lot of bloodshed in this one (and some very much deserved)! 🩸 Highly recommend to horror lovers, especially fans of gothic and sapphic horror! 👏 Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Johanna Van Veen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! Looking forward to reading more from you as always!! ❤️

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Lucy's twin Sarah has fallen gravely ill and no medical treatment seems to work. Sarah is feverish, incoherent, rejects food, and has grown obsessed with a bog body that was found on the property. Lucy fears that whatever afflicts her sister might not be only physical but mental, with insanity running in their family, and the prospect of sending Sarah to an asylum scares her beyond measure. As Sarah grows weaker, and stranger with dark bloody cravings, Lucy's suspicions turn to the supernatural as she tries her best to help her twin before it's too late. Absolutely adored this. A different fun take on vampirism that had twists I never saw coming. The ambiance of this book was well managed, it had all the makings of a gothic horror. Specially liked the use of newspaper articles and letters, it made everything seem more real and like a world existed outside of the family state. Lucy and Sarah's toxic sibling relationship was the heart of this story and the author did an excellent job of portraying all the nuances that made their bond so strong and twisted. I hadn't read anything else by this author, but you bet I'm picking up the rest of her works now.