Blood on Her Tongue marks Johanna van Veen’s second foray into Gothic horror following her debut novel My Darling Dreadful Thing. In this atmospheric tale set in the Netherlands in 1887, van Veen crafts a deliciously unsettling narrative about twin sisters, a parasitic bog body, and the lengths one will go to protect those they love—even when what they love might no longer be entirely human.
The novel immerses readers in the damp, isolated estate of Zwartwater (literally “Black Water”), where Lucy Goedhart arrives to care for her ailing twin sister, Sarah. What begins as a story of sisterly devotion quickly descends into something far more sinister as Lucy discovers the true nature of her sister’s condition, forcing her to make increasingly desperate decisions to save the only person who truly matters to her.
The Bonds That Bind Us: Sisterhood as Salvation and Curse
At its core, Blood on Her Tongue is a meditation on the complex bonds between sisters. The twin relationship between Lucy and Sarah lies at the heart of the novel, portrayed with nuance and emotional depth. Lucy has always seen herself as incomplete without Sarah—the submissive shadow to her twin’s dominant light. When describing herself, Lucy notes:
“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.”
This insecurity drives Lucy’s unwavering devotion, even as she discovers that what now resides inside her sister’s body may no longer be Sarah at all, but something ancient and hungry that has consumed her from within. The novel asks: if your sister became something monstrous, would you still love her? Would you kill to protect her? Through Lucy, van Veen answers with a resounding, chilling affirmative.
Gothic Atmosphere and Body Horror
Van Veen excels at creating a suffocating atmosphere of dread. The estate of Zwartwater, built on drained bog land that continues to seep and shift beneath it, serves as the perfect gothic setting—a physical manifestation of the psychological instability experienced by the characters. The fog-shrouded moors, rain-slicked paths, and dark waters that give the estate its name all contribute to a pervasive sense of isolation and decay.
The author’s skills truly shine in her visceral descriptions of body horror. The novel contains several scenes of eye trauma that will have readers squirming, including the moment Sarah drives a pen through her own eye in an attempt to destroy whatever is taking root in her brain:
“The pen went in at an angle of almost ninety degrees to the eye. Had she tried it with her thumb, she might have rooted around and gone down past the occipital bone, which can cause convulsions or even death.”
Such clinical descriptions of violence give the novel’s most disturbing moments a detached quality that makes them all the more horrifying. Van Veen also excels at describing the gradual decay of Not-Sarah’s body, from her peeling skin to her unnatural angles, creating a deeply unsettling portrait of something trying and failing to pass as human.
Historical Context and Social Commentary
Set in the late 19th century, the novel skillfully incorporates period-appropriate details while exploring themes that remain relevant today. Van Veen examines the treatment of women in Victorian society, particularly those who deviate from accepted norms. The fear of the asylum looms large throughout the narrative, with multiple female characters (Sarah, Lucy, and their Aunt Adelheid) threatened with institutionalization for behavior deemed “unnatural.”
The novel also touches on class differences through characters like Mrs. van Dijk (Lucy’s employer) and Magda (Sarah’s maid), depicting the rigid hierarchy of the era and the limited options available to women outside of marriage. Queer relationships are portrayed with sensitivity, particularly the romance between Sarah/Not-Sarah and Katje, while acknowledging the period-specific challenges such relationships faced.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works Brilliantly:
- The novel’s pacing – Van Veen masterfully builds tension, gradually revealing the true nature of Sarah’s condition while escalating the stakes until the blood-soaked climax.
- Twin dynamics – The psychological exploration of Lucy and Sarah’s relationship feels authentic and well-researched, touching on issues of identity, codependency, and the subtle power imbalances that can exist between siblings.
- Atmospheric writing – Descriptions of the estate, the bog, and the eerie bog body create a palpable sense of dread that permeates the story.
- Body horror – The physical deterioration of Not-Sarah and the graphic violence in the final act are vividly rendered without becoming gratuitous.
- Moral ambiguity – The novel never offers easy answers about whether Lucy’s actions are justified or whether Not-Sarah should be considered a monster or simply another form of her sister.
Where It Falters:
- Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, particularly Michael, whose cruelty sometimes verges on caricature rather than complexity.
- The final act’s shift into open murder might feel abrupt to some readers, though it’s well-foreshadowed throughout the text.
- The resolution leaves many questions unanswered, though this ambiguity is likely intentional and fits the Gothic tradition.
- The scientific explanation behind the parasite remains somewhat vague, which may frustrate readers looking for more concrete worldbuilding.
A Fresh Take on Vampire Lore
Blood on Her Tongue offers a fascinating reimagining of vampire mythology. Rather than the traditional blood-drinking undead, van Veen’s parasite consumes its host from within, absorbing memories and personality along with physical matter. This parasitic entity, which Lucy refers to as “Not-Sarah,” blurs the line between possession and transformation—is it a separate entity or has it become a new version of Sarah by incorporating her memories and feelings?
This approach to vampirism feels both innovative and deeply unsettling, particularly in how it forces Lucy (and readers) to question whether loving something that only partially resembles a beloved person is better than losing them entirely. When Lucy finally accepts Not-Sarah, declaring “You are my sister now,” it’s both a moment of profound love and disturbing resignation.
For Fans of Gothic Horror
Readers who enjoyed Blood on Her Tongue might also appreciate works like Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions, or John Ajvide Lindqvist’s Let the Right One In—all novels that blend historical settings with psychological horror and complex relationships. Van Veen’s debut novel My Darling Dreadful Thing would naturally appeal to fans of this sophomore effort, as it shares many thematic elements and the same atmospheric Gothic style.
Final Verdict: A Mesmerizing Gothic Horror That Gets Under Your Skin
Blood on Her Tongue is a remarkable achievement that balances visceral horror with emotional depth. The novel’s strengths lie in its atmospheric setting, complex characterization of the twins, and its willingness to explore uncomfortable questions about identity and the lengths we’ll go to for those we love.
While some aspects of the story strain credulity and certain characters could benefit from further development, the core relationship between Lucy and Not-Sarah remains compelling throughout. Van Veen has crafted a chilling tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page, like the fingers of bog water seeping through the foundations of Zwartwater.
For readers with a strong stomach and a taste for Gothic horror that examines the darker aspects of human relationships, Blood on Her Tongue offers a uniquely disturbing experience that manages to be both intellectually stimulating and emotionally affecting.
Blood on Her Tongue establishes Johanna van Veen as a significant voice in contemporary Gothic horror, one who understands that the most frightening monsters are those that wear the faces of the people we love most dearly. Like the bog that preserves and transforms its victims, this novel will hold readers in its grip long after they’ve turned the final blood-soaked page.
The Verdict at a Glance
Strengths:
- Mesmerizing Gothic atmosphere and setting
- Complex, psychologically rich twin relationship
- Innovative take on vampire/parasite mythology
- Visceral, effective body horror
- Morally ambiguous protagonist
- Exploration of women’s roles and limitations in Victorian society
Weaknesses:
- Some secondary characters lack depth
- The scientific basis for the parasite remains somewhat vague
- Final act might feel rushed to some readers
- Some unresolved plot elements
- Not for the squeamish (eye trauma, graphic violence)
- Recommended for: Fans of Gothic horror, body horror, historical fiction with supernatural elements, and complex female protagonists. If you enjoy Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson, or Laura Purcell, this novel should appeal to your tastes.
- Not recommended for: Readers sensitive to graphic violence, body horror (especially involving eyes), or those who prefer their horror with clear moral boundaries and happy endings.
