Hunger has a way of making one go mad.

PLOT SUMMARY:

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 harboring secrets of her own, too.

Then, the worst happens. Sarah’s behavior 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.

GRADE: A+

REVIEW:

I really enjoyed Johanna Van Veen’s debut, My Darling Dreadful Thing, but Blood on Her Tongue? It completely blew me away. This is Gothic fiction at its finest—dark, moody, mysterious, and brimming with atmosphere.

The relationship between Lucy and Sarah was beautifully written, layered with tension, tenderness, and deep emotional stakes. And the mystery at the heart of the story? Absolutely gripping. (Two words: bog bodies!) While the book nods to Dracula—complete with direct quotes—it never feels like a retread. Van Veen has crafted something wholly original, both in plot and in the vivid characters she brings to life.

Compared to her debut, which occasionally lost momentum, this novel is a masterclass in pacing and storytelling. Every chapter pulled me deeper into its eerie, immersive world.

I listened to the audiobook, and it was phenomenal. The narrator brought the characters and the atmosphere to life so vividly, I felt like I was living inside the story. Highly recommend the audio version if you want an extra layer of immersion.

I won’t spoil the plot—this is one of those stories that’s best experienced blind—but be warned: it gets gory. There are scenes that will make you squirm, and yet, you’ll find yourself fiercely rooting for Lucy and Sarah through it all.

If you love Gothic novels filled with mystery, romance, and a healthy dose of the macabre, don’t walk—RUN to pick this one up. And if you can, grab the audiobook. It’s an experience.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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