Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen

33 reviews

dark informative tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is a beautiful, disgusting, eerie, creepy and incredibly unique gothic tale that sucks you right in. Truly have never read a vampiric tale quite like this one and I'm grateful I went into it knowing nothing and having zero expectations. 
Read it. Add it to your spooky season tbr lists 

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dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A lot of times there will be boiler plates on the back of horror books promising gore, gruesomeness, and gross body horror. Those promises have started falling flat for me. Blood On Her Tongue has been a pleasant exception. The author really delivers on truly icky body horror and gross moments. She even includes a really well-done Checkov’s gun style mention that elegantly ties in to a nasty moment later in the book. 

I really felt like this was a greatest hits tour of Victorian Gothic lit; amateur scientists, mild doctor friends of the family, poor relations, manor houses, mad aunts, etc. The setting was a stunning backdrop for the mechanic of what’s unsettling this set of twins. If you’ve been drawn to these dark, historic stories of elegant families upset and brought to ruin by the supernatural, it’s a great choice. 

The author also has a very interesting take on twins and sisterhood. This also mirrors a sometimes converging conversation on parasitism (both literal and figurative). I really thought the non-horror themes were well discussed and clearly had a lot of thought behind their inclusion. 

For me, this is a very easy 5/5 recommendation for anyone who loves a gooey, gross body horror book (with carriages and signet rings as a bonus.) 

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

She knew instinctively and hotly that she would destroy anyone who dared to hurt her sister.

This was so nasty. I loved it.

The atmosphere was so, so beautifully written. So very gothic and moody. Even when everything crumbled and hell broke loose. Ah, sisterly love.

For those who need to know what happens to the dog (a minor character but who is so prominent on the cover):
she lives, presumably getting a happy ending in a loving home, and is mostly unscathed aside from some injuries gained from one scene
.

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dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was weird and creepy and twisty and I loooooved it. Every time I thought the book was going down a path paved with tropes, it swerved. That was so delightful for me to experience! I flew to the ending because I was dying to know what would happen to Lucy and Sarah. I’ll definitely be checking out more by this author.

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