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A review by missnromanoff
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After reading her other novel My darling dreadful thing, I was drawn to a book from the same author, especially if it is vaguely based in Dracula.
The story is set in 19th century Netherlands with two twins that have always been close as it can be, with Lucy, travelling to the state of her sister Sarah's husband, where she lives and she has fallen ill. Lucy rushes to take care of her sister, as she has always done.
However, not everything is as idyllic as it seems. And the bond between the twins will be tested by forces bigger than Lucy and Sarah themselves, especially Lucy, who will see the sister that cherises and love wither and decay like flowers in a vase.
The writing flows nicely and while there are some mistakes here and there, it is impressive for someone whose native country is not natively anglospeaking. The style reminds us to the Gothic genre and its use of language, being melodical but direct sometimes.
As an only child myself, I cannot relate to the relationship between siblings, let alone twins, or triplets, as the author explains being one herself. But this book provides a story of twisted love, of what are the limits humans are willing to reach for the beloved ones.
Quoting Crimson Peak: " The things we do for love like this are ugly, mad, full of sweat and regret. This love burns you and maims you and twists you inside out. It is a monstrous love and it makes monsters of us all."
The story is set in 19th century Netherlands with two twins that have always been close as it can be, with Lucy, travelling to the state of her sister Sarah's husband, where she lives and she has fallen ill. Lucy rushes to take care of her sister, as she has always done.
However, not everything is as idyllic as it seems. And the bond between the twins will be tested by forces bigger than Lucy and Sarah themselves, especially Lucy, who will see the sister that cherises and love wither and decay like flowers in a vase.
The writing flows nicely and while there are some mistakes here and there, it is impressive for someone whose native country is not natively anglospeaking. The style reminds us to the Gothic genre and its use of language, being melodical but direct sometimes.
As an only child myself, I cannot relate to the relationship between siblings, let alone twins, or triplets, as the author explains being one herself. But this book provides a story of twisted love, of what are the limits humans are willing to reach for the beloved ones.
Quoting Crimson Peak: " The things we do for love like this are ugly, mad, full of sweat and regret. This love burns you and maims you and twists you inside out. It is a monstrous love and it makes monsters of us all."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood
Moderate: Death, Classism