This has not been my year when it comes to books. Last year I read some of the most amazing stories but this year, I have yet to read one that stands out. I had very high hopes for Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen. I went into it mostly blind but I knew it was a Gothic story and I assumed it was about vampires. I suppose it is both of those things but neither was well done. This review will have spoilers.
Synopsis:
“I’m in your blood, and you are in mine…”
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.
My Thoughts:
- Rating- ⭐⭐
I’m giving this book two stars because the first half was excellent. I loved the setting of the mansion on the moors and I enjoyed the characters, at first. The story moved along at a fast pace and once the bog body was found, I was completely immersed. It was spooky and there was a growing sense of dread, which is what I want in my Gothic horror. However, the characters quickly started to annoy me.
The story revolves around twin sisters, Lucy and Sarah. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t like either of them. Both claim to love the other more than anyone else but that is never shown. Lucy is a doormat that lets Sarah push her around BUT she also has an affair with Sarah’s husband. This literally made no sense to me. She loves her sister, so much so that she’s willing to kill for her and accept her no matter what but yet she won’t stay away from her brother in law… okay. Sarah was just a selfish and unlikable person. I assumed it was because of her “illness” but no. As more backstory is revealed, we learn Sarah has always been like that. I didn’t buy that they even liked each other, much less loved. I also greatly disliked the vampire plot point.
I’m a big fan of vampire stories and I will give this book credit, it did add its own unique spin. In this book, vampirism is passed through a parasite that attaches itself to the brain. The parasite is aware and has its own personality but also absorbs its host’s memories and personality. While unique, this felt more alien like than vampire and I didn’t love that.
It’s revealed that Sarah is technically dead but this parasite is able to act just like her. Instead of being horrified by this, Lucy decides she would rather have this parasite controlling her sister’s body than kill it and not have her sister at all. She then proceeds to murder her brother in law and a good childhood friend; basically because they’re men. Sarah, Lucy and Katje (side character with a personality as boring as paper) then escape to live happily ever after…
If it wasn’t for the first part of this book, I would have rated it one star for that stupid ending alone. It was so random and completely out of character for Lucy who up until this point, had been meek and a pushover. I’m all for a feminist story and women rising above but this ending felt very much like it was trying to force the narrative that women are better and men should simply die.
Final Thoughts:
The Gothic genre is my favorite and unfortunately, it’s very difficult to find well written ones. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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