Thanks to the publisher for my free digital ARC of this one!

Blood on her Tongue is NASTY, icky, made me cringe in disgust multiple times, in short quite an excellent horror novel that I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for some gory historical horror!

It follows two twins, Sarah and Lucy, as Sarah falls ill after the discovery of a bog woman on her husband’s estate. Already burdened with a heavy history of poor mental health, Sarah’s doctor calls Lucy to the house in the hope it might make aid recovery. But Lucy finds Sarah quite different. I absolutely loved the concept of a vampiric, parasitic tick - just so gross and van Veen explores the concept marvellously.

It also has a touch of the sapphic too, which is always welcome in my book! I enjoyed the commentary around women’s mental health and asylums in the 1800s - a horror show in itself. I also liked the twin aspect, and how far we’d go to protect those we hold closest - even if they aren’t exactly as they used to be.