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Bone of My Bone
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Bram Stoker Award–nominee and USA Today bestseller Johanna van Veen unveils a sapphic folk-horror tour de force—perfect for fans of The VVitch and The Salt Grows Heavy. A skull's grin is eternal…
The year is 1635.
Sister Ursula, a young nun fleeing the ruins of her convent, and Elsebeth, a sharp-witted peasant, escape a band of marauding soldiers and disappear into the Bavarian forest. War scorches the land, and no one survives it alone. Amid the devastation, they find something in the arms of a dying the gilded skull of a saint.
It is said that if you reunite the saint's skull with her body, a wish will be granted. Desperate for salvation, and each with secret desires of their own, Ursula and Elsebeth follow a ragged map across the blighted countryside. But darkness follows them. A necromancer, drawn to the relic's power. The saint herself, whispering at night. And as the lines between blessing and curse blur, the women must face a harrowing the magic they seek comes at a cost.
At the journey's end, they'll face an impossible choice—one that could tear apart everything they know… or bind them to each other forever.
The year is 1635.
Sister Ursula, a young nun fleeing the ruins of her convent, and Elsebeth, a sharp-witted peasant, escape a band of marauding soldiers and disappear into the Bavarian forest. War scorches the land, and no one survives it alone. Amid the devastation, they find something in the arms of a dying the gilded skull of a saint.
It is said that if you reunite the saint's skull with her body, a wish will be granted. Desperate for salvation, and each with secret desires of their own, Ursula and Elsebeth follow a ragged map across the blighted countryside. But darkness follows them. A necromancer, drawn to the relic's power. The saint herself, whispering at night. And as the lines between blessing and curse blur, the women must face a harrowing the magic they seek comes at a cost.
At the journey's end, they'll face an impossible choice—one that could tear apart everything they know… or bind them to each other forever.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 26, 2026
78 people are currently reading
15733 people want to read
About the author
Johanna van Veen
7 books1,615 followersJohanna van Veen grew up in the Netherlands with her two sisters. She received an MA in English Literature with a specialization in early modern literature, as well as an MA Book and Digital Media with a specialization in early modern book history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
April 15, 2026
I'm not surprised that Johanna van Veen's next adult novel will be all whimsical and charming, because I would need a break from horror too after writing that brutal of a book. After publishing two gothic horror novels she now changes pace with this terrifying blend of war story and folk tale. The book is set during the Thirty Year's War in Bavaria, Germany, which is a time of violence, plague and hunger. I would put trigger warnings for just about everything, because the inhumane reality of war takes up a big part of this book. It's a story about what the human body and mind can endure before they break completely and about how a person can possibly keep their faith in a world so hopeless. Every character in this book has been through hell. We mainly follow Sister Ursula, a nun who had to flee her convent, and Elsebeth, a young woman who might be the only survivor of her entire village. There seems to be no safety in the world for either of them, but after meeting in a dire situation, they become travel companions and find a little bit of protection in each other. After they come across a dying man carrying a saint's skull, they decide to search for the saint's grave to reunite the skull with the rest of the body. It's said that this deed will grant them a wish, and why not cling to this sliver of hope? It's of course not an easy journey. Vile soldiers wait around every corner, food is sparse but sickness is plenty, there is always the opportunity of being accused as a witch and burned at the stake, and, on top of all that, war is the perfect playground for dark creatures with deathly powers. I really liked how German folklore was embedded into the story and how it was used as a way to contrast fictional and human monsters. If I remember correctly, there was a similar plotline in The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden and if you ever wished that that book was more horror, then Bone of my Bone should be your next read. The dark and heavy atmosphere was so well done here. It always feels wrong to say that I loved the atmosphere when a book is so full of gruesome themes, but when an author does it well, it's just so captivating to me. I also love Johanna van Veen for writing such a story and thinking that it's all horrific enough already and that we don't need to deal with homophobia on top of that too. So of course women's love prevails in this book. Ursula and Elsebeth make a great couple in my opinion, but their romantic beginnings really were too rushed. They basically know each other for a day before they are passionately kissing and only another week passes until they are in love completely. But I also get that they were both lonely and surrounded by death, desperately seeking connection and a person to successfully protect after they failed to save their loved ones before. In my mind they just belonged together in the second half of the story, but I still would have preferred if they had known each other for longer. I do have to say that them calling each other "mein Liebchen" (my little darling) made my skin crawl every time. As a German, that is such a grandmother's phrase to me and I don't ever want to read it again in a steamy sapphic scene, please and thank you. But my little criticisms aren't really dimming my reading experience in this case. There were so many discussions that I read with great interest in here. About religion and guilt and shame, about accepting flaws but also about just not caring about them anymore. (Honestly, what a badass move at the end.) The whole book just really did it for me and I can only recommend it. But seriously, check the trigger warnings.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
my first dive into Johanna van Veen & it definitely won't be my last. the concept was interesting, I loved the setting, the gothic tones & the horror aspects were done pretty well.
that being said, I found Ursula & Elsebeth to be...underdeveloped?? I think for me the story started to lose me with the romance. I did not pick up from the synopsis that this was going to be so romance forward, which is probably on me. I'm not a romance person even more so if it's a "insta love" kind of situation which is what this was.
I wish we had gotten to actually know our characters, or at least made it more of a subplot vs a big focus, instead of just throwing them into this insta love relationship...the romance kind of took over the main plot the further the story goes on, at least for me.
I found Otto & the necromancer much more interesting & would have really enjoyed reading their POVs more. If this had leaned into the darker side of the setting & the whole "we're running through the countryside with a random magical skull while a necromancer is on the loose after us" plot this might have been a five star read
I think those who enjoy romance will definitely eat this up but for me I'm landing on a 3.5 ✨
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
that being said, I found Ursula & Elsebeth to be...underdeveloped?? I think for me the story started to lose me with the romance. I did not pick up from the synopsis that this was going to be so romance forward, which is probably on me. I'm not a romance person even more so if it's a "insta love" kind of situation which is what this was.
I wish we had gotten to actually know our characters, or at least made it more of a subplot vs a big focus, instead of just throwing them into this insta love relationship...the romance kind of took over the main plot the further the story goes on, at least for me.
I found Otto & the necromancer much more interesting & would have really enjoyed reading their POVs more. If this had leaned into the darker side of the setting & the whole "we're running through the countryside with a random magical skull while a necromancer is on the loose after us" plot this might have been a five star read
I think those who enjoy romance will definitely eat this up but for me I'm landing on a 3.5 ✨
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
January 8, 2026
There’s a certain level of expectations you set for authors once you’ve read one of their books, but I’m not sure if that’s ever possible with Johanna van Veen’s stories. She creates a certain level of grotesque imagery that I’ve never read before, certainly not with the vivid details she creates.
First, let’s start with the POV’s. There are three main characters you follow. Ursula, a papist (roman catholic) nun whose innocence is what seemingly gets her into the most trouble. Elsebeth, a peasant farm girl who has no family left. And Otto, a soldier whose horrible sins could fill a book.
Something I caught onto within the first few chapters is that only Elsebeth’s POV is in first person while the other two MCs are in third person. Even now I can’t figure out why this is so, but there must be a meaning behind it.
As crazy as this may sound, this is a love story. One where nothing, not even God, could stop it from happening.
I thought I would be able to prepare myself for the amount of detail I would read about rotting bodies, but of course I still found my jaw dropping while following their story. It takes a certain ability to be able to create a folk horror such as this and not leave out the sort of sickening details that were put into Bone of My Bone to the point where it’s disturbing. But oddly enough I like it?
Johanna van Veen has a way of creating a story that just leaves you with more questions, I think a specialty of hers. It’s quite obvious though that she does her research on history, something I respect when creating a story such as this.
Obviously, this is a work of fiction and many of the things that went on in this are not things that can truly happen. But, people in the 1600’s did believe they could.
I’m creeped out, have so many questions, and wish there was more because of the open ending. What I do know is that I also liked it, a lot.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC, a truly terrifying book indeed.
First, let’s start with the POV’s. There are three main characters you follow. Ursula, a papist (roman catholic) nun whose innocence is what seemingly gets her into the most trouble. Elsebeth, a peasant farm girl who has no family left. And Otto, a soldier whose horrible sins could fill a book.
Something I caught onto within the first few chapters is that only Elsebeth’s POV is in first person while the other two MCs are in third person. Even now I can’t figure out why this is so, but there must be a meaning behind it.
As crazy as this may sound, this is a love story. One where nothing, not even God, could stop it from happening.
I thought I would be able to prepare myself for the amount of detail I would read about rotting bodies, but of course I still found my jaw dropping while following their story. It takes a certain ability to be able to create a folk horror such as this and not leave out the sort of sickening details that were put into Bone of My Bone to the point where it’s disturbing. But oddly enough I like it?
Johanna van Veen has a way of creating a story that just leaves you with more questions, I think a specialty of hers. It’s quite obvious though that she does her research on history, something I respect when creating a story such as this.
Obviously, this is a work of fiction and many of the things that went on in this are not things that can truly happen. But, people in the 1600’s did believe they could.
I’m creeped out, have so many questions, and wish there was more because of the open ending. What I do know is that I also liked it, a lot.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC, a truly terrifying book indeed.
January 25, 2026
3.75 full rtc but though i have legit issues with the pacing, i did really enjoy myself
first of all let’s be clear: i really enjoyed reading this and i DO recommend it to enjoyers of gruesome historical tales. that being said, i don’t think it was as strong as the other of this author’s books that i’ve read (My Darling Dreadful Thing). but let’s talk about what i liked.
the writing of the time period and the sources of further reading provided at the end make it clear that van veen put the work in when it came to researching the 1630s for her setting. the highest praise i feel i can give any historical fiction is that it makes me want to delve into my own research, and this certainly did. i will say that one or two word choices felt a bit too modern (calling someone a “fucker,” for example), but nothing truly egregious.
i also appreciated the detailed inclusion of folk monsters that would’ve been known in that region of europe at the time. the myriad ghouls and undead that attack our protagonists add a supernatural element of terror to the existing wartime dread of being surrounded by death. i particularly liked the parallel drawn between the unwilling dead used in necromancy and the civilians, particularly women, brutalized by roaming soldiers.
another pro: this book is truly unsettling in more ways than one. there were plenty of lines that made me so deeply uncomfortable that weren’t even particularly gory. when the blood and viscera did start flying, it was vivid and electric. this author really has a talent for crafting lines that stick with you whether you want them to or not. as with all books, and especially horror, check the CWs on this one if you don’t want an unpleasant surprise.
kind of a pro AND a con here: the romance. i figured that the sapphic relationship would be fairly center stage here, as that was the case with the last book i read by this author. what surprised me is how fast these two women were having emotionally romantic thoughts about each other.
“I have known her for scarcely a day, and already I find myself craving her touch.”
i’m not fundamentally against a fast-moving romance, and they are operating on wartime-survival-brain. still, this pacing (more typical of the romance genre) felt mismatched with a story that is otherwise primarily horror.
HOWEVER. i still enjoyed the relationship between ursula and elsebeth once i got over the pacing of their attraction. there were legitimate reasons for them to like each other, it was only the speed of the attachment that threw me. i still don’t know how i feel about elsebeth’s chapters being the only ones in first person, if only because i don’t see a particular narrative reason for it. that being said, it didn’t ruin her chapters for me, which is huge bc i usually hate first person + present tense.
the biggest thing keeping me from a higher rating, despite my overall enjoyment, was the pacing. the last few chapters in particular felt rushed, and i didn’t feel the full impact of some decisions and reveals as a result.
i mean this in the most affectionate way, though: i want this book to be longer! i love ursula and elsebeth working together, and i love the way they chose each other over even God and the only family they’d known.
first of all let’s be clear: i really enjoyed reading this and i DO recommend it to enjoyers of gruesome historical tales. that being said, i don’t think it was as strong as the other of this author’s books that i’ve read (My Darling Dreadful Thing). but let’s talk about what i liked.
the writing of the time period and the sources of further reading provided at the end make it clear that van veen put the work in when it came to researching the 1630s for her setting. the highest praise i feel i can give any historical fiction is that it makes me want to delve into my own research, and this certainly did. i will say that one or two word choices felt a bit too modern (calling someone a “fucker,” for example), but nothing truly egregious.
i also appreciated the detailed inclusion of folk monsters that would’ve been known in that region of europe at the time. the myriad ghouls and undead that attack our protagonists add a supernatural element of terror to the existing wartime dread of being surrounded by death. i particularly liked the parallel drawn between the unwilling dead used in necromancy and the civilians, particularly women, brutalized by roaming soldiers.
another pro: this book is truly unsettling in more ways than one. there were plenty of lines that made me so deeply uncomfortable that weren’t even particularly gory. when the blood and viscera did start flying, it was vivid and electric. this author really has a talent for crafting lines that stick with you whether you want them to or not. as with all books, and especially horror, check the CWs on this one if you don’t want an unpleasant surprise.
kind of a pro AND a con here: the romance. i figured that the sapphic relationship would be fairly center stage here, as that was the case with the last book i read by this author. what surprised me is how fast these two women were having emotionally romantic thoughts about each other.
“I have known her for scarcely a day, and already I find myself craving her touch.”
i’m not fundamentally against a fast-moving romance, and they are operating on wartime-survival-brain. still, this pacing (more typical of the romance genre) felt mismatched with a story that is otherwise primarily horror.
HOWEVER. i still enjoyed the relationship between ursula and elsebeth once i got over the pacing of their attraction. there were legitimate reasons for them to like each other, it was only the speed of the attachment that threw me. i still don’t know how i feel about elsebeth’s chapters being the only ones in first person, if only because i don’t see a particular narrative reason for it. that being said, it didn’t ruin her chapters for me, which is huge bc i usually hate first person + present tense.
the biggest thing keeping me from a higher rating, despite my overall enjoyment, was the pacing. the last few chapters in particular felt rushed, and i didn’t feel the full impact of some decisions and reveals as a result.
i mean this in the most affectionate way, though: i want this book to be longer! i love ursula and elsebeth working together, and i love the way they chose each other over even God and the only family they’d known.
January 12, 2026
Such a creative read! This novel had combined folk horror elements I’ve not read before. Those elements worked for the world building in creating a world I would definitely want to read more about. The pacing was excellent and had me eager to read the next chapter. The ambiance was fairly dark, although they did seem to have mostly good weather. The characters were well developed and interesting. I thought a nun might be bland, but she wound up being more spicy than expected. I would highly recommend this!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A book marketed as a folk horror set during the 30 year war with a nun and a farm girl trying to reunite the skull of a saint with its body? Needless to say, I was on board from the get go.
Van Veen's major strength is being able to transport you fully to whatever period and location her books are set in. I could vividly imagine every terrifying and gruesome thing she writes about in this book. Sometimes enough to put me off my lunch 😂 I mean that as a compliment. This is by far her most gruesome book, but for the setting I think it works immensely well.
My second favourite thing in each of her books, especially this one is her characters. They always have such interesting backstories and motivations. I had a real soft spot for Sister Ursula. I have recently discovered I love a complicated nun character and hope to read more nun stories following on from this read.
I don't want to spoil too much for anybody but I absolutely loved the villain in this. I was so glad it hadn't been mentioned elsewhere and it was a surprise to read.
I would recommend this for fans of Now She is Witch by Kirsty Logan, The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling and Slewfoot by Brom.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
Van Veen's major strength is being able to transport you fully to whatever period and location her books are set in. I could vividly imagine every terrifying and gruesome thing she writes about in this book. Sometimes enough to put me off my lunch 😂 I mean that as a compliment. This is by far her most gruesome book, but for the setting I think it works immensely well.
My second favourite thing in each of her books, especially this one is her characters. They always have such interesting backstories and motivations. I had a real soft spot for Sister Ursula. I have recently discovered I love a complicated nun character and hope to read more nun stories following on from this read.
I don't want to spoil too much for anybody but I absolutely loved the villain in this. I was so glad it hadn't been mentioned elsewhere and it was a surprise to read.
I would recommend this for fans of Now She is Witch by Kirsty Logan, The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling and Slewfoot by Brom.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
February 1, 2026
This book was very clearly NOT a book for me.
While the premise promises atmospheric sapphic folk horror set against a brutal historical backdrop, the execution was not anything I could connect with. The pacing felt slow and laborious, with heavy emphasis on religious reflection and historical detail that I personally found tedious rather than immersive. The constant focus on faith, guilt, and God overwhelmed the narrative and made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
I also struggled with the characters. The central relationship leaned heavily on instalove and I never grew attached to either FMC. The central myth of the saint and the wish, which should have been the most compelling element ended up being utterly underwhelming.
That said, this is clearly a very specific book with a clear vision. Readers who enjoy slow, bleak historical horror, heavy religious themes, and moody storytelling over character connection may find much to appreciate here. Unfortunately, it was a slog for me, and I had to push myself to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this and share my thoughts.
While the premise promises atmospheric sapphic folk horror set against a brutal historical backdrop, the execution was not anything I could connect with. The pacing felt slow and laborious, with heavy emphasis on religious reflection and historical detail that I personally found tedious rather than immersive. The constant focus on faith, guilt, and God overwhelmed the narrative and made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
I also struggled with the characters. The central relationship leaned heavily on instalove and I never grew attached to either FMC. The central myth of the saint and the wish, which should have been the most compelling element ended up being utterly underwhelming.
That said, this is clearly a very specific book with a clear vision. Readers who enjoy slow, bleak historical horror, heavy religious themes, and moody storytelling over character connection may find much to appreciate here. Unfortunately, it was a slog for me, and I had to push myself to finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this and share my thoughts.
January 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Where to even begin...
Joanna Van Veen is one of the few authors to write books so perfectly attuned to what I want to read, probably at all times.
This novel is a stunning blend of history, horror, religion, and speculative elements. As someone who grew up Catholic, I enjoyed the attention paid to creepy details about Catholicism, that are usually forgotten, (cloistered orders, incorruptible saints. When I was a child, my mother literally had a piece of bone in a locket, from some saint or another) I enjoyed this rendition of religion as being real, yet not in the typical sense.
The romance between the two women was slightly rushed, but I was able to overlook it throughout the rest of the story, because their love was so compelling. Their understanding of one another, despite coming from different sects was beautiful, especially in the backdrop of such a terrible war.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Where to even begin...
Joanna Van Veen is one of the few authors to write books so perfectly attuned to what I want to read, probably at all times.
This novel is a stunning blend of history, horror, religion, and speculative elements. As someone who grew up Catholic, I enjoyed the attention paid to creepy details about Catholicism, that are usually forgotten, (cloistered orders, incorruptible saints. When I was a child, my mother literally had a piece of bone in a locket, from some saint or another) I enjoyed this rendition of religion as being real, yet not in the typical sense.
The romance between the two women was slightly rushed, but I was able to overlook it throughout the rest of the story, because their love was so compelling. Their understanding of one another, despite coming from different sects was beautiful, especially in the backdrop of such a terrible war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
┆ ┆ ┆ ┆ ┆
┆ ┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪3.25 stars⊹ ࣪ ★ ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪
࣪ ˖⋆˚★ ₊ ⊹ ࣪˖ ࣪ ₊ ࣪ ˖
. ݁ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ࣪ ˖
ᝰ The book follows two girls: Ursula, a devout Catholic, and Elsebeth, who is more of a Protestant/agnostic possibly even atheist. The story takes place during a time of war in what I believe is Bavaria
ᝰ Elsebeth and Ursula eventually find themselves traveling together after discovering a skull they believe belongs to a saint. According to legend, if the saint’s skull is returned to its body, the person who reunites them will be granted one wish. Both girls have their own reasons for wanting that wish, so they set off on a journey to find the saint’s remains.
ᝰ Overall, my feelings about this book are heavily neutral. I did appreciate the sapphic representation, but the romance leaned a bit too much into instalove for my taste, which isn’t really my cup of tea. That said, I did enjoy their relationship more as the story progressed, especially toward the end.
ᝰ The plot itself was interesting, and I really enjoyed the folklore elements. The Aufhocker, the Nachzerher, and the other vampire-like creatures were fun to read about. I also liked that the necromancer antagonist was male—it felt refreshing and added a different dynamic to the story.
ᝰ The writing style was another highlight for me. It felt very pretty and poetic, but not in an overly flowery way that becomes exhausting to read. It was simply pleasant and engaging.
ᝰ What I struggled with, however, was Ursula’s extreme religiosity. The overzealous Christian morality in her POV became a bit jarring for me. Personally, very religious characters aren’t really my preference, so reading her perspective repeatedly made parts of the story less enjoyable.
ᝰ What I found interesting, though, is that despite being deeply religious, Ursula had absolutely no issue with lesbianism. That felt somewhat unrealistic to me for a nun. However, in the author’s note, the author explained that because there were already many harsh things happening in the story, she didn’t want to add homophobia as another layer of conflict. While it still felt a little strange that Ursula had moral concerns about many things except that, I can admit it was refreshing to see it treated as something completely normal within the story.
ᝰ Despite some of my criticisms, I did enjoy the journey this book took me on. Even though the ending left me feeling a bit like the whole thing was somewhat pointless, I still had a good time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
┆ ┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪3.25 stars⊹ ࣪ ★ ⋆.˚ ⊹ ࣪
࣪ ˖⋆˚★ ₊ ⊹ ࣪˖ ࣪ ₊ ࣪ ˖
. ݁ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ࣪ ˖
ᝰ The book follows two girls: Ursula, a devout Catholic, and Elsebeth, who is more of a Protestant/agnostic possibly even atheist. The story takes place during a time of war in what I believe is Bavaria
ᝰ Elsebeth and Ursula eventually find themselves traveling together after discovering a skull they believe belongs to a saint. According to legend, if the saint’s skull is returned to its body, the person who reunites them will be granted one wish. Both girls have their own reasons for wanting that wish, so they set off on a journey to find the saint’s remains.
ᝰ Overall, my feelings about this book are heavily neutral. I did appreciate the sapphic representation, but the romance leaned a bit too much into instalove for my taste, which isn’t really my cup of tea. That said, I did enjoy their relationship more as the story progressed, especially toward the end.
"You're supposed to love God above all else."
"But I don't. I love you more than Him, and that may well be why I am damned now, yet I care not for any of that as long as I have you at my side!"
ᝰ The plot itself was interesting, and I really enjoyed the folklore elements. The Aufhocker, the Nachzerher, and the other vampire-like creatures were fun to read about. I also liked that the necromancer antagonist was male—it felt refreshing and added a different dynamic to the story.
ᝰ The writing style was another highlight for me. It felt very pretty and poetic, but not in an overly flowery way that becomes exhausting to read. It was simply pleasant and engaging.
ᝰ What I struggled with, however, was Ursula’s extreme religiosity. The overzealous Christian morality in her POV became a bit jarring for me. Personally, very religious characters aren’t really my preference, so reading her perspective repeatedly made parts of the story less enjoyable.
ᝰ What I found interesting, though, is that despite being deeply religious, Ursula had absolutely no issue with lesbianism. That felt somewhat unrealistic to me for a nun. However, in the author’s note, the author explained that because there were already many harsh things happening in the story, she didn’t want to add homophobia as another layer of conflict. While it still felt a little strange that Ursula had moral concerns about many things except that, I can admit it was refreshing to see it treated as something completely normal within the story.
ᝰ Despite some of my criticisms, I did enjoy the journey this book took me on. Even though the ending left me feeling a bit like the whole thing was somewhat pointless, I still had a good time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 21, 2026
Bone of My Bone is a harrowing, immersive descent into the savagery of the Thirty Years' War. Surviving in itself is an act of defiance. Set against a landscape ravaged by violence, famine, disease, and unrest, the novel follows Sister Ursula and Elsebeth. These two women have been stripped of everything and find fragile refuge in each other as they journey through the Bavarian wilderness. Their discovery of a saint's skull said to grant a wish to whoever reunites it with its body, early on in the story, offers a sliver of hope in a merciless world. Van Veen excels at crafting an atmosphere of dread, where the line between human cruelty and supernatural horror is disturbingly thin. Folklore is woven seamlessly into the story, enhancing the sense that something ancient is ever watchful just past the edges of reality. The presence of a pursuing necromancer and the eerie appearances of the saint deepen the novel's unsettling tone. But often, the human threats feel just as terrifying. The heart of the story is endurance. What can the body and spirit handle before finally breaking? What does it mean to cling to faith when the world offers no mercy? Ursula and Elsebeth's relationship provides an emotional vein. Their bond is born of shared trauma and a desperate need for connection. While their romance develops quickly, it feels fitting in the urgency of their circumstances. This read is emotional and powerful, far beyond its final act. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC copy for review. You can pick this up May 26th, 2026 wherever you buy your books!
February 27, 2026
a great read just like the authors previous works. i enjoyed how this was a different timeline and setting. set in the time of soldiers, war, religious upheaval, witch trials, politics. i found it interesting one of the FMCs was a nun.. i really liked the necromancer aspects
December 11, 2025
a solid 3.75 stars. the sapphic romance felt a little rushed for me but i mean i was all here for it, let’s go lesbians, let’s go. that old timey early century era works really well with horror (look at lapvona & the starving saints) and like those two, i had a pretty good time reading this one too.
thanking the publishers & netgalley for the ARC!!
thanking the publishers & netgalley for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book sent me on a journey, with a peasant girl and a nun.
Elsebeth the peasant girl and Ursula the nun, come across a skull they believe to be a saint, and they are on a mission to return the skull to its body. They believe they will get a wish, their hearts desire if they can accomplish their mission.
The whole book was entertaining, we also get some spicy scenes as well.
Elsebeth the peasant girl and Ursula the nun, come across a skull they believe to be a saint, and they are on a mission to return the skull to its body. They believe they will get a wish, their hearts desire if they can accomplish their mission.
The whole book was entertaining, we also get some spicy scenes as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the second book I have read by Van Veen and it has solidified her as an auto buy author for me. I absolutely love the way she writes. Bone of my bone had me hooked from the very start. Van Veen has a way of writing the gruesome in a poetic way and I am here for it. Also the relationship between Ursula and Elsebeth is perfectly done, I really felt the connection between these two. The book is filled with gothic vibes, a touch of fantasy and horror done in a way that doesn't feel like any other horror I've read.
Read
April 29, 2026This was a very bleak book. I mainly found myself interested in it because of the gorgeous cover and the blurb. Unfortunately, the more I read it, the more I felt like it was not really for me - and I'm really sad it wasn't.
The book follows two women dealing with the atrocities of the 30 year war in Germany while encountering supernatural forces beyond their understanding.
What worked for me -
- van Veen has undertaken a tremendous amount of research and this clearly shows. She brings this world to life in stark detail.
- She exposes the reader to every bit of the harsh reality of war, specifically the realities that common people deal with it. The Author's Note emphasises this motive and van Veen does true justice to people's lived realities
- Multiple POVs - we are given access to three different narrators and it works well and ensures there is no monotony or narrative exhaustion
- Folk horror! I was pleasantly surprised by the way van Veen weaves in folktales and monsters from folklore into her work and I really enjoyed that aspect
- Body horror of all kinds - yeah there's a lot of nasty stuff which if you like horror like me, you will enjoy (?)
- The plotline with Otto - I found this plotline very compelling and I wish we had more of it.
What didn't work for me -
- The characterisation. Elsebeth and Ursula both felt very underdeveloped individually and I could not fully immerse myself in their stories and personalities.
- The instalove - I don't like this method of handling romance and there's never a proper way to do this. It always lessens the intensity of the romance for me.
- The pacing - the book felt excruciatingly slow at times but then it would suddenly speed up for a chapter or two and then go back to being slow again. Also the ending section was too fast - I wish it would've been a tad bit slower
- But I think the biggest issue I had were the religious themes. This is the second book I've read that relies so heavily on Christian religious themes and I'm realising that I don't really gain anything from reading this theme. In this work, I found it very difficult to remain interested in the themes of religious upbringing and sin and guilt and everything. Religious morality on the other hand - was interesting? But again I didn't really engage that well with this theme as a whole. Which sucks because religion essentially forms the basis of this entire story and of Elsebeth and Ursula's worldview.
This book will appeal to readers looking for historical folk horror with a focus on religion and sin. Plus a sapphic romance.
While this wasn't for me, I do commend the research and work done by Van Veen to create this work!
The book follows two women dealing with the atrocities of the 30 year war in Germany while encountering supernatural forces beyond their understanding.
What worked for me -
- van Veen has undertaken a tremendous amount of research and this clearly shows. She brings this world to life in stark detail.
- She exposes the reader to every bit of the harsh reality of war, specifically the realities that common people deal with it. The Author's Note emphasises this motive and van Veen does true justice to people's lived realities
- Multiple POVs - we are given access to three different narrators and it works well and ensures there is no monotony or narrative exhaustion
- Folk horror! I was pleasantly surprised by the way van Veen weaves in folktales and monsters from folklore into her work and I really enjoyed that aspect
- Body horror of all kinds - yeah there's a lot of nasty stuff which if you like horror like me, you will enjoy (?)
- The plotline with Otto - I found this plotline very compelling and I wish we had more of it.
What didn't work for me -
- The characterisation. Elsebeth and Ursula both felt very underdeveloped individually and I could not fully immerse myself in their stories and personalities.
- The instalove - I don't like this method of handling romance and there's never a proper way to do this. It always lessens the intensity of the romance for me.
- The pacing - the book felt excruciatingly slow at times but then it would suddenly speed up for a chapter or two and then go back to being slow again. Also the ending section was too fast - I wish it would've been a tad bit slower
- But I think the biggest issue I had were the religious themes. This is the second book I've read that relies so heavily on Christian religious themes and I'm realising that I don't really gain anything from reading this theme. In this work, I found it very difficult to remain interested in the themes of religious upbringing and sin and guilt and everything. Religious morality on the other hand - was interesting? But again I didn't really engage that well with this theme as a whole. Which sucks because religion essentially forms the basis of this entire story and of Elsebeth and Ursula's worldview.
This book will appeal to readers looking for historical folk horror with a focus on religion and sin. Plus a sapphic romance.
While this wasn't for me, I do commend the research and work done by Van Veen to create this work!
February 6, 2026
Johanna van Veen was one of my favourite authors last year, and this book only confirmed why.
I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I screamed when I saw the acceptance to the arc.
It took me a little while to get used to the digital format, since I’m more of a physical-book reader, but it was absolutely worth it.
The story follows 3 characters whose lives become deeply intertwined through secrets, trauma, and obsession. It’s told through multiple perspectives (which I always love), and unfolds like a psychological puzzle with strong gothic tension and emotional depth. As hidden truths emerge, the characters are forced to confront who they are, what they’ve lost, and how far they’re willing to go for the people they love.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked.
I loved the characters and the way their stories slowly weave into each other. Every page felt soaked in longing, memory, and something almost sacred.
I especially loved the historical elements, the slightly blasphemous undertones, and the sapphic folk-horror vibes, truly everything I could ever ask for!
And the ending, was honestly completely unexpected. I was way past my bedtime, turning the last few pages with my heart in my throat, utterly breathless and honestly, I keep thinking about it.
I even ended up annoying my sister nonstop, telling her every little detail because I couldn’t stop talking about it…
Johanna van Veen has a way of leaving you haunted, satisfied, and desperate for more all at once!!!
I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I screamed when I saw the acceptance to the arc.
It took me a little while to get used to the digital format, since I’m more of a physical-book reader, but it was absolutely worth it.
The story follows 3 characters whose lives become deeply intertwined through secrets, trauma, and obsession. It’s told through multiple perspectives (which I always love), and unfolds like a psychological puzzle with strong gothic tension and emotional depth. As hidden truths emerge, the characters are forced to confront who they are, what they’ve lost, and how far they’re willing to go for the people they love.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked.
I loved the characters and the way their stories slowly weave into each other. Every page felt soaked in longing, memory, and something almost sacred.
I especially loved the historical elements, the slightly blasphemous undertones, and the sapphic folk-horror vibes, truly everything I could ever ask for!
And the ending, was honestly completely unexpected. I was way past my bedtime, turning the last few pages with my heart in my throat, utterly breathless and honestly, I keep thinking about it.
I even ended up annoying my sister nonstop, telling her every little detail because I couldn’t stop talking about it…
Johanna van Veen has a way of leaving you haunted, satisfied, and desperate for more all at once!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC of Bone of My Bone for my honest review.
Bone of My Bone is slightly different to Johanna van Veen's previous novels, it is more of a folk horror than a gothic horror. With this being said, the beautiful prose and storytelling is still present! I also do enjoy folklore, but gothic horror is my favourite subgenre.
I really enjoyed the story, and I thought that Elsebeth was a relatable character. I did feel that her relationship with Ursula was slightly unbelievable at times and felt kind of rushed. I didn't love Sister Ursula as a character, I do think that this is because I struggle with anything which is extremely focused on religion. Her POV was focused on God most of the time, and I feel that this is why I found the relationship a little strange. Ursula's feelings didn't shine through the same as Elsebeth's feelings did.
The body horror was pretty nauseating, and it truly shows that humans are the worst monsters. Otto was horrible, but I couldn't help feeling slightly sorry for him at times. The behaviour from the soldiers was appalling, and it breaks my heart that so much of the story was based on historical events. I appreciated the sources and reading list that was included!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as Johanna is one of my favourite authors. However, I think it's best to go into it knowing that it is different from her usual style.
Bone of My Bone is slightly different to Johanna van Veen's previous novels, it is more of a folk horror than a gothic horror. With this being said, the beautiful prose and storytelling is still present! I also do enjoy folklore, but gothic horror is my favourite subgenre.
I really enjoyed the story, and I thought that Elsebeth was a relatable character. I did feel that her relationship with Ursula was slightly unbelievable at times and felt kind of rushed. I didn't love Sister Ursula as a character, I do think that this is because I struggle with anything which is extremely focused on religion. Her POV was focused on God most of the time, and I feel that this is why I found the relationship a little strange. Ursula's feelings didn't shine through the same as Elsebeth's feelings did.
The body horror was pretty nauseating, and it truly shows that humans are the worst monsters. Otto was horrible, but I couldn't help feeling slightly sorry for him at times. The behaviour from the soldiers was appalling, and it breaks my heart that so much of the story was based on historical events. I appreciated the sources and reading list that was included!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as Johanna is one of my favourite authors. However, I think it's best to go into it knowing that it is different from her usual style.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC!
This was a mixed bag for me; there were elements that I loved (sapphism! necromancy! early modern northern europe! skull!), but they didn't entirely come together for me. Overall, a cool historical horror read with great atmosphere, with the following caveats-
With regards to the romance, I found it sweet, albeit fast for my tastes. I really enjoyed the historically "accurate" (although that's a loaded term, maybe inspired? historically rooted?) depiction of sexual acts between women, particularly their moral justification as medical intervention.
I LOVED the twist. This slumped for me in the middle and that line brought me BACK ‼
I also really enjoyed the visceral imagery and unease
Not a huge deal, but this commits the same sin / pet peeve that I disliked in Between Two Fires (although only once, as opposed to BTF's heavier usage), where the prose gets all disjointed and repetitive to emphasize the narrator's extreme state of emotion (). This is a stylistic preference, but it just reads to me as very unserious in the same way that the alternating case spongebob meme from yesteryear does, which is not the intended effect (note: just realized one of the blurbs mentions Between Two Fires--makes sense! Unfortunately, I wasn't a giant fan of that, so I suppose it follows that, despite its merits, Bone of My Bone was my least favorite of van Veen's oeuvre thus far).
As my dear friend said about the latest Chuck Tingle, I think the author could indulge in adding another 100 pages to this. I want more complexity, more depth, more time bubbling on the stove!
Anyway, here's a playlist I put together while reading--because all of that being said, I really was taken by the atmosphere.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/058...
This was a mixed bag for me; there were elements that I loved (sapphism! necromancy! early modern northern europe! skull!), but they didn't entirely come together for me. Overall, a cool historical horror read with great atmosphere, with the following caveats-
With regards to the romance, I found it sweet, albeit fast for my tastes. I really enjoyed the historically "accurate" (although that's a loaded term, maybe inspired? historically rooted?) depiction of sexual acts between women, particularly their moral justification as medical intervention.
I LOVED the twist. This slumped for me in the middle and that line brought me BACK ‼
I also really enjoyed the visceral imagery and unease
Not a huge deal, but this commits the same sin / pet peeve that I disliked in Between Two Fires (although only once, as opposed to BTF's heavier usage), where the prose gets all disjointed and repetitive to emphasize the narrator's extreme state of emotion (). This is a stylistic preference, but it just reads to me as very unserious in the same way that the alternating case spongebob meme from yesteryear does, which is not the intended effect (note: just realized one of the blurbs mentions Between Two Fires--makes sense! Unfortunately, I wasn't a giant fan of that, so I suppose it follows that, despite its merits, Bone of My Bone was my least favorite of van Veen's oeuvre thus far).
As my dear friend said about the latest Chuck Tingle, I think the author could indulge in adding another 100 pages to this. I want more complexity, more depth, more time bubbling on the stove!
Anyway, here's a playlist I put together while reading--because all of that being said, I really was taken by the atmosphere.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/058...
Review of advance copy
3.25 stars rounded down
So I initially DNFed this after reading the prologue and first three chapters, as I was kind of on the fence about how I felt about this story. But honestly, it was Otto’s opening chapter that made me decide to come back to this story—as I was interested to learn more about him and the necromancer.
Unfortunately we didn’t get as much Otto and the necromancer content as I personally would’ve liked. However I did enjoy this read overall.
I’m usually one for shorter books (and that’s another reason why I decided to give this book a second chance), but I think this book was almost too short. Elsebeth and Ursula’s relationship felt so rushed that I didn’t really understand how they even fell in love with each other (and thus why they made certain decisions towards the end). So I think had the romance been fleshed out more, this would’ve been a much stronger story.
I would recommend this story for anyone who likes a quick read that features necromancy. But I don’t necessarily think I’ll remember this story after some time has gone by.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soft DNF at 17% (I read the prologue and Chapters 1 - 3)
I didn’t know when I requested this ARC that it was so heavily inspired by real historical events (specifically where war and religion are concerned). I gave it a shot, and I appreciate the author’s note about what to expect (especially in terms of content warnings); but this story just isn't my cup of tea all the same.
The writing on a line level is good though, so if this interests you, I suggest you check it out.
So I initially DNFed this after reading the prologue and first three chapters, as I was kind of on the fence about how I felt about this story. But honestly, it was Otto’s opening chapter that made me decide to come back to this story—as I was interested to learn more about him and the necromancer.
Unfortunately we didn’t get as much Otto and the necromancer content as I personally would’ve liked. However I did enjoy this read overall.
I’m usually one for shorter books (and that’s another reason why I decided to give this book a second chance), but I think this book was almost too short. Elsebeth and Ursula’s relationship felt so rushed that I didn’t really understand how they even fell in love with each other (and thus why they made certain decisions towards the end). So I think had the romance been fleshed out more, this would’ve been a much stronger story.
I would recommend this story for anyone who likes a quick read that features necromancy. But I don’t necessarily think I’ll remember this story after some time has gone by.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soft DNF at 17% (I read the prologue and Chapters 1 - 3)
I didn’t know when I requested this ARC that it was so heavily inspired by real historical events (specifically where war and religion are concerned). I gave it a shot, and I appreciate the author’s note about what to expect (especially in terms of content warnings); but this story just isn't my cup of tea all the same.
The writing on a line level is good though, so if this interests you, I suggest you check it out.
January 14, 2026
thank you netgalley and poisoned pen press for providing this arc!
have you ever read a book and you can just FEEL the dirt underneath the character’s fingernails? every inch of this book was riddled with rot and bodily fluid, but that’s what made it so special. not every horror book gives you contamination fears like this one gave me. as i continued to read, there was never a moment where i didn’t imagine all the characters covered in a layer of grime. mixed with their own natural oils and dirt they fall face-first into constantly, there’s also a lot of focus on rotting flesh that makes you quite squeamish when you think too much about it.
during the 30 years’ war, sister ursula (running to safety from her cloister convent that was invaded by protestant soldiers) and elsebeth (a farmer girl searching for her aunt) cross paths and find themselves on a mission through the bavarian forest to reunite a saint’s skull with the rest of her body. in exchange, they each get a wish. both girls want to wish for something different, but will battle a necromancer and their own lesbian tendencies before the journey is over.
overall, this book was a story about devotion and how far you’re willing to go for the person you love. it was almost inspiring how much determination these girls had, especially with all of the roadblocks they hit on the way. a massive feeling of dread filled me whenever anything good would happen because i knew half a page later that sister ursula and elsebeth would have to face another challenge. despite it all, their devotion to each other was above all things.
this is my first johanna van veen book and i will be picking up the rest of them. i can sense that she will become an instant-read author for me very soon.
have you ever read a book and you can just FEEL the dirt underneath the character’s fingernails? every inch of this book was riddled with rot and bodily fluid, but that’s what made it so special. not every horror book gives you contamination fears like this one gave me. as i continued to read, there was never a moment where i didn’t imagine all the characters covered in a layer of grime. mixed with their own natural oils and dirt they fall face-first into constantly, there’s also a lot of focus on rotting flesh that makes you quite squeamish when you think too much about it.
during the 30 years’ war, sister ursula (running to safety from her cloister convent that was invaded by protestant soldiers) and elsebeth (a farmer girl searching for her aunt) cross paths and find themselves on a mission through the bavarian forest to reunite a saint’s skull with the rest of her body. in exchange, they each get a wish. both girls want to wish for something different, but will battle a necromancer and their own lesbian tendencies before the journey is over.
overall, this book was a story about devotion and how far you’re willing to go for the person you love. it was almost inspiring how much determination these girls had, especially with all of the roadblocks they hit on the way. a massive feeling of dread filled me whenever anything good would happen because i knew half a page later that sister ursula and elsebeth would have to face another challenge. despite it all, their devotion to each other was above all things.
this is my first johanna van veen book and i will be picking up the rest of them. i can sense that she will become an instant-read author for me very soon.
January 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!
I always know I can count on Johanna van Veen for a great sapphic horror book. This one felt like a romantasy (well, let's say historical fiction with some fantastical twists) with a side of folk and religious horror. I love the use of the folklore here, it explored monsters I hadn't heard of before, and they brought a very unique quality to the story.
Bone of My Bone was hard to put down, simply because I wanted to find out what would happen next.
The only negative I have to say is that the romance felt very rushed, especially seeing as how the two main characters had conflicting religious ideals. I'm also not usually a fan of switching POVs, but that is a personal thing. It did work very well for this story.
All in all, four stars for this book. I'll definitely pick it back up in the future.
I always know I can count on Johanna van Veen for a great sapphic horror book. This one felt like a romantasy (well, let's say historical fiction with some fantastical twists) with a side of folk and religious horror. I love the use of the folklore here, it explored monsters I hadn't heard of before, and they brought a very unique quality to the story.
Bone of My Bone was hard to put down, simply because I wanted to find out what would happen next.
The only negative I have to say is that the romance felt very rushed, especially seeing as how the two main characters had conflicting religious ideals. I'm also not usually a fan of switching POVs, but that is a personal thing. It did work very well for this story.
All in all, four stars for this book. I'll definitely pick it back up in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I did really enjoy this book, but this one was not as big of a hit as this authors other books. That is not to say I did not enjoy it. Be aware of all of the trigger warnings before you dive in. It starts of slow, with good gothic vibes. Lots of character development. I do really enjoy this authors descriptive writing and will definitely be reading their next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review.
4 star
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review.
4 star
Read
December 9, 2025LOVE
December 17, 2025
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc!
My 3rd 5 star from this author!
Johanna van Veen is my all time favourite author, and this book definitely solidified that for me!
This book has themes that I have been waiting for to be included all in one book. And it really did not disappoint.
I have huge interests in the Middle Ages, religion, LGBTQ representation, body horror, necromancy and all that fun stuff, and all of this was included in this.
Now, this novel definitely hits on some heartstrings with some incredibly heart breaking themes and subjects, so please check TW before going into this.
I adored everything about this book! I loved the use of the language but also made much simpler for me to understand easier. The dark, gritty setting of early modern Germany. Everything was described in such detail that I didn’t even feel like I was reading but instead watching this play as movie in my head the whole time.
The folklore was also something I found so interesting, I always am so fascinated to learn about folk tales from different countries. I loved Johanna’s take on these creepy tales and I ended up writing the stories into my journal and doing more of my own research!
This book is so beautifully written, I teared up whilst in Caffè Nero and the staff definitely gave me some weird looks 😬😅
I always love Johanna’s characters too, they genuinely feel like real people to me and I always love get so emotionally attached to them, so whenever anything bad happened I instantly felt so choked up and almost scared to continue reading with fear of what may happen next but at same time I just cannot stop reading?!
I never like to go too much into detail in my reviews as I don’t want to spoil anything. But for those that a love gut wrenching story line, sapphic yearning and body horror, I can guarantee that ‘Bone of my Bone’ will not disappoint.
Mein Liebchen 🖤
My 3rd 5 star from this author!
Johanna van Veen is my all time favourite author, and this book definitely solidified that for me!
This book has themes that I have been waiting for to be included all in one book. And it really did not disappoint.
I have huge interests in the Middle Ages, religion, LGBTQ representation, body horror, necromancy and all that fun stuff, and all of this was included in this.
Now, this novel definitely hits on some heartstrings with some incredibly heart breaking themes and subjects, so please check TW before going into this.
I adored everything about this book! I loved the use of the language but also made much simpler for me to understand easier. The dark, gritty setting of early modern Germany. Everything was described in such detail that I didn’t even feel like I was reading but instead watching this play as movie in my head the whole time.
The folklore was also something I found so interesting, I always am so fascinated to learn about folk tales from different countries. I loved Johanna’s take on these creepy tales and I ended up writing the stories into my journal and doing more of my own research!
This book is so beautifully written, I teared up whilst in Caffè Nero and the staff definitely gave me some weird looks 😬😅
I always love Johanna’s characters too, they genuinely feel like real people to me and I always love get so emotionally attached to them, so whenever anything bad happened I instantly felt so choked up and almost scared to continue reading with fear of what may happen next but at same time I just cannot stop reading?!
I never like to go too much into detail in my reviews as I don’t want to spoil anything. But for those that a love gut wrenching story line, sapphic yearning and body horror, I can guarantee that ‘Bone of my Bone’ will not disappoint.
Mein Liebchen 🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the provided ARC!
I’m not as eloquent as some reviewers here as English is not my first language but as a token of my appreciation I’m here to write my first review. Please beware of possible minor spoilers and grammatic errors.
I loved van Veen’s “Blood on her Tongue“ and her other book, “My Darling dreadful thing“ is at the top of my TBR right now. Needless to say I was really looking forward to Bone of my Bone and felt really ecstatic when I was able to grab an ARC. Due to that, I made sure to read the foreword and the afterword, which I usually skip and I’m glad I didn’t this time around. Van Veen speaks about some of the trigger warnings in the former and how she tried to treat them respectfully without going too much into the gruesome details but staying true to the circumstances and happenings of the time. It made me look at everything a little bit closer detective-style but I can wholeheartedly say, that she did a splendid job.
In the latter, van Veen mentions how she didn’t want to add to all the triggers with an additional one and that is why she kept homophobia pretty much out of the whole picture which I appreciate a lot. There’s enough to stomach in the book and facing homophobia while the main couple is sapphic would have been detrimental to the character- and relationship development. I can only sing praises for van Veen that she found a perfect balance and basically proceeded to dance on the thin line in-between the two.
The Story itself is told from three perspectives: Sister Ursula, a nun on her way to another convent, Elsebeth, a persistent farm girl and Otto, a mercenary raiding houses and cities.
We start out from Ursula’s perspective and she is a very timid, God-fearing, yet cowardly nun with lots of self-doubts and a terrible secret. Saved by Elsebeth during an attack on their travelling group, she is thankful to have someone to lean on and guide her. There’s an immediate connection between the two and seeing both of them support each other from the first second on was lovely to see.
As a nun, Ursula often thinks and talks about God and Christian teachings, naturally of course, which often ensues discussions between the two women due to their differing religious beliefs and world views. Although I myself am Atheist and not really interested in reading about Religion, I was not bothered by these moments, rather van Beek made sure that these discussions and thoughts flowed naturally and fittingly into the situation and given the time in which the story it takes place these moments were not too overpowering or overshadowing the overall plot. I rather found a lot of them written from a very warm and loving point of view, especially whenever Ursula interacted with other characters like the dying man who asks them to take the head of the Saint and reunite it with her body. Even though this man is beyond saving, Ursula makes sure that he can still leave this world with some dignity and no worries left.
What immediately struck me as a little odd during Elsebeth’s PoV was that it was the only one told from first person perspective. She is a very headstrong young woman and I enjoyed how she was fit to lead their little duo on but I was wondering all this time why she was singled out with the perspective change. What I really liked was how she knew about a lot of the folkloric tales and creatures they were coming across, it made me really curious and look them up myself.
Although Elsebeth seems very strong, I was glad to see her weakest moments, which weren’t rare but made me as the reader understand why she decided to act tough in the first place. She is someone who was forced to question God and his existence due to unfortunate circumstances and turn away from deep Beliefs, which I desperately wanted to understand. She’s holding a lot of survivor’s guilt and doubts herself tremendously. I saw a lot of myself in Elsebeth and it was heartbreaking sometimes to see her try so hard yet not feeling good enough in her own eyes, I found myself rooting for her to overcome her traumatic experiences and find the love she deserved. Going into further detail about her would be major spoiler territory but Elsebeth is a very complex and interesting character and was beautifully written, it’s a believable portrayal of a person with trauma and mental health issues and I applaud van Veen for that.
Otto is a mercenary raiding a farm house with his band of charlatans when he is visited and killed by a necromancer. Forced to serve him as a Wiedergänger (a revenant), he is obliged to follow him on a quest to retrieve the Saint’s skull back.
Otto’s perspective was the least interesting to me in the beginning, having a glimpse into the mind of a literal serial killer and outright evil man wasn’t something I was particularly excited about. The intruiging aspect about his chapters was really the unnamed necromancer, the villain of the story, who made Otto see the wrong of his ways, how he was complicit in the sexual assaults of women, even if he didn’t participate. By staying passive, Otto is a perpetrator as well in it, aside from the killing, robbing, torturing and besieging all these years.
His chapters made me question who was the villain here or rather who van Veen was trying to portray as the real villain of the book. I surmised that Otto’s chapters were a way for the author to address all the horror of war and plague in a respectful way and she did so wonderfully. It felt surreal to have Satan’s minion have higher ethics than the human being in his captivity. All the while it made me more interested to find about the necromancer’s background, what must have happened to push him towards the Devil?
This is more of a love story during the time of the 30-Year’s war rather than horror. Yes, it has some elements of it, especially the folkloric creatures and the severity of war but the focus lies on the connection between Sister Ursula and Elsebeth, how their connection grows and a love, founded on trust and understanding, slowly begins to bud. It was beautiful to experience but I felt like it was lacking a little bit of eerieness sometimes. Yes, war is horrible enough, but I would have loved seeing them encounter more of the creatures. One of the best scenes in my opinion was during their and the atmosphere was palpable, there was a shiver down my spine and I was really craving more of that. I would even go as far as saying that this was the only scene of that kind, there were gruesome and dark moments like the return to Sister Ursulas convent and some of these situations would have worked better for me personally, if there wouldn’t have been broken up by more tender moments even though I acknowledge and agree that these story bits were important and had to be there to further the character development and relationship between Elsebeth and Ursula. Maybe the meaning and raison d'être flew over my head and I’m just unable to contextualize it into the bigger picture but I could have done without it and nothing would have changed for me.
But even if there are some points I thought were worthy of criticism I was a fan of the ending. Usually I don’t hold much appreciation for a quieter end to the story but it was very fitting for Bone of my Bone. It felt like it held so much love, mutual understanding and respect for the characters but also unfolded between them. Not only between Ursula and Elsebeth but also for the unnamed woman’s skull who was unable to find rest. Making it their next quest oozed benevolence and piety, it felt so human,
Being able to read the book was a delight and I want to express my gratitude again for providing me with this ARC. I hope I was able to do the pages justice and reflect on the story with respect and thoughtfulness.
I’m not as eloquent as some reviewers here as English is not my first language but as a token of my appreciation I’m here to write my first review. Please beware of possible minor spoilers and grammatic errors.
I loved van Veen’s “Blood on her Tongue“ and her other book, “My Darling dreadful thing“ is at the top of my TBR right now. Needless to say I was really looking forward to Bone of my Bone and felt really ecstatic when I was able to grab an ARC. Due to that, I made sure to read the foreword and the afterword, which I usually skip and I’m glad I didn’t this time around. Van Veen speaks about some of the trigger warnings in the former and how she tried to treat them respectfully without going too much into the gruesome details but staying true to the circumstances and happenings of the time. It made me look at everything a little bit closer detective-style but I can wholeheartedly say, that she did a splendid job.
In the latter, van Veen mentions how she didn’t want to add to all the triggers with an additional one and that is why she kept homophobia pretty much out of the whole picture which I appreciate a lot. There’s enough to stomach in the book and facing homophobia while the main couple is sapphic would have been detrimental to the character- and relationship development. I can only sing praises for van Veen that she found a perfect balance and basically proceeded to dance on the thin line in-between the two.
The Story itself is told from three perspectives: Sister Ursula, a nun on her way to another convent, Elsebeth, a persistent farm girl and Otto, a mercenary raiding houses and cities.
We start out from Ursula’s perspective and she is a very timid, God-fearing, yet cowardly nun with lots of self-doubts and a terrible secret. Saved by Elsebeth during an attack on their travelling group, she is thankful to have someone to lean on and guide her. There’s an immediate connection between the two and seeing both of them support each other from the first second on was lovely to see.
As a nun, Ursula often thinks and talks about God and Christian teachings, naturally of course, which often ensues discussions between the two women due to their differing religious beliefs and world views. Although I myself am Atheist and not really interested in reading about Religion, I was not bothered by these moments, rather van Beek made sure that these discussions and thoughts flowed naturally and fittingly into the situation and given the time in which the story it takes place these moments were not too overpowering or overshadowing the overall plot. I rather found a lot of them written from a very warm and loving point of view, especially whenever Ursula interacted with other characters like the dying man who asks them to take the head of the Saint and reunite it with her body. Even though this man is beyond saving, Ursula makes sure that he can still leave this world with some dignity and no worries left.
What immediately struck me as a little odd during Elsebeth’s PoV was that it was the only one told from first person perspective. She is a very headstrong young woman and I enjoyed how she was fit to lead their little duo on but I was wondering all this time why she was singled out with the perspective change. What I really liked was how she knew about a lot of the folkloric tales and creatures they were coming across, it made me really curious and look them up myself.
Although Elsebeth seems very strong, I was glad to see her weakest moments, which weren’t rare but made me as the reader understand why she decided to act tough in the first place. She is someone who was forced to question God and his existence due to unfortunate circumstances and turn away from deep Beliefs, which I desperately wanted to understand. She’s holding a lot of survivor’s guilt and doubts herself tremendously. I saw a lot of myself in Elsebeth and it was heartbreaking sometimes to see her try so hard yet not feeling good enough in her own eyes, I found myself rooting for her to overcome her traumatic experiences and find the love she deserved. Going into further detail about her would be major spoiler territory but Elsebeth is a very complex and interesting character and was beautifully written, it’s a believable portrayal of a person with trauma and mental health issues and I applaud van Veen for that.
Otto is a mercenary raiding a farm house with his band of charlatans when he is visited and killed by a necromancer. Forced to serve him as a Wiedergänger (a revenant), he is obliged to follow him on a quest to retrieve the Saint’s skull back.
Otto’s perspective was the least interesting to me in the beginning, having a glimpse into the mind of a literal serial killer and outright evil man wasn’t something I was particularly excited about. The intruiging aspect about his chapters was really the unnamed necromancer, the villain of the story, who made Otto see the wrong of his ways, how he was complicit in the sexual assaults of women, even if he didn’t participate. By staying passive, Otto is a perpetrator as well in it, aside from the killing, robbing, torturing and besieging all these years.
His chapters made me question who was the villain here or rather who van Veen was trying to portray as the real villain of the book. I surmised that Otto’s chapters were a way for the author to address all the horror of war and plague in a respectful way and she did so wonderfully. It felt surreal to have Satan’s minion have higher ethics than the human being in his captivity. All the while it made me more interested to find about the necromancer’s background, what must have happened to push him towards the Devil?
This is more of a love story during the time of the 30-Year’s war rather than horror. Yes, it has some elements of it, especially the folkloric creatures and the severity of war but the focus lies on the connection between Sister Ursula and Elsebeth, how their connection grows and a love, founded on trust and understanding, slowly begins to bud. It was beautiful to experience but I felt like it was lacking a little bit of eerieness sometimes. Yes, war is horrible enough, but I would have loved seeing them encounter more of the creatures. One of the best scenes in my opinion was during their and the atmosphere was palpable, there was a shiver down my spine and I was really craving more of that. I would even go as far as saying that this was the only scene of that kind, there were gruesome and dark moments like the return to Sister Ursulas convent and some of these situations would have worked better for me personally, if there wouldn’t have been broken up by more tender moments even though I acknowledge and agree that these story bits were important and had to be there to further the character development and relationship between Elsebeth and Ursula. Maybe the meaning and raison d'être flew over my head and I’m just unable to contextualize it into the bigger picture but I could have done without it and nothing would have changed for me.
But even if there are some points I thought were worthy of criticism I was a fan of the ending. Usually I don’t hold much appreciation for a quieter end to the story but it was very fitting for Bone of my Bone. It felt like it held so much love, mutual understanding and respect for the characters but also unfolded between them. Not only between Ursula and Elsebeth but also for the unnamed woman’s skull who was unable to find rest. Making it their next quest oozed benevolence and piety, it felt so human,
Being able to read the book was a delight and I want to express my gratitude again for providing me with this ARC. I hope I was able to do the pages justice and reflect on the story with respect and thoughtfulness.
December 18, 2025
This was a good read of a gothic sapphic but historical read. Truly felt I was learning about the horrors of the past as I was reading and falling for these two lovers wishing them the best. I honestly hope for a second book to follow this one 🤞
April 20, 2026
Bone of my Bone is a gothic, sapphic, folksy horror
In the 1600's Germany, during the 30 years war, MMC Elsebeth and MMC Sister Ursula, find themselves together after having escaped a group of soldiers. They come upon a dying man with a skull, supposedly the skull of a saint who will grant a wish to whomever reunites it with her body. Elsebeth and Sister Ursula both have their own wishes they want granted so decide to make the dangerous trek to the body, a map came with the skull to show them the way. On their way they face many evils, it seems the dead of this world don't always stay that way...
I haven't read a book in this setting before, so I found that to be super interesting. I know this is fiction, so I didn't anticipate/or expect complete historical accuracy, but I do feel the author did a great job of showing us how hard it was for any of the people living during this time. Most people in that time were religious, and based their entire lives around what was accepted by their particular religions, and of course the war was due to tension between Catholics and Protestants.
Sister Ursula is such an interesting character, being a nun, she of course is very set in her ways and beliefs. I was fascinated by her perspective on everything going on, especially her complete and utter commitment to God, and that everything good or bad that her and Elsebeth experience is "God's will". Elsebeth on the other hand is a protestant, and has experienced enough death and grief, that she no longer fully believes. Elsebeth does believe in all the Revenant creatures, and tells Sister Ursula stories about them. Sister Ursula doesn't necessarily believe...until they are visited by a Nachzehrer.
We have a second POV to Elsebeth and Sister Ursula as well, Otto, killed and then revived by the necromancer, is now forced to do the necromancer's bidding. The Otto/Necromancer chapters are such contradictions to Sister Ursula and her beliefs, I find the way this entire story is written to be intriguing, the juxtaposition of a nun, literally being hunted by a necromancer. Also running first hand into creatures that have come back from death, these are just protestant beliefs, until Sister Ursula faces them in real life.
This story does such a great job of showing what is perceived as good and evil, and making the characters really question their own beliefs. The necromancer, someone who made a deal with the devil to bring back corpses, even has his own interesting morals, he tells Otto "Do you think that just because something is common, it is therefore without fault?" YES.YES.YES!! THIS! The necromancer points out how man believes things are ok because everyone does them, but that that belief is WRONG. It is merely an acceptance of horrible behavior, which does not make it right.
I think that Sister Ursula and Elsebeth's relationship is also interesting, how certain things are "ok" for a nun if they are done out of love. It really makes you think about how religion often says things are "ok" if it makes sense for them.
The ending, oh it is so good! Who heeds Elsebeth's calls in the end, and is that just a show that evil is easier than good? Or was Elsebeth just willing to do anything, even turn to evil, to save her love?
Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"Ursula is a papist. Worse than that, I think she might be a nun."
""And thus you presume yourself free of sin?"..."Do you really think that just because something is common it is therefore without fault?""
"The smell when Otto sets them on fire is familiar to him: half rot, half sweet meat cooking. There is no comfort in this familiarity."
"If horrors happen to you all the time, do they stop being horrors and simply become ordinary life?"
""I think I may have loved you from the moment you took my hand.""
"I am not fully sane, not anymore, mayhap not ever again, for madness is truly a kind of place, and once you wander in too deep, you can't find your way out again."
"Just a woman brought back from the dead against her will by a man who could not let her go."
""I love you so much, I can scarcely speak of it. You have crept inside my heart and taken root there, and unlike a dandelion, I cannot rip you out.""
In the 1600's Germany, during the 30 years war, MMC Elsebeth and MMC Sister Ursula, find themselves together after having escaped a group of soldiers. They come upon a dying man with a skull, supposedly the skull of a saint who will grant a wish to whomever reunites it with her body. Elsebeth and Sister Ursula both have their own wishes they want granted so decide to make the dangerous trek to the body, a map came with the skull to show them the way. On their way they face many evils, it seems the dead of this world don't always stay that way...
I haven't read a book in this setting before, so I found that to be super interesting. I know this is fiction, so I didn't anticipate/or expect complete historical accuracy, but I do feel the author did a great job of showing us how hard it was for any of the people living during this time. Most people in that time were religious, and based their entire lives around what was accepted by their particular religions, and of course the war was due to tension between Catholics and Protestants.
Sister Ursula is such an interesting character, being a nun, she of course is very set in her ways and beliefs. I was fascinated by her perspective on everything going on, especially her complete and utter commitment to God, and that everything good or bad that her and Elsebeth experience is "God's will". Elsebeth on the other hand is a protestant, and has experienced enough death and grief, that she no longer fully believes. Elsebeth does believe in all the Revenant creatures, and tells Sister Ursula stories about them. Sister Ursula doesn't necessarily believe...until they are visited by a Nachzehrer.
We have a second POV to Elsebeth and Sister Ursula as well, Otto, killed and then revived by the necromancer, is now forced to do the necromancer's bidding. The Otto/Necromancer chapters are such contradictions to Sister Ursula and her beliefs, I find the way this entire story is written to be intriguing, the juxtaposition of a nun, literally being hunted by a necromancer. Also running first hand into creatures that have come back from death, these are just protestant beliefs, until Sister Ursula faces them in real life.
This story does such a great job of showing what is perceived as good and evil, and making the characters really question their own beliefs. The necromancer, someone who made a deal with the devil to bring back corpses, even has his own interesting morals, he tells Otto "Do you think that just because something is common, it is therefore without fault?" YES.YES.YES!! THIS! The necromancer points out how man believes things are ok because everyone does them, but that that belief is WRONG. It is merely an acceptance of horrible behavior, which does not make it right.
I think that Sister Ursula and Elsebeth's relationship is also interesting, how certain things are "ok" for a nun if they are done out of love. It really makes you think about how religion often says things are "ok" if it makes sense for them.
The ending, oh it is so good! Who heeds Elsebeth's calls in the end, and is that just a show that evil is easier than good? Or was Elsebeth just willing to do anything, even turn to evil, to save her love?
Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"Ursula is a papist. Worse than that, I think she might be a nun."
""And thus you presume yourself free of sin?"..."Do you really think that just because something is common it is therefore without fault?""
"The smell when Otto sets them on fire is familiar to him: half rot, half sweet meat cooking. There is no comfort in this familiarity."
"If horrors happen to you all the time, do they stop being horrors and simply become ordinary life?"
""I think I may have loved you from the moment you took my hand.""
"I am not fully sane, not anymore, mayhap not ever again, for madness is truly a kind of place, and once you wander in too deep, you can't find your way out again."
"Just a woman brought back from the dead against her will by a man who could not let her go."
""I love you so much, I can scarcely speak of it. You have crept inside my heart and taken root there, and unlike a dandelion, I cannot rip you out.""
February 1, 2026
A Sister, a farm girl, and a skull… what could go wrong?
Sister Ursula finds herself alone and under attack while fleeing to a nearby convent. In this war, soldiers do not hesitate to attack or violate any person in their path. However, she is saved by a young farm girl who dares not see another woman brutalized as her sister was. As they travel together for safety, they come across a dying man holding a strange relic… a skull of a saint, which rumor says will grant the bearer a wish should it be returned to its body. The two girls set out on a journey to cleanse the sins they have committed, but an evil force is following them and will stop at nothing to get the skull they bear.
I had high hopes for this novel having read van Veen’s previous Blood on Her Tongue. In some ways, the novel delivered. It was dark and gothic in the way you hope will come from a historical horror. However, I felt the story was overrun between the religious aspects and the burgeoning love story between the two girls. I get religion plays a strong part in the war, setting, and interactions, but felt it quite tedious and repetitive at a point. There were also a few consistency flaws that I kept catching that I felt distracted from the story.
That being said, I did really enjoy the folklore aspects Johanna van Veen wove into this story, which kept me entangled enough to the end.
Recommended if you like: historical horror, dark folklore, sapphic romance
I received an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
Sister Ursula finds herself alone and under attack while fleeing to a nearby convent. In this war, soldiers do not hesitate to attack or violate any person in their path. However, she is saved by a young farm girl who dares not see another woman brutalized as her sister was. As they travel together for safety, they come across a dying man holding a strange relic… a skull of a saint, which rumor says will grant the bearer a wish should it be returned to its body. The two girls set out on a journey to cleanse the sins they have committed, but an evil force is following them and will stop at nothing to get the skull they bear.
I had high hopes for this novel having read van Veen’s previous Blood on Her Tongue. In some ways, the novel delivered. It was dark and gothic in the way you hope will come from a historical horror. However, I felt the story was overrun between the religious aspects and the burgeoning love story between the two girls. I get religion plays a strong part in the war, setting, and interactions, but felt it quite tedious and repetitive at a point. There were also a few consistency flaws that I kept catching that I felt distracted from the story.
That being said, I did really enjoy the folklore aspects Johanna van Veen wove into this story, which kept me entangled enough to the end.
Recommended if you like: historical horror, dark folklore, sapphic romance
I received an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
April 15, 2026
My first foray into Johanna van Veen’s books, and now I’m itching to read more. Bone of My Bone is a historical, religious, and folk horror that takes place during the Thirty Years War in Bavaria, Germany. I knew nothing about this bloody conflict going into this story, but I found myself so interested in the historical influence throughout. One of my favorite aspects of horror is the combination resulting from fictional liberties and gruesome reality. Van Veen expertly incorporated this blend.
The inclusion of folklore from this time in history, mixed with the author’s own spin on witches and necromancers, provided an extra layer to the danger our protagonists were already entrenched in. So much of the information about how saints were preserved, burials, religious beliefs, and witch trials provided the setting for a truly harrowing story. The inclusion of a romance was a welcome reprieve from the constant horrors of the characters just trying to survive.
This story is told through three POVs: Ursula, Elsebeth, and Otto. Each of which have a wildly different perspective of what is occurring. I found myself looking forward to the chapters with the necromancer, because I found him to be a humorous antagonist and was curious about his motives. The ending felt poetic to me, and it remained true to how each of the characters was portrayed throughout the book.
Bone of My Bone releases on May 26, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
The inclusion of folklore from this time in history, mixed with the author’s own spin on witches and necromancers, provided an extra layer to the danger our protagonists were already entrenched in. So much of the information about how saints were preserved, burials, religious beliefs, and witch trials provided the setting for a truly harrowing story. The inclusion of a romance was a welcome reprieve from the constant horrors of the characters just trying to survive.
This story is told through three POVs: Ursula, Elsebeth, and Otto. Each of which have a wildly different perspective of what is occurring. I found myself looking forward to the chapters with the necromancer, because I found him to be a humorous antagonist and was curious about his motives. The ending felt poetic to me, and it remained true to how each of the characters was portrayed throughout the book.
Bone of My Bone releases on May 26, 2026. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
February 27, 2026
4.5 Stars
✨✨✨Outstanding!!!✨✨✨
Bone of my Bone is a gripping and intriguing story that is a blend of historical, religious horror, folk horror, and some excellent gothic atmosphere too!! I LOVED IT!!
I enjoyed Elsebeth and Ursula’s POVs and their journey together trying to reunite the skull with the saint while being chased by a necromancer. The necromancer, Otto, and revenant stuff was all so cool and definitely my favorite part of the book. I liked the romance too, even though for me it could have been a little less insta love. It just needed to be a bit more development for me. I absolutely loved the ending!!!
I read Blood on Her Tongue last year and really enjoyed it as well, so I was THRILLED to receive this one for review !!!
Johanna van Veen is definitely an author I need to read more from!! She has such incredible takes on gruesome gothic stories that are extremely engrossing and unique!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released May 26, 2026.
✨✨✨Outstanding!!!✨✨✨
Bone of my Bone is a gripping and intriguing story that is a blend of historical, religious horror, folk horror, and some excellent gothic atmosphere too!! I LOVED IT!!
I enjoyed Elsebeth and Ursula’s POVs and their journey together trying to reunite the skull with the saint while being chased by a necromancer. The necromancer, Otto, and revenant stuff was all so cool and definitely my favorite part of the book. I liked the romance too, even though for me it could have been a little less insta love. It just needed to be a bit more development for me. I absolutely loved the ending!!!
I read Blood on Her Tongue last year and really enjoyed it as well, so I was THRILLED to receive this one for review !!!
Johanna van Veen is definitely an author I need to read more from!! She has such incredible takes on gruesome gothic stories that are extremely engrossing and unique!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released May 26, 2026.
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