Bone of My Bone

by Johanna van Veen

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.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Lesbian, Historical Fiction, Adult, Historical, Queer

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Johanna 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.

Reviews

[Sidney · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Azhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!

[Nic]

LOVE

[Halie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨️

this was definitely interesting. i preferred the authors earlier works to this as the more gothic horror vibes i think worked better for the style of books but that isnt to say this wasnt enjoyable.

it was unique, that is for sure, and i was interested in the story and the characters. characters were a shining part of this book, the plot sometimes was a bit loose but i kept reading due to characters

[kiki’s delivery witch ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, Johanna van Veen is back at it with making sapphic folk horror her entire personality at this point (I'm here for it, obvs) even if it leaves me staring at the ceiling at 3am wondering about saints and skulls.

This one's set in 1635 Bavaria during the Thirty Years' War (because nothing says romance like marauding soldiers and plague-ravaged villages, right?), following Sister Ursula, a young nun who's just escaped her convent before soldiers rape and pillage it (if the plague doesn’t get there first), and Elsebeth, this sharp-tongued peasant farmgirl who somehow becomes her ride-or-die. They stumble onto a gilded saint's skull from a dying man, complete with a creepy old map promising a wish if they reunite it with the body. Cue the road trip from hell: a necromancer on their tail, a dead boy who wants a ride home, undead folklore vibes, and a whole lot of ambiguity.

The romance between Ursula and Elsebeth is the beating (rotting?) heart of it all, slow burn devotion that escalates into full-on codependent madness, where true love looks a lot like picking nits out of your girlfriend's hair by candlelight. It's intense, tender, and horrifying in the best way; van Veen's prose is lush and poetic, dripping with that foggy, forested atmosphere that makes you feel like something's watching from the trees. The body horror and religious dread? Exquisitely gruesome without going full splatterpunk.

Flaws, because nothing's perfect: the middle section meanders a bit through the war-torn countryside folklore dumps, and I could've used more depth on that pursuing necromancer, he felt like a tantalizing side villain. Still, the themes of desperate salvation, hidden desires, and what you'd sacrifice (or become) for the person you love hit hard. It left me craving just a tad more chaos at the end.


- Sapphic slow-burn in historical hellscape
- Folk horror quest gone wrong
- Codependent girlfriends vs. the apocalypse
- Saintly relics with dubious magic
- Necromancer antagonist energy
- Religious horror
- Isolated war-torn villages full of omens
- "I'd defy God for you" vows
- Atmospheric whispery dread overload

If you're into queer gothic horror that feels like The VVitch had a baby with a forbidden nun-peasant fanfic, check this out when it drops in May.

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsebeth is a farmgirl whose life has been upended by the war. Ursula is a nun who is saved by Elsebeth from a soldier's attack. The two come across a dying soldier who gives them a skull and a map, telling them that it belongs to a saint and that she needs to be reunited with her body. The religious Ursula knows that helping a saint can grant a wish, and wanting nothing more than her family back from beyond the grave, Elsebeth joins her to find the saint's body. Unfortunately for the two women, the Bavarian countryside is haunted by revenants, and someone who made a deal with the devil is searching for the same skull.

No one's doing Gothic horror quite like Johanna van Veen. When it comes to beauty in the grotesque, lovingly-described corpses, and vivid lesbian cunnilingus scenes, van Veen is bridging a gap between classic writing and modern sensibilities. While she admits that she's avoiding time period appropriate homophobia in 'Bone of My Bone', I never felt as if it was unrealistically avoided--Elsebeth and Ursula keep their affection out of the public eye, and with famine and war around every corner I don't think getting angry about two young women holding hands would be anyone's top priority, anyway.

While 'Bone of My Bone' is equally grotesque and romantic, my favorite parts of the novel were the Germanic undead folklore and the reverence towards the dead. As the specter of death falls all over a Germany torn apart by the Thirty Years' War (which van Veen provides some helpful facts about before the story properly begins, helping to dress the setting), the women encounter restless souls along their journey. An encounter with a young aufhocker is both terrifying and tragic, especially when he leads the two back to his grave.

Without spoiling too much, I also found the book's villain a really fun character. Fabulously sinister, in a way that really commands your attention whenever the point of view character is talking about him.

'Bone of My Bone' is the kind of horror book that sticks with you after you've read it, much like an afterimage after pressing against your closed eyes with your palms. Johanna van Veen is a rising star in modern horror.

[Caitlin Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🖤

[Y.N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC

'Bone of my bone' is a folk-horror story set in the time of the Thirty Years War, in Bavaria. The setting did feel nicely researched despite the liberty taken. The focos on the lived in experience of the people rather than the politics of the war or the soldiers was, I think, a highlight in the approach.

Religion takes an important place in this story, since it was such an important topic and grounding reality for the time. I must say I do struggle with this side of things, simply because of how faith can still be used as a rejection and violent tool. That being said, Johanna Van Veen knows what she is doing and use faith as an interesting entry point to a larger array of human experiences and struggle.

The sapphic romance was cute. I wasn't that invested in it, because it came quickly and with a few trappings I don't really fall into, but it still had a nice ring to it.

The pacing was a bit of a struggle for me, especially because I wasn't that invested in the characters or the plot. It is quite a basic plot, though with an nice twist at the end.

The strength of this book relies on the crudeness of the period, violence and pain infiltrating every homes and every lives, making our characters' journey a haunting one. I did enjoy Otto's perspective, they had something of a hook that went a little deeper for me, even though I didn't really cared for him.

All in all, I quite enjoyed this book. I might check Van Veen's other works!

[The Belladonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

“For as long as I am with her, Earth itself is Heaven. I love her.”

One saint. One sinner. One skull.

Bone of My Bone is due for release on May 26, 2026.

Johanna van Veen brings us a sapphic folk-horror set in Germany during the Thirty Years' War, 1635. Here, a young Sister Ursula meets the formidable Elsebeth as they both race for their lives from relentless soldiers. They come across a dying man who gives them the skull of a saint and tells them that if they reunite the skull with its body, a wish will be granted. The pair faces many obstacles and enemies on their journey, including a nachzehrer (vampire-like revenant), an aufhocker (shapeshifter), and a necromancer. Will they succeed in their plight? At least they have each other through it all, a bond that grows stronger as the devastation builds.

Gruesome, haunting, yet at times romantic, van Veen delivers a gut-wrenching storyline with historical fiction vibes. This book talks a lot about religion, specifically Catholicism and Calvinism, and its language captures the era, immersing readers in a distinctive experience.

“I am likely Hell bound too, we shall be damned together. But first, we live."

A big Thank You to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, described by its author as a folk horror, takes place in Bavaria in the 1600’s during the Thirty Years War. Sister Ursula is saved from a grisly fate by Elsebeth when soldiers run rampant committing atrocities against the land and its people. The two woman have a chance encounter with the skull of a Saint and with the promise of a wish if they can reunite the Saint with its body, they team up on a gruesome adventure filled with monsters, necromancers, gore and a healthy dose of love and lust.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3⭐️.

This is absolutely a book to check your trigger warnings before proceeding and there are quite a few of them listed. I did enjoy this book and all of its characters, yes even Otto the bad guy soldier was enjoyable at times. I don’t read an abundance of horror, but I found this to be relatively tame by today’s standards. If readers are ok with an abundance of religion and unattached body parts this sapphic love story might be a winner.

[Hannah Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this ARC, this is exactly what I posted on my Threads account, "Don’t even talk to me about Bone on Bone. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to read again." I think that pretty much sums it up.

As usual, Johanna van Veen does not miss. The style of writing, the flow of the writing, the storyline and the characters--all beautiful and delightful. Well, except for Otto and his gang, naturally. The two main characters were very engaging and I appreciated how much ground they found together despite some MAJOR differences. I will admit the book had me particularly stressed out at the end, but I wound up loving how it ended. It is also a rare book that made me laugh out loud, with Elsebeth threatening to eat finger bones. I had to stop and read that scene aloud to my wife.

I cannot and will not ever shut up about this book nor will I ever stop recommending it to everyone who ever lived ever. Johanna van Veen is an insta-buy for me and the books just keep getting better and better. I will be so thrilled to hold this in my hands when it comes out.

[Christine HorrorReaderWeekend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thrilling gothic/folk horror novel that contained all the themes I like: folktales, a quest, religious horror, zombies, revenants and necromancers, a sweet love story and unexpected twists.

In war-torn Bavaria, Elspeth, a Protestant farm girl and Ursula, a Papist nun in disguise, escape dangerous soldiers while on the road together. They escape and find a dying soldier with a saint’s reliquary. They decide to deliver this skull to its body and safety. But a witch necromancer also wants this skull and their paths will collide in a surprising twist.

The story was finely paced and the tension was high throughout the novel. The ending felt a little rushed and wanted to know more about the consequences of Ursula’s and Elspeth’s choices.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisonedpenpress for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Thirty Years’ War, Sister Ursula is fleeing her destroyed convent and encounters Elsebeth who is running for her life as she escapes a band of soldiers. On a dying man, they find a delicately wrapped skull of a saint. It is rumored that if you return a saint’s skull to the body, you will be granted a wish. Guided by a map to the saint’s body, their journey clashes with dreadful horrors, both dead and alive.

The settings of van Veen’s stories are mesmerizing and feel like a character of their own. I was totally spellbound by the gothic magic of this story and appreciated the romantic storyline. As usual, van Veen has delivered another captivating tale.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book.

[rebeccareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuns and sinners and saints and bones, don't mind if I do! Visceral and graphic and at times quite grotesque, Bone of My Bone hooked me with its complex and realistic characters, immersive and rich take on Bavaria, and healthy dose of gothic-tinged body horror. I picked it up not long after reading both The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir and Holy Wrath by Victoria Mier, so necromancy and nuns alike were on the mind. Bone of My Bone did end up reminding me a bit of both, and I mean that as high praise! If dark sapphic love stories with a religious twist are your jam - I guess they're becoming mine? - this one will fit right in on your TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Amanda Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked from the very beginning! I do believe this was my first folk horror and it did not disappoint although, I would say the romance part felt a bit “intsa-love” but then again it may have made sense considering the time this book was taking place so basically every second of their life counts. I read Blood on her Tongue by Johanna van Veen so I knew I was going to like her writing style here and I was correct. It was never choppy the scenes flowed from each perspective seamlessly. Can’t wait to see what other ideas for books Johanna has.

Many thanks you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC! 🙂‍↕️

[Erin McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!

I enjoyed this! Weirdly I feel like the dialogue started in one style at the beginning of the book, then transitioned to be more period accurate around half way, which was jarring. I wish there had been a little more meat to the story past the half way point, as it felt kind of wandering near the end. I enjoyed the setting and the main plot, just wished it had a little more going on.

[Hekareadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

Johanna van Veen does it again. An excellent novel full of gorgeous writing, historical context, sapphic love, and religious horror/trauma/guilt.

I will read anything Johanna van Veen writes. Blood on Her Tongue was one of my top reads of 2025, and I feel so lucky to have received an arc of Bone of My Bone.

van Veen continues to astonish me with her beautiful researched and interpreted historical horror.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc.

[Alyssa Grimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johanna is such a brilliant story teller and this latest book was everything I hoped it would be- twisted, wild and heartbreaking:/ Elsebeth and Ursula truly go through it during a time of war, hunger, rape and cruelty and how their story ends I guess is entirely up to how you perceive it, happy or tragic. I found it to be a bit of both to be honest! Above all else, it’s well written and unhinged and has too many horrifying historical accuracies so it’s a win for me:)

[Maddison Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a marvellous read. Eerie, raw, brutal and romantic in equal turns, Bone of my Bone really fed my craving for new Gothic stories after watching the new Guillermo del Toro Frankenstein film. The fact that it was sapphic was just a bonus.

Definitely read the content warnings before diving in, but otherwise this was an incredibly satisfying read to end my 2025.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Johanna van Veen’s descriptive writing, and medieval horror is one of my favorite sub genres. After loving Blood on Her Tongue, I was really looking forward to this one. I did find this novel harder to get into as it moves much more slowly. While it wasn’t my favorite, I will certainly be reading this author’s next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elsebeth and Sister Ursula find one another while escaping soldiers and then discover the skull of a saint on their escape. They’re told that reuniting the skull with the body will grant them a wish, which they both desperately need.

The story was paced too slow for me, so I wasn’t really invested until around 60%. This story has all the right pieces with so much potential to be great, but I found the characters to be underdeveloped for my taste and was unable to relate.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest feedback.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1600s during the Thirty Years’ War, this book delivers on its grim setting. It is gory and sometimes nauseating, but the sapphic romance between Ursula and Elsebeth is beautifully written, full of yearning and religious guilt that gives the story its emotional core. I really enjoy this authors sapphic horrors!

[Book Goblin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🤞

[Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review TK