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, Historical Fiction, Queer, Lesbian, LGBT, Historical

368 pages, Paperback

First published 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

[Ricarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[AG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

🌟🌟/5

For me, 'Bone of My Bone' is Johanna van Veen's weakest work yet, which is such a shame because it's also the book that I thought had the most potential. I mean, a sapphic folk/religious horror with Germanic folklore?! The concept couldn't have been better. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me and might just go down as one of my least favourite reads of the year.

There's still quite a lot that I liked about 'Bone of My Bone'. As always, Johanna van Veen's ability to conjure up incredibly horrifying visuals in my mind remains unparalleled. Rotting flesh, bulging eyeballs, plague-afflicted bodies...this book has it all. I absolutely do not recommend it (or any of van Veen's adult horror novels, for that matter) if you're squeamish. I thought the author's portrayal of the horrors of war and famine was very effective. I also like how concepts from Germanic folklore like the Nachzehrer and the Aufhocker (with a few creative liberties) were incorporated into the story. Some aspects of Ursula's character development, like her overcoming fear, were well done. I also liked

The romance was a major letdown for me. It was very much insta-love and the protagonists literally kissed within a day of meeting each other. Ursula's incessant talk of God and religion was grating and took me out of the story. As much as I respect all faiths, this is something I personally prefer not to read about in books. I felt like I was being lectured, and that's not something I expected when I heard that this was a religious horror novel. Elsebeth was somewhat more compelling, but I couldn't deeply care for either of them. I also didn't find the setting to be immersive. van Veen's previous gothic horror novels had an impeccable sense of setting, this one did not. I appreciate the author for openly admitting that geography and topography are not her strong suit. However, this really took away from my enjoyment of the book. The climax had one very cool plot twist, but otherwise felt comical and the confrontation with the villain cartoonish. There was a certain thing about the resolution at the end that I did not like. My explanations are probably too handwavy, but I can say only this much without getting into spoilers.

Overall, 'Bone of My Bone' was a huge disappointment for me, and I wouldn't recommend it. Her debut 'My Darling Dreadful Thing' remains my favourite of hers so far. I'm still interested in reading her upcoming adult fantasy, though. I'm excited to see what a lighthearted novel by Johanna van Veen feels like!

[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

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️

Bone of My Bone is a historically-set Religious Horror novel set during the time of the Thirty Years' War. It's Sapphic, contains a lot of gore, and also some really interesting elements stemming from Germanic Folklore.

We follow Ursula, a nun, and a peasant girl named Elsebeth. Both women are fleeing from marauding soldiers. Ursula has fled her convent, and Elsebeth, after the loss of her entire family, is trying to make her way to her Aunt's home.



They meet on the road after Elsebeth jumps in to protect Ursula from an attacking soldier. Once they're safe, the women have a chat, and decide it would be safer for them both if they travel together. Safety in numbers, and all that.

Keeping to the woods in the hopes they won't be spotted by any more soldiers, they happen upon a dying man. He's clutching a glass box, within which lies the gilded skull of a Saint. Ursula immediately recognizes it for what it is, and also knows that it's said that if you reunite the Saint's skull with it's body, you'll be granted a wish.

In these horrific times, both women have a lot to wish for. They discuss it a bit, and decide they have nothing to lose. It's worth a shot. Thus, they scoop up the reliquary and begin their quest.



There's a map to where the Saint's body is said to be, but there's certainly a lot of ground to cover. Unfortunately, the dangers on the road are plentiful, and it's not just the soldiers they need to fear. There's also a Necromancer, drawn to the power of the skull, who is hot on their heels.

Will they be able to survive the dangers of the road, dodge the Necromancer and be able to reunite the Saint's skull with her body? There's only one way to find out.



Johanna van Veen has done it again!

This is such an excellent blend of Historical, Religious and Folk Horror. The setting is rich with detail, gritty and brutal. There's dirt, grime, gore, blood, and everything in between.

Ursula and Elsebeth were both well-developed and I found their quest to be gripping. Gore is mentioned-above, and I loved how gory it was, but I also appreciated the softer character moments than van Veen included.

I was a bit intimidated by this going in, but instantly found it so accessible. I had concerns it would be challenging, I think because I found the synopsis a little confusing. Nevertheless, I had nothing to be concerned about.



Having the quest gave the story great focus, and also allowed Ursula and Elsebeth to bond more quickly due to their reliance upon one another for safety.

I've heard some people mention it's too heavily-focused on religion, and understand people having those opinions, but I feel like it makes sense due to the historical context of the story, and Ursula's role within the church as a nun.

The Thirty Years' War is such a horrible period of history, and it's not one I've read a lot about in a fictional way. I liked that van Veen chose that time period. It's certainly made me more curious about that war and to imagine what life was like during that time is truly horrifying.



This is only the 2nd-novel I've read from van Veen, but she's quickly jumped the ranks of my go-to authors list. I still need to read My Darling Dreadful Thing. I have a feeling I'm going to love that one just as much.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me a copy to read and review. I can't wait to get a hard copy of this for my shelves!!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 ★

i had so many issues with this book and I’m disappointed because i enjoyed the authors other 2 books i read. since it’s set in the 1600s, there’s a lot of old-timely language but it’s inconsistent and just got on my nerves. the two fmcs: Ursula and Elesebeth reacted so odd towards each other, then you add in the insta love & “mayhap” i should throw myself off a bridge.

”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.”

the religious undertones were so grating, it felt like i was being preached at and being sentenced to death by boredom at the same time. the only pov that was slightly interesting was Otto’s and that’s only bc of the whole necromancy thing. all of the elements failed for me in this story, even the horror wasn’t convincing. it couldn’t have been more opposite of what i wanted.

➷ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[Greekchoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect horror fantasy/grimdark novel for people who enjoyed the grim atmosphere of Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires and the lesbians in Joe Abercrombie's The Devils. Presumably also for fans of The Starving Saints, though I haven't gotten to that one myself yet. Bone of My Bone tells the story of a nun and a peasant girl during the Thirty Years War. After discovering the skull of a saint, they set out to reunite it with its body, unknowingly pursued by a necromancer and plagued by revenants of German folklore.

van Veen is a talented author with a great eye for despair. It's easy to tell which parts of this novel compelled her: the undead, the religious shame, tenderness in the relationship between two women desperate to find peace. It's also clear where her attentions drifted: the setting, the historical context, the everything else about religion. Consequently, these aspects felt underdeveloped and sprinkled in as needed instead of a necessary component to the story. Van Veen admits as much in her author's note, and while I don't begrudge an author for being particular with what she wants to emphasize in her own book, I see another version of Bone of My Bone that feels more complete. I see myself recommending it often without personally returning to it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

[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.

[nightmarebees (jackie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Margins.and.Meanings · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Aila Krisse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this was just okay but then the ending made cry so it’s a 3.5 stars actually. I don’t really know what else to say about this honestly. It’s a lot of walking around 17th century Bavaria and talking about God and the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism.

I liked the characters and did ultimately find the story and their dynamics quite endearing, but the philosophising about God and whether desiring another woman carnally is a sin did get a bit boring after a while. And I’m someone who has a scientific interest in religion, even though I’ve never been religious myself, so this should kinda be up my alley. And it was, at first, but it just went on for a bit too long.

In fact the whole book felt like it went on for just a bit too long. I think it might’ve worked better as a ~200 page novella, rather than a 350 page novel, cause I feel like there wasn’t enough plot to fully justify that page count. As is, it was fine, but dragged quite a bit, though - to be fair - I wasn’t ever bored while reading.

Tropes and such:
- a gay nun
- necromancy
- lots of religious philosophising
- bit of body horror (kind of)
- one of the main characters is a bedazzled skull
----
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

[Holden Wunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epitome of “Hell is empty and all the devils are here” in book form. I’ve been a fan of Johanna van Veen since My Darling Dreadful thing and she pulls absolutely no punches in this book. Horror is made for women and when it’s written by them? Gold standard.

Staying in her very well tended lane, we have a gothic tale set during a war that honestly could be nearly any war at all. It’s not that it’s not a specific time period, but that war so often leads to horrific violence on women that is so overlooked. Sexual assault rises ten fold during war and is seen as a shrug worthy “it is what it is” event and Veen says no more.

We have two very different characters at the helm of our book with wildly different views on life, religion, and survival. Yet their womanhood bonds them in a multitude of ways. A nun and an orphan walk into the woods… what could go wrong? I absolutely love the sapphic nature of this novel, the blending of folklore and witchcraft, the fantastical elements of religion and paganism.

I have absolutely no qualms and really no notes or critiques. Reader beware though because the triggers are long and hefty but again, we are women, this is nothing new.

[Christian Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone of My Bone is a novel of historical fiction set during Germany's Thirty Years' War. There is a heavy focus on three real life horrors present during this time: torture and sexual violence committed by soldiers; famine; and the plague. The book also uses the lens of Catholicism and Calvinism as experienced by the two main characters to shape the narrative. In addition to supernatural elements from religion, the story is also shaped by the inclusion of some traditional German folklore that manifests itself through the appearance of creatures such as the Nachzehrer, Aufhocker, and a Necromancer who serves as the chief antagonist. Lastly, the author incorporates a touching love story that captures the tenderness shared between two women who have both been marked by trauma and grief.

The book begins by introducing Elsebeth and Ursula, who find themselves fleeing from violence together. Along the way, they encounter a dying man who entrusts them with the relic of a saint - a skull that needs to be reunited with the rest of its remains. The quest given to the two women forces them to reckon with their own faith and doubt while creating a space for a growing bond between them. They soon learn that a more sinister creature is in search of the skull which places them face to face with a powerful source of evil.

This is certainly a dark story that should not be read without heeding the trigger warnings provided by the author. However, it also focuses on love and resilience in the face of overwhelming suffering and trauma. The book explores the experience of characters who are both perpetrators and victims of violence and the effects it has on their lives. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and folk horror may want pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy in return for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rating Bone of My Bone 3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Bone of My Bone is such an interesting premise for a book. A nun and a peasant girl fight for survival in the Bavarian forest during a gruesomely bloody war (year 1635). When they come across the skull of a saint, Sister Ursula convinces Elsebeth to join her as she sets out to reunite the skull with her body. Their journey is fraught with many supernatural obstacles and tests the limits of their faith.

I have mixed feelings about this book which makes this review harder to write. I wanted more from Sister Ursula and Elsebeth - both from their relationship with each other and their character development. I know that the insta-love trope is liked by many, unfortunately not for me. However, once I was able to get past this I did find myself rooting for their relationship. I did shed a tear or two, and that has to count for something.

The story starts with the two women meeting each other on a war torn road. Throughout the story they tell each other of the horrors they've faced in their past, which bordered on too much tell and not enough show. On the other hand, when the two women are attacked by supernatural beings (that are made from the dead bodies that are casualties of the war), you are smack dab in the middle of the action. I really enjoyed the author's use of folklore from the time/region. This book leans towards folklore horror rather than traditional horror. I definitely like those vibes even though I was expecting a little more horror.

While Elsebeth and Sister Ursula could have used more development, I though the secondary plot of Otto and the Necromancer was wonderfully done! Otto experiences the horrors of war and death, good and evil, and his place in both. His journey from utter piece of trash to enthralled slave is detailed and emotional (but did he learn his lesson?).

I did enjoy the majority of this book and I will be checking out more from this author!

[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

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

“If horrors happen to you all the time, do they stop being horrors and simply become ordinary life?”

Bone Of My Bone is a historic sapphic horror novel that brings a sheltered nun named Ursula and a resilient peasant named Elsebeth together in a unique mission to reunite the gilded skull of a saint with her body. Set in 1635 Bavaria, with the Thirty Years’ War illuminating the cruelties of human nature, Ursula and Elsebeth’s quest is beset upon by several obstacles: assorted undead revenants, a persistent necromancer and the depths of their own traumas.

The writing is beautiful; the numerous horrors that humans experience and perpetrate amidst the violence of war are neither dismissed nor depicted for shock value. The atmosphere is fairly grim and the incorporation of various interpretations of undead creatures such as the Nachzehrer and Aufhocker, as well as the use of necromancy and witchcraft, create an engaging folk horror story.

Told from three perspectives: Ursula, Elsebeth and an interesting choice for a third, Bone Of My Bone provides character conflicts-especially in relation to Ursula and Elsebeth’s differing religious viewpoints-as well as glimpses into the darker aspects pertaining to love, devotion and sacrifice.

The romance between Ursula and Elsebeth is at the forefront of novel, although the speed by which it developed was slightly unexpected. The antagonist of the novel is also intriguing, as certain motivations and methods could be viewed as understandable, but not justified.

Bone Of My Bone is an engaging, fast-paced and sometimes-gruesome novel and I wish that it had been slightly longer to further develop its main characters. I also highly recommend reading the triggers provided by the author to determine if it would be the best fit.

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆
I anticipated being easily drawn into this novel and the anticipation paid off. Bone of My Bone is filled with German folk lore, horrific beings, gore, sapphic love and religious beliefs.

The events of this Gothic historical horror occur in 1635 during the 30 Years War. The atrocities of war surround the protagonists; starvation, cannibalism, pillaging, rape, and murder, and it was also a time when plague ravaged the world. Van Veen has used words to paint vivid mental pictures of the gruesomness, but it is not over the top. Please take time to read the trigger warnings for this novel. There are many.

Elsebeth and Sister Ursula are complete opposites. Elsebeth is a fiesty scrapper, who has lost her faith in God. She is a tough farm girl with determination to fight for her life. Sister Ursula is a young woman who has spent her life sheltered within the walls of a convent. She is cowardly, as she often states throughout the novel, and she has a papist response to everything. Despite their polarity Elsebeth and Ursula join together to fight for their lives, the lives of one another and against the evil lurking around them.

Even though the two women are faced with real and paranormal horror they are able to find beauty in the small moments. Neither becomes so calloused or frozen in fear that they can't see the brief flashes of good in their situation. They find love.

Favorite Quote:
"There are filth and rottenness in this world; I've been forced to contemplate plenty. But I've found that, if I see something of great beauty and I look at it for a long time until I have a clear picture of it in my mind, then I can call up that picture whenever there's filth and rottenness, and that makes it easier to bear."
Elsebeth

[sznn.plnk ☀️🌱🪲 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Natalie Benkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

this one was unfortunately a pretty disappointing read for me considering how much i have liked the authors previous works. by no means is a 3.75/5 a bad rating, but i went into this thinking it was going to be 5 stars no questions asked, so was left pretty heartbroken in the end. while it is clear that much research was done on the time period as it was an incredibly atmospheric and gloomy piece of work during a very hallowing time in history, i felt like there were too many things going on that the main plot like felt minced. i didn’t think the tri- POV was necessary (specifically for otto) to the point of where i think it was pretty distracting and took away from getting to know our main characters, making my understand of them feel shallow. was the necromancer super interesting? totally, so why did our main characters and him meet for a total of 2 minutes the entire story? it would have read a lot smoother if they had a few more run ins with him to feel like they were actually on a merciless journey with high stakes. they certainly did a lot of things and went a lot of places that scared the shit out of them, but i just didn’t really understand how it was relevant to the main story. it seems like on our journey we continually got distracted with irrelevant subplots for dramatic effect, to the point where i felt i was going to start skipping ahead to get to the main point. i picked this book up based on the description of the book, and felt like instead got a lot of distractions in order to make the story longer. for that reason, i think this would have functioned a lot better as a novella so we could get a more concise story.

the other issue i had was with my ability to continually suspend disbelief in order to move the plot forward, which had to happen frequently. the two girls drop everything they’re doing to return the skull of a saint to its body, something that was told to them by some random dying man on the side of the road and they took it to heart. not only did they not even question it slightly, but they somehow believed that this random skull was going to grant them a wish at the end? the naivety is insane, and i know this was a time period where folklore like this ran rampant, but to just take a random man’s word at face value is weird. not only that, but both women were of old enough age that if they were going to experience these various eldritch folk creatures such as a nachtzehrer and a aufhocker on their very short journey, certainly they would have experienced them once before prior to this? idk, it just felt like a super convenient way to make this book a folk horror without making it feel realistic or doing the work to set the scene properly. i think conceptually i would really love to have johanna write about either (or both) or these things as their own story, but i don’t really see what they had to do with the main story, again, outside of just lengthening the story and for added effect. like oh, we ARE in bavaria, so we MUST mention random german revenants, sigh at how contrived and predictable that is.

lastly, i didn’t believe the romance. i read a decent amount of queer literature and especially in the gothic genre, and i just didn’t think it was necessary to add any level of romance between our main characters as they had no chemistry. i think they 100% worked better as best friends with a more sisterly dynamic considering how lonely they both were and desired to replace the feel of lost family members, so again, i just feel like it was pretty forced in order at add a level of eroticism to the story.

in all, was it a bad read? no. but it just didn’t hit the mark for me, and i’m really sad about that. i certainly will give the author another go, though, considering i’m 2-1 for loved vs meh

[Ayeley 𐙚 ·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

┆　┆　┆　┆　┆
┆　┆ ࣪ ˖☆ ࣪⭑┆ ݁˖ .☆ . ݁ ˖
☆⊹ ࣪ ┆ ˖ ࣪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.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/4✨

The mythology and folklore were easily the strongest parts. I loved the inclusion of Germanic monsters and the way the horror was threaded into the story. The horror was exactly what I wanted. Every time the folklore and monsters took center stage, I was completely locked in. Unfortunately, the romance never really worked for me. It felt too instalust heavy. The intensity of the connection so quickly made it a bit unbelievable for me. My only other major disappointment was the prose. In my previous read of Johanna van Veen’s books the prose was heavier in a gothic tone that swayed. There is a bit different and the flow isn’t as enjoyable in comparison.

Otto had such an impact on me. To see his metamorphosis by being the necromancer's puppet was highly entertaining. Bits of humor with their interactions as well. Otto highlighted the horrific tragedies occurring during the Thirty Years War. Add to it his well crafted redemption arc and I was completely sold on his transformation.

There were several moments where I wanted the story to slow down and spend more time with the everything. The folklore, the characters and the historical world before rushing off to the next scenario. At the same time, there were stretches where I felt like I was waiting for the story to fully sink its teeth into me. Now that being said, the whole thing is incredibly creative. Incorporating Germanic folklore with an adventure and a sapphic romance which the historical context at the end notes was highly punishable at the time. There are flashes of brilliance throughout including notes on religion. While I enjoyed this overall, I never became as obsessed with it as I wanted to. The horror? Phenomenally grotesque. The mythology? Even better. The romance had me waiting for the monsters to come back. I look forward to continuing what else Veen's innovative mind has in store.

Thank you to Johanna van Veen, Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[unstable.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you take a Papist nun, a Protestant, and a skull cross Bavaria during the Thirty Years War? It sounds like the set up to a joke, but I assure you, it is not a laughing matter. Filled with violence of war, revenants, witchcraft, and the darkest decisions any human has to make, Bone of my Bone will have you sitting up at night long after you’ve finished it.

Elspeth and Ursula are fantastic characters, both embodying the differences between Calvinists and Papists at a time when religion was the main factor of the war. Unlikely allies and companions, what they face as they travel together is not for the squeamish. Heavily steeped in religion, they must find commonality and purpose in the strange fate that has been handed to them.

My skin is still crawling, not gonna lie. I was not expecting well, most of this book. Sapphic, haunting, and paranormal? Sure, those are the van Veen hallmarks I expected. But the unnerving feeling deep in my soul and settling over my skin? That was not on my radar. The master of creepy Johanna van Veen takes real Germanic folk tales and brings them to life (yes, pun intended) and peppers them with religion, witchcraft, necromancy, and the brutalities of surviving a war. Make no mistake, this IS brutal. Both in its depiction of the very real war that this takes place during, and the actions of those that don’t think anyone is watching. The question becomes, are you willing to pay the price of what it takes to survive?

(Please note, there is a lengthy list of trigger warnings that come with this book. Take care of yourself first, and please consider them before reading.)

Bone of my Bone hits shelves May 26. Read it if you dare!

Huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC and opportunity to review this amazing book. All opinions are my own.

[Kyle Modschiedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure that this is my first legit horror read and I absolutely loved it! It definitely took me a minute to adjust to the writing style but after I cracked the code it was pretty smooth sailing haha I loved that each other characters brought something different to the table and made this feel so well rounded. But let me tell you, I already hated the word “squelched” before this story. Now I never want to see it again haha GOREY 🤣 oh it was also my first taste of sapphic romance and I’m here for it! Def recommend!

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[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!!

[Jaime Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johanna van Veen has blown my mind yet again!

Bone of My Bone is the kind of horror that seeps into your skin. Johanna van Veen writes gothic horror with such grotesque beauty that every moment feels both sacred and deeply wrong in the best possible way.

Decay, rot, grief, and desire all become tangled together until you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. Every page is festering with blood and dirt, filled with gnawing hunger so visceral it makes you cringe with every page turn. The blend of religion, witchcraft, folklore, and necromancy is seamless and creates a story that feels ancient and cursed.

Beneath all the grotesque horror is something deeply sweet between Ursula and Elsebeth. Their relationship feels raw and consuming from the very beginning. You’re presented with two women just trying to survive. In a world ruled by fear, punishment, and religious absolutism, they discover there may be more to love, faith, and the soul than they were ever taught to believe. Against the backdrop of so much suffering and cruelty, the tenderness they offer each other becomes its own kind of salvation as the horrors surrounding them grow more monstrous and inescapable.

Van Veen writes devotion in such a haunting way where even the horror carries intimacy. It asks what remains of the soul when the body is broken open, and whether love can still endure alongside rot, wrath, and death itself.

Gorgeously grotesque, devastatingly romantic, and fully consuming. This is gothic horromance at its finest.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Favorite Quotes:
“Oh dear. I forgot you aren’t dead yet…”

“Beauty always pleases me. There are filth and rottenness in this world; I’ve been forced to contemplate plenty. But I’ve found that, if I see something of great beauty and I look at it for a long time, then I can call up that picture whenever there’s filth and rottenness, and that makes it easier to bear.”

“She is now mine. / Mine to protect. / Mine to cherish. / Mine to love.”

“Some wrath is rightful and godly.”

“And if they didn't die, they're living on today...”

“She smiles, and it’s like a bank of clouds breaking so that golden sunlight can fall on the earth, and I think to myself that life may not be so bad after all if I had her smile at me like that every day.”

“If horrors happen to you all the time, do they stop being horrors and simply become ordinary life?”

“For as long as I’m with her, Earth itself is Heaven.”

[monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

i heard of Johanna van Veen before, but this was my first foray into her books. i thought i’d either hate or love her work, but i think i’m just so so neutral about this, and i don’t think that’s good. sadly, i think i’d give this 2,5.

to start on a positive note, i think the writing is really good and adept, and it’s a pleasure to read. but i have to admit, i think that’s the only reason why i managed to finish the book. there wasn’t anything that i’d particularly dislike or that bothered me too much to let me enjoy it, but the story is really simple and formulaic, and for the most part predictable. i was bored, and i’m saying that about a book with undaed and a necromancer and deals made with the devil. it was just very basic, like a draft of a plot that was never developed. neither was the relationship between the main characters, which started very quickly and wasn’t very convincing. i just failed to see the bond that would make them ready to sacrifice for each other to such extent. it was just sort of supposed to be there, but it was never developed to an extent that would make it belivable. what’s more, i knew there would be religion in this one, given one of the main characters is a nun, but it just felt too much like constant preaching, and i don’t think enough was done with it. if it’s so serious to them, i’d expect the main characters to have more qualms about their sexuality, raising the dead, or their differences, but there’s just no real conflict. the cherry on top was the antagonist explaining himself, his whole story and plan to the main character like a cartoon villain, taking long enough to give our protagonist time to come up with how to stop him.

thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s a wonderful adventure along the blighted Bavaria landscape during the 30-year war in the first half of 17th century. A nun, a peasant girl and a necromancer are all on the quest to reunite a skull of a saint with her body to get their wish.

It’s a historical, religious, and a folklore horror. The two FMCs, Ursula and Elsbeth,
meet a lot of creatures of German folklore on their quest along with human monsters and devastating illnesses, starvation, and loneliness. Even though the historical background is important for the context and motivations of the characters, I think the same story actually could have taken place in any other devastating time and devastated place.

I especially adored the romantic subplot between two main characters. Ursula and Elsbeth’s relationship are depicted in such a lovely, tender way that made me root for them even more.

The ending does not have a finality to it, which makes me hope that we might see more of the adventures of Ursula and Elsbeth.

4.5 stars rounded to 5.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me to enjoy the ARC of this amazing book!

[Chasing Silhouettes]

I really tried my best to get into this book, got 10% in then switched to a couple of other books before coming back to it. I thought maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset the first try, but the second time around was no better. I had to DFN at 20%. The dialogue was kind of a mix of modern with a bit of old/early English (i.e. willest). Sometime it was almost jaunty/jovial like a medieval comedy/satire. It just wasn't for me.