Jess’s Reviews > Blood on Her Tongue > Status Update
Jess
is on page 339 of 368
-Conceptually present, but not fully executed, imo (but also kinda objectively). Also YUCK the protagonist isn’t simply enamored by her sister’s husband, but he also happens to be a deeply misogynistic asshole with control issues & an unchecked ego. Yet she’s so into him & sleeps with him, despite all this, bc she was no self-worth. In fairness, her lack of self-worth is addressed. She barely does anything-
— 18 hours, 31 min ago
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Jess
is on page 339 of 368
-to have a character arc about this, though. She kills him, but has no emotional maturity develop as a result, bc lo and behold, the book ends. This is why I prefer to read sapphic characters/protagonists bc all this for an ugly man who doesn’t view you as a human being. Boring! I see too many women lose themselves to that irl, tysm!
— 18 hours, 30 min ago
Jess
is on page 339 of 368
-happened to stumble in & Lucy was able to kill him too. Two murders in back to back chapters from a character that’s shown no violence or much grit thus far. “Blood On Her Tongue” yet there was barely any blood on it, truly. Sarah’s going on & on about her cannibalistic cravings, yet on the page, it amounted to period sex & 2.5 fingers. Where was the supposed horror & supernatural elements?-
— 18 hours, 33 min ago
Jess
is on page 339 of 368
This book wasn’t as supernatural as I’d hoped for. I also feel like the length didn’t match the amount of plot points. Not much truly occurred within this story. The ending also felt rushed & left too many possibilities open. Loose plans were made between Lucy & Sarah that were likely to not succeed, yet we saw nothing of them. Also, it’s very coincidental that Lucy was able to kill Michael, then Arthur-
— 18 hours, 36 min ago
Jess
is on page 254 of 368
-makes sense & I wasn’t surprised to learn their aunt was a lesbian or that Sarah & Katje were together. I do like the element of having a messed up, evil sister you want to protect. Someone you’ll do heinous things for. So I wish we’d gotten to it a bit sooner! Still liking this though.
— Aug 24, 2026 05:00PM
Jess
is on page 254 of 368
This novel took more time to ramp up than what I deem preferable; the mystery/intrigue wasn’t enough to justify delaying Sarah’s supernatural resurrection until about 150ish pages/almost halfway into the book. I mean, we’re all here for the supernatural stuff, let’s get to it! I do still find this book easy to read with the author’s writing style though. Sarah becoming a new parasite version of herself-
— Aug 24, 2026 04:59PM
Jess
is on page 156 of 368
Sarah, in her desperation to free herself from the big woman (Marianne)’s mind control, killed herself; but came back to life & craves blood more, à la vampires. Initially, I assumed she was fully possessed by the big woman upon her resurrection. However, after witnessing her conversation with Lucy, she still seems to have remnants of her memories/personality as Sarah. Maybe she’s just been properly turned?
— Aug 23, 2026 08:58PM
Jess
is on page 88 of 368
Like Van Veen’s previous novel that I read, the language is easily digestible while still being interesting & atmospheric. It seems like Sarah is being possessed by the big woman’s spirit, who may have been killed bc she had cannibalistic urges? Lucy has some sort of begrudging attraction to Michael, her sister’s husband.
— Aug 21, 2026 12:59PM