{"product_id":"johanna-van-veen-novel-2-books-collection-set-my-darling-dreadful-thing-blood-on-her-tongue-paperback-johanna-van-veen","title":"My Darling Dreadful Thing \u0026 Related Reads 2 Books Collection Set - Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitles in This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nMy Darling Dreadful Thing\u003cbr\u003e\nBlood on Her Tongue\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis two-book collection from Johanna Van Veen invites readers into a richly atmospheric Gothic world where the living inhabit uneasy partnerships with the unseen. My Darling Dreadful Thing opens with Roos Beckman, who shares her life with Ruth, a spirit companion who has lingered beyond time. Salty with tears and blood, Ruth is both a beacon and a burden as Roos navigates intimate seances and the arrival of Agnes Knoop, a wealthy widow whose influence unsettles the delicate balance between devotion and danger. In Blood on Her Tongue, set in the Netherlands in 1887, Lucy races to protect her twin sister Sarah from a mounting illness—and the secrets that come with a centuries-old corpse unearthed on a grand estate. Across these two novels, love, obsession, and the pull of the supernatural intertwine with moral peril, creating a haunting, lyrical reading experience perfect for fans of historical Gothic horror and character-driven suspense. The collection sits at the crossroads of romance and dread, offering lush prose, meticulously drawn settings, and twists that linger long after the final page.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Collection Covers:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nTogether, these two novels explore how secrets shape relationships, communities, and personal identities when the past bleeds into the present. The first book uses a spirit-bound friendship and a perilous bond with a living woman to examine desire, trust, and the costs of power within intimate networks. The second centers on sisterhood, medical mystery, and the mystery of a corpse that refuses to stay buried, urging readers to question what they owe to family, memory, and the past. The Netherlands as a late-19th-century backdrop provides a moody, absorbed atmosphere where seances, rumors, and antique estates become characters in their own right. The collection appeals to readers who crave immersive world-building, psychological tension, and a measured pace that rewards careful, reflective reading—ideal for a weekend binge or a thoughtful book-club discussion about Gothic tropes and the ethics of desire.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook-by-Book Guide:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy Darling Dreadful Thing\u003c\/strong\u003e—Roos Beckman lives with a spirit companion named Ruth, a presence visible only to Roos, whose centuries-long deadness adds a quiet, haunted resonance to their world. When a wealthy widow, Agnes Knoop, attends one of Roos’s backroom seances and kindles a dangerous connection, the delicate balance between longing and danger shifts dramatically. The novel unfolds with a slow-burning, atmospheric tension as love, loyalty, and the lure of the occult collide. The Dutch setting of the late 1800s infuses the narrative with historical texture, while the supernatural threads insist on a close, intimate gaze at desire, power, and the consequences of forbidden closeness. This story rewards readers who savor lyrical prose and morally complex choices within a Gothic frame.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlood on Her Tongue\u003c\/strong\u003e—In the Netherlands, 1887, Lucy wrestles to shield her fragile twin sister Sarah from a mounting illness that doctors label temporary insanity. As Lucy peels back the surface of her sister’s condition, she uncovers a family history tangled with secrets and a centuries-old corpse unearthed on a grand estate owned by Sarah’s husband. The tension between duty and truth intensifies as Lucy’s own hidden truths threaten to unravel not only her sister’s future but the delicate social fabric that binds their world. The novel blends mournful beauty with unsettling mystery, delivering gothic horror steeped in historical detail and a keen sense of psychological peril. Readers who cherish moody atmospherics and tightly wound, character-led plots will find much to linger over in this tale.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho This Set Is Perfect For:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis set is ideal for readers who crave literary Gothic horror steeped in history, atmosphere, and ethical complexity. Fans of slow-burn suspense, seances, and supernatural intrigue will appreciate how Van Veen threads emotional intimacy with otherworldly dread. It’s a strong pick for book clubs exploring gendered power dynamics, devotion, and the costs of secrets, as well as for readers who enjoy immersive setting-building and character-driven storytelling. Gift buyers will find a standout two-book collection that works beautifully as a standalone experience or as a thoughtful addition to a larger Gothic fiction shelf. Suitable for adult readers and older YA fans who relish moody, thoughtful horror with a dash of romance.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eTwo richly atmospheric Gothic novels in a single paperback set\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHistorically rich Dutch settings that deepen mood and immersion\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCharacter-driven horror that blends romance, mystery, and the supernatural\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGreat for book clubs exploring themes of secret histories and moral ambiguity\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePerfect for gifting to readers who love literary horror with lyrical prose\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCompact paperback editions that are easy to read in cozy, immersive sessions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nJohanna Van Veen is the author of My Darling Dreadful Thing (2024) and Blood on Her Tongue (2025). Her Gothic horror fiction blends atmospheric, lyrical prose with psychological depth, drawing on classic macabre sensibilities while pushing into contemporary concerns about power, desire, and the human cost of secrets. The author’s work has attracted industry attention for its bold atmosphere and intricate interplay between relationships and the uncanny. Van Veen continues to expand her distinctive voice within modern Gothic fiction, offering readers a carefully crafted blend of historical texture and intimate horror that lingers well after the final page is turned.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You’ll Love This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nIf you’re drawn to stories where passion collides with the unknown, this collection delivers. The two novels complement each other with complementary tones—one intimate and spectral, the other layered with family history and deadly secrets—creating a cohesive, immersive reading experience. Owning the complete set means you can enjoy a continuous mood and style from a single, trusted author, while also expanding your Gothic library with two stand-out narratives that stand up to repeat reads and thoughtful discussion. It’s a compelling choice for readers who value atmosphere, literary prose, and emotionally charged plots that explore the boundaries between love, loyalty, and danger.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Johanna Van Veen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57350922273142,"sku":"MAN-VRT-PNG-U2408-0389592234","price":34.7,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/6587\/2211\/files\/81R_-3rxdVL.jpg?v=1771827048","url":"https:\/\/skymartbooks.com\/products\/johanna-van-veen-novel-2-books-collection-set-my-darling-dreadful-thing-blood-on-her-tongue-paperback-johanna-van-veen","provider":"Skymart Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}