Blood on Her Tongue Summary, Characters and Themes
Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen is a psychological thriller that explores the tension between familial loyalty and dark, inexplicable forces. The story follows Lucy, a woman who embarks on a journey to visit her sister, Sarah, whose health has been deteriorating rapidly.
As Lucy navigates a series of misfortunes and increasingly eerie events, she uncovers disturbing truths that blur the line between reality and madness. The novel weaves a complex tale of mystery, supernatural elements, and the unraveling of family bonds, set against an atmospheric backdrop of dread and impending doom. As Sarah’s condition worsens, Lucy is forced to confront not only her sister’s illness but a sinister force connected to a bog body that seems to hold the key to their shared fate.
Summary
Lucy is on a journey to visit her sister, Sarah, who lives at Zwartwater, a remote estate that once belonged to Sarah’s husband, Michael. Lucy’s journey is filled with misfortune, beginning with a delayed carriage ride and an encounter with a strange woman who disrupts her belongings.
Despite her frustration, Lucy remains determined to reach her sister, carrying with her unsettling letters from Sarah. These letters suggest that Sarah is not just physically ill but mentally disturbed, and the bond between the sisters has been strained by Sarah’s increasingly erratic behavior.
Lucy is disturbed by the violent smashing of a spider in her envelope by a woman on the train, an incident that deepens her unease about the ominous nature of her journey.
Upon arriving at Zwartwater, Lucy is confronted by the altered state of Sarah. The estate is damp and decaying, and Sarah is gaunt and feverish, lying in a room that reeks of sickness.
Despite the assurances of Arthur, Sarah’s current companion, Lucy senses that something far worse is happening to her sister. Sarah is haunted by visions of a mysterious woman, and in a delirious state, she violently attacks Arthur, feeding off his blood in a chilling, animalistic manner.
This disturbing behavior leads Lucy to believe that Sarah is struggling with something far darker than a mere fever. The discovery of a bog body near the estate, along with Sarah’s obsessive interest in it, seems to tie Sarah’s illness to something ancient and malevolent.
Sarah’s letters reveal her increasing obsession with the bog body. The body, discovered near their land, is mysteriously preserved, but its organs, including the tongue, are missing.
Sarah believes the body’s discovery is connected to her own unraveling mind and fears that it is a harbinger of her own death. The bog body’s strange physical condition and the presence of missing organs only add to Sarah’s anxiety, further isolating her from reality.
Lucy becomes determined to uncover the truth about the bog body, believing that solving the mystery will somehow help Sarah. However, her quest for answers is met with skepticism and caution from others, including Mrs.
van Dijk, who warns Lucy of the emotional risks of delving too deeply into the past.
As Lucy becomes more consumed with the bog body’s mystery, she begins to examine the ring found in the same field as the body. The ring is a posy ring, traditionally exchanged between lovers, inscribed with the Latin phrase “Et ipse dominabitur tui,” meaning “He shall rule over you.”
This ring sparks a conversation about the possibility that it belonged to the bog woman and that the woman’s death was the result of a murder. Lucy becomes obsessed with uncovering the bog woman’s identity, believing that understanding her story might help her sister.
Mrs. van Dijk urges caution, but Lucy and Michael continue their investigation, seeking answers in the local archives.
In the archives, they uncover a court record detailing the murder of a woman named Marianne, who was killed by her husband because he believed she was a changeling. This discovery sends a chilling shock through Lucy, as she begins to see disturbing parallels between Marianne’s condition and Sarah’s symptoms.
Sarah’s detachment from reality, her irrational fears, and her strange behavior all seem to mirror Marianne’s tragic fate. Lucy starts to wonder whether Sarah is not just mentally ill but possibly connected to the bog woman in some dark, inexplicable way.
As Lucy delves deeper into the mystery, she is confronted by the possibility that the answers she seeks may be more horrifying than she ever imagined.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s condition continues to deteriorate, and Lucy is left to care for her, struggling with both the emotional and physical demands of her sister’s illness. The atmosphere at Zwartwater becomes increasingly oppressive, as the family dynamics grow more strained.
Michael’s cold indifference and Sarah’s disturbing obsession with death add to the tension. Lucy is caught between her love for her sister and the growing fear that Sarah is beyond help.
Despite this, Lucy remains determined to find a solution, believing that the bog woman’s mystery holds the key to saving her sister.
The emotional strain reaches a breaking point when Lucy confronts Michael and Arthur, who are both intent on sending Sarah away to an asylum. Lucy is fiercely protective of her sister and refuses to let them take her.
In a desperate act of defiance, Lucy physically confronts Michael, blinding him in a shocking moment of violence. This act of desperation marks a turning point in Lucy’s journey, as she is forced to confront the consequences of her actions.
She is left emotionally and physically drained, realizing the dark truth about her own role in the violence that has occurred. The chapter ends with Lucy and Sarah preparing to flee, knowing that their lives will never be the same.
As the narrative unfolds, Lucy is forced to grapple with the horrifying possibility that her sister’s illness is linked to something far darker than she could have imagined. The bog woman, with her missing organs and mysterious death, seems to be an omen of doom for Sarah.
Lucy’s journey becomes one of survival, not just for Sarah’s physical well-being but for their emotional and psychological survival as well. The story builds to a devastating conclusion, as Lucy faces the moral ambiguity of her choices and the consequences of her actions.
The bond between the sisters is tested in ways neither could have anticipated, and the dark forces at play threaten to consume them both.
Characters
Lucy
Lucy is a complex and deeply conflicted character, shaped by both a profound sense of duty to her sister Sarah and an overwhelming fear of the unknown. Her narrative journey begins as one of unease, symbolized by a string of unfortunate events leading to her visit to Zwartwater, where she is forced to confront the deteriorating condition of Sarah.
Lucy’s initial emotions are dominated by a sense of dread and helplessness, as she becomes increasingly aware that Sarah’s illness is not just physical but psychological, entangled with fears of something far darker. The relationship between Lucy and Sarah, once close and almost symbiotic, is strained as Sarah’s behavior becomes more erratic, heightening Lucy’s internal struggle.
Lucy’s protective instincts toward Sarah are juxtaposed with her inability to fully understand the nature of her sister’s illness. Her guilt is palpable as she reflects on how she could have noticed Sarah’s decline earlier, and her frustration grows as she watches Sarah spiral deeper into madness.
Despite this, Lucy remains steadfast in her commitment to help Sarah, even if it means sacrificing her own well-being. Her emotional turmoil becomes even more intense as she uncovers disturbing truths about the bog woman and its possible connection to Sarah, leading her to make drastic decisions in a desperate attempt to save her sister.
Throughout the narrative, Lucy’s journey is marked by a progression from naiveté to painful enlightenment, forcing her to confront both the mysteries of Sarah’s condition and her own moral boundaries.
Sarah
Sarah, once Lucy’s twin and closest companion, emerges as a tragic figure consumed by illness and psychological instability. Her gradual descent into madness is both heartbreaking and unnerving, particularly as it becomes apparent that her condition is not simply the result of physical sickness but is also influenced by something far more sinister.
Her obsession with the bog woman and the eerie details of the mysterious body discovered near their home serve as key triggers for her unraveling psyche. Sarah’s delusions—fueled by irrational fears, violent behavior, and a detachment from reality—create an emotional rift between her and Lucy, leaving the latter to pick up the pieces of a relationship once defined by mutual understanding.
Sarah’s actions, such as attacking Arthur in a delirious state, reflect not just the horror of her illness but also the emergence of a darker force within her. Her fascination with death, exemplified by her study of the bog body and its strange physical anomalies, symbolizes her growing obsession with mortality and the supernatural.
As Lucy delves deeper into Sarah’s past, the unsettling parallels between Sarah’s condition and the bog woman’s fate suggest that Sarah may be unknowingly tethered to a fate that is both physical and metaphysical. The emotional weight of Sarah’s journey lies in her tragic transformation from a vibrant woman to someone whom even her twin sister can no longer recognize, leaving Lucy to grapple with the impossibility of truly saving her.
Michael
Michael plays a pivotal yet morally ambiguous role in the narrative. His relationship with Lucy and Sarah is strained, marked by emotional detachment and a sense of helplessness in the face of Sarah’s illness.
As the story unfolds, Michael’s indifference towards Sarah’s declining health becomes increasingly apparent, revealing him to be a character who is perhaps too overwhelmed by his own emotions to truly understand or help Sarah. This indifference escalates as he becomes a part of the decision-making process to potentially send Sarah away to an asylum, a plan that Lucy vehemently opposes.
Michael’s role as a protector seems more superficial than genuine, as he acts out of a desire to control the situation rather than offer empathy or support. His emotional coldness creates friction between him and Lucy, who views his detachment as a betrayal of the sisterly bond she shares with Sarah.
The tension between Michael and Lucy intensifies as both are forced to confront the reality of Sarah’s condition, and it culminates in a shocking and violent confrontation. Michael’s reluctance to acknowledge the gravity of the situation suggests that his understanding of love and family is far more complex and flawed than it appears at first, adding layers of moral ambiguity to his character.
Arthur
Arthur’s role in the narrative is equally fraught with emotional complexity. As a figure of authority and reason in the family, Arthur represents the conventional response to Sarah’s deteriorating health.
He pushes for a “rest cure” for Sarah, believing that isolating her from the disturbances around her will lead to recovery. However, his detached and clinical approach to Sarah’s illness is perceived by Lucy as cold and insufficient.
Arthur’s interactions with Lucy demonstrate his growing concern for Sarah, but this concern is often filtered through a sense of rationality that fails to account for the emotional and psychological dimensions of Sarah’s condition. Arthur’s character embodies the tension between medical intervention and personal care, as he suggests drastic measures like the blood transfusion to save Sarah, yet his emotional detachment renders him less sympathetic in Lucy’s eyes.
His involvement in the escalating violence—particularly the moment when Lucy confronts him and Michael—reveals his complicity in the decisions that are made for Sarah’s future, choices that have dire consequences for both him and the family. Arthur’s character adds to the theme of moral ambiguity that runs throughout the novel, leaving readers to question the ethical boundaries of caregiving and medical authority in the face of profound familial crisis.
Mrs.
Mrs. van Dijk plays a somewhat secondary but influential role in Lucy’s quest for answers.
As an older, wiser character, she acts as a guide for Lucy in the investigation of the bog woman’s origins and connection to Sarah’s illness. Mrs.
van Dijk’s involvement in the archives investigation suggests a character who values the search for knowledge but is also cautious about the emotional toll that uncovering the past might have on Lucy. Her pragmatism stands in contrast to Lucy’s obsession, and she often encourages restraint, warning Lucy against pursuing answers that may be more harmful than helpful.
Mrs. van Dijk’s role as a mentor figure is both grounding and protective, offering a level-headed perspective amidst the turmoil of the family’s crisis.
However, her willingness to delve into the past, despite her warnings, shows a deeper understanding of the importance of confronting darkness to heal. Her complexity lies in her balance between caution and the necessary pursuit of truth, symbolizing the dual forces of knowledge and emotional preservation that influence the unfolding narrative.
Themes
Family Loyalty and Sacrifice
At the core of Blood on Her Tongue lies the theme of family loyalty, particularly the unbreakable bond between Lucy and her sister, Sarah. Lucy’s devotion to Sarah pushes her to extraordinary lengths, as she navigates the haunting experiences surrounding her sister’s decline.
This loyalty is tested repeatedly as Lucy is confronted with the reality that saving Sarah may require moral compromises and personal sacrifices that blur the lines between right and wrong. Throughout the narrative, Lucy is faced with agonizing choices: the physical and emotional toll of caring for Sarah, her battle to protect her sister from a potential asylum, and her internal struggle with the darkness that seems to be consuming Sarah.
The theme of sacrifice becomes even more poignant as Lucy grapples with the suffocating guilt of not recognizing her sister’s deteriorating mental state sooner. The lengths Lucy is willing to go to for Sarah—whether it’s fighting off those who wish to separate them or carrying the weight of her sister’s sins—illustrate how familial loyalty can propel an individual into moral ambiguity.
Lucy’s journey is one of deep emotional and psychological strain, where each step forward is fraught with the heavy burden of love, guilt, and the will to protect.
The Corrupting Power of Secrecy
Secrecy permeates the narrative of Blood on Her Tongue, shaping the characters’ actions and their interactions with one another. The discovery of the bog woman’s body serves as the central catalyst for unraveling the dark secrets buried within the family’s past.
As Lucy digs deeper into the mystery, she realizes that uncovering the truth could mean facing uncomfortable and unsettling revelations. The secrecy surrounding Sarah’s illness and the mysterious bog woman mirrors the concealment of deeper emotional truths within the family.
Michael’s cold detachment and Arthur’s manipulative actions only intensify the feeling that the family is hiding something from Lucy—something that, if revealed, could shatter her perception of everything she holds dear. The tension between truth and secrecy is a constant undercurrent, culminating in Lucy’s realization that she is trapped in a web of lies and deceit.
As the characters’ true motives surface, the narrative forces readers to confront the devastating consequences of hiding uncomfortable truths, not just for the individuals involved but for the family as a whole. Secrecy breeds mistrust and fuels paranoia, ultimately leaving characters like Lucy with more questions than answers about the people she loves and the world she thought she understood.
Moral Ambiguity and Psychological Degradation
The theme of moral ambiguity runs throughout Blood on Her Tongue, as Lucy is continuously placed in situations that challenge her ethical boundaries. The psychological degradation that Lucy experiences, both as a caretaker for her sister and as a participant in the escalating violence, underscores the complexity of human nature when confronted with extreme circumstances.
Lucy’s descent into emotional and physical turmoil is paralleled by Sarah’s own unraveling, creating a disquieting atmosphere where the lines between good and evil, sanity and madness, are increasingly difficult to discern. Lucy’s actions—especially in the climactic moments of physical violence—force her to reckon with the darkness that resides within herself.
The morally gray decisions she makes in her desperate efforts to protect Sarah bring forth a sense of inevitability, suggesting that survival sometimes requires compromising one’s own values. This moral ambiguity is exacerbated by the psychological strain Lucy endures, where her once-clear sense of right and wrong becomes clouded by the overwhelming weight of guilt, fear, and love.
The narrative challenges the reader to question what drives human behavior—whether it’s a quest for survival, love for a family member, or an instinctual desire to protect, even at great personal cost.
The Supernatural and Unseen Forces
The supernatural elements that permeate Blood on Her Tongue add layers of mystery and foreboding to the narrative. The discovery of the bog woman and the strange occurrences surrounding Sarah’s illness suggest that there may be forces at work beyond the realm of human understanding.
The bog woman, whose body is mysteriously preserved and whose connection to Sarah becomes ever more apparent, serves as a symbol of the unknown and the fear of being consumed by forces one cannot control. As Lucy unravels the mystery, she becomes increasingly convinced that the bog woman’s death is somehow tied to Sarah’s descent into madness, yet the true nature of these forces remains elusive.
The supernatural theme operates not only on a symbolic level, representing the ancient, haunting fears that grip the characters, but also on a psychological level, as Sarah’s fears and paranoia grow ever more linked to the idea of a curse or omen. This intertwining of the supernatural with the psychological creates an unsettling tension throughout the story, as characters like Lucy and Sarah struggle to separate reality from delusion.
The theme explores the notion that some forces in life are too powerful to understand or confront, and the more one struggles to uncover them, the more they risk losing themselves to the unknown.
Guilt and the Burden of Choice
Guilt is a central theme in Blood on Her Tongue, manifesting not only in Lucy’s interactions with Sarah but also in her own internal conflict as she becomes increasingly involved in her sister’s tragic fate. The psychological burden of guilt weighs heavily on Lucy, who is consumed by the idea that she could have prevented Sarah’s illness or understood it sooner.
As Lucy delves deeper into the mystery of the bog woman, she grapples with the guilt of knowing that solving the puzzle may bring more harm than good. The choice between protecting her sister and uncovering the truth becomes an impossible one, as Lucy’s desperation leads her to make decisions that haunt her.
Her moral conflict is only amplified by her growing awareness that the wrong choice could destroy Sarah, and by extension, herself. The theme of guilt also plays out in the fraught relationships between Lucy and the other characters, particularly Michael and Arthur, both of whom contribute to the atmosphere of deception and betrayal that traps Lucy in an unrelenting cycle of emotional torment.
The narrative explores how guilt can transform relationships, cloud judgment, and lead to devastating consequences, underscoring the high stakes of Lucy’s journey and the toll it takes on her mental and emotional well-being.