Picture a Dutch storyteller who conjured ghosts and gothic chills in the heart of the Netherlands—meet Johanna van Veen! This rising star of horror fiction burst onto the scene with her 2024 debut, My Darling Dreadful Thing, a sapphic gothic tale that left readers haunted and hooked. With her 2025 follow-up, Blood on Her Tongue, van Veen has cemented her place as a bold voice in horror, blending eerie atmospheres, queer narratives, and historical intrigue.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, van Veen’s academic roots in early modern literature and book history infuse her work with a rich, timeless quality. Her stories, drenched in decay and desire, draw you into crumbling manors and fog-laden bogs, where spirits and secrets lurk. Let’s dive into the world of this captivating author!
The Making of Johanna van Veen
Growing up in the Netherlands with her two sisters, Johanna van Veen was steeped in stories from a young age. Her parents’ love for reading sparked her passion for tales, and by age seven, she was crafting her own—first about werewolves and vampires, typed eagerly on a family computer. With an MA in English Literature and another in Book and Digital Media, both specializing in early modern studies, van Veen honed a deep understanding of narrative and history. These roots shape her fiction, where the past feels alive, pulsing with dread and mystery. Her love for the strange and queer, paired with influences like Edgar Allan Poe and Guillermo del Toro, set the stage for her haunting prose.
Johanna van Veen’s Unforgettable Stories
Van Veen’s debut, My Darling Dreadful Thing, is a gothic masterpiece set in 1950s Netherlands. It follows Roos Beckman, a young woman with a spirit companion, Ruth, who’s drawn into a decaying estate and a sapphic romance with widow Agnes Knoop. The novel’s blend of psychological horror, unreliable narrators, and lush imagery earned praise as a “sensation that horrifies as acutely as it delights,” per Rachel Gillig. Its exploration of trauma, love, and the supernatural channels Poe’s claustrophobia and del Toro’s visual flair.
In 2025, Blood on Her Tongue delivered a bloodthirsty twist on vampire lore. Set in 1887, it centers on twin sisters Lucy and Sarah, grappling with madness, possession, and a mysterious bog corpse. Critics hailed it as “gothic horror for the ages,” comparing it to Dracula for its sharp social commentary and visceral dread. Van Veen’s style—atmospheric, queer, and unapologetically gory—weaves feminist fury and complex relationships into every page.
Her upcoming middle-grade novel, The Witch of Hagstone Hill (August 2025), promises a spooky adventure about triplets, showing van Veen’s versatility. Whether writing for adults or younger readers, her stories pulse with strong female leads, supernatural intrigue, and a knack for leaving readers unsettled yet enchanted.
Why Johanna van Veen Matters
Johanna van Veen is redefining horror with her fearless embrace of queer narratives and female-driven stories. Her work resonates with readers craving diverse voices in gothic fiction, offering heroines who are flawed, fierce, and unforgettable. By blending historical settings with modern themes like identity and trauma, she bridges past and present, making the genre feel fresh and vital. Her critical acclaim, from Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Horror to starred reviews, signals a growing influence. As a Dutch-American author, van Veen brings a unique cultural lens, enriching horror with her heritage and academic depth.
- Birthplace: Netherlands
- Key Works: My Darling Dreadful Thing (2024), Blood on Her Tongue (2025), The Witch of Hagstone Hill (2025)
- Genres: Gothic horror, supernatural, queer fiction
Snag My Darling Dreadful Thing or Blood on Her Tongue and dive into Johanna van Veen’s chilling, queer gothic world. Trust us, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on!