I received a copy of Salt from Netgalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review.


Salt is about a boy named Indi, who is 17. He and his siblings are orphaned after their parents disappear while hunting a sea creature named El Diamante.The kids live on their boat and continue to try to hunt these sea monsters, hoping for a possibility that they will discover what happened to their parents.

I wanted to like this book. The concept of being sics, people who see and hunt sea monsters, was interesting to me. I was hoping that I would hear more about the creatures they would encounter. There was a journal kept by their parents and a promise of treasure. There were aspects of the storyline that I really liked and wish the author had gone further into. There were also a few moments where I thought this book would have some nice family values thrown in.

What I didn't like about the book is that the kids were involved with a lot of stuff that weren't really necessary. Both the older sister, Beleza and Indi had sexual encounters in the story, and it sounded like this was the norm. They also smoked and drank. There was also a lot of swearing in the book. I mentioned family values. I just felt weird going back and forth between a character expressing admiration about an older sibling and then a 6 year old swearing at her 12 year old brother. Then there were tender spots where a younger character would lovingly place their head on an older sibling's shoulder... and the 12 year old would routinely smack the 6 year old in the head or something. So, I don't know. I will say that I tend to be pretty conservative and that this book is geared to teens/young adults. I also thought about character development. Maybe these kids were the way they were because they've always lived at sea, daringly catching monsters and having to make things work on their own. Maybe if the characters were 5-10 years older I would've been less bothered by it. I thought about whether I would pass this on to my sons to read. Ultimately I decided, I will not pass it on. There's not enough of a story to make the characters worth it to me. I do think that lots of young teens will enjoy the story, but it just wasn't for me.

This wasn't my favorite book ever but it certainly wasn't bad either. I probably would have given it four stars if there wasn't as much swearing. The main character also smoked a cigarette and had a sexual relationship with somebody on more than on occasion. Other than that it was decent. The author really crammed quite the adventure into such a short book. It only took me around three hours to read it and I don't consider myself to be a fast reader. There was also plenty of action, most of which came from when the four siblings were fighting monsters. Zulu was the youngest at six and definitely was my favorite. Oscar was twelve and probably my least favorite. He was cruel and mean at times. There wasn't a lot of character development with him, unlike with our main character Indi. Indi, short for India, came to respect and approve of the choices made by his older sister Beleza. She was tough but truly did care for her siblings. Hura was the love interest in this story and the one Indi slept with. I figured her out pretty quick although he never seemed to. I understand that his poor decision making was needed to help the story progress but realistically I doubt anyone would have made those same bad choices. The bond between the four orphaned siblings really was something and led to their eventual forgiveness of Indi. I wound recommend this book because of that.

Sea Monsters and Siblings - quite a great combination! I would have liked to learn a little more about all those monsters they were hunting, but all in all an enjoyable read, with believable siblings! Special thanks to NetGalley for this fascinating book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Salt tells the story of Indi and his siblings who are sics, which are monster-hunters, searching for their parents who went away on a hunt and never returned.
Salt was a quick light-hearted read. I loved the relationships between the siblings and found myself relating to them having two younger sisters of my own. The book is mainly filled with a bunch of those family moments and that’s about it. I loved that family love was the main theme and focus of this book, there wasn’t too much action, and there isn’t a love story to overshadow the main theme. The plot was pretty anti-climatic for me, but it didn’t take away from being a well-done family-driven story.

I was interested in the pirate element of this novel and looked forward to a quick read. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver for me. Indi’s narration, for me, was simply too sporadic and undetailed that it left me bored and confused. The other siblings held more of an interest for me and I would have liked to see their perspectives. I feel that this is the author’s style, and it is simply not for me, yet I understand that others may like the bluntness and simplicity of Indi’s narration.
I liked the family relationships going on in this story between the siblings. As one of four myself, I understand the give and take, the fights and forgiveness, and the need for peace that is sometimes required with multiple siblings. These scenarios were dealt with well and showed how different siblings deal with shared problems.
The monster element was entirely underwhelming and confusing. There was no history of the hunting which made me think that this was in an alternate world for a while. Once they reached land and discussed the modern world (again, in practically no detail), I wished that it was in another world as this made the idea that they never saw other ships at sea or that only a few people knew about the monsters that much more unbelievable. The monster fights were quick and often solved to neatly, especially the final battle that was built up to most of the book. The monsters were not able to be pictured as one moment they could swallow the ship and the next the kids are wrapping a rope around its neck.
In the end, this story needed more body to it. It was a quick read, but left me highly unsatisfied. I would have liked a lot more action.

This isn't a complete review since I have yet to finish the book, but I must say that while this idea intrigued me, I just never quite got into the story. I did try, but something about it feels incomplete itself. Like I didn't get a full story. Plus, it jumps a lot and I felt like the story was too short and I never got a feel for the world.

I do think this could've been incredible, but it just fell flat.

[I was given a free digital copy through NetGalley]

The light-hearted tones of this novel really helped in making this very small story so much bigger. The readers are not fully immersed into the world of this story, but because the narrator is such a vocal and personal viewpoint, the lack of in-depth detail and explanation do not take away from the story’s character, and I feel like that was what made this story special to me. The story had character, and I was entertained by the scrappy protagonist. I wasn’t familiar with [author’s name here]’s works before reading this novel, and the small world she has created is a different take than the storylines I’m used to reading, and this small-scale made everything, even in a world of monsters, feel much more personable. If you want a coming of age about a young and dysfunctional family taking down monsters and adventuring into the deepest parts of the sea, step aboard.

A lovely book about sea monsters, pirates, family, and finding yourself. The book follows a group of four siblings sailing around the Mediterranean looking for their missing (or dead) parents and fighting sea monsters along the way. While it isn't action packed (not meant to be) or detail oriented (not meant to be), the story resonates with any sibling or member of a large family.

This book was pretty good--I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could, but it's just not quite a 4 A tale that is half Pirates of the Caribbean and half Boxcar Children, this novel finds us on the open seas with two teens and their younger siblings, trying to fight monsters and find out what happened to their parents.

I found the story to be a little not quite believable, which means it never quite got me to a point of suspending my disbelief. Indi, our 17-year-old narrator seems much more like a 24-year-old college drop out, his 6-year-old sister should be about 15, and so on. I feel like so many YA books are just taking older characters and making them younger in age only--not in actual maturity, and it's annoying. But the story was interesting, the world was decently imagined, and I kept reading. So yeah. A fun adventure story, but not for readers under the age of 16 or so due to sexual content.

This was such a sweet book! It gave me all sorts of feels and warm fuzzies. I mean, who's heart wouldn't melt when reading about orphaned siblings fighting giant scary monsters? But, really, the love these siblings have for each other is just so wonderful. Even when they fought (which was about as often as you'd expect from four siblings who spent every waking moment together), it was so clear that these kids loved one another more than anything else in the world. And that just made my cynical little heart melt.

My biggest complaint is that I wanted more! This was such a short book and I feel like it only scratched the surface in regards to world building and character development. I liked what was there, but it was a little hard to fully invest sometimes because I felt that the story moved a little too quickly.

Honestly though, this was such a fun read. Even if I would have liked a little more detail occasionally, I had a great time getting to know Indi and his siblings. I would definitely recommend you all check this out!

Salt is an odd little book. I love the characters, but the plot and the world-building left me feeling a little cheated.

Indi is an orphan and a monster hunter, sailing with his older sister and two younger siblings, looking for the monster that killed their parents.

He is a well developed character with a lot of conflict and emotion depth. I enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes, courtesy of a first-person, present-tense narration, as he grappled with wanting to take care of his siblings and wanting to be free of them.

The siblings were also well developed. They seemed exactly how I would expect a group of kids who grew up hunting monsters at sea to seem. Their dynamics and banter were entertaining, and no matter how much they fought, they had an immense bond with each other.

The plot -- the hunt for the monster and Indi learning his role with his siblings -- started out okay but let me down in the end. At first, it was just little things.

The kids were sailing around Europe in an age where everywhere on Earth seems to have issues with undocumented immigrants and refugees, and no one caught or stopped them to ask for papers. Eventually, there was one mention of fake ID’s, and even later, fake passports. After that, maybe there was a mention or two of being undocumented and not wanting countries to know they are there. By the time these issues were minimally addressed, I’d already been pulled out of the story by them a few times. It was really too little too late, and since the book was so short, adding a layer of not being caught only would’ve helped.

How sex, alcohol, and smoking are portrayed in YA is important. I had no problem with the fade to black casual sex, but they could’ve mentioned a condom the first time and not waited until the second. Then there was an instance where Indi and his sister light up cigarettes and smoke. There is no apparent reason for it and it adds nothing to plot. All it seems to do is glorify smoking, which is something a YA book shouldn’t do. Alcohol, while mentioned casually, made sense. Sailors drink. They’re in Europe. They’re drinking sparingly. It’s minor and cultural -- its well handled. The end of the book was not.

I love happy endings. I love it when the mc gets everything want and has potential for a happily every after, but those endings have to be earned. This book was working towards that, until the last 80% or 85%. The last sequence of events was too quick, too random, and too easy, so that the happy ending didn’t feel earned or real.

In spite of all that, I did enjoy the book. The prose, voice, physical setting and characters were beautifully written. I just got pulled out of the story a few more times than I would’ve liked, and felt let down by the end.

3 STARS

TW: gore, needles, brief scenes of a medical nature

If anything, Salt is an intensely character-driven novel. Told from the perspective of Indi, one of four children sailing the seas, hunting monsters in the wake of their parents' disappearance, it follows his journey to become who he wants to be as it intersects with who he is supposed to be. It's all about family, about the closeness between siblings and the fights that always ensue. Plus, it has a healthy dose of sea monsters and a hint of romance that is delightfully realistic in its resolution. Indi's life is hard, and not once does the book allow you to believe otherwise. 

I really adored the concept, I think, above all else. The idea that monster hunters called sicarios patrol the seas, hunting abyssal beasts while the rest of the world knows nothing of it, is just delightful to me. It reminds me of Supernatural (at least, SPN when I actually used to enjoy it, haha), and had a little bit of that monster of the week flavor to it, just with a high seas twist. The importance of family and the inheritance of the trade only made that feeling stronger, and it made me miss early SPN. Plus I just really love sea monsters, especially in the wake of reading The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie.

Oh, and speaking of sea monsters, CHECK OUT THAT COVER. The barest hint of the monster silhouetted against the stars is just amazing. I love the cover A TON.

I will admit, though, that I didn't love the book the whole way through.

I loved the concept. I LOVED that it was a short read (only took me two hours as opposed to my usual four or so for a YA novel). I loved how realistic the sibling relationships were, and that the romance wasn't starcrossed so much as failed and accepted as failed. However, I really wish there had been more to it. The idea of monsters tracked via radiation, hunted around the world by people who have to keep it a secret (and presumably don't get paid much in the process) was such a cool idea, but there was nothing about how these monsters came to be or anything of that nature that I really crave.

The other problem I ran into may stem from my own personal preferences. I love strong characters, but I like my plots equally strong, and this was a character-driven book through and through. I was not satisfied with the conclusion or the bulk of the plot itself largely because I was hoping for more depth and complications that I ultimately didn't feel I got. Some folks enjoy narratives that wrestle more with inner demons than outer monsters, and I totally respect that. It's just that that kind of thing isn't for me, and it meant I didn't enjoy this book as much as I quite might have if it had been written differently, focused around different plot issues. 

Of course, that means that my rating is so, so, SO subjective. If you love character-driven stories that have open-ended resolutions and intense potential, Salt might just be for you, and I totally encourage you to give it a try! Besides, do it for the monsters, if anything. Just picture those big old beasties and all the chaos they cause. Cool, right? So cool.

Salt and all its monster goodness is expected October 30 this year (monsters before Halloween, wooooooo!!), so if this book is for you, I really encourage you to preorder it or ask your library to look into ordering a copy!

This was one of those books that you dip your toe in and end up completely submerged (if you'll forgive the water analogies). The relationships between the sibling characters pulled me in immediately, even more than the story line of hunting sea monsters (which was why I picked it up). Come for the supernatural hunting, stay for the family. A quick, adventurous, exciting read.

Overall, this was a quick and easy read. The main plot revolves around Indi who is traveling the seas and hunting monsters with his older sister, younger brother and younger sister. Their parents have gone missing at sea and Indi assuming there are dead is forced to proceed to follow in their steps as monster hunters, but all he really wants is to be part of the real world. What I really liked about this book is that it focused solely on family rather than being ruled with a love story. We see the siblings grow and develop together which is really special. I feel as though the story did lack a bit of substance at times, especially at climax scenes I see the opportunity for much more build up. Because of this the story did drag a bit. However, this was a good read.

Seventeen year old Indi and his siblings find themselves navigating the Mediterranean Sea on a rickety sail boat, the Salgada, in search of a legendary sea monster. Their parents, in search of this unknown monster, set sail a few months prior and never returned. Their disappearance leaves the four siblings having to grow up fast and take over the family business. Indi and his family are known as sicarios or sics, hunters of sea monsters. They hunt down creatures that very few realize exist; protecting those in danger of being eaten, while earning a living. Indi dreams of a quiet life, away from danger for his siblings, hoping to find the treasure his parents wrote about in their journal. His sister Beleza, is determined to find the monster she believes destroyed her family...even if they have to die trying.

Salt is a YA dystopian fantasy novella primarily about family with a secondary plot involving hunting sea monsters. Overall I really enjoyed this novella but I can see why there might be mixed reviews on this one. As a reader, if you are anticipating an action packed plot with lots of mythical creatures and epic battles then you will probably be disappointed. However, if you go into the story accepting that it is primarily about family dynamics, then you might just find yourself pleasantly surprised. The characters are charming and well developed with some very relatable sibling interactions, intensified by living in cramped quarters. The plot is well written and there are a few enjoyable monster hunts along the way. There are some sexual material, nothing too graphic, and a devious female pirate whom you will love to hate. Indi's siblings all have their own endearing personalities that often clash but ultimately showcase a very realistic version of family. The plot is interesting and entertaining fused with cultural language and exotic travel. This quick read is among my favorites for 2018 and definitely worth checking out.

This book was well written and very fun to read. The characters were great and I enjoyed the world building. The author does a great job at introducing the characters and moving the plot along. There were a few things that I didn't like, but it wasn't enough to really sway me one way or the other. It's definitely a story that I can get lost in and both feel for the characters. It is definitely a go-to novel that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a great read. Definitely a highly recommended read that I think everyone will enjoy.

Yes Hannah Moskowitz. Toss me in the middle of a story in a strange place and just let me figure it out. Pacing was quick, characters distinct. Family of monster hunters but the focus isn't in the mythology, it's with the relationship between the oldest siblings trying to hold their family together in the absence of their parents. More 9th grade than 8th, some non-graphic sex.

I don't know what I expected when I started Salt. I knew of Hannah Moskowitz from Twitter, so I was excited to read a book by her, and the synopsis sounded interesting. Sibling fighting monsters? Yes, please. The story is definitely different than what I'm normally drawn to, but as I'm trying to read more fantasy, I figured I'd give it a try. Spoiler alert: it did not disappoint! But before I give away everything in the intro, let's get to the review!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Even though their parents disappeared during a hunt three months ago, seventeen-year-old Indi and his siblings, Beleza, Oscar, and Zulu, continue to roam the Mediterranean on their sailboat and hunt down monsters--but Indi yearns for a more settled life for his family, and he hopes that his parents' journal with its tantalizing hints of a treasure, will provide them all with the means of escape from their nomadic and dangerous life before it is too late.

Indi is the main character of the book. He is a 17-year-old boy and a monster hunter. Yes, that's right. Monsters are real in this world. He lives on a boat with his older sister, Beleza, and two younger siblings, Oscar and Zulu. They are searching for their parents, the ones who brought them into this lifestyle (if that's what you want to call it lol). Their parents went on a big hunt without them, and it soon becomes pretty clear, they didn't make it out alive. So it is now the siblings' mission to find the monster that killed their parents and repay the favor.

While I usually talk about each character before I get into my feels, it's hard to talk about one sibling without talking about how they relate to the others. So let's talk feels for a minute! I absolutely loved this book. My initial feeling that this book wasn't something I would enjoy went right out the window pretty much after the first chapter. I loved each character for their own unique traits and loved the journey they took together.

Beleza is the badass leader of the clan. She is the only one who has ever lived a "normal" life, not on a boat, not hunting monsters. But she is the one who is fighting the hardest (maybe too hard) to find the monster that killed their parents. She seems to be willing to do just about anything.

Indi is the caretaker. He takes care of the kids, tries to get Beleza to see sense when he thinks she's pushing them all too hard, and worries about what their lives will become if they keep living the way they do. He is very much the mother of the group.

Oscar is the thief. He's around 12, so he's doesn't have the best attitude, but he's great at stealing food, items, and pretty much anything he wants or thinks they need. He may put on a bit of a tough facade, but he cares about his siblings as much as the rest of them.

Zulu!! Omg, Zulu is the cutest character to ever exist. She's the youngest (six years old) and the one that butchers the monsters after they kill them. And her age does not mean she doesn't fight or use weapons. Everyone in the family has to do their part. She's been trained from birth to fight and I love her so damn much. There is a point in the story where she is possibly lost and I almost had a freaking heart attack. I love me some Zulu!

This book is such a breath of fresh air for me. Like I said, I don't read too much fantasy, but this book is just so good that I'll definitely be looking into other fantasy books soon. The boat, the siblings' relationships, Indi's struggle to figure out where he belongs, and the ending are so well-written and give just enough "realness" to the story. I connected to this family completely (and you know what that means...there was crying) and was on the edge of my seat anytime I thought there was a possibility one of them could get hurt. The description is also incredible. I can still picture their sad little boat in my head. Everything is described so well.

Rating time! I am giving Salt by Hannah Moskowitz 4 out of 5 stars. Y'all really need to read this book when it comes out.

Salt by Hannah Moskowitz will be released October 30, 2018 (make it a Halloween gift to yourself!)

Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WOW! I truly enjoyed SALT, this was a quick, sometimes confusing read but worth it! One of the many things I loved were the sibling relationships, they were very realistic, and honest. Siblings are annoying, whiny but they're there for you when you need them. There was so much happening in this book, I was confused at times. The siblings had real problems, oh and they haunted and killed sea monsters. Yeah that totally happened, definitely gave the book a supernatural feel. The siblings are recent orphans, well not exactly but the parents haven' returned yet. So the siblings set out to avenge/find the parents, it depends on how the main character is talking if he thinks the parents are alive. I loved, loved the sea monster plot in the book! I do wish we could have more about them, where do they come from, were there always monsters in the ocean, who was the first person to kill a sea monster, who is the original Sic or Sicario? Salt is an excellent example of exploring a family where the parents are presumed dead or currently missing...We get to see how it affects each character differently. Beleza is the oldest of the siblings, and not exactly very nice. Confident, exasperating but loves her family and being a Sic more than anything, Indi is the second oldest, and also the narrator, who just wants to be able to love more than just his siblings. He wants to explore the world just not on a boat. Oscar is the third child who is a master thief, and liar but he gets it honestly. Family is everything to Oscar, did I mention he is stubborn like Beleza... Zulu is the youngest child, who just so happens to be their cook, and she loves knives...She enjoys leaning, and tormenting Oscar because it bothers him.. This is definitely a book to read, if you're looking for a book with siblings who just so happen to kill sea monsters....

Wow, this was a refreshingly imaginative book. It’s about family and the complex relationships between siblings.

Four orphans try to find their way in the world without their parents. Literally, because they live on a boat. And they fight sea monsters. And they need to watch out for pirates.

Despite all of their unique skill sets, they know very little of the world beyond the shore. All they really know is the sea and each other.

I really enjoyed how this book blended modern-day life with sci-fi. It was different. Some details about the story were a little questionable, I won’t get specific to avoid spoilers. But it’s fiction, so it’s ok. And the monster hunting scenes were exciting. I wish there was more.

Thanks NetGalley and @ChronicleBooks for a copy of this book.