I really struggled with this one. While I think the premise is really interesting, I was easily waiting until 70 percent through the book for the real action to occur. A lot of the story is well placed foreshadowing, however the pay-off doesn't match the patience required to get there.

I also think this book suffers from purple prose - or just commonly used YA fantasy phraseology.

Skip this one.

3.8
Whelp, that was dark. Parts were lovely and lyrical, but it was kind of like a series of vignettes loosely roped together with paper thin and slightly weird segues.

This book was fantastic. It was creepy and enthralling and had me second guessing myself the entire time I read. At first I didn't trust Cassius, but quickly grew to love his character. I honestly thought Camille was the villain in this tale, although it didn't surprise me how things turned out in the end. Even so, the writing was phenomenal and the story was just perfectly told.

Since reading this book, it has become a bit of a classic in the genre. Craig's ability to weave in mystery and atmosphere into a dense yet navigable narrative has made her a stand out in the YA world. Can't wait to see what she puts out next.

This was a WILD ride. I don't normally like to read thrillers which is the main reason it took me so long to get to, but once started I had to keep reading to find out what happened! The story is really complex and immersive and it gets quite creepy! It bordered on too much for my taste at times but overall I liked it! The setting was awesome, the characters were very good and the plot was flawless. This would be a great October read, for anyone looking for a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling but darker.

Recommend for fans of:
- Atmospheric Spooky Reads
- Neil Gaiman or Agatha Christie
- 12 Dancing Princesses but darker

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Amazing tale in every way. If you are a fan of gothic houses, moody weather, stunning clothes, and grandiose theatrical set up, this might be just right up your alley. Sisters in a mansion facing up against the dark curse. This book turned me into Erin Craig reader for life. More please.

So very good in all of the best ways. Dark and spooky without being over the top. A slow burn romance. Magic. And oh, so much water. lol. Seriously. This retelling was fantastical and engaging and had me hooked from way early on. My first real 5* read in a very long time.

Prepare to be ensnared in the haunting beauty of "House of Salt and Sorrows" by Erin A. Craig. This gothic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is an intricate dance between suspense, horror, and vivid storytelling.

The tale unfolds in the eerie halls of Highmoor, where Annaleigh resides with her sisters, living under the weight of a sinister curse. The atmosphere is a character of its own, thick with suspense that grips you from the first page. The deaths of the sisters, each more tragic than the last, resonate with an otherworldly aura. The whispers of a curse add a layer of dark enchantment, creating an immersive and atmospheric setting.

Annaleigh, our guide through this spectral journey, is a protagonist whose every step I eagerly followed. Her transformation from a sheltered observer to an investigator of her sisters' mysterious deaths is compelling. The characters, from the enigmatic stranger to Annaleigh's sisters, are crafted with depth, adding layers to the intricate narrative. Vivid descriptions breathe life into the characters, making them linger in the mind long after the final page.

The events unfold like a dance of shadows, where glittering balls and forbidden trysts under the moonlight weave a spellbinding tapestry. The question of who, or what, the sisters are dancing with adds an element of mystery that keeps you guessing.

While this tale weaves a spell that is hard to break, I must acknowledge the minuscule flaws. Some readers may find the pacing a touch measured, but I argue that it heightens the suspense, allowing the revelations to unfold with poignant impact.

All in all, "House of Salt and Sorrows" is a literary gem. Erin A. Craig's masterful storytelling ability, combined with the rich atmosphere and compelling characters, creates a reading experience that is both chilling and enchanting. For fans of gothic retellings and atmospheric mysteries, this novel is an absolute must-read.

A haunting reimagining of the tale of the twelve dancing princesses. Once there were twelve, but as they start dying off each worse than the last Annaleigh starts to think that they werent accidents and rumors start that the family is cursed by the gods. But the real question is who are the sisters really sneaking out to dance with? Annaleigh must answer this or she just might be next.

I've tried to get into this book, but it's just not jelling for me. It does start off slow. World building is solid.

Annaleigh just put another sister to rest. It seems something is always happening to tjem and theu constantly live in mourning clothes.

Annaleigh thinks this is more than a curse. Her sister wouldnt have just fallen... she believes something else is causing this, or maybe a someone. She now takes it upon herself to figure it out.

I do have to say, it took me a few tries to get through this book. I had to put it down a few times as the first 10 chapters alone were just so boring and slow paced. Annaleigh is the only character that made it somewhat bearable to get through this book.

The stepmom reveals a surprise which all of a sudden mourning period isn't going to happen. Instead they plan to just skip the sadness and go right into the next stage of life. Picking out colors for new dresses and shoes and planning a ball for the triplets birthday.

It took until about 80% of the book for it to finally grab my attention. Finally things are being reveald. Why people are dying, this curse isnt what it seems and so much unraveling occurs. At the very end is where it was for me and while I did like it and will read the second book, I won't exactly be jumping to it.

It is simialr to Dark and Shallow Lies, so if you read that book and enjoyed it, this style is very similar and would.be right up your alley!

Absolutely thrilling and awesome tale. It started a bit slow for me, but once it got going it was good. I always thought I knew what was going to happen, but It kept me guessing. The characters and story were written in a magical way that will grab the reader and make them want more. I know I can't wait for more from this author.

I wasn’t able to finish this book. Because of this, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or on Goodreads/Amazon. I also didn’t mark it DNF.

This has definitely become one of my
favorite books. Such an incredible
dark gothic retelling of The Twelve
Dancing Princesses. I loved the fact that
there was so much attention to detail
and the world building. The character
development was meticulously done.
It was pretty unique and had amazing storytelling.
I loved the relationship between the sisters. I was
surprised by the outcome, I didn't see it coming.
I haven't read anything like this before, I immediately
fell in love with the world and its characters. Can't
wait for the next book in this series.

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while (years, actually), but just never really got around to it! I don’t necessarily have a lot of experience with the original tale this story is based on (except for the Barbie movie, haha!), but the synopsis still sounded right up my alley. When my library hold on the audiobook finally came in last week, I knew it was at long last to read this one!

Right off the bat, this book was extremely atmospheric, and this was something that remained true throughout the whole story. I could taste the salt of the sea and feel the ghosts lurking in the dark halls of Highmoor. It was definitely this book's biggest strength and a large reason why this book was still three stars for me, despite having some issues with other aspects of the book. It’s also what has me still interested in other books by this author, as I can see myself falling into this sort of writing and description again!

One weak point of the writing, for me, was the repetitiveness of the description at points. This was actually pointed out by one of my friends in their review, and it rang true for me. An important aspect of storytelling, at least in many scenarios, is that you need to ‘show and not tell.’ Simply put, you can’t just explicitly tell everything to a reader, especially when it comes to characters (from personality, emotion, etc., etc.) This book has plenty of showing, and it’s done really well, up until it’s immediately followed by a line that explicitly explains what was meant to be shown. While I understand it might be there for clarity, it was often for fairly mundane descriptions, like showing a character’s reaction or feelings about something. It made otherwise good descriptive writing feel clunky and overbearing, as it was trying to point out something that was already obviously clear to me. Description typically works better when there’s some trust in the reader understanding the point you’re trying to make, even if it’s not entirely spelled out.

One last thing that really stuck out to me, positively, was how well the narrator + writing portrayed some of the confusion and unsurety of later scenes. I can’t go into this in too much detail, due to spoilers, but I really felt like I was in Annaleigh’s head for most of those final scenes. It was extremely disorienting, but it meant I was able to clearly feel how the world was shifting around Annaleigh, which added a lot of needed tension to the final moments of the book.

Unfortunately, there was more that didn’t work for me than that did, even if the atmosphere of the story still made it an overall enjoyable read. First, I felt like the characters needed more distinguishing features overall. While I know that in a retelling such as this one, you need to have at least twelve sisters (on top of the standard array of supporting characters), it didn’t feel like there were actually twelve sisters. There were definitely twelve different names, but so many of their personalities and roles in the stories were easily interchangeable, beyond an obvious few. This was especially true for the sisters that were ‘grouped up’, in a way, like the triplets, the younger set of sisters, and the dead sisters. It took me a long while to even learn all their names, but then we never really got any development or description for them beyond very basic details, allowing me to point out which was the one that picked the pink dress for the ball or which is the one that died in a bathtub. It also made the grief feel less present because it never felt like the sisters, alive or dead, were anything actually real, so the loss of them didn’t feel like the loss of anything much. I also found the final twist predictable, and while I don’t actually mind that as long as it’s still done well overall, it did feel like the narrative was trying too hard not to look too closely at certain characters, to try to make it less obvious that way. It made some parts of the plot and Annaleigh’s actions feel weird, especially later on when she starts questioning everything and everyone. This was also generally true for many characters, though, where it felt like their reactions to events were more about plot convenience and keeping the story progressing instead of it feeling like how a character would actually feel or react in that situation. Lastly, the ending also felt silly to me, or at least one specific aspect of it. It’s just not something I ever appreciate in stories, at least not done so quickly, and it ruined any of the possible weight the ending may have carried for me.

Overall, while this book didn’t entirely work for me, I did enjoy some aspects quite a bit, especially the atmosphere/setting of the story. I do think I’ll still give future books by Craig a shot, just to experience that level of immersion again!

Review will be up on my blog on February 10!

Eerie. Atmospheric. Spooky vines. I absolutely loved this book! I will need to buy a copy immediately

House of Salt and Sorrows was an interesting read. I’m not sure if I liked it or hated it. It definitely kept my attention though. The characters were interesting but I don’t know it just wasn’t my favorite.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me access to this book. Great book! Well written, great premise and interesting characters. I will be recommending this book. Thanks again for letting have a chance to read it.

This haunting and atmospheric read will definitely stay with me. I loved Annaleigh and the stories her mom told her, and the eeriness of this one really started to Jess with me! Was this a dream? Are they dead? What is real and not real?

Such an interesting, unique book!