5 stars!
OH MY GOD! I could not put this book down. I love a good retelling and add some fantasy and mystery/thriller and I was hooked!
This book was a retelling of 12 dancing princesses which I was not familiar with but I did some research after reading this book and it makes me love the way the author wrote this story even more. This is one of the top 5 books I’ve read in 2019, heck it might be #1 right now. I’m still shook. I want to reread it already. Also Cassius is now my new favorite boy name.

I received this ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such original, brilliantly written twist on such a great story. You develop an immediate connection to the story and the characters. This was written so perfectly it was an honor to receive the DRC through Netgalley!

I love fairy tale re-tellings but the 12 dancing princesses is a tough one to pull off. There are SO MANY characters. This one was a little bit easier to keep up with because a few of them were dead when the book started. After just a little while I had them all more or less straight. Moving along... immediately upon starting this book I was so intrigued by the world. I loved that they are people of an island nation and how much everything in the book reflected that. Their burial customs were fascinating, their Churning festivities sounded so beautiful, the ocean is a part of every corner of this book. I was fascinated by the horror element of this book. I thought that it was very intriguing at first, and while it did drop off a bit in the middle, it continued to be a bit dizzying and exciting until the end. It definitely had it's brutal and gory moments, so it's not a sickly sweet re-telling. I loved the bits and pieces we learned about other parts of the world.... but I felt like we don't know enough as readers to really digest how it all fits together, and with the story -- making it feel just a little bit disjointed during the ending. What we did learn though, I was intrigued by! I liked the bit of romance that was included, but I liked the sisterhood just as much. There was a little bit of a mystery to solve along the way, which isn't my usual thing, but I really enjoyed and did not guess the reveal. Overall I would recommend this if you are looking for a fantasy novel that is a little unexpected and beautifully envisioned. I am especially excited about this book as it is a debut for this author.... I can't wait to see where her writing goes. Wow!

"House of Salt and Sorrows" by Erin A. Craig was such a good, creepy twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale. It definitely had plenty of weird, trippy moments that gave me all the right dark, twisted vibes and it had an enjoyable romance too. It also had this lovely atmospheric ocean theme for Salten with the crypt that fed into the salt water and the frequent callback to sea turtles and the lighthouse and octopuses and so many great things like that. It also had a good mystery that kept me guessing until the end. We need more horror twists on fairy tales in the world! This was such an enjoyable read.

This book was so refreshingly creepy, which is a strange description that I don't believe I've used before. It reminded me a little of the unsettling feeling that The Haunting of Hill House gave me. I'm also a sucker for fairy tale retellings, so this was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the setting of this book. Erin Craig does a wonderful job describing the salty sea air and it added to the whole atmosphere of the book. I would absolutely recommend (and have already!) this book to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was a really great debut featuring just about all my favorite genres -- retelling, fantasy, romance, etc. The writing and world building are really strong and I loved all of the characters in this book. This book was a fantastic read, a little slow in the beginning but once the storyline picked up I could not put the book down. I'm really excited to see what Erin A. Craig will write in the future!

I’ve been extremely lucky with most of the books I’ve been reading this year so far. A lot of them are SUPER good, and this gem was no exception! I knew two things when I requested this book on NetGalley. One, the cover was literally to die for. Two, it was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. I also did not know two things. One, I did not know how the cover entwined with the story, because it definitely gave me mermaid vibes. Two, I was not really familiar with the Twelve Dancing Princesses tale, but I love retellings, so I wanted to give it a shot.

Annaleigh and her family are laying another one of her sisters to rest. Death has claimed four sisters, and Annaleigh is beginning to believe that coincidence has nothing to do with it. Annaleigh is one of the many daughters of a duke who has remarried, and just one day after Eulalie’s death, their stepmother insists on replacing the mourning garb with colors and convinces their father to buy them new shoes. Everyone in the family is tired of being seen as “cursed” because of the deaths that overtake their family, but at the same time, it feels wrong to end the mourning period so suddenly… even if they’ve been mourning for months and months.

I instantly got a Gothic sea vibe, and I will admit to liking that very, very much. This novel ignited a feeling of spookiness that I did not at all anticipate. And Annaleigh, to me, was a great main character, if only for one reason: she was an unreliable narrator. That is my favorite!

We follow the tale of Annaleigh and her sisters as the mourn by day, and dance by night after they find a magical door that takes them to far away palaces hosting extravagant balls with handsome men. But the more Annaleigh is looking into her sister’s tragic death, the more often she is being disturbed by ghastly hallucinations. Is she going crazy? And why is one of her younger sisters drawing portraits of her dead sisters, especially in ways that she should have no knowledge of? Annaleigh also meets a handsome stranger named Cassius, but she can’t help but start to suspect everyone as she slowly starts to spiral into madness. As a reader, you’re not sure what to believe, but you begin to understand that something sinister is hidden in the details.

House of Salt and Sorrows was a perfect blend of eerie and magical, and the author created haunting scenes that have stuck with me months after reading this book! And in case you were wondering, no – mermaids play no role in this novel, but the sea themes are strong in this one!

First I have to confess, I have never read 12 Dancing Princesses which is the fairy tale that inspired House of Salt and Sorrows. Second, I am a bit conflicted. I found myself getting distracted and skimming the first half of the book. Despite the mystery, it kind of felt like nothing was happening. The second half of the book; however, brought up the tension and took a really dark turn which I enjoyed. Once it got going, I did not want to put it down. I did find myself wishing that the sisters voices were a bit more unique. The younger girls didn't feel too different from the older ones sometimes. Overall, it was beautifully written and completely intense at the end. I think I may try this one again if there is an audiobook.

I do recommend fans of dark fairy tales giving this one a shot!

<b> Thank you to Netgalley for an e arc for review </b>


OH MY GOSH ❤️😍


This was so damn good. I can’t even describe my feeling at the end of this!

This is so haunting, beautiful, dark, twisted, fun. So creepy at parts and then so like majestic. This is an amazing story! It is a slow roller a little bit and normally that bothers me but I was just really enjoying the characters and the setting. It is kind of set in the past tense a little, the women are very much raised to just be wives. Go to balls and wear pretty dresses all the time. Definitely not a modern story, but I love historical fiction so I really clicked with this. I think it also should be labeled horror but uhm I almost had nightmares. Some of the scenes were like super scary to me lol. Very very creepy!

I LOVED the characters so so so much. Little Verity was my favorite I think, she’s just so cute and funny and I wanna squish her. The characters are really well developed and the world is too. I could picture everything perfectly.

I didn’t see that twist coming at all! I think it was super awesome and had me second guessing myself like 20 times.

The ending too though 😍.

A stunning fantasy! I loved the characters, settings and plot. Would Recommend!
Plus, what a gorgeous cover!

3.5 stars

I was incredibly excited to be approved for an ARC of House of Salt and Sorrows because I'd heard such great things. I was hesitant to start it, though, because I heard that it was scary, and I am a total weenie when it comes to horror/suspense. However, it wasn't as intense as some people made it out to be. That being said, I did enjoy this book! House of Salt and Sorrows is a lovely retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, set against a gloomy backdrop by the sea.

The sister relationships are so strong! The book opens with one of the older sister's funerals (I think that the first three have already died, but it's been a while since I finished this book). As one of the remaining eldest sisters, Annaleigh takes on the role of her younger sisters' carers.

I loved that Annaleigh is so kind-hearted, even with her stepmother whom she dislikes. It's a good characteristic to have.

The worldbuilding was so cool; I'm strangely into island-centered books, and this story is heavily impacted by the isolation of the island. The gloominess of living by the sea creates a quietly intense atmosphere surrounding the words.

Again, thrillers/horror/suspense is usually not my genre, but I really enjoyed this one! I especially liked the fantasy aspect of it; the religious system was interesting.

There were, however, some parts of the book that irritated me. The romance wasn't particularly interesting to me because it was so instalove-y that I couldn't take them seriously. I also thought the ending was incredibly rushed; I think everything happens in the last ten percent, having been built up so much and then all of the reveals being unveiled so quickly.

House of Salt and Sorrows was, overall, a nice read. The atmosphere was well-established, a soft gloominess that creeps up on you. I found this to be a solid debut. If you want something that will make you hold your breath, I definitely recommend this book.

**This review will be posted on my blog, Magical Reads, on August 4, 2019.**

A version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses set in an alternate world, a world with different gods and goddesses, religions and rules. The islands that the Thaumus family rules over are remote and devoted to Protus, god of the sea - the customs are different than those on the mainland, including a yearlong mourning period. After the death of her mother and four older sisters, Annaleigh hasn't been out of mourning for years yet her reaction to her stepmother's suggestion that the family cease and instead have a ball celebrating both the sixteenth birthday of "the triplets" and the pregnancy that might finally bring boys to the family doesn't excite her. At the ball, she realizes that the family is scorned for being cursed (in addition to breaking with custom) but her sisters are desperate to find husbands. And thus the dancing begins... There is a great twist here, and the world of the islands is well-realized. I'm hoping that the author revisits other old tales but sets them in this world as there are realms I'd love to explore.

eARC provided by publisher.

Vivid imagery, strong characterization, distinctive atmosphere, swoony romance, and shivers down my spine at every turn. I never knew what to expect and might be having nightmares for weeks! The belief system was particularly interesting to me. It felt like the best parts of Caraval, taken to the next level. I’ll definitely be recommending this one.

First - hello Erin A. Craig!  I can't wait to read more from you!  Second - not sure why it's taken me this long to sit down and write this review because I loved this! 

This book is haunting.
Heartbreaking.
Has amazing mythology.
It's twisty.
And there is a love story.

What more could you want?

House of Salt and Sorrows is a darker retelling of the Grimm's brother's The Twelve Dancing Princesses, with its own unique mythology.  There are parts of this book that are creepy AF, but in the very best way!  The world building is amazing, and I couldn't get enough of the visuals described.

I will admit HOSAS did read a bit slowly at times, but the mystery, the deaths, and the romance kept me turning pages.  I NEEDED to know what was going on with the Thaumas’ family!  And I couldn’t wait to see how Annaleigh’s story panned out.

All in all a good YA fantasy read; if you’re looking for a mystery with a dash of romance and a bit of a creep!

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig is one of my new favourite books. It is creepy and wonderful, and I know I will be going back and rereading on a regular basis. The storytelling is beautiful and haunting. The author blends thriller, horror, and fantasy genres in this Poe-esque tale.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses" by the Grimm Brothers. Craig definitely follows the brothers vibe with this spooky take on the story. The setting takes place in a fictional world, with gods and goddesses. Annaleigh Thaumas and her family of twelve sisters and her father live on a small island in a chain of islands. Her family is said to have been cursed after her fourth sister dies.

Annaleigh becomes convinced that her most recent sister's death was no coincidence. She believes it was murder. During this time she meets a handsome stranger on the main island and her childhood friend comes back to visit her family. As Annaleigh begins to look into her sister's death, disturbing apparitions begin to haunt her.

The Thaumas family begins to leave their mourning phase, and the girls begin to sneak out at night to magical parties where they dance and party all night. Is it really harmless fun or is there something more?

I was left breathless many times throughout the book. It ticked every box that I have, when I look for a book. It was creepy, beautiful, sad, magical, and well-written. This book came out of nowhere and left me thinking about it all day until I could sit down and continue reading. It haunted me long after I had finished. I truly cannot wait until the next book by this author comes out. This is one of my favourite new books and author.

This book is perfect for fans of Gaslamp fantasy, thrillers, or mysteries. Fans of Edgar Allan Poe and the Brontë Sisters will love this story.

House of Salt and Sarrows is an epic tale of family secrets, murder and mystery. The imagery and attention to detail from Erin A. Craig is unprecedented in this lovely tale with a hauntingly beautiful story line. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the darker twist to their stories.

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS by Erin A. Craig is a haunting retelling of the fairy tale, The 12 Dancing Princesses. I received this ARC on behalf of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This post DOES NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS.

I will publish a post containing spoilers on Monday, August 12, on my blog, #MediaGalReads, to give readers the opportunity to read the story and form their own thoughts. However, here is the summary and my shortened review:

Why I was interested: I had never read a retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses. It is a fairy tale you never really hear about being retold so that was an immediate check for me. Next, I love how the world building is inspired by the sea more so than forests and wide-spread acres of land.

Judge a book by it’s cover: The dark, brininess of the cover highlights the world so well.

What to expect: A dark, sea-inspired world, good mythology, some mild horror scenes wrapped together within an original retelling.

Why you should pick this book up: This book reminds me of an extended version of the ballroom scene in the Haunted Mansion ride at the Disney Parks but with a darker version of Ariel’s grotto. (I got some dark Disney vibes which I loved.)

Want more?: I will post an extended review containing spoilers on Monday, August 12, so come visit then for a more in-depth review!

Thanks for reading!

Marena Galluccio, #MediaGalReads
https://marenaelizabethgalluccio.com/blog/

It has been quite a while since I actually read this book and haven't brought myself to sit down and write the review, there have been much things going on here and the I chose to read in my down time rather than write. Maybe I didn't think I could do it justice. But that being said it had nothing to do with the caliber of this book. This book was amazing!

I have never read the story of the 12 princesses for which this book was based so I had no real preconceived ideas. But, 1 that title though! And 2, how gorgeous is that cover!!!

The blurb:
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor manor with her sisters, father and stepmother. At the start of the story we are at a funeral for one of Annaleigh's sisters. The fourth tragic death of this family, with each being more tragic than the last. There are now whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Annaleigh struggles to find not only peace of mind, but comfort, as more tragedy strikes. She begins to feel as if she is going mad or if it's her family going mad. Or maybe there is something more menacing afoot.

There is mystery, intrigue and a little bit of romances. The story is beautifully told and tremendously vivid. Of course it is a dark tale surrounded by death but still managed to find a happy ending.

I absolutely adore this book and I hope that I can get my hands on a hard copy as soon as it comes out (maybe singed 😉😉)! I am extremely honored to have been given the chance to read an arc copy, and I think of all my arc this has been my favorite.

My little booklings, I think it's safe to say that, I whole heartedly recommend this book.
Oooobviously (I hear Snape here😉) I give this book a resounding 5 stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


I owe thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of House of Salt and Sorrows for a fair and honest review.

All I have to say is WOW!! I am shocked how much I loved this story! After I finished reading this book, I researched some reviews. I did not realize that this book was a retelling of a fairy tale called “the twelve dancing princesses”. I now have to read that fairytale! If you want the perfect gothic ghost story with magic doorways, romance, lots of suspense and family curses, then this is the perfect book for you. I loved the setting of this book with a mansion up on the dark waters of the sea. This is the first book in a long time where I was able to really picture the setting in my minds’ eye. After mourning the loss of some of their sisters the main character Annaleigh and what’s left of her 12 sisters start to believe they are cursed, and that they will eventually be burying more of eachother in the future. Were their sisters murdered in the middle of the night? Or is it something else all together? Annaleigh and her sisters start to see things and find things along the way of discovering what really is happening to their family. I can go on about this book but do yourself a favor. When it comes out on August 6, 2019 get yourself a copy! It is the perfect summer into fall book just because of the atmosphere.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book in advance. I cannot wait to have a physical copy of it!

I absolutely loved this book. It's a retelling of the fairytale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it's much darker than the original tale and it's quite original.

On a remote island lives a Duke and his daughters. There were once 12 sisters, but four of them have died and the family is in perpetual morning. Annaleigh is now the second oldest, and she begins to suspect that the most recent death wasn't an accident.

Fairytale retellings can be tricky. The reader already knows the basic plot, so there has to something different to pull you into the story. House of Salt and Sorrows takes a very original approach to the story. Having some of the sisters already dead at the beginning of the story makes this as much a mystery as a fantasy, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.

The world building is really well done. The sense of the island, the sea, the life they live is vivid and really comes alive. The island is beautiful and creepy and vividly described. The islanders worship of the sea god Pontus, and the pantheon of deities worshiped by other parts of the country were really interesting.