Ohhhh wow I love the writing omg. If you're looking for a fantasy thriller/horror, this is for you. However, I'm going to have to sit it aside for a little bit because I don't do well on horror-esque scenes; I am a supreme wimp (and aware of it) and I got too many creeps for my taste! Perhaps I'll return to it when I'm feeling more brave!

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Despite taking a week to read this, I really enjoyed it. (It was just a busy week.) Honestly, I had no idea what toe expect from this book, even while I was reading it. It was such a weird combination of story elements, but it all worked together somehow. Mix together the following, and you'll basically have this book: fairy tale (12 dancing princesses), ghosts, a little gothic feel, gods/goddesses, murder mystery, madness, and some romance. Like I said, it really is a strange mix. It's like when you make mole and realize you're supposed to add chocolate, but then it tastes so amazingly good that you don't question the ingredients list.

I really enjoyed Craig's style of writing. It was like having a really clean window with an amazing view, if that makes any sense. I didn't even really notice her writing, which may sound like a bad thing, but it's not. It was just so natural. The book was the story, not the writing. I just saw the story through the writing rather than having the writing get in the way with superfluous descriptions, unnecessary details, and distracting mistakes. Seriously, am I making any sense? I have no idea. I could easily picture scenes in my mind, and at times I was convinced that I was going mad along with certain characters. The author successfully had me questioning everything and everyone.

My favorite characters were Annaleigh (18), Cassius ("a little older, maybe"--so 19?), and Verity (6). Annaleigh was a believable protagonist--she was good but flawed. Her patience and long-suffering had their limits, but she worked to make up for her shortcomings. Though she was technically the 6th of the 12 daughters (2nd oldest surviving when the story started), she often came across as the most responsible and reliable of them. Verity was old for a six-year-old, but it's understandable given what her life has been. Cassius was immediately likable, but in a way, I initially resented that fact. He was one of several characters I was unsure of, but he was so dang likable! I had some suspicions about him right from the start. I liked how steadfast he was, even when accusations were made against him.

I was kind of sad that it's a standalone book because I'd love to read more about the characters. I suppose there is room for a companion novel or possibly a sequel, though it doesn't necessarily need either. I am generally happy with the way it ended, but that's not to say that it's all cupcakes and butterflies. To be honest, this book contains maybe one cupcake and butterfly each. Regardless, I'd consider owning it, and I will definitely be on the lookout for whatever this author writes in the future.

There were only a few inconsistencies. For example, there wasn't really an explanation of the first four deaths (Elizabeth, Ava, Octavia, Eulalie). I thought there was, but then from what two characters said, it sounded like I was wrong. I don't know. The other was an accusation Annaleigh made against a certain character, and later it changed to a different character. I'd also like to know what happened to the minor characters who went out to the shipwreck.

Note: There might have been a couple of swear words, but I can honestly only recall one. A few of the girls read romance novels and jokingly made their own innuendos a couple of times. Annaleigh walks in on her father and stepmother, but it's nothing more than awkward.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

house of salt and sorrows (Erin A. Craig)
Title: house of salt and sorrows
Author: Erin A. Craig
Publisher: Random House Children's / Delacorte Press
Publication Date: TODAY!! (hardcover/e-book)
ISBN: 978-1984831927
Source: NetGalley

I have always had a soft spot for fairy tale retellings and this showcases one of me favourites - the twelve dancing princesses.  But it is darker than the more recent retellings of this story that I am used to.  I very much enjoyed the introduction to the novel which starts at a funeral for one of the sisters.  The world-building that revolves around the sea and island life made me very happy indeed.

I did mostly enjoy the two sisters Annaleigh and Verity but would have liked the rest of them to be fleshed out more.  I thought that the majority of the older sisters were kinda selfish and frustrating.  Not that they aren't selfish in the oldest versions of the fairytale but they seemed more like caricatures in this version.

The first half of the book was delightful but I didn't really love the turns the plot took later in the novel.  It was hard to understand what was real and what wasn't at the very end.  It was a bit too convoluted for me taste.  I would have preferred less of Annaleigh dithering and to have seen more about island life.  The romance didn't really work for me either.  I will say that I did love where the sisters ended up dancing every night.  I have no regrets about reading this atmospheric retelling for the new take on the beloved tale.

So lastly . . .Thank you Random House Children's / Delacorte Press!

Goodread's has this to say about the novel:
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next

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Salt of House and Sorrows by Erin A Craige 5 Stars

“To the Salt.”

I want to say that this book is for fans of Grimm’s retellings, but that is simply not the case. This retelling of Grimm’s story “The Twelve Dancing Princesses”, is for a much wider audience than just fans of Fairy Tales. This is for fans of fantasy mixed with a twist of a Gothic thriller, with a dash of gods of ancient myths.

One of the things I love most about this novel was that the main character isn’t special in any way, she is simply caught in between a terrible promise that wreaks havoc on her entire world. Secluded on a string of Islands, Annaleigh and her family live with what the People of the Salt call a curse. Her sisters seem to be dying off one by one, each death more terrible than the last. Is it a curse? Will Annaleigh soon follow her sisters into the brine?

The one thing that would cause me to DNF a book is terrible writing. This book is the exact OPPOSITE of that! Craige’s writing is stunning. Her use of metaphors, similes and general command of the English language, guides her readers through her creative vision. She places us in the center of Annaleigh’s crumbling family, and allows us to see through her eyes and walk her nightmares with her. I loved feeling so swept up in the magical words in this novel.

Another piece of praise I have is the flow of the plot. I felt that the story took twists and turns that kept me up at night (although I’ll never take a bath again, showers from now on). Her book dips and dives, tossing readers emotions like waves on an ocean. The characters develop along the way learning how to navigate themselves, and their relationships with each other and the mysteries that surround their family.

My only complaint is that I wish there was more. I wish I could have spent more time with the characters. I wish I had more history of The People of the Salt and Stars and so on. I would have loved to see more of their world and more background information about the gods and other characters.

I don’t want to give away spoilers, because everyone should enjoy this book for themselves.

I was very excited for this book but I just couldn't get into it. I read the first couple chapters and just had no interest in the characters

Wow! I loved this book! It immediately drew me in and kept me fiending for more until I reached the end. It probably is the best retelling I have read so far. It was magical, eerie, beautiful and captivating. I loved the world building, I loved the main character Annaleigh, and I swoon over Cassius. It was just the right amount of creepy to add that element of haunting to such a magical story (if that makes sense). The pacing was excellent and it didn't feel drawn out or too long. The only thing I could say is the ending could have a bit better and not so tidy (I'm not talking about the epilogue of seven months later, which I loved). 

If you like The Iron Isles from GOT and fairy retellings, you'll love this.

Wow! This was WAY scarier than I thought it was going to be! I enjoyed this story immensely. It got a bit confusing at times but the ending helps to clear things up. My library will definitely be purchasing this one.

This retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses was brilliantly written and kept me entertained from beginning to end. It was the first retelling I've read thus far that kept me engaged to the story and characters. The world was beautifully constructed and I loved the descriptions of the ocean, salt covered rocks, and the lighthouse. Everything was interwoven perfectly until the final 25% which took a jarring turn and slipped downhill.

There were too many sisters to really describe and add depth to, but Annaleigh and Verity were the obvious stars of the story. I loved their characters and the way the youngest shared a bond with the now second oldest. Honor and Mercy rarely spoke and the triplets wore provocative dresses and obsessed over balls. Camille, the eldest, withdrew from her family to focus on herself which annoyed me.

The plot kept me enthralled until the end when I became confused with how the author chose to answer all the questions. The lines kept blurring on what was real and what wasn't, and even the final chapter left me skeptic since I still wasn't sure what to believe.

Lots of twists were scattered in the story that I didn't see coming as Annaleigh tried to stop the curse that affected her family before another sister perished. The pros outweigh the cons and if only the final portion was detailed differently then I would have bumped up the rating.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Review for House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

3.5 Stars

Atmospheric. Haunting. Enchanting.

For the most part, I very much enjoyed this beautiful tale. Especially the skillful writing and oceanic culture of the island that the main characters live on.

House of Salt and Sorrows is a dark twist on the classic fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. The Thaumas family is said to be cursed, as the main character Annaleigh has already lost four of her eleven sisters at the beginning of the novel. Plus her mother after the birth of the youngest daughter. Annaleigh believes that her latest lost sister was actually murdered and sets out to figure out who killed her. No one believes her, though, causing tension between her and other members of her family. Between the mourning and family drama, strange things are also starting to happen. Especially once the girls discover a door that can take them to magnificent balls wherever in the world they wish to go.

From the first page, the element of mystery is obvious and I was hooked. The world is fascinating and the writing beautiful. There were some absolutely amazing scenes, enchanting and spooky. I was very impressed by those scenes and they kept me reading more than the actual plot or characters.

As far at the plot goes, I felt it lagged a bit too much in some areas. With any fairy tale retelling, parts are going to feel a little off, even cooky. And there were definitely moments like that where I had to roll my eyes a bit. But, honestly, the dancing parts took a backseat to the real world drama of the sisters—their stepmother, the heir of the estate constantly changing, the potential murder of their sister, etc. Which, while interesting, were not as exciting as the balls. Overall, a beautiful story, but while a lot seems to be going on, not a lot actually happens. The ending climax is unexpected, in kind of a negative way, but does round up the story nicely.

I liked Annaleigh as a main character. She was curious and independent, but not always the most unique of characters. I also enjoyed her sisters and the potential beaus, but I won’t give too much away regarding them.

Last thoughts: A unique spin on a classic tale. I was initially intrigued and enough happened to keep me reading to the end, but I was also disappointed. Would still recommend anyone who is a fan of dark retellings of fairy tales.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!

I enjoyed this very much! It had numerous elements fused into one book like fantasy + mystery + suspense + romance with a more gothic tone. I love the MC Annaleigh, she is extremely kind and loves and cares for her sisters very much. As a standalone it did not feel rushed and it concluded very nicely! Highly recommend this for all you Grimm brothers Fairytale lovers since it is based off of the Twelve Dancing Princesses!

This book was captivating and interesting. I've definitely never read this plot before. What I found most interesting was the sister's relationship and the clock on solving this mystery. It will keep you intrigued and excited for each new discovery!

I wanna start off first by saying how beautiful this cover is. It was a total cover request for me.
I love retellings, even more so when they are unique fairy tales that don't often get a chance to shine in a new light. Such as the case as the Twelve Dancing Princess's.
I loved how the author gave it a creepy twist that left you looking over your shoulder and not wanting to read it in the night.
Most fairy tale retellings are all lovey dovey rose colored glasses, but this one has the ghost story vibe that I could see being told around a campfire,

I’m still pondering this one a week after finishing it. I did love all the visual landscapes (real and imaginary) that were present. I liked the characters and all their interactions with one another. I enjoyed the creep factor, the underlying mystery of curse or madness, and the sisterly bonds (and fights) that were portrayed wonderfully throughout the book.
I think what has me still hesitant was the presentation and execution of the plot line. It was very muddled. This switched from mystery, to love story, to horror, to mythology, to etc etc. It needed a little cleaning up to become a smooth path to enjoy.
I always wanted to know what was happening and the true cause for all the tragedy and that is what kept me going. At the end, I did not see this one coming. But then again, I had no reason to really suspect what was going on as it was never really a part of the storyline until it was all of a sudden the cause of everything. I like a good mystery, and this was an interesting end game, but there do need to be some clues along the way so the reader isn’t blindsided by an unknown entity.
As stated before, there was a lot to like and room to improve before publishing with a few tweaks and additions.

I will be adding this review to my Instagram, blog, and Goodreads on July 29th, 2019. I will also add it to Amazon and Barnes & Noble on the book's publication date. Links to the reviews will be added when they are live. Thank you.

Title: House of Salt and Sorrows
Author: Erin A. Craig
Genre: YA Fantasy/Retellings
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

->Click for Synopsis<-

Annaleigh's family is cursed, or at least that's what everyone thinks. There was once twelve sisters but now only eight remain with each death being more tragic than the last. With strange ghostly appearances around their manor, Annaleigh believes murder was the cause for her sisters sudden deaths. She must unravel the mystery of this curse and the late night balls her sisters attend and hope another one of her sisters isn't next.

All I have it say is, wow! This book was nothing short of amazing with it's intriguing and deathly plot along with its beautiful writing that grips you in right from the beginning. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting because I needed to know what was next for these sisters.

"We are born of the salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt we return."

When it comes to Annaleigh, she is quite determined and speaks her mind freely. The tragedy her family has faced would leave anyone in distraught but she remains calm through all the deaths. Her character was easy to connect with and even when it seemed she was going crazy, I felt like I was going crazy too. It was easy to get swept away into the madness that surrounded the curse and solving the mystery.

Even though Annaleigh was the one desperately trying to keep her other sisters from dying, each of her sisters had roles in the plot. They weren't just minor characters and enjoyed reading how they felt about everything that was taking place as well. As for their father and stepmother, they were quite oblivious to everything and at times I disliked one of them more than the other and vice versa.

Cassius. Where do I even start with him? He was mysterious and quite intriguing. You want to love him and hope for the best but at the same time, you accuse of him everything and hope Annaleigh isn't in danger of being next. The turmoil I faced with him!

The plot was nothing short of an extreme ride that takes you through loss, grieving, more loss, love, and everything in between. It's tragic and beautiful all at the same time. When you believe you know who did it, your world is flipped upside and nothing makes sense. The ending is glorious and had me in tears.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It has been one of my favorite reads of the year and I cannot wait to see what is in store for this author. This is a book you don't want to miss!

I am
• spooked,
• in love,
• and broken.

The House of Salt and Sorrows is an enchanting and haunting retelling of the Brother Grimm’s fairy tale “Die Zwölf Tanzenden Prinzessinnen “, “ The Twelve Dancing Princesses" (or sometimes referred to as "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes" or "The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces"). Erin A. Craig’s spin on the tale delivers a magically engrossing tale including gods, a suspicious stepmother, magic doorways, haunting visions, terrifying suspense, and sweet romance. A pot of gold for lovers of YA books and fairy tale retellings.

THIS MADE MY ‘BEST OF 2019’ BOOKLIST in the YA genre!

“I dwelt alone, in a world of moan, and my soul was a stagnant tide
Till the fair and gentle Eulalie became my blushing bride”


Highmore is the manor perched high above the sea on an island that houses a duke and his 12 daughters. The place has seen its share of grief in the last months as mysterious deaths are taking one daughter after another. A forsaken, haunted place is what the people on the mainland call the island, and a dark and hopeless mood has spread among the family.

After another funeral underway, Annaleigh and her sisters protest the short mourning period their new stepmother imposes. After only a day, she has invited a dress- and shoemaker to cheer the girls up. Amazed and happy, the girls are having a wonderful time getting spoiled, but Annaleigh stays suspicious. She is haunted by the unexplained deaths of her sisters and shocked at the awful graphic drawings of death one of her little sisters makes.

The girls are full of cheer and via a secret crevice near the burial chamber down by the sea they slip through and start attending the most spectacular dance balls they have ever imagined. Reluctantly, Annaleigh lets her guard down and finds herself whisked away dancing the nights away.
When an old friend and a new love interest are invited to the manor, Annaleigh’s haunted dreams become darker and stronger. And then, another sister goes missing!

As the duke is wondering how his daughters keep going through their new shoes over and over, Annaleigh finds herself in a mystery she has to solve but does not know whom to trust. All the right people are at the wrong place at the wrong time and evil slowly spreads the halls of the manor.
Will Annaleigh solve the murders before the visions of her own death become true?
A sweet dark tale, not to be missed!

***

This novel had me by the neck! Not the first 1/3 of the book, but all after. This is Erin A. Craigs debut novel, and I am at awe at her ability to create stunningly haunting scenes. I actually went back and reread many of them, because I was thinking, ‘how did she do that’? Without fanfare, Annaleigh’s haunted moments were chilling and full of suspense. Un-put-down-able!

As for the first part of the novel, the dress-up, and the balls, they were glamorous, sparkly and enchanting – fairytale like. A sweet combo in a YA book, for the young at heart. That part didn’t grab me like the rest of the novel, but I am not the age of the intended audience.

I really enjoyed the entire premise and fairy tale retellings are a thing. Complete with a stepmother, a mystery and some romance, a perfect book to escape in. It’s been a very long time since I have heard the Grimm’s tale of “Die Zwölf Tanzenden Prinzessinnen“, but I definitely want to reread and compare. Check out a short synopsis of the original on my blog.

If you like retellings, this is a must and I hope you will love it as I did.

I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

“My sister just died. I don’t exactly feel like dancing.”

It starts with a funeral and ends with... well you’ll have to read to find that out!

This book is creepy.
It’s confusing.
It’s frustrating.
It’s sad.
It’s twisty.
There’s a love story.
It essentially tells you what’s going on, in a round about way in the very beginning. You don’t realize it because by the end so many other things have been thrown in to distract and confuse you.

“𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕗, 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕡𝕖𝕓𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕥. 𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕡 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗.“

House of Salt and Sorrows is just this creepy little YA fantasy book, and I ended up enjoying it. It’s a loose/darker retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale, with its own unique mythology that I honestly wouldn’t mind reading more of. The plot extends way beyond the fairytale retelling, but the way that story is retold is creepy AF in the very best way. I think it’s probably best to go into this one blind besides reading the blurb.

I admit that HOSAS reads a bit slowly at times, and in my opinion it does feel like there were some plot holes/missed potential for more story. But the mystery, the deaths, and the romance kept me turning pages. I NEEDED to know what was going on with the Thaumas’ family of Highmoor. I had to know about the curse. Couldn’t wait to see how Annaleigh’s story panned out. Plus the world building gave me serious Iron Islands of GOT vibes, and I couldn’t get enough of the visuals described.

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 factor!

I absolutely loved this book and it’s a unique retelling I haven’t seen done often. The prose was great as was the world building and character development.i didn’t find it as creepy as some people said they found it but it was still an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.

I haven't been able to write a full review on this as of yet but this book was fantastic. Jesus Christ. This had me turning in all sorts of directions and BOOM plot twist. I can’t wait for this to come out for y’all so you can read this.

Annaleigh once has 12 sisters, but four are now dead under mysterious circumstances. There are rumors that the family is cursed, and that is why the sisters are dying off one by one. Annaleigh is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

This is a retelling of 12 dancing princesses, but I am not even familiar with that fairytale, so I went in knowing nothing. The book has a magically dark feel to it. I appreciated that.

I liked the beginning of the book, very much. I was engrossed, but I will admit that my interest did dwindle a bit toward the halfway point. The book seemed to slow down and just kinda fizzle out.

The writing is beautiful, it's just missing the second half excitement that was there in the first. I am still giving this book a solid 4 stars, because it has it.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review**