Emotional. Twisty. Suspenseful. Dramatic.

This book is such an emotional ride. It starts out a little slowly but with that said I was drawn into this world pretty quickly. Annaleigh and her sisters live on a small isolated island, and the book starts out with the family attending the funeral of one of their sisters. You start sensing the strange culture pretty quickly. Because they are the "People of the Salt" they have a unique funeral. You learn that out of 12 sisters, four have died, and so has their mother. They have been in mourning (and basically isolation) for years. Most people on the island have started to believe that the family is cursed. However, Annaleigh begins to suspect that her latest sisters death was actually a murder. So a good portion of the book is spent trying to figure out what happened to this sister, Eulalie, while Annaleigh is developing a relationship with Cassius, the mysterious son of a ship Captain.

In her search for answers Annaleigh finds a magical door that leads them anywhere they want to go. They attend many balls in search of a suitor, relieved that there father has lifted the mourning that the house has been in for years. And this is done, because his new wife is pregnant, supposedly with a son.

Things start to get especially crazy at an event called The Churning. Annaleigh is shaken by the death of 2 more sisters, and on top of that things with Cassuis get very complicated. Things with reality in general get complicated. Thing fall apart and unravel quickly.

The last quarter of this book picks up at an insane speed. Just when I thought I understood it all and had the answer, finally, it spun me around and changed again.

I really enjoyed this book. I gave it two stars mostly because the pacing varies so much and it threw me off in several different places. But this book is engaging and suspenseful and really kept me guessing. I liked the characters, the family, and the culture of the island that this book was set in.
I do reccomend this book, its a fun mysterious read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read it in exchange for this review.


"https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/54587711-kayla">View all my reviews</a>

My expectations were high for House of Salt and Sorrows. I was sadly disappointed. It began well enough. The story was engrossing, and the atmospheric presence of death was evident. After a bit, I just lost interest. It took forever to read because I kept coming back to it. The main character morphed into a typical teen girl, and the plot fell apart. The story felt scattered like it started out as one thing but ended as another. Unfortunately, I didn't care for this one. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK turned things around. Kate had already read and reviewed this book when I was approved for a copy, but she was SO enamored with it that I knew I had to read it. It was SO atmospheric. It was SO creepy. Also there were swoons? As strange as this will sounds, Greyjoy-like aesthetics really hold a special place in my heart due to associations with my dorky husband, so just roll with it. I highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out in September! 5 stars.

First I would like to say Thank You to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this lovely book.
To start, I want to say how absolutely gorgeous I thought this book cover! I love the story of the 12 Dancing princesses and really enjoyed seeing the parallels between this book and that fairytale! I am not usually a fan of horror, suspense but I found that I really enjoyed it in this book
There were romance and action, and a mystery to be solved. This was a unique take on a story that doesn't get many retellings and I am so happy I got a chance to read it.

A gorgeous retelling of the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Sisters with a definitely haunting, gothic feel. I am a sucker for WELL DONE retellings, and this one is truly unique and spooky and lush. I loved it so much and yet I'm having a difficult time putting it into words because I feel like I will just GUSH.

Craig has crafted a twisty, creative tale of family (and secrets), monsters, myth and magic, and her setting and descriptions are so vivid that I could practically see the story unfold in front of me (and it was all told in deep sea blues and greens and blacks in my mind). Her prose was gorgeous and flowing.

Annaleigh lives in a large manor with her father, stepmother, and many remaining sisters. (Because her older ones have all died mysteriously and accidentally.) Everyone believes her family is cursed. But - when another sister dies, she doesn't believe it was an accident and begins to search for what really happened.

And that is when things get really weird. And creepy. She does an amazing job of building tension in some of the darker parts of the plot. There is a lot of mythology woven into the tale, And the twists just keep coming and coming, and when I think I have a clue as to what is going on, Craig completely pulls the rug out from under my feet.

The characterization at times felt a bit unsteady - Annaleigh flopped between very suspicious to overly trusting; her father seemed very dependable until the party, and then his personality completely changed (blame it on the drinking?) There were a few sisters I felt like I couldn't tell you much about, possibly as they were referred to as "The Graces" more than their actual names.

I was a little confused and frustrated when Annaleigh's focus turned from her hunt to find out what really happened to her sister Eulalie to going to parties every night, but in the end, it added to the chaos and mystery and creepiness of what was happening, and even when I thought I had it figured out Craig had one more big twist to throw at me.

Overall, this book was just a big WOW for me.

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS is an elegant and enchanting dark YA fantasy. Fans of the 12 Dancing Princesses will be delighted by this deliciously haunting retelling. Annaleigh is the sixth of twelve daughters whose lives have been filled with death. On the islands where they live and her father currently holds the dukedom, the eldest child inherits, whether or not they are male. Annaleigh never imagined she would be in a viable position to inherit, and she has been completely shocked by the events that have led to her having only one older sister, Camille, left. As the four before her have died, Annaleigh suspects that she or Camille are next.

The deaths began with the loss of their mother after childbirth and have continued for so many years that the mourning customs have been their only customs. The series of deaths have led the people around them to believe that the Thaumus family is cursed. However, Annaleigh looks beyond the deaths to suspect murder. As she investigates, stranger and stranger happenings have her second-guessing herself and everything she sees and knows.

With her new stepmother expecting and the shroud of sorrow hanging over the family for so long, everyone but Annaleigh is eager to move on and forget the past. When they find a portal that will take them anywhere, the sisters are all ready to adorn their beautiful gowns and shoes and dance all night at elegant balls. However, Annaleigh is focused on discovering who might be targeting their family before it is too late. With twists and turns and a handsome love interest, this book is completely spell-binding.

Annaleigh is a beautifully crafted character and easy to relate to. Through her eyes, we witness the (at times) horrors and mysteries that shroud the Thaumus family. This is easily a book which kept me up at night turning pages and is difficult to put down. The premise is expertly executed, capturing the 12 Dancing Princesses in a unique and completely fascinating way. As one of my favorite fairytales, I had high expectations, and they were completely met and exceeded.

In terms of the love interest for Annaleigh, this felt a little insta-love-ish, and I was on-board later in the story, though I had a hard time getting into them as a couple. I would have either liked more build up to the romance or for it to be excluded (there is certainly enough else to keep the reader’s eager attention). Other than that, the book has a fantastic build to a twisty and perfect conclusion. The setting is lyrically crafted and absolutely ideal for this dark and spell-binding story. Everything is wrapped up so well at the end also- what a perfect stand-alone novel!

I highly recommend for people who like horror/thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, and dark fairytale retellings. I would add warnings for murders, suicide, and mental illness. Perfect for fans of WINTERSONG and THE WHITE STAG.

Title: House of Salt and Sorrows
Author: Erin A. Craig
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Note: Review to be posted to Goodreads closer to publication date on July 23, 2019.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Would it be possible for me to just dive into the pages of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig and live in this world a bit longer?

I absolutely enjoyed every second I spent reading this atmospheric, spooky fairy tale retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This book was infused with mystery and magic, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I turned every page. Perfect for both fans of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and those new to the story, Erin A. Craig has truly made House of Salt and Sorrows stand on its own and added countless twists and turns to this classic tale.

From the first chapter, we are thrown into a nautical, dark fantasy world where the Thaumas family is reeling from yet another death. Originally, there were twelve daughters in the family; however, only eight remain. Centered on Annaleigh Thaumas, the now second eldest daughter, House of Salt and Sorrows tells her story as she tries to navigate the mysteries surrounding her sisters’ untimely deaths. Transitioning between creepy, occasionally horrific scenes to moments filled to the brim with magic, plus a swoon worthy romance that will take your breath away, this book is not one to miss!

Hands down, my favorite aspect of House of Salt and Sorrows was Erin A. Craig’s world building. From the eerie halls of the seaside Highmoor manor to the bustling markets on Astrea (especially during the Churning Festival celebrations), Craig’s descriptive writing truly made me feel as if I had jumped into the pages of this book and was experiencing all the wonders of this world alongside Annaleigh. As an additional bonus, it is refreshing that House of Salt and Sorrows is a standalone novel. With so many series dominating the YA fantasy genre, I appreciated how Craig was able to keep this story well-paced and interesting within the scope of one book.

I would like to recommend that a reference guide for the names of the twelve sisters be included in the final version of House of Salt and Sorrows. While reading the first several chapters, I struggled to remember all of the sisters’ names, in particular which sisters were the Graces and the triplets. In addition, at the beginning of the book, I initially misunderstood that the girls’ maid, Hanna, was one of Annaleigh’s sisters. A chart outlining the names would have been very helpful based on my experience reading this book.

House of Salt and Sorrows is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019 so far. I was very impressed with Erin A. Craig’s debut novel and would be happy to read any of her books (fairy tale retelling or not) in the future!

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS is an elegant and enchanting dark YA fantasy. Fans of the 12 Dancing Princesses will be delighted by this deliciously haunting retelling. Annaleigh is the sixth of twelve daughters whose lives have been filled with death. On the islands where they live and her father currently holds the dukedom, the eldest child inherits, whether or not they are male. Annaleigh never imagined she would be in a viable position to inherit, and she has been completely shocked by the events that have led to her having only one older sister, Camille, left. As the four before her have died, Annaleigh suspects that she or Camille are next.

The deaths began with the loss of their mother after childbirth and have continued for so many years that the mourning customs have been their only customs. The series of deaths have led the people around them to believe that the Thaumus family is cursed. However, Annaleigh looks beyond the deaths to suspect murder. As she investigates, stranger and stranger happenings have her second-guessing herself and everything she sees and knows.

With her new stepmother expecting and the shroud of sorrow hanging over the family for so long, everyone but Annaleigh is eager to move on and forget the past. When they find a portal that will take them anywhere, the sisters are all ready to adorn their beautiful gowns and shoes and dance all night at elegant balls. However, Annaleigh is focused on discovering who might be targeting their family before it is too late. With twists and turns and a handsome love interest, this book is completely spell-binding.

Annaleigh is a beautifully crafted character and easy to relate to. Through her eyes, we witness the (at times) horrors and mysteries that shroud the Thaumus family. This is easily a book which kept me up at night turning pages and is difficult to put down. The premise is expertly executed, capturing the 12 Dancing Princesses in a unique and completely fascinating way. As one of my favorite fairytales, I had high expectations, and they were completely met and exceeded.

In terms of the love interest for Annaleigh, this felt a little insta-love-ish, and I was on-board later in the story, though I had a hard time getting into them as a couple. I would have either liked more build up to the romance or for it to be excluded (there is certainly enough else to keep the reader’s eager attention). Other than that, the book has a fantastic build to a twisty and perfect conclusion. The setting is lyrically crafted and absolutely ideal for this dark and spell-binding story. Everything is wrapped up so well at the end also- what a perfect stand-alone novel!

I highly recommend for people who like horror/thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, and dark fairytale retellings. I would add warnings for murders, suicide, and mental illness. Perfect for fans of WINTERSONG and THE WHITE STAG. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Ugh, I feel like I might be in the minority but this book was just a big old nope for me.

Some things this book did right include horror and suspense-building and presenting a gothic novel that fills a hole in YA lit. I think that’s important to mention before I get into my problems with the book; I’m not against gothic horror in YA and I believe there is room for some serious growth in the genre. I am all for books that make you feel like you’re going crazy along with the characters and this book manages that aspect of horror.

However, the book ultimately let me down because of insane pacing issues, weak and passive characters, an 0 to 60 love interest, and the level of gore and monster madness at the end.

As I mentioned, gore and other aspects of horror can be impactful in the right light, but this book went from idling to racecar speed too quickly for me to wrap my head around it. This issue runs rampant throughout the book, including an “eh” to insta-love situation and the plotline in general. House of Salt and Sorrows is a book that leads its readers in one direction for a solid 3/4 of the book and then goes utterly bats**t in the last quarter, flinging readers in a direction that they hadn’t been prepped for. I think the best horror novels do a solid job of putting in little horror elements here and there throughout the novel to make the reader uneasy and guide them toward acceptance when things do get crazy. But this book doesn’t do that at all, and the result is a confused, baffled reader. (At least in my case.)

I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. I started reading this book in hopes I would love it. I enjoyed the dancing every night and the grandness of it all. I felt that there was too much that the author was trying to do with this book and wish she had stuck with the main story. The mystery and the deaths alone could have made for great tale. Later in the book gods are thrown in and it becomes a jumbled mess. I feel like this author has promise and would read books by her in the future. I am sad I didn't love this!

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This was a wonderful retelling of an old story. While it didn't adhere strictly to The Twelve Dancing Princesses storyline it was a great new take on the story. I enjoyed the romance that was subtly there and didn't take up too much room that it felt all about the romance. Instead, it was about the sisters and what was happening to them. There was one giant continuity error that made me stop and get confused but other than that this book was a great read that kept me up all night.

This synposis had me so hooked though sounding like a darker kinda little mermaid feel with them being people of the salt by the sea. It starts off kinda slow, but it definitely picks up and sends you on a mysterious adventure. I wasn’t sure what to expect and had about 5 suspects along the way. (What can I say, I’m suspicious xD)

Annaleigh was such a interesting character to me though. You can tell how fiercely she feels for her sisters especially her younger ones. The way she fights for them even when other family members wanted to move on or do stupid things (cough go to dances cough cough) I loved how the gods were woven into the story and the twist at the end was such a good way to wrap up and end the story!

If you enjoy a darker fantasy where you aren’t sure what’s reality and dreams than this book will be for you!

I requested an arc of this on netgalley and forgot about it. I knew i knew I didn’t trust the stepmom. Okay so i liked no loved this? I don’t know i expected something different but i still loved it, it was perfectly creepy and suspenseful. The ending was bittersweet but i want more, i wanted the reveal to be prolonged, i felt that it was so quick and easy to figure out but the writing felt enriched and full, it kept me speeding through wanting to find out more.

This debut 😱 It’s so atmospheric and enchanting! The authors personality makes it all of her own and give this a mood. They eerie elements were perfect!

There were threads of darkness and light throughout the story, tragic deaths brushing against the finery of life. The mystery surrounding the untimely deaths of Annaleigh's older sisters pulled me into the story and the creepiness (such as her younger sister Verity's strange drawings and talk of ghosts!) gave me chills. Loved this book!

The 12 princesses reimagined are in this gothic horror story.

I loved the creepy atmosphere and despite this being a debut, it was exceptionally well written with its juxtaposition between the light frivolity and the dark undertones. The mystery aspect was perfectly balanced with horror as Annaleigh tries to unravel the suspicious circumstances regarding her sisters' deaths.

I would've loved to give House of Salt and Sorrows a five-star rating but the Annaleigh/Cassius insta-love and the fact that Annaleigh made the worst decisions ever when investigating the murders. I was literally screaming at her when she thinks it's a *great* idea to go looking for clues alone at night with a possible murderer on the loose, because what could go wrong with her logic? 🤔🤔🤔

Other than that, I enjoyed this book and am genuinely looking forward to reading Erin Craig's future works. 9/10 would recommend.

*Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for providing a free ARC*

This. I am blown away by how much I loved it. A gothic twist on the 12 Dancing Princesses. It’s written so well and even if I was a little confused over what was happening that was the point. Annaleigh is confused so it’s confusing to follow. This was detailed so well without being too much. 10/10 would recommend.

Annaleigh’s sisters have been dying one by one. Annaleigh suspects that there something suspicious with her sisters’ deaths. She investigate the truth. I really like Annaleigh. She is very compassionate and observant. I also like that she stays true to herself. I also love the writing. It was lush and evocative. The setting of Ireland was very atmospheric and mythical. I recommend this for those that love dark fairytales. Full review to come!

Thank you Netgalley for letting me review this book.
A really enjoyable and unique young adult novel. I loved the world and the creative characters. The story had lots of twists and turns. It was a fun read.

***ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review, all opinions are my own. Thank you.***

Look at that beautiful cover, let me take a minute to just admire the beauty of it. Does it really portray what the book is going to deliver in levels of a creepy supernatural story, not really, but who cares its so pretty.

I really liked all the characters, the dynamic between the sisters is really nice. There are a lot of characters in the book, the sisters are eight in total but they each felt unique enough to have their own voice even if only three of them really have a strong influence on the story. I loved the world that the author created, from the mythology to just the world itself. Its a small chain of islands that each have their own unique features. This story is dark, the nightly balls are thankfully a very small part of the story. The core of the story is Annaleigh trying to find the truth as she slips further into madness.

I know some others have mentioned and the description sells this as a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale but its truly not to me, perhaps a re imaging. While you can see parallels between the two stories, primarily the ruined shoes, this story goes much deeper than that and is so much more creepier. There are many influences on this story from fairy tales, mythology and the supernatural, deals with tricksters and twisted gods that make play things of mortals. The author has done a great job crafting her own mythology for her world and to call this just a straight retelling doesn't do the full story justice.

If you are looking for a straight retelling of the fairy tale this may not be what you want but its a great and dark fantasy mystery story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book. This fantasy has some bite. Fairy tales were usually darker than Disney portrayed and this book took this retelling there. It is spooky and creepy with an air of mystery. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy retellings and are looking for something new that will go outside the regular retelling box.