What a beautiful, shimmering ghost story. 12 Dancing Princesses was my favorite fairy tale growing up, and I am elated to say that it still holds up, even now! What a ride.

This is a story of madness, sisterly love, and magic.

Honestly, I would love for this book to be turned into a film (or even a television show) but only if it was directed by Guillermo del Toro. I can't imagine anyone else doing justice to the wonderful terrors scattered throughout this surprising book.

I was not expecting the monstrous things this book offered. I knew, of course, that something not quite natural was happening to these poor sisters. After all, only so many of these girls can die in tragic accidents before it starts to look more sinister. Is it a family curse? Or is there something darker and far more human involved? That was the real mystery and it was absolute fun trying to figure out who - or what - was picking off the girls of Salt.

The author created a fantastic blend of fantasy and horror. The scenes later on in the book, when reality starts to break through the wondrous dreams our dear Annaleigh sees, were so vivid and horrible and beautifully written. My favorite part, however, was when Annaleigh starts to doubt herself. The things she believes to be true - that we believe to be true - only to be told she's wrong, that it's all in her head, and it caused me to even doubt our narrator at times.

The only reason this book isn't a solid 5 stars for me is because I had sort of guessed who was behind all the tricks and terrors early on - though that didn't make the journey any less fun. I wish there had been a little more with the motivation and to be honest I'm not one for characters falling in love so quickly. While there is romance in this book, it doesn't take over the story (or Annaleigh's thoughts) too much and I appreciated that. Some people will be okay with and possibly even love the instant romance in the book but it just wasn't for me.

Still, this book read like a fairy tale and I couldn't seem to put it down! I certainly hope that Erin A. Craig has plans to dip her writing fingers into more fairy tale retellings in the future (and hopefully mixing just the right amount of horror in those as well).

(Also can I just say that I love that this is a standalone book? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a good series but it's so refreshing to get a story that is completed in a single book sometimes.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this one; I mean, look at that—the cover is gorgeous! House of Salt and Sorrows is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I was never a huge fan of this fairytale but I’m a fan of retellings altogether so I was interested to see the authors take on this!

This book follows Annaleigh, who lives in a manor by her sea with her sisters, father, and stepmother. But her family is known for something else. There is a curse, a curse that has cut short four of Annaleigh’s sisters’ lives in the most brutal ways—the plague, drowning, falling…and now, Annaleigh’s sisters have been sneaking out to attend balls and dance with strangers. Needless to say, all is not as it seems, and when Annaleigh suddenly begins having visions, she starts to wonder if her sisters’ deaths were truly accidents.

I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the plot was extremely intriguing and I loved the setting. I’m always a huge fan of stories that mess with the character’s psychology and mind, and this book used that as a twist very well with Annaleigh’s visions. Still, there were some moments that were a little predictable for me.

The writing style was beautiful at times but also a little slow at others. It feels a little bit like books in the magical realism category, but it was definitely also much more straightforward and not as lyrical as I would have expected. Therefore, the book wasn’t quite as “haunting” as it seemed like it was for others.

The romance was a little meh to me, though the love interest definitely grew on me over time. I think overall, the characters were something that fell a little flat for me. Annaleigh, aside from her visions, was a very passive character and I’ve realized that I enjoy main characters that are a little more passionate and headstrong.

Nevertheless, this was a really beautiful twisted version on a traditional fairytale and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes reading retellings or fantasy books!

House of Salt and Sorrows was a great debut. It really showcases Erin's writing skill and sets up for a stunning career.

I loved the atmosphere and bending of fairy tale with spooky bits. Fairy Tales at their base were not all Disney levels of happiness and delight. They're dark and well grim. Ha. This really reminds me of something I would have found in my original book of Grimm's fairy tales. It's got a breathtaking religion, Gods who may or may not be real. I really adored the writing. As far as craft is concerned, this is a stellar example of what it's like to immerse the reader in a world that is not their own and make it feel real. When reading I could smell the salty sea and hear the crashing waves in the background. Just whoa at all the imagery.

The story was really appealing. Enough that it was easy to overlook the parts I felt a little meh about. The twelve cursed sisters was very appealing the mystery really pulled me in, and I've already talked about how the imagery and descriptions really got to me. The picture is painted in such a way to remind me of Maggie Steifvater. See, I've already trailed off back into the writing, so it shows how very beautiful I thought it was.

There were some scene's that while reading I became very aware of the fact I was alone in my dark apartment and I had to put it down for a bit. It was refreshing and beautiful and something new, I loved it.

I imagine it's hard to comp this title to others, but I would pick the atmosphere of The Scorpio Races and the God-play like Tamora Pierce's Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen.

I was very surprised by this book!! At first I couldn’t remember what it was about, however I love the fairytale of the 12 dancing sisters. This story was a take on that with a gothic twist. The first half for me was interesting but slow. The second half of the book reeled me in and I couldn’t stop. All of the characters were so interesting and very dynamic. The twists and turns...and an ending I never saw coming. I was sad to see it end.

I honestly can't believe this book doesn't come out until August, because all I want to do is shove it in people's hands and make them feel all the same magical feelings I felt when reading this phenomenal novel.

It honestly had everything I love in a book: Castles. Royalty. Strong family ties. Unique but not overly complicated world. Strong female lead. Swoon-worthy romance. Creepy atmosphere. Supernatural entities. Heart stopping peril. A book cover to die for.

Once there were twelve of us: the Thaumas Dozen. Now we stood in a small line, my seven sisters and I, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was a ring of truth to the grim speculations.

From the very opening scene, which was a funeral for one of the Thaumas Dozen, I was immediately taken into this world, where (originally) twelve sisters, their father and their stepmother live in Highmoor, a grand castle near the ocean and rule over the land, but always in touch with the sea.

Unfortunately for Annaleigh, after her mother passes some years ago, her older sisters keep dying in mysterious and unfortunate ways until she is suddenly the second in line to take over the throne after her father's passing. While several of the deaths could be attributed to accidents or suicide, Annaleigh is certain her most recent sister's passing has something more sinister beneath it and is determined to figure out what is happening to her family. It is on one of her sleuthing missions does she meet the swoon-worthy Cassius, who Annaleigh comes to befriend and trust.

I couldn't help but smile, remembering their confrontation at the ball. "You sound jealous!"
"Hardly. And do you know why?" I shook my head. "Because I'm the one whispering in the corner with the prettiest girl in the room."

Even with a blossoming romance to contend with, Annaleigh is determined to figure out what is causing members of her family to die. And here is where it starts to get creepy: one Annaleigh's younger sisters starts drawing incredibly disturbing images she shouldn't know anything about, Annaleigh experiences vivid dreams/moments that she can't figure out if they are real or not, and all manner of spooky things are occurring around the house. Plus, more death.

I shook my head, as if warding off a buzzing mosquito.
None of this is real, it persisted. No one else sees it because it's not really here to see. You've gone mad, my girl.
No. that wasn't it. That wasn't possible.
I wasn't mad.
There had to be another explanation.
Does there?

The story continues to climb and build until everything comes crashing together at the end. And let me tell you, what an ending it was. Some things I had kind of guess relatively close, while others I didn't see coming at all. So many different plot points were so expertly tied up that I felt exhausted when I finally finished the last page. So much happens at the end and I just want to talk about it. I have so many feelings! I need to reread it, honestly, because I'm sure I missed things as I raced to see who made it out alive.

I'm honestly surprised this is the author's first published novel, as it was so well done. I truly do not have enough good words to say about it and am already looking forward to reading it again, probably closer to the fall when the atmosphere will perfectly lend itself.

I loved Annaleigh's dedication to her family, even when it meant putting others' feelings ahead of hers, but at the end of the day, she had the ultimate say in what what would make her happy. Her relationship with her sisters was complicated, but full of love, and the same can be said of her relationship with her father. I adored Cassius and the wonderful aspects of Annaleigh he highlighted. His arc was super interesting and only added to the awesome world building of the story.

In case it wasn't clear, I adored this book and almost all that it entailed. I will say, there are two scenes that involve an animal (a turtle). They aren't the worst I've ever read, but they are disturbing, albeit short. As this is a major trigger for me, I feel it's only fair to give others notice as well. So just be warned, but it's easy to skip. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did!

"All my years of imagining you," he murmured, leaving a trail of kisses across my face, "and you are so much more than I ever could have dreamed of..."

I had mixed feelings about this while reading however I think overall it was a 4-star book. I loved the writing and the atmosphere and was sucked right in from the start. The only thing I had a slight problem with was that I couldn't identify what kind of story this was supposed to be. Fantasy? Horror? Mystery? All of the above? I thought it was supposed to be a fantasy retelling however at times it felt like a mystery or even horror. That aside, I still really did love the story. There were a few time that I got a little spooked which rarely happens to me in YA books and I loved it! The atmosphere was my very favorite (I'm a sucker for coastal towns). And the characters were very well written. I feel like what there was for romance was a little rushed but I did really like the love interest and would have liked to see a little more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, enough that I will probably re-read this again when it comes out. And can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

I am going to be DNFing this book. I can see that it is going to be a wonderful book for many readers, I am just not one of them. Very slow burning and I got incredibly sick of all the talk about clothes. There were a few aspects that I found wonderful, one of them being the burial rituals. It felt very unique and gave the book a great atmosphere. In fact, all of the writing lends to a very vivid atmosphere. There are a lot of people out there that are going to love this book.

**I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This book is perfectly creepy with a dark, mysterious atmosphere that had me questioning what the island was capable of. HOSAS is intricately written, and it felt like I lived among the people of the salt myself and was just as invested in figuring out what was causing the deaths of the Thaumas girls.

There is a good deal of dramatic, horror imagery—especially in the last 1/4—and it is executed in a way that makes you sick (and if you’re a horror fan, this is a good thing.)

The family dynamics are complex and strained given the circumstances, which made the story even more interesting. There is also a romantic sub plot, though I wish that had been expanded upon a bit more. Of all the wonderful things about this book, I wish the romance had taken off earlier.

Overall, I’d give this book 4/5 stars.

Craig weaves a mesmerizing tale of murder, madness, and dark intentions. House of Salt and Sorrows is both a deeply atmospheric gothic horror and an immersive fantasy. These elements blend seemlessly into a story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Everything about this book was amazing. I loved the mind games, the mystery and of course the scary. It was a fantastic retelling and I could not put this book down. I cannot wait for more from this author. This story will sweep you away into another world and you will be hanging on the edge of your seat

This story was completely engrossing. I absolutely loved this book. It was a combination of fantasy, horror, and mystery.
Several of Annaleigh's sisters have died and at first, there doesn't seem to be anything suspicious about them, just bad luck. When they lose another sister, Annaleigh starts believing maybe it hasn't been just bad luck after all. Slowly, strange things start happening to her and her remaining sisters. She begins having ghoulish visions and suddenly the difference between reality and illusion are difficult to discern.

As the reader you also become unsure of what might be the reality of the MC and what is delusion. There are several twists that, imo, weren't predictable and made the story so much more interesting. There was one element of the story that I saw coming, but THAT also had a twist that I did not predict. If other books similar to this exist, I have not read them. I loved the combination of genres to create such an interesting story.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in dark fantasies. Erin A. Craig has become an instant new favorite.

Annaleigh has just buried another one of her sisters. It seems as if her family had been in mourning for as long as she could remember. The islands they made their home believed there was a curse on their family. And when Annaleigh begins seeing the ghosts of her dead sisters, she wonders if they may be right. But that’s not the only strange thing going on.

I want more of this book! House of Salt and Sorrows is one-in-a-million. While being incredibly interesting, it also holds quite a bit of a spook factor. There were times where I didn’t want to read it alone because it gave me the heebie-jeebies in the best way possible. Mixed with fantasy and romance, the characters are incredibly easy to fall in love with. And there was just plot twist after plot twist! It was constantly throwing me off track on what I thought would happen. I seriously can not wait for this to come out in hardback because I will be snatching it up!

The fates of Caraval meet a twisted Twelve Dancing Princesses, in this story. My blood is still singing. This book was twisty and opulent, and Erin Craig did a wonderful job painting her world. I absolutely love the direction this book took, and certainly would not have guessed it to go this way originally. Bonus points for the fact that romance was not a massive part of the story. Coming from a ya reader who seems to be catching all the books full of lusty romances, this is a nice refresher! I’d have to say my only real problem with this is that I feel like I need to know more. More about the world, it’s gods, the characters themselves. With so many characters and such a vast world, I felt that I only got slight glimpses of everything. Beyond that, I’d definitely encourage anyone looking for a dark and twisted reimagining of The Twelve Dancing Princesses to dive into this book.

A perfect blend of the magical and the macabre, the innocent and the dark, all wrapped up in beautiful prose. Everything from the family, the atmosphere, the conversation is all carefully crafted, no detail too small.

Well, this unraveled into an unexpected story. Not sure why, but I didn't go into this book aware of how strong the fantasy aspect was. Maybe this is why I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected to. I liked the mystery part of the story, as it was weird how the sisters began to mysteriously die off in weird circumstances. At first, I thought it was a great start to the story, especially since this takes place on some strange religious island. There wasn't anything too extravagant happening at first, but when supernatural elements began to increasingly occur and revelations are made, the more confused I became. In all honesty, I wasn't too keen on that aspect of the story because of how it was developed into something much bigger. It was interesting to learn the mystery behind the deaths, though I found it a bit anticlimactic and the culprit kind of predictable. Also, none of the characters really stood out to me, but none were awful.

Overall, this was an unexpected read. It was entertaining until about halfway through, but if you like fantasy mixed with supernatural then you might enjoy this more than me.

I think the reviewer who described this book as "this is what would happen if House Greyjoy from Game of Thrones gaslit the Twelve Dancing Princesses" had it exactly right! This is a suspense/horror retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in a world that reminds me of both Game of Thrones and the kingdom of Theramore in World of Warcraft (think moody oceanic people) with a dose of godly magic. It does drag at times but determined readers should keep going -- ultimately it pays off.

I love a great mystery and a great book and this is all of that!! I will be purchasing for my library!

I am unfortunately going to have to shelve this one. I've gotten about 30% of the way through and I will not be continuing anytime soon.

House of Salt and Sorrows is advertised as a haunting retelling of the classic story The Twelve Dancing Princesses with Crimson Peak aesthetics and themes throughout. The book follows the (now) second oldest Thaumus sister, Annaleigh. She and her twelve sisters have been in a constant state of grief for a long while, four of the oldest sisters have died, each death as sudden and unexpected as the last. People whisper the Thaumus line is cursed, and Annaleigh half-way believes it. After strange evidence, and her own gut-feeling, Annaleigh sets out to discover if someone is behind the latest death of her sisters . . .

And that's about as far into the main plot as I have gotten. I know that there is a fantastical element that is eventually introduced, the girls begin to sneak out with new dancing shoes and dance the night away in a strange place with handsome suitors, but not all is as it seems. Etc. I was trying to hold out for these chapters, but I find myself dreaming of other books and stories.

Annaleigh is a sweet girl, wholly passive and a bit naive. The love interest was instalove, and I mean immediate. The creepy vibes a la Crimson Peak were non existent, or at least not as strong as I was hoping for. The parental figures in this book were my biggest frustration, so much so I would have to take a break from reading anytime one of the parents were mentioned or had a conversation with Annaleigh. I am shelving this one for now, not forever, I simply need something more fast paced with stronger characters. This book is something I would read at the beach, on a relaxing day, or perhaps on a plane or train traveling somewhere. The overall aesthetic and world building is so delightful and rich, Annaleigh lives on an island and the history and beliefs of the people in the chain of islands is quite interesting. The aesthetic is beautifully written, I can almost HEAR the waves crashing against the cliffs, the rain pouring down the windows at Thaumus manor, smell the salt in the air, hear the piano going in the Blue Room . . . its a lovely setting, with the potential to be deceivingly dark.

Overall, I would one day like to finish this book and will be buying a copy when it releases. I recommend this to people who like a lighter and slower book with slightly fantastical elements to it. Beautifully written, simply too slow for me.

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it was amazing! Annaleigh’s story immediately pulled me in, and I didn’t want to put it down.

There used to be 12 sisters, but one by one, they’re dying, all in different ways. Are the Thaumus sisters really cursed like the locals believe? Who is the mysterious Cassius? And is her sister Verity really seeing ghosts?

Despite being a whole different world, the story has a very gothic feel to it. The world building was incredibly detailed, but gradual, so it didn’t get confusing. I loved the 12 Dancing Princesses take, although it was definitely creepier than any other I’ve read before. I definitely wish I could find out more about what happens to the (living) sisters after the end of the book. Hopefully there will be more books in this series!