Listen, I would just like to that I was not prepared for the emotional toll this book was going to take on me. Erin A. Craig came here and said you thought the first book was messed up, you haven't seen anything yet. This book was not what I was excepting and I mean that in the best way possible. I thought I had things figured out but then there would just be more layers to uncover. I will have this book burned into my memory because I am still just in complete and utter shock.

I will buy and read anything that Erin A. Craig comes out with. She continues to prove she is an incredible writer. She keeps you on your toes. She also knows how to write an eerie setting. If anyone ever doubted her writing, you won't after reading this.

Please tell me that there will be more in this series because I need it. I needed it yesterday, honestly.

Holy hot potatoes! That ending!

I was prepared for a 4 star rating, but that ending?! My mind is blown!

If you were in the fence with House of Salt and Sorrow, House of Roots and Ruin is absolutely amazing! I loved the addition of ghosts being more than just haunting and actually adding to the plot and substance of the story.

Though Verity is a bit naive in many ways, it's to be expected considering her upbringing and only adds to the story as she comes into her own person.

As desperately as I want a sequel, I'd actually be ok with the ending. But, my heart would leap for joy if there was a continuation to the story.

Any story in this series is a must-read!

Except for the first little bit when there is name dropping and I am trying frantically to remember House of Salt and Sorrow (which I had read awhile ago and was a bit fuzzy) this definitely can be read as a standalone/companion novel thankfully. I enjoyed following Verity around as she traveled to the People of Bloem to fulfill a painting commission which turns out to be so much more than that!. And while we were no longer by the sea, the different flowers were interesting and it did not take long for the darkness to show up. This book was as deliciously macabre as the first book twisting with the plant life so cherished by the duke and his family, though Alex and Verity are quite sweet.. So many secrets! And with that ending, I am quite eager to find out what is happening next for them!

House of Roots and Ruin is described as a gothic thriller-fantasy, and while it’s definitely a gothic fantasy - the book wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped.

Let’s start with the good things. Erin A. Craig is amazing at writing atmosphere and painting up gorgeous images of the world her books are set in. This truly is a gothic world, it’s dark and mysterious in a way that will make you look twice at the shadows. It’s spooky without being too scary. I really loved the descriptions of Bloem and the large inclusion of flowers into the story. I’m just a sucker for florigraphy. Its bright and flowery appearance of Bloem really helped serve as a stark contrast to the more unsettling and darker aspects of the place. These aspects were further highlighted by the many twists and turns of the story. Because while the villain was quite obvious, the story still managed to keep me on my toes. It wasn’t about the ending, but the journey there and all the things it contained.

And now the less good things. While the story and writing was really good, the characters were a bit lack-luster for me. Verity was not a bad main character and there were moments where I got really invested in her. But she was no Annaleigh. Not to mention that while the romance was sweet, it fell a bit flat. Something I didn’t have a problem with until another character was introduced and everything they came in contact with turned into fire. It was such a big contrast, and made the ending seem like a relationship purely out of convenience. Not to mention that the introduction of the new characters about a two thirds in changed everything for me, and not in a good way. Not to mention the disappointing climax scene. There had been all these big reveals and things happening, only for it to fizzle out to nothing.

I really loved the first book, and this one didn’t quite live up to that. So if you wanted something like House of Salt and Sorrows, you probably won’t find it (unless you wanted more family drama). But if you want a gothic fantasy with Erin A. Craigs signature writing, then this book is for you.

HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUIN (Sisters of the Salt #2), by Erin A. Craig, takes place twelve years after the events from HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS. This is Verity Thaumas' story--youngest of the, once-twelve, Thaumas girls. Verity has lived at Highmoor her entire life. After the fire that killed her father and mother-in-law, her then oldest sister, Camille, became the Duchess.

"In a manor by the sea, one sister still is cursed."

Although Verity longs to travel off the island, as she soon turns eighteen, Camille always finds excuses to deny her. When a letter from Duchess Laurent of Chauntilalie comes, requesting Verity travel to Bloem and stay with them to paint a picture of her son, Alexander Laurent, she leaps at the chance. It's only then that Camille breaks down to tell the truth of why Verity shouldn't go...she is still seeing ghosts and doesn't realize it.

Heartbroken, yet determined, Verity leaves her home in the night and heads to Bloem.

I won't go into spoilers of Verity's story, but will say that it has depth, atmosphere, and fantastic characters that I never wanted to leave. A beautiful estate that houses more secrets than even Highmoor, everything about this novel just begs to be read over again. Verity herself is a character I think most everyone will love--her need to break free and discover herself, her fear of her unusual "talent" being discovered, and the first stirrings of love beginning are all-consuming. The very beauty of the mansion creates the illusion of perfection until small cracks begin to show.

". . . Grief so terrible can't be soothed away by words whispered in haste."

This trip to Chauntilalie was so much more than I was expecting! While carrying over some characters from HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS, this is a story all of its own--just as intricate as its predecessor. The images and memories held inside Chauntilalie won't let go until long after you've finished. I look forward to re-reading this one in the future.

Highly recommended.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

House of Roots and Ruin was my first ever Erin A. Craig book and to say I’m impressed isn’t the beginning of it! It’s eerie, dark, and gothic and I absolutely cannot wait to reread this when spooky season comes around.

I’ll do a full review when the novel releases to avoid spoilers but if you’re a fan of gothic fairytales then you absolutely need to pick this book up! I adored the characters throughout this book, especially Veirty the FMC, and Craig’s twists and turns throughout the book had be gasping and biting on my nails at times!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for this arc!

House of Roots and Ruin is a Gothic masterpiece! Craig has a way of being able to twist the reader's mind and perception right along with the character's, creating that perfect spooky psychological vibe of unease that I feel is lacking in lots of modern-day 'Gothic' books. If you loved House of Salt and Sorrows, you're definitely going to want to read this one!

Verity is the youngest of a large family stricken by loss; at least half of her dozen sisters have died in various accidents, as did her mother. At 17, she hasn't left the island of Salann, where she was born, and where her sister Camille, the duchess, strives to keep her safe - but safe from precisely what, Verity isn't sure. Her first hint comes when she finds out the truth about Hanna, her nurse, but that's not enough to keep her from accepting a commission to paint Alexander Laurent, heir to his father Gerald, who is a duke. Alexander is intelligent, witty, charming - everything a young woman of good breeding could want in a husband, except that a childhood accident left him with no use of his legs, and therefore permanently in need of a wheelchair. From the beginning, Alexander charms Verity as she begins the painting - but something is very odd, even off, in the family manor of Chauntilalie, and the more Verity learns about Alexander's family, and especially his father and his botanical experiments. the odder things get.

This novel is a mystery in a fantasy setting, and the fantastical elements are key to solving the mystery. the clues are well-written, properly hidden in sequence, but obvious in retrospect, as a good mystery should be. Some of the details of the family and their activities, especially those of Gerard, Alexander's father, are rather graphic, and therefore this novel is recommended for high school students and adults, and will be enjoyed by those who prefer mysteries, fantasy, and especially both. I look forward to the sequel implied by the epilogue.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I gasped so loud I’m sure I stirred the whole house. I’m finishing this at 1:08 am after I spent all day reading. I could not put this down to save my life. I was such a big fan of House of Salt and Sorrow, I was so excited to be back in the world and to see Verity’s story take hold.

This book was so creepy in all the best ways, the writing is done so outstanding that you are completely entranced in what is happening at all times. There were so many twists and turns and as the characters played out theories I couldn’t help but have my own theories only to be completely wrong, shocked, and fully destroyed. But what really DESTROYED me was the ending of chapter 49 and the ending of the Epilogue. In my mind, there is no way Erin will leave us hanging, there has to be another fantastic spooky book in the works to justify the information left for us in that ending.

I loved Erin A Craig's first book, but this one is EVEN better! Sometimes gothic literature is hard to write unless you create the proper atmosphere and characters, but she nails it with House of Roots and Ruin. The Laurents seem too good to be true for Verity- a loving couple, a handsome and single son. They wanted her to paint his portrait. Romance blooms...and then the cracks begin to show in the beautiful floral facade. You do not really have to have read House of Salt and Sorrow to understand this book as it is set over 10 years after the events of the previous, but it does give some good context. I sincerely hope there is more to come for the Sisters of the Salt because this ending is just too much! So, so good! (and so frustrating!)

Well written, creepy, fun. I really enjoy this author’s books. If you like gothic books,, you need to read this! The author has grown so much since the previous book and you can really tell through the writing.

A girl desperate to see the world. Oh, but she also sees ghosts...

I will admit, I was a bit hesitant to read this. I liked but didn't love its predecessor, A House of Salt and Sorrows. I did reread it in preparation for this review, though, and liked it better the second time. Being familiar with the cultural quirks of the sisters and their family definitely helped, as did having some (faded, surely) familiarity with the sisters. This book is based on one of my hands-down favorite fairy tales, the twelve dancing princesses, so perhaps my expectations were too high. But at the same time, some of my critiques stood strong - insta-love to an almost unbearable level combines with complex cultural practices to make it a bit off-putting. The imagery and well-crafted nature of the tale, though, balanced it out better the second time for me, hence its increased rating.

A House of Roots and Ruins, though, truly shows growth in the author's abilities. It is well-written, compelling, and just so creepily fun. We follow the youngest Thaumus sister, Verity, as she leaves home for the first time. She started seeing ghosts way back in book 1, so it isn't a surprise to the reader but is a surprise to her when she learns that she has been cloistered not because of her family's tragedy but because of her own difficulty discerning what is real and what isn't. But when she is invited to create a portrait for the heir of the Bloem duchy, she decides to take her future into her own hands. Quickly, Verity finds herself wrapped up in a whirlwind romance but something isn't quite right. We follow Verity as she questions her own senses, wondering if she is really losing her sanity or if the magic romance isn't quite what it seems.

This book featured absolutely everything a gothic tale should. Terrifying imagery, moments of true horror mixed with moments where we as readers are lost to what is real and what isn't.. Even as the reveals were happening, I wasn't sure if it was our unreliable narrator or if the events were real. I loved feeling unsettled and having those unsettling feelings pay off. Longer than the first, this book still reads so quickly and is excellently paced.

I wasn't sure about this when I started it, but man am I glad I did. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for this free and honest review.

Haunted by ghosts around every corner and greeted with romance at the door, House of Roots and Ruin was a thrilling sequel that rivals the first in every way.

"In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed."
Verity has grown up and lived in Highmoor. watched after by her older sister Camille, cultivating her artistic talents. When she is commissioned by the Duchess of Bloem to paint the official portrait of her son, Verity accepts immediately. However, Camille forbids her to go and is forced to reveal a secret that has been well-kept since they were children; Verity still sees ghosts, she just doesn't know it. In light of this new information and the knowledge of her sister's deception, Verity flees Highmoor to the lush countryside of Bloem where she is quickly captivated by the beautiful lands and charming Alexander Laurent. Soon she is thrust into a world of romance and trickery, as she must learn how to navigate the halls of Chauntilalie with only her wits- and the ghosts she meets along the way.

I didn't think my love for the first one could be matched, but here we are. I absolutely adored Verity in the first book, so I was excited to see that the sequel was centered on her! I love her character, I was rooting for her the whole time.

I think my favorite thing about this book was the atmosphere and the overall feel of the book and the world. I fell in love with the flowers and fields of Bloem. And past that, I was drawn in by the mysterious air of gloom and danger lurking around every corner in this manor. I loved second-guessing everything due to never knowing what was real and who was dead. The semi-unreliable narrator made this book all the more enticing and I simply could not put it down. Strangely enough, I also really looked forward to the chilling descriptions of the horrors that Verity sees. You know the ones that kept me up at night? Yeah, those. Loved them. Couldn't get enough of them.

Another thing I really liked, surprisingly enough, was the fast but adorable romance that sparked between Verity and Alexander. I really truly liked them together and thought they were quite cute. I also liked how this romance didn't take centerstage the whole time or take too much from the mystery and thrills.

It would also be remiss of me to not mention the ending. THAT ENDING???? HELLO????? I am already waiting for the sequel Erin. Chop Chop.

Basically, read this book. Now. Thank me later.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book as I enjoyed the previous book in the series. I am grateful to have gotten an ARC, and I will definitely be buying the book when it is released and tell my friends to pick it up.

I absolutely loved Erin Craig’s first book in the Sisters of the Salt series, House of Salt and Sorrows - atmospheric, suspenseful, emotional, thrilling, romantic, and not a little bit creepy in the best way - and was beyond excited for House of Roots and Ruin. And I’m ecstatic to say it absolutely lived up to all my hopes and more. It’s the perfect companion to the first book, and I highly recommend it.

Seventeen year old Verity Thaumas remained at her family’s estate with her older sister Camille. Their other sisters have scattered across Arcannia, but soon Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem wants Verity to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander. Verity would love to, but Camille won’t allow it because Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it. Leaving that night, Very has nowhere else to go but Bloem. She's captivated by the land and the impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. Though a romance begins, Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show.

This is book two of Sisters of the Salt, following "House of Salt and Sorrows." In that book, four sisters out of twelve had remained at Highmoor. They all were cursed, a gothic retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Verity thinks the curse is done, though she sees ghosts as vividly as the living and interacts with them. She thinks she can strike out and build a new life in Bloem, an area known for beauty, flowers and high society. There are oddities in the house, which at first seem to have very reasonable explanations. Of course in time Verity learns there is more to it, and the rush to marry has a very unsavory reason. She is never sure who to trust besides Alex, leaving her very alone in the large estate. The final third runs at a breakneck pace, and I couldn't put the book down. I stayed up far too late to finish it, because I had to know what happened next.

Thank you Net Galley for the eARC!

One of my most anticipated books this year & it did not disappoint! I loved this so much, it was even better than the first one. I don’t read much YA anymore, but I thoroughly enjoying everything that Erin Craig has written. I can’t wait to see if there will be more from this universe.

House of Roots and Ruin is book two in a series and I can't wait to see what happens next. I have already preorder it for my shelves.
This is the story of Verity the youngest of the daughters of the salt as she sets out on her own after discovering a terrifying secret.
I would probably describe this as a YA thriller book. It's intense, romantic and suspenseful.
I really enjoyed this book even more so than book one. I liked Verity as a character and I enjoyed following her on this journey. I had to sit up and focus through some of the intense scenes to help by thinking loudly look out or don't go in there and Ahhh why. This always makes me love a book. It's like a movie in my head.

I liked this book even more than the first one, Sisters of Salt and Sorrows. It was so twisted and fantastic! It helped that I was prepared for an unreliable narrator going into this story. Verity has been able to see ghosts since she was very young, but she didn't know it until this book began, so she is constantly uncertain if the people around her are alive or dead. That makes this mystery so much more complicated. From the moment she arrives in Bloem, the flower-filled house clearly has dark secrets, and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last line of the book! (The twist at the end and then the cliffhanger! Wild!) I also loved that while this book is suspenseful and spooky, it isn't actually scary. I am a baby and hate horror but I love a good suspenseful thriller, so I really enjoyed this spooky fantasy! I will say that the romance plotline felt a little off throughout the book, which made sense with all of the twists, but it made it hard to be happy for the couple (no spoilers) at the end of the book. But it is rare for me to like a second book in a series better than the first, so this book did a great job continuing the series! I'm hoping the last line in the book creates an opportunity for more spooky fantasies in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Yes, yes, YES! This is the gothic fantasy I want. While subdued for the intended age group of young adults, there was plenty of psychological horror, the sublime, and downright gruesome imagery.

My biggest gripe would be that it starts out slow, but when things pick up, they PICK UP. Gothic fiction often can be slow due to the build-up of atmosphere, but I wonder if a younger age group would get discouraged. It's a very good slow burn horror, but the horror doesn't kick in hard until past the halfway point.

All of that being said, I was most impressed by the fact that this is technically a sequel. I did not know this when I requested it. The author does such an amazing job with seamless back exposition that it doesn't take you out of the current story, and you're still able to follow the history and world building easily. Many, many praises for that, in my opinion, a sequel should always be able to be understood and enjoyed separated from its series.

The characters are realistic and engaging. The setting is beautiful and then suddenly grotesque as the story progresses, and there are some good twists. No spoilers, but the epilogue literally had me ruthlessly cheering out loud. I want more of these characters, I want to see what comes next!

I also appreciate that while it kept necessary archetypes for a gothic story, it didn't rely on tired and outdated tropes to paint a color by numbers emotional journey. It would have been so easy to, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Verity was an absolute breath of fresh air, with her ingenue outlook towards life, and such a strong femininity to her that was unashamed. Alex was delightful, a wonderful representation of healthy masculinity, and so soft and kind, I loved both of them so much.

I'm excited to read the first book and can't wait for the next one!