This book was magic. I loved everything about it. It was spooky, it was romantic, it was magical. It had everything you could ask for in a novel.

Though it is part of a series, this book can stand alone. It is one of those stories that you need to read with friends so that you have someone to discuss it with when you're done. Not one but two twists that leave the reader wanting more.

I requested House of Roots and Ruin without reading the first book in the series and when I was approved and realized my error I quickly remedied the situation. I'm so glad I found these books and the deeply haunting, eerie, and evocative world of the Sisters of the Salt.
House of Roots and Ruin took me a little longer to get into than House of Salts and Sorrows, but once it got going it was hard to put down. I found myself puzzling over the story, wondering how the mystery would unfold. There were so many unexpected twists, so many times I was left wondering who to trust. And the ending left me reeling. The only thing I wish this story had more of were the other sisters because that's something I enjoyed so much about the first book.
I hope to return to this world again soon. (Maybe Lenore can tell her story next?)

I really enjoyed the first book by this author and so I was happy to read this one! It was a good story and I love the world that Craig has created. I hope to continue reading her books and my students who enjoy fantasy will like this book also!

A stunning read. Absolutely haunting. This book disturbed me and captivated me and constantly kept me guessing. I am fairly certain I loved this even more than the first book in the series, and I truly did not think that was possible. I am now hungry for more books in the same gothic-fantasy-fairy-tale-horror genre, but I fear that even if I find something else close to this, it will not measure up. I adore Erin Craig’s writing and I cannot wait for more.

-posted on Goodreads

This book left me screaming for more. It is such a great twisted tale much like the movie Crimson Peak. Verity is naive and it's that naivety that makes the story even more thrilling. Erin Craig has written another great hit!

Erin Craig is a masterful storyteller combining Gothic and fantasy with a hint of romance. we meet Verity Thaumas who lives with her sister, Camille. When Verity decides to leave to paint a portrait of the Duke of Bloem, Camille shares a family secret. Distraught Verity flees the island that has been her home. Once in Bloem, she learns of a new life and paints Alexander. Then as secrets of Bloem are revealed, Verity is trapped. This fast-paced gothic thriller/fantasy/romance will keep you turning pages until the end and hoping for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley & Delacorte Press for the egalley!

4.5 Stars
Absolutely loved diving back into this world and atmosphere again! I loved the spookiness and creepy atmosphere. The writing was lush, moody and easy to follow as usual. I would recommend reading House of Salt and Sorrows first before reading this one. Verity is a great narrator and I loved seeing how her being really young during the events of the first book affects her understanding of the world around her in the present. Definitely super interested in reading the next book!

P.S. I really like the idea of following a different sister in each book

Seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has dutifully remained at her families estate with her older sister Camille despite her other sisters scattering across Arcannia. Verity receives a letter from her sister Mercy stating that the Duchess of Bloem would love for her to come paint a portrait of her son Alexander but Camille denies her request to go. At first, Verity doesn't understand why her sister keeps her hidden away but then she discovers that a secret has been kept from her...Verity can see ghosts. Despite the danger she flees Highmoor and heads to Bloem...straight into the arms of charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. Alexander is not what she expected and they quickly begin a whirlwind romance but not everything is what it seems and Verity may have just put herself in harm’s way.

House of Roots and Ruin is the exciting sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows (Sisters of the Salt). The first novel was one of my top reads so it's not surprising that House of Roots quickly became my top read for this year. I love Erin Craig's writing style and this novel hints that we might be seeing more of the Sisters of the Salt...I can't wait. This novel takes place years after House of Salt with Verity, now a teen, wishing for adventure and finding herself being kept hidden away. She soon discovers that her sister is trying to protect her from the ghosts that Verity can see. Unwilling to hide away she flees in the night straight into what appears to be the answer to her prayers...but soon becomes a nightmare. A novel I couldn't put down and definitely a must read for 2023!

4.5 rounded up
Erin A. Craig has a way of writing such atmospheric stories. I could see this playing out like a movie so clearly. I did find it a bit predictable hence the 4.5. I almost feel like some of it being predictable added to the horror of it though. I was just reading with this aching sense of dread waiting for the shoe to drop and yelling “No Verity No!” I really hope the twist at the end means we are getting more stories in this world. I need to know what happens next!
Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first book. It gives you all the gothic spooky vibes with a sweet romance tucked in. If you enjoyed the first book you should definitely give this one a go!

Unexpected sequels usually are a turnoff for me but somehow I liked this one even better than the original! Excellent dark, moody storytelling and a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.

what a magnificent follow up to house of salt and sorrows! i positively adored that book when it came out and had no idea it was going to have a sequel!

this follows the story of verity, the youngest sister now all grown up and experiencing her very own terrors 🫣 (and romance)

this one was just as gothically dark and spooky as well as lushly romantic. i’ll always have a special place for this duology in my heart <3

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was on the fence on wether I would like this book or not. I enjoyed the first book, but I’ve never been a fan of books set in historical settings- thankfully, the fantasy and gothic elements really kept me from focusing to heavily on that. Book one’s ending really sealed the deal for me when it came to reading this sequel, and I went in with high expectations.

The beginning of this novel was fantastic. Verity is an (almost) unreliable narrator and the spookiness was perfect- though, I could have dealt without the Insta love trope. The ending didn’t quite meet my expectations, though I still enjoyed it! I do wish it had been wrapped up in a bow like the first book, but I suppose this leaves room for another book in this series, which I’m totally on board with.

This book is perfect for when you’re looking for a spooky/gothic read that gives you goosebumps, but also has a sweet romance in it that is almost like a pallet cleanser from all the scary. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic YA romances/thrillers.

I loved this book!

Disclaimer: I would absolutely read HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUIN before reading this book; even though this book takes place 12 years after its predecessor, I think it's important to know the events of the first book before jumping into this one.

First of all, I adore Verity as a character. In the first book, she was only 6, so you really get a sense of who she is and how the chaotic events of her childhood affected her. She doesn't remember most of what happened from the previous book, which I found added an interesting layer to the story. It was also interesting to see right away that she and Camille still don't know exactly what happened the night their Dad died in the fire and the extent of what their stepmother did to them.

Verity still being able to see ghosts was such an interesting story element because I was never sure who was real, especially once she arrived in Bloem and everyone was new to her, on top of not knowing who to trust in the house.

There were so many twists and turns in this book that I really look forward to rereading it in the future and seeing the clues that were planted along the way that I missed.

And the ending! I don't want to spoil anything because it was so good, so all I'll say is that my jaw was on the floor; I thought for sure I'd skipped a page. I need there to be a third book so we can see what happens next!

Needless to say, I'd absolutely recommend this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Sisters of the Salt series. I loved this! I loved hearing Veritys story. Amazing follow up.
I just reviewed House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig. #HouseofRootsandRuin #NetGalley
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House of Roots and Ruin is a compelling, suspenseful fantasy set in one of the most beautifully complex and lush fantasy worlds I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Verity Thaumas is the youngest of 12 “cursed” sisters. She lives in a manor by the sea with her oldest surviving sister and her family and longs for adventures and a life of her own. When she receives an invitation to a far-off estate to paint a portrait of a future duke, she jumps at the opportunity. Not even a shocking revelation her sister tells her to try and keep her home can stop her.

Once at Chauntilalie, a lush manor set in the garden province, where all manner of plants and flowers, beautiful and deadly, thrive, she meets Alexander, the handsome young heir, and his seemingly kind and welcoming parents. But there are many others lurking around this estate and so many secrets they’re bound to come spilling out. Verity is also still dealing with her own demons as well as the ghosts of her past.

All of this creates a powder keg of a book that you can’t help but race through to find out what happens. I could not put this down. It was anything but predictable—there were several twists I did not see coming—and the ending was a complete shock.

I was just as satisfied with this book as I was with the original. I can only hope Craig returns to this world again someday.

This book take place about 11 years after the first book and follows the youngest Thaumas daughter, Verity. We learn that Verity is special, in the sense that she can see and talk to ghosts. When she gets commissioned to paint for a duke in another town, things aren't quite as they seem.
This is like a young adult, murder mystery, fantasy book. There are lots of different twists throughout, especially at the end, and this book ends in a major cliffhanger.
I was a little disappointed we didn't hear anything about the weird demon baby that was born at the end of book one, but maybe in book 3 ?

In <i>House of Roots and Ruin</i>, we follow Verity, the youngest Thaumas sister, on her first journey beyond Salann. She arrives at the extravagant Chauntilalie estate, home to the Laurant family and the many skeletons in their closets. Of course, the longer Verity stays at Chauntilalie, the more obvious it becomes that something is terribly wrong.

Erin Craig's writing has improved so much since her debut. I really enjoyed <i>House of Salt and Sorrows</i>, but had some issues with the character development and plot. <i>House of Roots and Ruin</i> was not perfect, but it avoided a lot of the issues I had with the first book.
As always, the atmosphere and settings really pull you in. I read this in a few sittings of over 100 pages at a time, finishing with 307 pages in one day at the end. I just couldn't be away from Verity for too long.

I think a big advantage for this book is that the author was able to focus on Verity instead of trying to make so many different sisters distinct characters. Her sisters are in the story, but Verity gets to take up space in a way that Annaleigh didn't really get in <i>House of Salt and Sorrows</i>. I didn't find the romance very compelling, but that could be a me problem as I'm not usually big on the romance aspect.

I didn't even know I needed a second book. The first book was a surprise 5 star for me and this one was too. Can't wait for the 3rd one