In this beautifully dark continuation of House of Salt and Sorrows, Verity, one of the Thaumas sisters is still plagued with visions, unbeknownst to herself. When she finds out, she flees, to the house of Chauntilalie, where she’s been hired to paint the portrait of Alexander. There, she discovers more than just her ‘curse.’ There are many secrets woven in the walls of Chauntilalie, more than just her own.

This unexpected sequel did not disappoint! I have to say, I think I enjoyed it even more than the first one. It was incredibly written, beautifully detailed. The foreshadowing was incredible! The twists and turns, I was up past midnight unable to put it down.

Verity is an interesting character, grown up from the first book. She’s still seeing things, unlike her other sisters, and starts off unaware of it. I do wish we could’ve seen a bit more of her gift, I do love ghostly interactions in books.

The other characters were also quite fascinating, despite their roles in the story. I loved all the little reveals, I was hooked!

I do hope there will be more! I need more, I need answers!

Highly recommend to those who love beautifully detailed and atmospheric gothic novels with some romance sprinkled in.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

When Verity receives an offer to leave her family’s estate in order to complete a portrait of the next Duke of Bloem, her older sister and caretaker, Camille, adamantly refuses. She soon realizes that the reason she has been confined to her family’s secluded island is because she has unknowingly been living amongst ghosts her whole life. Despite Camille’s instructions, Verity sets off in the middle of the night to seek her own adventure by accepting the painting commission, regardless of the people and spirits she will meet along the way. Shortly after she arrives at the Duke’s estate, she realizes there is something not quite right about the family and grounds and she soon finds herself entwined in a dark and twisted scheme.

House of Salt and Sorrows fans, get ready!!! New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig has another successful novel coming out in July 2023, “House of Roots and Ruin” and we CAN’T WAIT! My keywords for HoRaR are fantasy, horror, retelling, romance, and gothic fairy tales. Creepy and thrilling, this is especially for fans of “Belladonna” by A. Grace and “Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Stephanie Garber.

This is book two of the Sisters of the Salt series, and takes place 12 years later. The cover of the first book, “House of Salt and Sorrows” was gorgeous, and this next book will have a beautiful cover as well (sure to be a collector’s item!). Go to Barnes and Noble to find the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition includes bonus content by the author, a jacket with gold foiling, a custom case and endpapers, and burgundy sprayed edges. I am buying this ASAP for my readers to use. HoRaR is an amazing, scary, gut-wrenching story following Verity Thaumas, who is seeing ghosts, and running away from the Salann shores towards danger, and the dream of love. She finds herself at Chauntilalei, Bloem's gothic mansion. Verity realizes secrets need to be discovered, and evil is lurking to find her again. Will she survive? The twists, turns and tension will keep many enthralled to the end. And then readers will be hungry for more! I can’t wait to advocate this book to my readers - please Erin Craig, we beg you to give us more books like this in your future! Five of five stars!

Thank you to Random House Children’s & Delacorte Press via NetGalley for this arc. I voluntarily read this book and all opinions are my own. Review will be published according to the publisher’s timeline recommendations.

It surprised me so pleasantly. Going in all I knew bout the story was that it was a gothic thriller so as I kept reading I just knew that it was only a matter of time until some creepy shit went down. I trusted no one from the estate that commissioned Verity. The story starts with Verity a sheltered girl who dreams of exploring beyond the island she calls home. Her opportunity comes when she gets an invitation from the Duchess of Bloem. The Duchess wants Verity to paint the portrait of her son. Verity is very excited for the opportunity but her sister is very against the idea of Verity leaving. Verity is told that she can see ghosts, but Verity had had no idea since the ghost look so real to her. She defied her sisters wishes and left for Bloem where she meets the handsome son of the Duchess, Alexander. The first half was very much setting up for the rest of the story which unfolds at a much faster pace. As we learned more about Alexander and his family the more we see that something isn't right. His father is a botanist obsessed with his work and strange things start to happen to Verity. Then once some revelations happen the story really takes off. I was definitely intrigued and did not want to stop reading. There was a lot towards the end that i was not expecting and was left pleasantly surprised. At fist I wasn't convinced by the romance but towards the end I didn't even care of this had romance or not because I was so invested in finding out who was going to survive! I compare it to Ready or Not because it has that same fighting for your life against some rich crazy people thing going on.

Excuse me, that ending???? I screamed.

This was a great follow up from House of Salt and Sorrows. (Which was one of my fave releases in 2019). I didn’t know I needed a second. But now I know I need a third, immediately. Stat. Erin did a wonderful telling - it gave me gothic Frankenstein, Dr. Moreau vibes, and I loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive an arc in exchange for my honest review!

I started House of Roots and Ruin with a lot of excitement as I really enjoyed the first book. I got to about 30% when I chose to DNF this book. I tried to keep going several times, but the pacing of the book was a bit too slow moving for me. I kept wanting to skim or put the book down, so I decided this wasn't the book for me.

I absolutely LOVED House of Roots and Ruin.

First, I love the way Erin Craig writes. Her attention to detail is everything and grabs the readers attention immediately.

Second, I loved how she made Verity the main character in this sequel to Salt and Sorrow.

A few years after the fire in the Salt Verity is living with Camille. One day Verity receives a letter from Duchess Laurent to come and paint a portrait of her son, Alex. Alex and Verity end up becoming fast friends but Verity being Verity knows something is amiss at Chauntilalie. She soon finds out exactly what is going on. The ending, the cliffhanger was left perfectly. Even though there was apart of me that was hoping it was ending in a fairytale dream, I knew better! I’m glad the ending was what it was. It leaves a huge door open for another book and I’m really really hoping there is one. I mean, there are more sisters and I do believe Verity and Alex have a story to continue.

Five stars and beyond for House of Roots and Ruin!!!! I can’t wait til July so I can purchase my own copy!

A wonderfully lush and dark Gothic tale about the sinister side of ambition, love, and the ghosts that haunt us.

Seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas longs to leave her home in Highmoor for and adventure of her own, just as her older sisters have done. When she receives word that the Duchess of Bloem has expressed interest in having her paint a portrait of her son Alexander, Verity believes her adventure is beginning. However, her eldest sister Camille will not hear of it. In order to keep Verity from leaving, Camille tells her a secret she has been keeping: Verity has been seeing ghosts for years without knowing it. Verity is unable to accept the truth, and leaves for Bloem in the middle of the night.

In Bloem, she is welcomed by the the elegant Dauphine Laurent; her husband Gerard, a celebrated botanist; and their handsome son, Alexander. Verity is charmed by the rich verdancy of Bloem and the kindhearted Alexander. Romance soon blooms between them, but the longer Verity stays with the Laurents, the more she begins to realize that something is terribly wrong. Nightmares begin to show Verity that beneath Bloem's sickly-sweet charm lies a rot that threatens to destroy everything.

This is a fantastic sequel to House of Salt and Sorrow. Craig smartly made Verity's tale all her own, and has created a new world for readers to explore within the land of Arcannia. The secrets are dark, the romance is scorching, and the twists are delightfully unhinged. Craig also portrays a character's disability with honesty and sensitivity. A must-read for fans of Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, or any Gothic fantasy.

What can I say about #TheHouseOfRootsAndRuin?
Only that it is just as good as House of Salt and Sorrow, I love when books are written that even though it is a sequel it could still be read alone and you would mostly understand.
Verity has grown into a mature young woman that feels weighted in place at Highmoor. She wants to see the world and all that it holds but feels that her sister Camille has decided her life for her and will not allow her to leave. All of their sisters have scattered out into the world and Verity so badly wants to be with them. When a letter comes from her sister Mercy she can't wait to read it and see whats happening beyond the walls of Highmoor but tucked inside the letter is another letter written in a hand that she doesn't recognize.
The Duchess of Bloem has asked for Verity to come stay with them and paint a portrait of their son. Camille of course is against this and the girls end up fighting. Verity decides its time for her to go and leaves in the dark of night after overhearing a conversation about herself that she can't believe she never noticed. The Thaumas sisters are considered cursed and poor Verity doesn't realize just how cursed she is.

She arrives at Bleum and is entranced at everything around her. Alexander is sweet and kind and she finds feelings growing but something here in Bleum is not what it seems. Danger seems to be lurking everywhere including in Alexanders home. Can Verityy unravel the mysteries surrounding her or did she put herself right in dangers path?

Special Thanks to #Netgalley for the oppertunity to read #HouseofRootsandRuin by #ErinA.Craig

Beautiful manors, beautiful people, but how much darkness can that beauty hide? This book was a twisting and turning tale that kept me guessing. I especially enjoyed observing Verity question her own sanity—enough so that I as the reader also wondered at her credibility as narrator.

tl;dr
A beautiful gothic horror that combines stunning imagery and a genuinely creepy mystery. Strong recommend.

Thoughts
I devoured this in a day, and my heart is still pounding even as I write this review. I have a deep love for gothic horror and for stories about flowers and things that grow from the earth, so this book is my "reese's peanut butter cups" of storytelling. A quiet sense of dread permeates the story, with paranoia ramping up on each page, as literal gaslights light a beautiful house full of terrifying secrets. I loved the thorough world building, and the imagery and location are very clear in my mind. It can be easy for the heroines of gothic novels to feel a little too unaware of their surroundings, but Verity is a good balance between canny and trusting. She's definitely out of her depth, but never in way that seems like she is actively being a fool. While there is a romance in here, a lot of it develops off page and through time skips, so readers don't get to see much of it unfold in real time. The tradeoff is that we get to focus on the mystery, with plenty of clues and some incredibly creepy reveals. Strong recommend for anyone in the mood for some gothic horror.

Of note, this book is a follow-up to House of Salt and Sorrows, but you don't need the previous book to jump into this one (there will be some spoilers for it, though).

What a cliffhanger! House of Salt and Sorrow ended leaving no evidence of there being another, however House of Roots and Ruin kept me on the edge of my seat and needing more! Beautifully written but more importantly the plot twists were many and very unexpected! Erin A. Craig has become an automatic buy author for me!

I received The house of salt and sorrows in a book box and I loved it, I was disappointed it wasn't a series. Then I see that we get a second book in the same universe? I might be biased but I was SOLD. I honestly couldn't devour this quick enough, there were so many twists and unexpected things I had to keep going at risk of my head exploding. I had hoped this would be as good as the 1st book and I may actually like this one better.

I absolutely adored HOSAS, so I was thrilled to receive this advanced copy of HOROR. Verity was the most peculiar of the sisters, and reading a novel devoted to her was so exciting!!

I loved how Craig tied in bits and pieces from the first novel without it being much of a continuation. This novel was very much its own story, which I thought was very well done and creative! The story provided the perfect atmospheric setting, gothic elements, and such dynamic storytelling that had me guessing and second guessing until the last ten pages. Craig’s storytelling is absolutely unmatched.

I’m not sure how much I can truly critique, as I adored it just that much. There were parts to the novel that seemed to drag, but every detail seemed extremely pertinent to the story and immersing the reader.

Here is a shivery novel that will immerse you in its world and make you question everything in it.
Verity Thaumas wants to get away from the seaside manor filled with her family’s sorrowful history. An invitation to a new life in Bloem comes just when she can’t stand it anymore. In Bloem, she can accept a commission to paint a portrait of a young future duke, Alex. She runs headlong into a magnificent new life. But she will soon find out that she cannot run far enough from everything that haunts her.
Are the people that Verity sees real…or ghosts?
Are the screams that Verity hears at night real…or something easily explained?
Are Alex and his parents kind to their guest…or setting Verity up?
This is Verity’s own story, though she first appears in House of Salt and Sorrow. (There are spoilers for the first book in this one.) Verity has a haunting history, but Bloem has a dark past of its own.
I love the way that this novel builds its suspense from the beginning to the end. It’s just what I’ve come to expect (and eagerly await) after reading Erin A Craig’s other novels. In early chapters, there’s nagging little details that can almost be explained away. Then there’s reveal after reveal until everything just blows into the open. You don’t know who to trust until the last pages. The ending is a masterpiece that will stick with me.

House of Roots and Ruin is incredible. Erin A. Craig has such a talent for gothic horror. Her books absolutely sweep you away with their atmospheric writing. When I first read House of Salt and Sorrow, I was so sad that I did not have more books of hers to read and I am SO glad it got a sequel. This book gave me so many chills!! Absolutely iconic, beautiful, spinetingling, and compelling!!

There is something about Erin A. Craig’s ability to write a book that is so addicting, you can’t put it down. The first time I read House of Salt and Sorrows, I barely slept. I almost considered calling out sick just so I could finish it. When I saw she was writing a sequel, I was so excited.

House of Roots and Ruin was almost as addicting as its predecessor. It’s spooky. It’s scary. There were so many plot twists, nothing about this book was predictable. It was well written. Everything about it will suck you in from beginning to end. Although I would have loved to continue reading about Annaleigh, Verity was also a strong protagonist. Her character had intrigued me and this book answered a few unanswered questions from the first book.

However, I found this book a hard one to review. Did I spend far too many sleepless nights reading this, unable to put it down? Yes! Was I immediately sucked in like the first book? Yes! Did I love it as much as I did its predecessor? No, not really. I personally dislike the instalove trope. The relationship between Verity and Alex happened so quickly. And while I appreciate Verity’s insecurities and her struggles, the sudden love triangle seemed to come out of nowhere. I also dislike cliff-hangers and that ending frustrated me. It was certainly a plot twist meant to set up a sequel, but I didn’t appreciate it. A third book could have been written without the need for a cliff-hanger ending.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I love Erin A Craig’s writing style. Her ability to write gothic horrors is top notch. However, I have to deduct points. It simply wasn’t as strong as the first book. This doesn’t mean I won’t read the next book. The moment it’s available, I will be up all-night reading that one too!!

I really liked this book! It was a little more YA than I usually read but it kept me interested through the whole thing. Will definitely read more by this author.

Erin Craig did it again. I loved House of Salt and Sorrows, so I couldn’t pass up reading House of Roots and Ruin. I loved getting to read Verity’s story. It kept me on my two the entire time and I fully feel that the mystery isn’t over. The book sweeps you into that world, i wish I could step in an explore the whole universe Craig has created. I’m already anxious to see what comes next in this series.

Erin Craig's follow up to House of Salt and Sorrows follows the youngest Thaumas sister, Verity, as she discovers that her house is still cursed after the events of the previous novel. Verity can see ghosts, but grows up not realizing this until it's revealed by her older sister, Camille. Desperate to break out of her sister's smothering guardianship, Verity takes a job with the People of the Petals to paint the duke's son, Alexander.

Craig has this ability to really get into her setting. Where you could practically taste the salt in HoSaS, HoRaR is over the top with perfume. Flowers everywhere! Flowers in the shape of unicorns! Flowers in the soup! It's a lot, but it's in keeping with the nature of the series, so it works fine. I mean, one might ask what the economy is like in a place obsessed with petals, but that's besides the point. Essentially, Verity and Alex hook up pretty quickly with the full-throated encouragement of his parents. Alex is in a wheelchair, which was nice disability rep, but otherwise he's a bit of a limp dishrag as far as personality. Verity has to spend arguably too much time soothing his fragile ego, and she spends a lot of time deciding whether or not she's actually into him, which hampers the romance for the most part.

There are some pacing issues--I felt the first half of the book was rather slow with moments of dread that were quickly explained away. When the book gets going it's like a 0-60 turn, but I did enjoy how it shook out and the twists leading up to the very end. It's an atmospheric historical fantasy horror asking interesting questions about perfection, and generally a meatier story than its predecessor.