When I read the first book, I had never expected it to have a sequel, and I was pleasantly delighted! This book is so intriguing and the characters entrance you. It’s hard to explain without spoilers if you have read the first book, so all I can say is…. Read this book immediately!

Without a doubt, I continue to marvel at how beautifully this author blends Gothic and fantasy elements. We return yo the world of House of Salt and Sorrow. Verity has grown up not knowing a deep secret about herself. However, she must face it when she runs away from home and finds herself attracted to the subject of her commissioned portrait. All of the characters were fascinating as the blissful setting slowly unravels to reveal the wickedness beneath, while showing young readers that passion and love are not always the same thing.

House of Roots and Ruin is the sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows, and follows youngest sister Verity. House of Roots and Ruin starts about 12 years after the ending of House of Salt and Sorrows. Verity receives an invitation to paint the portrait of Alexander Laurent, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Bloem. Verity’s older sister Camille forbids Verity from leaving their isolated island manor. Camille reveals that Verity is able to see and communicate with spirits, and it would be too dangerous for her to leave. Angry at this revelation and feeling betrayed, Verity flees to Bloem alone in the middle of the night.
I am not a huge YA fantasy reader; Salt and Sorrow was a solid three star read for me and I was expecting more of the same here, but I was pleasantly wrong. Roots and Ruin absolutely blew me away, pretty much from the opening. It was atmospheric and creepy, it’s fantasy with mystery and horror elements. I absolutely loved House of Roots and Ruin, and my fingers are crossed for a third addition to this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, this book really had me on the edge of my seat - I couldn’t put it down. I was constantly trying to determine who to trust and who not to trust, right up til the very end. I loved the gothic/creepy feel of Erin Craig’s writing. I actually liked this one even more than House of Salt and Sorrows. The twists were great and so was the way they were unveiled, layer by layer! 4.5 stars for me

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Whenever something is troubling you, you always turn to the water"

I have been waiting for this book since Erin described HOSAS as "currently a stand-alone" that line haunted me for far too long but I can say with confidence it was worth the wait.

An enthralling story following the smallest Thaumas girl, Verity. After all that occurred when she was just a child, she never did quite return to normal.

This book has all the interesting lore, spooky atmosphere, and twisty turns of the first with added experience and growth. I believe you can see and feel Erin's growth from her debut deeply with this novel belonging to the same universe.

It is a universe I would pay to continue reading in, and I will cross my fingers (and toes if needed) to get at least one more novel within it.

Somehow, the I-don't-like-horror-movies woman I am can not say no to whatever Erin writes, and I get sucked right in each time I pick up her work. She is and likely will always be an auto-buy author for me.

All I can say is….wow. A lot of authors suffer from sequel syndrome but Erin A Craig blew it out of the park! This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I could not put it down for the last two thirds. The first third was a warm up, getting to know the characters, then we are met with twist after twist. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us and the Sisters of the Salt. She will always remain on my Insta-buy authors list.

Three things I have to say after reading this OUTSTANDING novel!

-This is even better than "House of Salt and Sorrows."

-This book ruined me for any other YA fantasy/sci-fi novels. Now, I compare each of them with this book, and I probably won't enjoy most of them.

-That jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, earth-shattering ending of the book made me scream in the middle of the night. I need a sequel, and I absolutely need it ASAP! My brain cells are about to burst out! I keep thinking about those unexpected, shocking twists and hitting my forehead with my palm, screaming, "how could I not see them?" It's obvious we have a very intelligent trickster author who writes hell of brilliant books that rock our world!

This book is an amazing mashup of "The Island of Dr. Moreau," "The Haunting of Hill House," several Toro movies including "Crimson Peak" and "Pan's Labyrinth."

You are drawn into a complex, riveting, and very much intriguing, bleak, dark plot, getting startled by an intense, disturbing, gothic atmosphere. It feels like you're transported into the story, feeling branches of trees slowly tingling your neck, smelling those flowers, getting lost in the long corridors of Chauntilalei, playing tricks with you, hearing those ominous peacocks' screams!

The story revolves around seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas, who is stuck in the family estate of Highmoor with her 14-years-older sister Camille and her family, despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores. She lost six sisters, her mother, and father. The rest of her two sisters have already left the mansion to pursue their own dreams, and Camille has no intention of letting Verity out of her sight.

But things suddenly change when Verity's sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem, Dauphine, married to the celebrated botanist Gerard Bloem, is interested in Verity's unique painting talent, requesting her to draw a portrait of her son Alex, who is in a wheelchair after his tragic childhood accident.

Camille puts pressure on Verity to reject the job. When Verity challenges her sister for the first time to find out what's the real reason she's so adamant to keep her prisoner in Highmoor, she finally finds out the ugly truth: she can see ghosts but she cannot differentiate them from real people.

Verity decides to take her fate into her own hands, leaving Highmoor in the middle of the night, heading to Chauntilalei: Bloem's gothic mansion. Instead of the Duchess Bloem's grumpy mother-in-law, each member of the Bloem family welcomes Verity with open arms. She finds herself falling in love with Alex, but the screams of peacocks in the middle of the night, the creepy botanic house where Gerard works on his special experiments that are filled with poisonous plants affecting you with hallucinations, the awkward manners of family members as if they're keeping things away from her, give Verity second thoughts about adjusting to her new life.

She finds herself at the speed of courtship, at all the haste preparing for the ceremony. What if she gets herself into a more dangerous position by leaving Highmoor? What is Gerard hiding in the study? Who is the servant lurking around the corridors looking exactly like Alex? Is he a ghost? Is there anything nefarious waiting for her behind the secret doors of the manor?

This book absolutely took my breath away! I couldn't put it down, and it's still in my thoughts. The jaw-dropping cliffhanger has stayed with me, and I can't wait to read more books by Erin A. Craig. Her brilliant words and fantastic writing style have made me an addict!

Overall, this novel is a masterpiece of gothic fiction that will leave readers captivated and enthralled. Erin A. Craig has proven once again that she is a master storyteller with an incredible ability to weave intricate and compelling narratives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves YA fantasy, gothic fiction, or simply a great story that will keep them on the edge of their seat. You won't regret picking up this book, and you'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel along with me!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for this wonderful ARC.

House of Roots and Ruin is so worth the wait. I am a big fan of Erin. A Craig's writing and this novel did not disappoint. I was engrossed in the characters and by the plot. There's just enough mystery and spookiness. Also, I ship it!!!

5/5 ⭐️
Holy crap! Holy crap! Once again, Erin A Craig proves herself a master of creating gripping gothics. Not only are all her stories very atmospheric, but the final 30% sucks you in, and I audibly gasped and exclaimed “what!” numerous times.
This was an amazing continuation in the world she started in House of Salt and Sorrow. You could read this book first and not feel like you missed anything crucial. But simultaneously, knowing about Verity’s past and a little more about the gods help.
Like with all her other books, I was taken for ride with this one. Call me Catherine Morland, cause my imagination and suspicion took me places. But then Erin A Craig would come in with a detail or plot twist I never even thought of. It truly is an experience.
Loved the details like flowers being l a language of their own. Loved the theme of man playing god. Loved the ending, but equally distressed. I definitely was yelling and screaming during those last few chapters.
I highly, highly recommend this book. Especially if you love classic gothic stories but want one with a movie-level atmosphere that gets your heart racing. Definitely this book out.
Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House for providing an advance reader copy for my honest review.

Some parts of this really worked for me, and others didn't. The creepy gothic vibes were great although the main character was a bit bland and the villain was quite predictable. The ending sets things up for a sequel although I'm not sure what the plot would be.

House of Roots and Ruin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Available July 25th, 2023

Verity still sees ghosts. However, she doesn't even know it. When she receives a letter from the Duchess of Bloem inviting her to the estate to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity can think of nothing better. She's always wanted to leave her family home, Highmoor. In an argument where he sister forbids her from going, it's revealed that not everyone she sees and talks to is actually there, but is a ghost.

Verity decides it's time to escape her home and adventure to Bloem. The landscape, the flowers, the handsome Alexander all grab her attention. Not everything is as it seems though, and soon Verity will be questioning her own sanity. Can she trust the people around her? Can she trust what she sees?

THIS BOOK HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUINED ME! I love it. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you haven't read Erin A Craig's books before, start with House of Salt and Sorrows. The world draws you in, the atmosphere of these books are amazing and creepy. The author knows what she's doing. Will I be rereading these books? Omg absolutely. I've start House of Salt and Sorrow again this morning 😅

Thank you to Erin A Craig and her beautiful scary mind. Thank you for sharing it with us. And thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for the ARC. It was a wild ride, and I'll be back for more.

This book follows a now grown Verity Thaumas, one of the Thaumas sisters from House of Salt and Sorrows, in her own adventure in Bloem. Filled with beautiful descriptions, shocking suspense, and a sweet love story, I could not put this book down! My only complaint is that now I believe I will have to wait awhile for the next installment.

I would give this 4.5 stars if I could….

This book 😮

When House of Salt and Sorrows came out it dazzled me! Yes, dazzled… there’s no other word for it. So, when I heard about House of Roots and Ruin I was over the moon. I’m so very thankful to @netgalley and @delacortepress for granting me early access to this captivatingly creepy sequel. I struggled to put it down, literally found myself waking up in the middle of the night just to read more. I love the Thaumas sisters and it was fun to see them in a new light all these years later. This story follows the youngest sister, Verity, as she discovers shocking truths about her past and herself and boldly goes out into the world on her own new mysterious adventure.

All I can say is 😱… there better be more in this series or I’ll have a serious bone to pick with @penchant4words!

I liked this book. I think if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this one too! I want to read more books from this author.

Return to Highmoor and re-meet Verity, now a grown woman ready for an adventure of her own! This book was everything I could have wanted in a sequel for House of Salt and Sorrow. Not only do we get to see how the events of the first book continue to impact and shape the Sisters of the Salt, but we get to learn more about Verity and her ghosts. Is she going mad or is she in fact cursed after all?

Craig’s writing is so atmospheric it instantly transports you to the time and place of her novels. Her ability to immediately create a sense of unease in her plots, combined with characters you can’t help falling in love with, is what gives her stories that special something that makes them addictive and sensational. Craig continuously cements her place as one of the foremost YA fantasy novelists of our time. I can’t wait for everyone to experience this novel for themselves - a must read if you loved House of Salt and Sorrow!

Thank you to NetGalley Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I received the notification that I received an ARC of this book I was so excited! Did I stay up all night to read it? Yeah I did. But I have to admit it was hard. I liked the first book and I was hoping this one would make me love it more. But I think the story felt dragged out and sometimes forced. I feel like there was something missing.

In House of Roots and Ruin, Erin A. Craig returns readers to the lives of the Thaumas sisters from House of Salt and Sorrow. Verity, the youngest of the twelve sisters who is turning eighteen when the new book opens, narrates the story. Six of the twelve Thaumas sisters died in House of Salt and Sorrow, a mysterious retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and Verity now resides with her oldest sister Camille, the Duchess of Highmore. Verity’s talent for painting earns her a commission to create a portrait for the 20-year-old son of another aristocratic family living on the mainland in Bloem, and when Camille, who is worried about Verity’s ability to see and talk to ghosts, forbids her leaving, Verity runs away so she can prove herself to her family while learning more about the world.

Fans of House of Salt and Sorrow will be delighted with Craig’s new book which is filled with romance, mystery, and Gothic details. Although the new book is a stand-alone novel, it revisits the Thaumas sisters who have scattered across the islands and mainland to begin their adult lives. Verity’s narrative voice pulled me back into Craig’s beautifully rendered world, and, because Verity was seeing the mainland for the first time, her descriptions filled me with a sense of wonder. Craig’s writing is full of sumptuous detail. The windswept shores of the islands which feature in Craig’s first book are replaced by the heady gardens and overflowing greenhouses of Bloem. I loved reading about the beautiful fashion, architecture, and customs of the “People of the Petals”, and I enjoyed the fairy tale references to dark secrets, hidden passageways, and forbidden chambers inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Bluebeard. As Verity begins a romantic relationship and becomes increasingly isolated from her family, she encounters life-threatening scenarios that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Craig’s books do feature shocking plot twists which appeal to her young adult audience, and while I would have preferred more restraint in the conclusion, I was so riveted by the Gothic details, mysterious characters, and haunting settings that I couldn’t put the book down. Craig’s writing transports me to new worlds, and I hope she follows House of Roots and Ruin with a new fairy tale inspired story of another surviving Thaumas sister. Fans of Gothic fiction, mystery, and romance will love this book!

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

Just as good as her first if not better! I hadn't realized how badly I wanted a sequel to her first book until I read this.

I downloaded the ARC of this book on Saturday morning and barely put it down. It’s now Sunday night and I’m sitting here stunned at Erin A. Craig’s skill. It was easy to be drawn once again into the dark world of Highmoor, this time with young Verity. She’s almost 18 and frustrated with her lack of future options due to her sister Camille guilting her into remaining home. She receives a commission to paint a Duke’s son far away and believes it’s finally her opportunity to seek adventure and leave Highmoor to find herself. What she gets is far more than she bargained for and her very future is quickly in danger. Darkness follows her as she strives to uncover the secrets hidden behind the beauty at the Chauntilalie estate.

This sequel contains all of the fantastic gothic details that the first had. There are times when Verity - and the reader - must wonder what’s real. The pacing was perfect and no moment felt too slow or drawn out. Verity’s romance was sweet and though his family seemed just perfect at the start, I loved watching everything unravel to the point where Verity had no idea who to trust. I was dazzled by the description and detail and stunned by the continuing plot twist. Once again, Craig has shown that she is a master of mixing romance, suspense, and gothic horror. I cannot wait to share this novel with others when it comes out!