Y’all, when I wrote a review of Erin A. Craig’s debut, House of Salt and Sorrows, I asked for “not a sequel, but more books set in this world,” and we got it!! I was so unbelievably excited to revisit the Thaumas sisters and the world of Arcannia. House of Roots and Ruin picks up eleven years in the future, and follows the youngest Thaumas, Verity who is about to turn eighteen and dying for an adventure, but instead she will find herself in a deadly ordeal.

Verity has lived with her oldest sister Camille at Highmoor since her parents death when she was six. Now, about to turn eighteen, Verity yearns for an adventure, to travel the country and see something new, but Camille keeps her under tight rein, rarely even allowing her to leave the family estate. When Verity receives the opportunity to travel to the Duke and Duchess of Bloem’s estate, Chauntilalie, and paint the portrait of their son, Alexander Laurent, she hopes that Camille will support her. Instead she reveals that Verity has the ability to see ghosts and it must be kept a secret. It is too much for Verity to bear, so she runs in the middle of the night, and begins her first journey away from her home in Salten. But Verity is not the only one keeping secrets, strange things are happening at Chauntilalie and it soon becomes clear that the Laurents are hiding some very dark secrets of their own.

Erin A. Craig is the queen of atmosphere. She has such a talent for creating the spookiest, yet most beautiful settings. And, the story never feels bogged down or boring with world building details. Being introduced to Bloem, home of the People of the Petals, was a treat, as it is vastly different from Salten, home of the People of the Salt. Aptly, Chauntilalie is filled with bountiful gardens, and flower motifs, something new but exciting for both Verity and readers. And when things begin to get dark, the estate effectively reveals it’s darkest corners.

Craig has also created a wonderfully twisty mystery, with a plethora of complicated characters. The Laurent family, who at first seem so welcoming and kind, slowly begin to reveal horrific details about themselves, and it becomes increasingly difficult for Verity to know who she can trust. It was strangely wonderful to experience the characters turning on her, and also lament for those that would have been allies had Verity only trusted them sooner. The twists didn’t feel too unexpected, but there were enough of them that the novel kept me guessing throughout and invested in the story. And all the while, as we enjoy the horrifying twists in all their gory detail, we are quietly rooting for the sweet and solid romance between Verity and Alexander. House of Roots and Ruin contained the absolute perfect mix of gothic, horror and romance.

Fans of House of Salt and Sorrows will not want to miss this one, but one must not have read Craig’s first novel to fall in love with this world and enjoy Verity’s fantastically creepy story. And with an ending like this one, the next in the series will be highly anticipated!

A worthy follow up to Craig's earlier novel, House of Salt and Sorrows, House of Roots and Ruin focuses on the youngest sister, Verity, and her strange power to see ghosts. This is a modern fairy tale with timeless sensibilities.

This was such an interesting read from learning a bit about the language of flowers to the multiple twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Verity and Alex weren't my endgame couple for a minute there, but I'm glad I changed my mind because the other character was intense. Overall I really enjoyed this, but there were a couple of places that were a bit rushed and confusing. Still I will highly recommend this book to anyone that read the first one or is looking for some great fantasy books to read.

Slow start but fantastic ending.

Much like with the first book in this “series” (they are really more standalone books taking place in the same world with overlapping characters) I was a little confused about the world building. The plot itself was good with its creepy twists and turns but I don’t really understand the concept of gods and what type of power they hold, etc. I still don’t know who Kosamaras is... But, this was entertaining and the setting was definitely described well. The author goes to painstaking lengths to describe the beautiful detail on the house which lent a gothic feeling to the story. I loved the flower theme and thought it paired really well with the ocean/nautical theme of the first book.

And the end! As the ending was unfurling I was really hoping the author would throw in some twists and she really delivered. I’m really hoping for a sequel now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of House of Roots and Ruin. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

House of Roots and Ruin is the second book in the Sisters of the Salt series. The book centers around Verity who has grown up cloistered in Salann where her sister Camille keeps watch over her. After a unique opportunity comes up from her sister Mercy to paint a portrait of the heir to the Duke of Bloem, Alexander Laurent, Verity decides to take it much to her Camille's dismay. Verity travels to Chauntilie and falls in love with the place. As she works on the portrait of Alexander, they begin to fall in love. Verity is swept up in the romance, but soon the dark side of Chauntilie comes to light.

Erin A. Craig does a wonderful job of crafting a narrative where you cannot quite trust everything that is happening. She does this many times with Verity's ability to see ghosts who appear as normal as any human. The story starts off with a completely different tone than the previous book. It starts off with a much more romantic feel. As the mystery of Chauntilie and the secrets of the Laurent family come to light, the tone begins to shift quickly into a gothic horror feel. The story was a beautiful intermingling of these tones.

Getting the chance to revisit the character Verity and see how she has grown with her past, was well done. The reader got to see the impact that the history of Salann had on the character. Verity continues to grow as she pulls together more of her independence and begins to live her life separate from the area where she grew up. Alexander is such a kind hearted character who you continually wonder if you can trust all while feeling a pull to trust him. The author does a wonderful job of building the characters up, and then completely surprising you with their change and motivations.

House of Roots and Ruins is another excellent gothic fantasy book for those who love the genre and enjoy the beautiful world building mixed with the some suspense and horror elements.

House of Roots and Ruins addresses the most intriguing aspect of the plot that was left open in the end of House of Salt and Sorrows: Verity’s character. Just like its predecessor, House of Roots and Ruins is an incredibly immersive and atmospheric book! In this case, rather than a retelling of any one particular story, the plot is a more modern take on traditional gothic fiction. In particular, the story and the vibes reminded me quite heavily of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

Personally, only the ending of this book left me wanting more. I absolutely enjoyed the dark, creepy atmosphere of this book, and it also had some thematic and romantic elements that fleshed out the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me the e-arc!

I have to say that I really, really enjoyed this one. The horrors in it aligned so closely to realistic events, which made them all the more terrifying. Verity is familiar from the first book, and it's so sweet to see her and Alex become fond of one another.

Once Verity starts to see things away from her island, she questions her entire life, her entire surroundings. How can she possibly differentiate between living and dead? There were so many absolutely wonderful revelations and twists in this, my jaw dropped and I think I even audibly gasped a couple of times.

I'm just hoping for a third book, because I cannot live without resolution on that ending!!!

I REALLY enjoyed this sequel! I was so excited to see what these sisters have been up to, and to see a whole new story in a whole new court of this world! Was very happy with the setting, the magic, and or main character! Highly recommend!

(4.5 rounded to 5) House of Roots and Ruin is the second novel in the Sisters of the Salt series. After enjoying House of Salt and Sorrows, I had no idea that there was a sequel in the works. The first novel followed the second oldest Thaumas sister, Annaleigh, at the family’s estate, Highmoor Manor, in the Salann Islands. The first novel had an excellent horror element where the reader cannot initially determine what is real and what is not. I felt the first novel was great as a standalone, but I do love that a sequel was created as there are a lot more mysteries that could happen in the spooky manor. While readers could potentially catch-up by reading this novel as a standalone, I believe it is best to read the stories in order. This story follows another Thaumas sister, Verity, who still lives at the manor with her sister Camille. Their sister, Mercy, sends a request to Verity to visit Bloem and paint the portrait of Alex, the son of the Duchess of Bloem.

Verity ends up at Bloem to meet Alex, who is in a wheelchair after a tragic accident, and a new mystery begins at the home of the Duchess, Dauphine, and her husband, Gerard, a celebrated botanist. The new setting of Chauntilaie, the estate, gives a new gothic vibe with the darker secrets it holds. There is some romance mixed into the mystery with Craig’s signature atmospheric writing. I love that her writing seems to have grown from the first novel yet still has a familiar feeling. The characters in this story were all likable and I loved the character growth. The romance in this story was not as great as the first novel, but it was still enjoyable. While romances are usually the highlight for me, the tension in the story is what kept me interested. There is a cliffhanger ending that, hopefully, indicates this series will continue. Since this novel is about the second of eleven Thaumas sisters, there seems to be room for a huge expansion in the series. Overall, this was an excellent sequel and I cannot wait to read more from Craig in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Thank you to Random House for the Arc!

After not really enjoying the first book. I was a bit apprehensive going into this but let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised. This story was gothic, magical and everything I could’ve wanted.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is exactly the type of book I think of when I think "spooky season reads". Dark, atmospheric, haunting, a touch of death and decay and all that without going overboard, ghosts... everything I need for a rainy October night. Unfortunately, I did read this on a sunny day in July, but we can't win them all. It was still great.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and was excited to read more about these cursed sisters- especially the youngest one who sees ghosts, and I was not disappointed. The romance may have felt a little rushed, but as both of the individuals were veerryyy sheltered children, I'll give it a pass. The one thing I would not forgive, however, is if there is no forthcoming third installment, because... that ending. I need answers!

This is the second book in the series. I didn’t read the first one yet, because I wanted to see if I could pick it up without knowing the story. Verity has a secret. She can see the dead. Her sisters worry for her and try to protect her but Verity longs for freedom. She gets her chance when she’s asked to paint the portrait of the young heir to a fantastic fortune. When she meets him, she is dazzled by his good heart and kindness. But all is not as it seems in the land of the people of the flowers. Verity will have to embrace the truth of herself and be braver than she’s ever been, for herself and the boy she’s come to love. Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love this book so much! It's the perfect blend of fantasy and horror and the story kept me up late into the night. I couldn't sleep after reading it because I couldn't stop thinking about it. I enjoyed the House of Salt and Sorrows and I was so excited to see a sequel. It was so much better than I could have imagined. I like the choice of Verity as the protagonist, we didn't get to see a lot of her in the first book and it was both familiar and fresh to see her and her family in a different time and setting. Everyone who likes YA horror and fantasy should read this book, and everything by Erin Craig while they're at it!

I love Erin A Craig and went into this with high expectations that were still blown out of the water. I adore the setting it was so interesting seeing more of this world; and similarities and differences between Salann and Bloem. This also tied well into learning more about the Gods and magic system of this world. This series once again delivers an amazing Gothic manor that is the perfect romantic, disturbing, and mysterious playground for these wonderfully written characters. The pacing is also so well done it keeps you on the edge of your seat without letting any of the revelations feeling rushed, and allowing some great chemistry between the characters. All around this story is immensely satisfying while still leaving you craving more of this world.

an exciting addition to House of Salt and Sorrow. I loved the characters This seems more of a companion book rather than a sequel. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first, or who enjoy YA romance. It kept me interested throughout

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!

House of Roots and Ruin is the sequel to House of Salt and Sorrow, this time we follow Verity, a grown adult, who goes to Chauntilalie to paint the portrait of Alex, and uncovers some dark secrets that are housed there.

“A worth beyond beauty”

I read House of Salt and Sorrow back in 2019 and I devoured and absolutely loved it! When I learned a sequel was coming, I couldn’t be more excited to dive into this story and go back to the Thaumas sisters and their lives! I often say I don’t want series to end and to go back to the characters and I loved that Erin did just that! You don’t really have to read the first book to understand this one, they feel more like standalones in the same world!

We start the story at the manor at Highmoor with Camille and Verity! I loved that Verity is a grown woman and not the little child she was in the first book! The other sisters do make very brief appearances and are mentioned, but I liked that the focus wasn’t on Annaleigh this time around, but the youngest Thaumas sister!

The story and plot itself is beautifully haunting and eerie in the best way! Erin did an amazing job with the first book, creating a hauntingly horror story which was a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and while this isn’t a retelling anymore, the same vibe and atmosphere was created at a whole other manor! It is intense, dark and engaging and I loved exploring the word once more!

The story itself has a bit of a slow start, but that really fitted well with the plot and characters and later on really helped with the build-up and suspense created! The pacing does pick up and honestly, I believed this story just got better and better the further along I got!

I loved Verity so much! She is such a delightful character, who really just wanted to see the world! Her curiosity and loyalty were such great traits for her and she really grew into a beautiful woman. I was also a really big fan of Alexander, who had a heart of gold and was so considered and very giving! I also loved how positive he was in life, in spite of being in a wheelchair.

The romance was everything! While it did seem to grow and develop rather quickly, there were some time jumps in the story that made sure the romance didn’t come across as Insta-love. I loved the exploration and development of the romance.

When I say this book gets better and better, I truly mean it! The biggest twist happens at around 65% and I was SHOOK! I was completely blown away by the twist and reveal and I loved it! It fitted so well with the horror/haunted vibe and the continuation of the storyline! Also, the ending completely took me by surprise! Like, DAMN! I had not expected it to end like that! At first, the ending chapter seems really sweet and a happy ending, but that last paragraph!! IT IS HAUNTING ME!

Overall, House of Roots and Ruin is an amazing sequel and in my opinion even better! It is a hauntingly beautifully written story that I devoured!








SPOILERS
* I had not expected the brothers to be bad, and am kinda sad that Julien died, since I liked him! Viktor had an eerie vibe around him, so that wasn’t as surprising.
* I love that Alex and Verity still got married and their love persevered!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. SO: when the first book in this series came out in 2019, it quickly climbed to my top 10 for the entire year. I was entranced by the work, and clamored for the next installment, hoping against hope that there would be another book. HOORAY for this one. I wasn't sure if I needed to be intimately familiar with the characters to enjoy this novel, so a reread of the first was had. Luckily, I don't think I would've been lost if I hadn't done that, as Craig does a phenomenal job of looping the reader in. I was a bit surprised, but also happy to realize that this isn't exactly a sequel. It, to me, feels like Craig used the same setting/universe for another novel, with appearances by familar characters, but it isn't exactly sequential. I feel like a person could read either or both, and enjoy them just as much. By the end of the book, I realized it's the way Craig pulls the reader in, slowly, patiently, to the story and then when the force of the book hits you, you're happily ensconced in the entire world and don't want to leave. This was well done!

**I received an advance copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own**
This book followed the youngest of the sister from book one, Verity. She's the only one of her siblings still living at home with her older sister, now the Duchess of Highmoor, Camille. And Camille doesn't want her to leave. Ever. But Verity wants to go out into the world like the rest of her siblings have and when she gets invited to do a portrait of the Duke of Chauntilalie, she's sees it as the perfect chance to get away from Highmoor. Her sister is not supportive of the idea and after an argument and confessing to Verity that she can still see ghosts, she forbids Verity form going. So in the middle of the night, after realizing what her sister says is true, she leaves for Chauntilalie and for what she thinks will be the start of life as she has always dreamed. But boy, how wrong she is.

I will say, this wasn't what I was expecting from the sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows. It wasn't bad, just was hoping for a little bit of a break for the Thaumas sisters
Verity had it a little tough in book one, which is why I was hoping for things to go well for her here and they did a little. She begins to fall for the Duke's son, Alexander while she is painting his portrait. The thing I have issues with is it feels like she is just settling. After the things that Camille said to her, I think she feels that she will never be able to find someone to love her as Alexander does, so even though she isn't feeling that spark she though she'd feel, she decides that she is also in love with him. And you get that feeling through the whole book, even after she accepts his proposal and they get married at the end. It all just feels like she has settled.
I think the book was also just too long. There were points where things just weren't happening or what was happening wasn't really significant to the overall story. About halfway through, it go difficult for me to want to pick up the book just because of how much was written, but nothing was happening. I was bored.
The story overall though was interesting and has the same sort of spooky, thrilling feel that the first book did, especially at the end. I think it was a good sequel and if somehow another book was written I would consider picking it up. But just like with book one, I think this one ended at a perfect place and wouldn't need a continuation.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was very excited to read this sequel, as I really enjoyed The House of Salt and Sorrows! The House of Roots and Ruin did not disappoint! While these two books could technically be standalones, there will be some spoilers in this sequel if you decide to go back and read the first one later.

This book follows Verity, who has spent her life stuck in the manor under the protection of her older sister. Never having traveled or really discovered new lands, she receives a request to travel to an exciting area to do a painting for a future Duke. While she is excited to finally leave, her sister forbids it, so she decides to leave in the middle of the night against her wishes.

As she arrives to the manor, eerie things begin to happen and she begins hearing and seeing things that cannot be explained. Is it the house, the family or her past that is coming back to haunt her?

This story was told with the perfect amount of eeriness and beauty that matched the first in the series. I found myself enraptured in the story from beginning to end! The ending left off on one hell of a cliffhanger...that is if you were able to spot it! Looking forward to seeing if a 3rd will be coming out!

I will say that I was not 100% sold on the romance of the story. It felt a bit forced and I didn't find myself truly rooting for them despite that they were both relatively likeable characters. The MMC seemed a bit "woe is me" for my taste.

Other than one minor complaint, really loved this!

Erin Craig is a master at world building. She immediately sucks you into the gothic, lush world of the book. The story centers around Verity Thaumas, one of the younger Thaumas sisters, and her journey. This book is absolutely breathtaking, and I couldn't stop thinking about it after putting it down.