House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?
When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.
Candlelight reflected off the silver anchor etched onto my sister’s necklace.
Reading The House of Salt and Sorrows has been a great reminder that I have been neglecting the YA fantasy genre the last few years. When a first discovered Booktube many years ago, I would read whatever was popular, which was mainly YA fantasy. Since then, I have come to have a better understand of my reading tastes and I though that the genre just wasn’t for me anymore. This mentality prevented me from even considering reading The House of Salt and Sorrows. I never would have picked it up on my own if it were not for a buddy read. I fell in love with this book and it has opened my eyes to how different and dark the YA genre can be.
Retellings can be hit or miss for me, and The House of Salt and Sorrows ended up being a huge hit. I am not very familiar with the original Brother’s Grimm tale (The Twelve Dancing Princesses) but I am now inclined to read it. I am very curious to see how it inspired Erin A. Craig to write dark and haunting story.
What instantly stood out to me was the setting. I could picture this rocky, cold island surrounded by a rocky sea. It was so atmospheric and set the tone for perfect tone and mood for the story itself.
I love when the relationships between siblings is explored in fiction, particular the relationship between sisters. This is something I think The House of Salt and Sorrows does well and was a highlight for me. With twelves sisters you are bound to have characters with varied personalities who clash and come back together at different times. Reading how they navigated their relationships while also dealing with grief was heartbreaking and fascinating.
I was not anticipating HOSAS to be quite as dark as it was. The author holds nothing back in this regard. There are certain scenes that are so creepy and vivid that it made me physically uncomfortable.
I will say that I felt that the ending was a little rushed and that things could have been more clear. There was so much going on and everything happened so fast that I feel like I missed something.
Yes! I think that there is something in The House of Salt and Sorrows for everyone, whether it is the characters, the atmospheric writing, or the dark and twisted plot. Another excellent book for Fall!
I’ve been wanting to read this for a while. I need it now! Great review 😊
Thank you! It is a really great book!
Amazing review Kristin! I cannot wait to read this one. It sounds right up my street :))))))))
Thank you! I think you will love it!
aaaah i’m so glad you enjoyed this!! it was definitely one of my favorites. fabulous review!!
Thank you! I was so surprised by how much I loved it!
I’m adding this to my October TBR!
It is the perfect October read!
I’m very excited to pick this book up! Great review!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Thank you! It is a good one!
YA Fantasy in not really my thing, but I must admit this one sounds good and I enjoyed reading your review 🙂
Thank you! It is not usually my thing either but this was unique!
Fantastic review! … come back to us… come baaaack…
lol
I’m having a serious case of FOMO lol
Ah such a great line!
I love that you include the first line in your review! This is one I have been on the fence about and I really feel like you have convinced me to change my mind about not reading it! I am so glad to hear how much you liked it, especially for the atmosphere, which is what I loved most about The Wicked Deep (Shea Ernshaw). The cover is STUNNING, especially the exclusive edition from (i think) Owlcrate. It mayyyy be one that I breakdown and purchase at some point.
Great review :]
Love your review! I have this to read but thought I would leave until around Halloween for a spooky review!
Thank you. It’s perfect for that!
I’m so glad you loved it, Kristin! I’m hoping to get to it before the end of the year. And now I’m curious to see how dark it really is! 😀
So much darker than I was expecting! So so good!
Great review!! This book was AMAZING. One of my faves for the year. HOSAS was nothing I expected and I LOVED that.
I agree! I was so surprised by how much I liked it!
Just finished this one myself and agree with you on the ending being rushed, I felt like the whole last 20% of the book especially last 10% were chaotic though in a good way. I wish some of the revelations happened earlier. Also agreed on the darkness of this title. Great review!
Thank you! Agreed- I think it would have benefited from having the reveals more staggered.
So glad this ended up being a huge hit and had a really good setting! Great review!
Thank you. It’s so original. Loved it!
Ah – it’s so on my list. The cover alone is enough … the rest of the book sounds amazing.
It’s so good. Lives up to its cover!