This is a spoiler free review.
House of Salt and Sorrows
Written by Erin A. Craig
Written by Erin A. Craig
Genre: Young Adult/Retellings/Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Pages: 416
Source: Library
Source: Library
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
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.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
House of Salt and Sorrows is a YA retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. While it takes many aspects from the original such as the twelve girls, balls and dancing, it has a much creepier vibe to it.
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.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
House of Salt and Sorrows is a YA retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. While it takes many aspects from the original such as the twelve girls, balls and dancing, it has a much creepier vibe to it.
COVER
I think the cover is really pretty and fairly simple. I really like how it has an ocean theme and ocean colors which is a big part of the book.
I think the cover is really pretty and fairly simple. I really like how it has an ocean theme and ocean colors which is a big part of the book.
WORLD-BUILDING
House of Salt and Sorrows is set on an island by the sea where Annaleigh lives in a remote manor with her father, stepmother and sisters. The island is described as a beautiful, remote place with all manor of sea creatures living in the ocean surrounding it. The atmosphere is beautiful but sad and gets darker as the book progresses. I thought the world-building was done very well and the descriptions really helped me get an idea of what the world looks like.
Then there are the characters.
ANNALEIGH
Annaleigh is the main character, and is one of twelve sisters. She is an amazing main character and is smart, brave, and resilient. She also loves her sisters more than anything in the world, and constantly shows it. Despite all this, she is sometimes seen as an unreliable narrator which is because of her constant confusion and the way she pulls the reader in multiple directions as she tries to figure out who is killing off her sisters and what is going on.
HER SISTERS
There are eight sisters at the beginning of the book, as four of the sisters have previously passed away. We don't explore all of the sisters in the book, however we do get to see most of them and how they interact with each other. The oldest sister: Camille, is the heir to their father's estate, and I didn't really like her as she spent a lot of the book critiquing her sisters. Then there are the triplets: Lenore, Rosalie and Ligeia, who I liked a lot more. And the rest were Honor, Mercy and Verity who were collectively called the Graces. I think I liked Verity the best as she acted the most like a young girl and even though she was clearly grieving her dead sisters, she also had a more carefree way about her.
CASSIUS
House of Salt and Sorrows is set on an island by the sea where Annaleigh lives in a remote manor with her father, stepmother and sisters. The island is described as a beautiful, remote place with all manor of sea creatures living in the ocean surrounding it. The atmosphere is beautiful but sad and gets darker as the book progresses. I thought the world-building was done very well and the descriptions really helped me get an idea of what the world looks like.
Then there are the characters.
ANNALEIGH
Annaleigh is the main character, and is one of twelve sisters. She is an amazing main character and is smart, brave, and resilient. She also loves her sisters more than anything in the world, and constantly shows it. Despite all this, she is sometimes seen as an unreliable narrator which is because of her constant confusion and the way she pulls the reader in multiple directions as she tries to figure out who is killing off her sisters and what is going on.
HER SISTERS
There are eight sisters at the beginning of the book, as four of the sisters have previously passed away. We don't explore all of the sisters in the book, however we do get to see most of them and how they interact with each other. The oldest sister: Camille, is the heir to their father's estate, and I didn't really like her as she spent a lot of the book critiquing her sisters. Then there are the triplets: Lenore, Rosalie and Ligeia, who I liked a lot more. And the rest were Honor, Mercy and Verity who were collectively called the Graces. I think I liked Verity the best as she acted the most like a young girl and even though she was clearly grieving her dead sisters, she also had a more carefree way about her.
CASSIUS
Cassius is the love interest in House of Salt and Sorrows and I really liked his character even though we didn't get to see a whole lot of him. Cassius was very charismatic and kind and he really cared about Annaleigh and what happened to her. I really wish we had gotten to explore more of his character because he was such an interesting one.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
A lot of this book is about Annaleigh's relationships with her sisters. At the beginning of the book, she has eight sisters, however originally there were twelve sisters total but four of them had died in slightly suspicious ways before the book started. Annaleigh was a very kind and caring sister and you could see how broken up she was when she lost a sister. I liked her relationships with most of her sisters as we don't often see sibling relationships in YA Fiction.
A lot of this book is about Annaleigh's relationships with her sisters. At the beginning of the book, she has eight sisters, however originally there were twelve sisters total but four of them had died in slightly suspicious ways before the book started. Annaleigh was a very kind and caring sister and you could see how broken up she was when she lost a sister. I liked her relationships with most of her sisters as we don't often see sibling relationships in YA Fiction.
PLOT
House of Salt and Sorrows is a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling with a much darker and otherworldly vibe. As you might know, in the original Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling it's about twelve sisters who go to beautiful balls and come morning their shoes are worn through. This leads their father to issue a proclamation to all the eligible men, that if they can find out what's happening with his daughters, they may choose one of them to marry. Well, this is a lot more of a feminist retelling and also, a lot creepier.
The story begins with Annaleigh, who lives at Highmoor with her father, stepmother and sisters. They were originally a household of twelve happy sisters, but have now been reduced to eight sisters. Each death has been more tragic than the last, and has created rumors that have been circulating around the island about the family being cursed. Then, when Annaleigh starts seeing ghostly visions, she begins to suspect her sisters didn't die of natural causes and that there's something else going on. When she finds out her sisters are sneaking out and attending beautiful, glitzy balls, she's not sure whether to join them or tell them off as who or what are they really dancing with. I loved how eerie the book is and how you're not quite sure what's happening and are trying to figure out what's going on along right alongside Annaleigh.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling with a much darker and otherworldly vibe. As you might know, in the original Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling it's about twelve sisters who go to beautiful balls and come morning their shoes are worn through. This leads their father to issue a proclamation to all the eligible men, that if they can find out what's happening with his daughters, they may choose one of them to marry. Well, this is a lot more of a feminist retelling and also, a lot creepier.
The story begins with Annaleigh, who lives at Highmoor with her father, stepmother and sisters. They were originally a household of twelve happy sisters, but have now been reduced to eight sisters. Each death has been more tragic than the last, and has created rumors that have been circulating around the island about the family being cursed. Then, when Annaleigh starts seeing ghostly visions, she begins to suspect her sisters didn't die of natural causes and that there's something else going on. When she finds out her sisters are sneaking out and attending beautiful, glitzy balls, she's not sure whether to join them or tell them off as who or what are they really dancing with. I loved how eerie the book is and how you're not quite sure what's happening and are trying to figure out what's going on along right alongside Annaleigh.
ROMANCE
I really liked the romance as it took a backseat to the plot and was very sweet and fairly believable. I liked how Cassius was a kind of mysterious love interest who just appeared in town and that we got to gradually learn more about him when the book progressed. I also really liked how it was a healthy relationship which was a contrast to all the darker themes of the book.
WRITING
I really liked Erin A. Craig's writing in this book as she made the book very atmospheric and creepy and really brought the world to life.
I really liked the romance as it took a backseat to the plot and was very sweet and fairly believable. I liked how Cassius was a kind of mysterious love interest who just appeared in town and that we got to gradually learn more about him when the book progressed. I also really liked how it was a healthy relationship which was a contrast to all the darker themes of the book.
WRITING
I really liked Erin A. Craig's writing in this book as she made the book very atmospheric and creepy and really brought the world to life.
FINAL THOUGHTS
House of Salt and Sorrows is the type of book that sucks you in and begs you to devour it in one night. It's a creepy, atmospheric debut that is written beautifully. I can't wait to see what else Erin A. Craig writes!
Quotes from the Book:
House of Salt and Sorrows is the type of book that sucks you in and begs you to devour it in one night. It's a creepy, atmospheric debut that is written beautifully. I can't wait to see what else Erin A. Craig writes!
Quotes from the Book:
“Flushed with starlight and moonlight drowned,
All the dreamers are castle-bound.
At midnight’s stroke, we will unwind,
Revealing fantasies soft or unkind.
Show me debauched nightmares or sunniest daydreams.
Come not as you are but as you wish to be seen.”
“We are born of the Salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt we return.”
“It shouldn’t matter what your parents did, just what you do as a person.”
All the dreamers are castle-bound.
At midnight’s stroke, we will unwind,
Revealing fantasies soft or unkind.
Show me debauched nightmares or sunniest daydreams.
Come not as you are but as you wish to be seen.”
“We are born of the Salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt we return.”
“It shouldn’t matter what your parents did, just what you do as a person.”
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Crowns
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