This is the second fairytale retelling I’ve read, the first being an anthology of short stories. I liked this, but didn’t connect with the characters much. It was well written but not something I’d usually pick up. Thanks for the ARC!

4.5/5 stars!

This was such an amazingly gothic retelling! Retellings are really such a hit lately, and I'm totally here for it!

Anyways, I ate this thing up! Only took me a few hours to get through it, and I was just so immersed in the mystery surrounding the deaths. When the plot went from serious to almost dreamlike, I knew something important was was inng to happen.

Key things to note you HAVE to stick through until about 2/3 of the way through the book. Otherwise you might think that the plot is going everywhere and nowhere at once.

I did have some problems with the characters, as it seems that they do complete 180s on decisions, suspicions, or even just their own character at the most random times. It felt so off, but I did understand it once I got closer to the end.

Also, Cassius and Fisher are my loves and this books grabbed my heart and crushed it multiple times.

Seriously, check this out. I just finished reading so my review isn't the most coherent, but take my word!

ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

* I was given this E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review"

3.5/5

I didn't know what to expect while reading this book. The beginning was what drew me in because there was a mystery afoot. I will say I think it was maybe a bit longer than I wanted it to be. But overall I really enjoyed the story and the characters, and it was an interesting plot.

I will be honest, the first few chapters of this book, I was completely uninterested and unimpressed. However, after probably the 6th or 7th chapter, things really started picking up and becoming interesting.

This book is a horror retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, so if you're okay with lots of creepiness and lots of death then perfecto! Annaleigh is positive that someone is murdering her sisters, but no else believes her and she has no proof. The entire story is spent with Annaleigh trying to solve the mysterious deaths of her sisters, along with the help of an extremely handsome Cassius (*heart eyes*). This book is filled with so many twists and turns, I was shocked with almost every chapter.

Overall, Erin Craig did a wonderful job spinning together an extremely wonderful and engaging story. I loved her writing style and the descriptiveness of it. I really felt like I was there with Annaleigh.

I really enjoyed this book! My only critiques are that there are times when the main character does things very suddenly that don’t make sense based on her thoughts, and that the romance seems rushed and underdeveloped.

Annaleigh and her eight sisters live with their father and stepmother in Highmoor, a manor near the sea. There were twelve daughters, but tragedy seems to strike the family with regularity. Annaleigh is convinced that the death of her most recent sister was no accident. She and her sisters find relief from their grief when they discover a secret passage that transports them to different lands to attend unimaginable balls. They also find magic, Gods, death, and hope.

This novel is very loosely based on the beloved children's story of twelve dancing princesses. I was afraid as I was reading that it would turn into an eye-rolling cliche of a story, but I was thrilled when this did not happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mystery elements were enough to keep readers guessing throughout the novel, but did not overtake the story. The characters were well developed and the world building was immersive. It was well written and I could not wait to find out what happened next.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA fiction, re-tellings of fairy tales, or historical fantasy.

The writing was sublime. I loved the mystery and world building. This was however very dark and creepy which I usually do not read horror and this definitely goes that direction. So if you like a magical read with a gothic horror feel then this book is for you.

House of Salt and Sorrows is a book that I actually wasn’t really excited about when I started it because I forgot what it was supposed to be about by the time I picked it up. When I requested a review copy I was excited to read it because I had heard that it was a re-telling of the 12 Dancing Princesses which is one of my favorite fairy tales. This book was extremely eerie and creepy, but also incredibly beautiful and magical at the same time. It is a wonderful retelling and really does the dark fairy tale justice.

The first half of this book was absolutely incredible. There were these horrifically creepy scenes that felt straight out of a horror movie and then there were chapters where the girls were excited about dresses and balls. It was a crazy mix of contrasts and it was all pulled together beautifully somehow. I found myself quickly emotionally attached to the characters and absolutely outraged on the behalf of Annaleigh and her sisters at the way their step-mother was acting. I really loved all of Annaleigh’s sisters, but Camille and Verity were my favorites. I loved the eerie atmosphere and the writing. I loved the magical balls and the relationships and dedication to family. This book seemed to be looking like it was a five star read.

Then it suddenly seemed like I was reading a different book. The climax and the ending of this book sucked. The reasoning behind everything ruined the magic and what was supposed to be the height of the book felt drawn out and boring. I felt like as soon as the girls started going to the magical balls the pace slowed way down. The novel focused on the goings on at home rather than beautiful magical balls that were so much more entertaining. The climax was written poorly in my opinion because it held no intensity for me. The last half of the book was slow and ruined the magic of a wonderfully exciting tale. I felt like the author created this wonderful story and then didn’t know how to end it so she threw the ending together at the last minute. Either that or the ending needed another round of content editing.

Overall I am still impressed. I absolutely loved most of this book and was amazed at how beautifully magical scenes and creepy horror like scenes were all melded into one story. I was very disappointed in the story, but would definitely still recommend this book to horror fans, dark fairy tale fans and even fans of books about magical balls. House of Salt and Sorrows was way better than I had ever expected it to be and I can’t wait for other people to read it and for it to make it’s dark splash in the sea of readers.

Is there anything you wouldn't do when your sisters begin dying one after another?

WOW. This was unexpected. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this creepy, gothic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Sisters. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about it even after I was through. It gave me the creeps in the best possible way.

And I truly enjoyed the characters - it did take me a minute to keep all of the sisters straight in my mind - but they all brought a unique personality to their story.

Emotional. Twisty. Suspenseful. Dramatic.

This book is such an emotional ride. It starts out a little slowly but with that said I was drawn into this world pretty quickly. Annaleigh and her sisters live on a small isolated island, and the book starts out with the family attending the funeral of one of their sisters. You start sensing the strange culture pretty quickly. Because they are the "People of the Salt" they have a unique funeral. You learn that out of 12 sisters, four have died, and so has their mother. They have been in mourning (and basically isolation) for years. Most people on the island have started to believe that the family is cursed. However, Annaleigh begins to suspect that her latest sisters death was actually a murder. So a good portion of the book is spent trying to figure out what happened to this sister, Eulalie, while Annaleigh is developing a relationship with Cassius, the mysterious son of a ship Captain.

In her search for answers Annaleigh finds a magical door that leads them anywhere they want to go. They attend many balls in search of a suitor, relieved that there father has lifted the mourning that the house has been in for years. And this is done, because his new wife is pregnant, supposedly with a son.

Things start to get especially crazy at an event called The Churning. Annaleigh is shaken by the death of 2 more sisters, and on top of that things with Cassuis get very complicated. Things with reality in general get complicated. Thing fall apart and unravel quickly.

The last quarter of this book picks up at an insane speed. Just when I thought I understood it all and had the answer, finally, it spun me around and changed again.

I really enjoyed this book. I gave it two stars mostly because the pacing varies so much and it threw me off in several different places. But this book is engaging and suspenseful and really kept me guessing. I liked the characters, the family, and the culture of the island that this book was set in.
I do reccomend this book, its a fun mysterious read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read it in exchange for this review.


"https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/54587711-kayla">View all my reviews</a>

My expectations were high for House of Salt and Sorrows. I was sadly disappointed. It began well enough. The story was engrossing, and the atmospheric presence of death was evident. After a bit, I just lost interest. It took forever to read because I kept coming back to it. The main character morphed into a typical teen girl, and the plot fell apart. The story felt scattered like it started out as one thing but ended as another. Unfortunately, I didn't care for this one. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK turned things around. Kate had already read and reviewed this book when I was approved for a copy, but she was SO enamored with it that I knew I had to read it. It was SO atmospheric. It was SO creepy. Also there were swoons? As strange as this will sounds, Greyjoy-like aesthetics really hold a special place in my heart due to associations with my dorky husband, so just roll with it. I highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out in September! 5 stars.

First I would like to say Thank You to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this lovely book.
To start, I want to say how absolutely gorgeous I thought this book cover! I love the story of the 12 Dancing princesses and really enjoyed seeing the parallels between this book and that fairytale! I am not usually a fan of horror, suspense but I found that I really enjoyed it in this book
There were romance and action, and a mystery to be solved. This was a unique take on a story that doesn't get many retellings and I am so happy I got a chance to read it.

A gorgeous retelling of the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Sisters with a definitely haunting, gothic feel. I am a sucker for WELL DONE retellings, and this one is truly unique and spooky and lush. I loved it so much and yet I'm having a difficult time putting it into words because I feel like I will just GUSH.

Craig has crafted a twisty, creative tale of family (and secrets), monsters, myth and magic, and her setting and descriptions are so vivid that I could practically see the story unfold in front of me (and it was all told in deep sea blues and greens and blacks in my mind). Her prose was gorgeous and flowing.

Annaleigh lives in a large manor with her father, stepmother, and many remaining sisters. (Because her older ones have all died mysteriously and accidentally.) Everyone believes her family is cursed. But - when another sister dies, she doesn't believe it was an accident and begins to search for what really happened.

And that is when things get really weird. And creepy. She does an amazing job of building tension in some of the darker parts of the plot. There is a lot of mythology woven into the tale, And the twists just keep coming and coming, and when I think I have a clue as to what is going on, Craig completely pulls the rug out from under my feet.

The characterization at times felt a bit unsteady - Annaleigh flopped between very suspicious to overly trusting; her father seemed very dependable until the party, and then his personality completely changed (blame it on the drinking?) There were a few sisters I felt like I couldn't tell you much about, possibly as they were referred to as "The Graces" more than their actual names.

I was a little confused and frustrated when Annaleigh's focus turned from her hunt to find out what really happened to her sister Eulalie to going to parties every night, but in the end, it added to the chaos and mystery and creepiness of what was happening, and even when I thought I had it figured out Craig had one more big twist to throw at me.

Overall, this book was just a big WOW for me.

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS is an elegant and enchanting dark YA fantasy. Fans of the 12 Dancing Princesses will be delighted by this deliciously haunting retelling. Annaleigh is the sixth of twelve daughters whose lives have been filled with death. On the islands where they live and her father currently holds the dukedom, the eldest child inherits, whether or not they are male. Annaleigh never imagined she would be in a viable position to inherit, and she has been completely shocked by the events that have led to her having only one older sister, Camille, left. As the four before her have died, Annaleigh suspects that she or Camille are next.

The deaths began with the loss of their mother after childbirth and have continued for so many years that the mourning customs have been their only customs. The series of deaths have led the people around them to believe that the Thaumus family is cursed. However, Annaleigh looks beyond the deaths to suspect murder. As she investigates, stranger and stranger happenings have her second-guessing herself and everything she sees and knows.

With her new stepmother expecting and the shroud of sorrow hanging over the family for so long, everyone but Annaleigh is eager to move on and forget the past. When they find a portal that will take them anywhere, the sisters are all ready to adorn their beautiful gowns and shoes and dance all night at elegant balls. However, Annaleigh is focused on discovering who might be targeting their family before it is too late. With twists and turns and a handsome love interest, this book is completely spell-binding.

Annaleigh is a beautifully crafted character and easy to relate to. Through her eyes, we witness the (at times) horrors and mysteries that shroud the Thaumus family. This is easily a book which kept me up at night turning pages and is difficult to put down. The premise is expertly executed, capturing the 12 Dancing Princesses in a unique and completely fascinating way. As one of my favorite fairytales, I had high expectations, and they were completely met and exceeded.

In terms of the love interest for Annaleigh, this felt a little insta-love-ish, and I was on-board later in the story, though I had a hard time getting into them as a couple. I would have either liked more build up to the romance or for it to be excluded (there is certainly enough else to keep the reader’s eager attention). Other than that, the book has a fantastic build to a twisty and perfect conclusion. The setting is lyrically crafted and absolutely ideal for this dark and spell-binding story. Everything is wrapped up so well at the end also- what a perfect stand-alone novel!

I highly recommend for people who like horror/thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, and dark fairytale retellings. I would add warnings for murders, suicide, and mental illness. Perfect for fans of WINTERSONG and THE WHITE STAG.

Title: House of Salt and Sorrows
Author: Erin A. Craig
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Note: Review to be posted to Goodreads closer to publication date on July 23, 2019.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Would it be possible for me to just dive into the pages of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig and live in this world a bit longer?

I absolutely enjoyed every second I spent reading this atmospheric, spooky fairy tale retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This book was infused with mystery and magic, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I turned every page. Perfect for both fans of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and those new to the story, Erin A. Craig has truly made House of Salt and Sorrows stand on its own and added countless twists and turns to this classic tale.

From the first chapter, we are thrown into a nautical, dark fantasy world where the Thaumas family is reeling from yet another death. Originally, there were twelve daughters in the family; however, only eight remain. Centered on Annaleigh Thaumas, the now second eldest daughter, House of Salt and Sorrows tells her story as she tries to navigate the mysteries surrounding her sisters’ untimely deaths. Transitioning between creepy, occasionally horrific scenes to moments filled to the brim with magic, plus a swoon worthy romance that will take your breath away, this book is not one to miss!

Hands down, my favorite aspect of House of Salt and Sorrows was Erin A. Craig’s world building. From the eerie halls of the seaside Highmoor manor to the bustling markets on Astrea (especially during the Churning Festival celebrations), Craig’s descriptive writing truly made me feel as if I had jumped into the pages of this book and was experiencing all the wonders of this world alongside Annaleigh. As an additional bonus, it is refreshing that House of Salt and Sorrows is a standalone novel. With so many series dominating the YA fantasy genre, I appreciated how Craig was able to keep this story well-paced and interesting within the scope of one book.

I would like to recommend that a reference guide for the names of the twelve sisters be included in the final version of House of Salt and Sorrows. While reading the first several chapters, I struggled to remember all of the sisters’ names, in particular which sisters were the Graces and the triplets. In addition, at the beginning of the book, I initially misunderstood that the girls’ maid, Hanna, was one of Annaleigh’s sisters. A chart outlining the names would have been very helpful based on my experience reading this book.

House of Salt and Sorrows is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019 so far. I was very impressed with Erin A. Craig’s debut novel and would be happy to read any of her books (fairy tale retelling or not) in the future!

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS is an elegant and enchanting dark YA fantasy. Fans of the 12 Dancing Princesses will be delighted by this deliciously haunting retelling. Annaleigh is the sixth of twelve daughters whose lives have been filled with death. On the islands where they live and her father currently holds the dukedom, the eldest child inherits, whether or not they are male. Annaleigh never imagined she would be in a viable position to inherit, and she has been completely shocked by the events that have led to her having only one older sister, Camille, left. As the four before her have died, Annaleigh suspects that she or Camille are next.

The deaths began with the loss of their mother after childbirth and have continued for so many years that the mourning customs have been their only customs. The series of deaths have led the people around them to believe that the Thaumus family is cursed. However, Annaleigh looks beyond the deaths to suspect murder. As she investigates, stranger and stranger happenings have her second-guessing herself and everything she sees and knows.

With her new stepmother expecting and the shroud of sorrow hanging over the family for so long, everyone but Annaleigh is eager to move on and forget the past. When they find a portal that will take them anywhere, the sisters are all ready to adorn their beautiful gowns and shoes and dance all night at elegant balls. However, Annaleigh is focused on discovering who might be targeting their family before it is too late. With twists and turns and a handsome love interest, this book is completely spell-binding.

Annaleigh is a beautifully crafted character and easy to relate to. Through her eyes, we witness the (at times) horrors and mysteries that shroud the Thaumus family. This is easily a book which kept me up at night turning pages and is difficult to put down. The premise is expertly executed, capturing the 12 Dancing Princesses in a unique and completely fascinating way. As one of my favorite fairytales, I had high expectations, and they were completely met and exceeded.

In terms of the love interest for Annaleigh, this felt a little insta-love-ish, and I was on-board later in the story, though I had a hard time getting into them as a couple. I would have either liked more build up to the romance or for it to be excluded (there is certainly enough else to keep the reader’s eager attention). Other than that, the book has a fantastic build to a twisty and perfect conclusion. The setting is lyrically crafted and absolutely ideal for this dark and spell-binding story. Everything is wrapped up so well at the end also- what a perfect stand-alone novel!

I highly recommend for people who like horror/thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, and dark fairytale retellings. I would add warnings for murders, suicide, and mental illness. Perfect for fans of WINTERSONG and THE WHITE STAG. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Ugh, I feel like I might be in the minority but this book was just a big old nope for me.

Some things this book did right include horror and suspense-building and presenting a gothic novel that fills a hole in YA lit. I think that’s important to mention before I get into my problems with the book; I’m not against gothic horror in YA and I believe there is room for some serious growth in the genre. I am all for books that make you feel like you’re going crazy along with the characters and this book manages that aspect of horror.

However, the book ultimately let me down because of insane pacing issues, weak and passive characters, an 0 to 60 love interest, and the level of gore and monster madness at the end.

As I mentioned, gore and other aspects of horror can be impactful in the right light, but this book went from idling to racecar speed too quickly for me to wrap my head around it. This issue runs rampant throughout the book, including an “eh” to insta-love situation and the plotline in general. House of Salt and Sorrows is a book that leads its readers in one direction for a solid 3/4 of the book and then goes utterly bats**t in the last quarter, flinging readers in a direction that they hadn’t been prepped for. I think the best horror novels do a solid job of putting in little horror elements here and there throughout the novel to make the reader uneasy and guide them toward acceptance when things do get crazy. But this book doesn’t do that at all, and the result is a confused, baffled reader. (At least in my case.)

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

This was a wonderful retelling of an old story. While it didn't adhere strictly to The Twelve Dancing Princesses storyline it was a great new take on the story. I enjoyed the romance that was subtly there and didn't take up too much room that it felt all about the romance. Instead, it was about the sisters and what was happening to them. There was one giant continuity error that made me stop and get confused but other than that this book was a great read that kept me up all night.

This synposis had me so hooked though sounding like a darker kinda little mermaid feel with them being people of the salt by the sea. It starts off kinda slow, but it definitely picks up and sends you on a mysterious adventure. I wasn’t sure what to expect and had about 5 suspects along the way. (What can I say, I’m suspicious xD)

Annaleigh was such a interesting character to me though. You can tell how fiercely she feels for her sisters especially her younger ones. The way she fights for them even when other family members wanted to move on or do stupid things (cough go to dances cough cough) I loved how the gods were woven into the story and the twist at the end was such a good way to wrap up and end the story!

If you enjoy a darker fantasy where you aren’t sure what’s reality and dreams than this book will be for you!