A really enjoyable and different YA novel. I loved the world and the characters. The story had great twists and turns. Quick, fun read.

“House of Salt and Sorrows” by Erin A. Craig is a grim retelling of a Grimm fairy tale, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Set in the fictional coastal estate of Highmoor, tragedy befalls the Thaumas family when the mother and four of twelve daughters (Elizabeth, Ava, Eulalie and Octavia) die in quick succession. With a bleak mourning period ahead of them, Annaleigh, one of the remaining eight daughters, tries to investigate her sisters’ deaths as murders. But something haunts the remaining sisters’ dreams, and the youngest, Verity, begins to see visions.

If it weren’t for my intense curiosity for so many other genres and my new and persistent comic book habit, I’d read fairy tale retellings all day, every day. It’s probably a guilty pleasure at this point, since this book is clearly for people half my age. My favorites, and probably the most common, are retellings of "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast." This retelling, shaped from a lesser-known fairy tale, is so unique in its execution, so haunting and emotional, that I couldn’t help but love it.

“House of Salt and Sorrows” has a hefty helping of death and grief, and all the things people do to cope with it. After the sisters’ mother dies, their father remarries a mysterious woman named Morella who just seems to want to belong to the family. The book addresses Annaleigh’s feelings toward Morella, which are mostly civil-to-welcoming, but it also validates Camille’s emotions, which focus on hostility and the feeling of being replaced.

I was intrigued to see “House of Salt and Sorrows” was a standalone novel. It would be interesting to see other obscure Grimm fairy tales told in the same universe, especially since the author makes it clear there are other parts of the world to entertain, as well as a rich pantheon of supernatural beings to consider.

*copy provided by Netgalley - all opinions are my own*

🌊 a horror retelling: this story is pitched as retelling on the 12 Dancing Princess with a bit of scary thrown in. I haven't actually read a lot of retellings following this story, so I was definitely interested in how the author was going to deliver her rendition. The world has so much to offer and the author does a really great job in introducing the People of the Salt as well as their neighboring cities. The original story was used as a foundation for the plot but there was a lot of creative freedom that was taken to make the novel unique.
🌊 vivid descriptions: imagery was definitely the highlight of this novel. The word choices made from describing the beautiful balls to the horrific visions were all so vividly portrayed. The amount of detail that is used to describe the dresses and the fairy shoes take an entirely different turn when describing the ghosts and monsters - but it had the same powerful impact of evoking very clear imagery while reading.
🌊 pacing is a bit lulling: this point was probably one of the biggest “eh” factors that made this story…less enjoyable. The pacing of this story goes from very slow to a sudden rollercoaster of events. I’ll admit, I definitely skimmed a good chunk of pages because I was getting bored and then all of a sudden had to stop and go back because out of nowhere, ten different plot twists were happening. It makes the flow of the story feel jarring with less of a flow.
🌊 relationship settings: I really loved the portrayal of sisterhood and family within the story. We start with Eulalie’s funeral and the entire family in mourning - right from the start there is deep connection between the sisters that help them get through all the ups and downs of the story. They do have their disagreements and disillusionments, but they ultimately are rooted in their love for each other. The romantic relationships on the other hand…left me conflicted. We are technically introduced to two love interests for our MC: Fisher the childhood friend and Cassius the mysterious stranger. I’ll be honest, I didn’t trust Cassius but Fisher didn’t really stand a chance. Because of those conclusions, Fisher’s interest in Annaleigh felt redundant (though he did handle her “rejection” well) and I never quite got on board the CassiusxAnnaleigh ship. There just wasn’t enough in their relationship to really ground me - I ended up skimming past their conversations and it all boiled down to just a common interest in the other and a realization that something was wrong and this stranger person could help. I don’t know, maybe it’ll grow on me.
🌊 Check out spoiler thoughts on my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2757092338

This was an interesting take on the 12 Dancing Princesses tale. It was fantasy takes on gothic horror. Not what I would normally reach for, but it was really well done.

Annaleigh Thaumus is convinced her family is cursed. Her sisters are dying around her, and Annaleigh is sure they have been murdered. Her stepmother and remaining sisters are determined to put off their mourning and get on with life, but Annaleigh is just as determined to remember her sisters and to protect the ones she has left.

I fell in love with this story and had to dig myself out.
It begins with death and a funeral...
The people of the salt , come from the salt and return to it upon death.
This book is dark and twisting. A mystery within a mystery, within yet another mystery.

Annaleigh is attending her sister’s funeral . Another funeral, several have occurred in so many years that the people of the islands feel the family is cursed. Most of the deaths were unfortunate. A plague , childbirth . This sisters death is questionable... a murder perhaps? In a search for clues Annaleigh discovers hidden secrets, hidden passageway s and love and power at any cost . Even a devils bargain.
I highly recommended.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. It was so good and I would recommend it to anybody that is a fan of anything magical, romantic, or fantasy themed. At first my expectations were not that high, I will admit. But about 20 pages in I was OBSESSED! At some points in the book she starts seeing things, (I don't think this is much of a spoiler) and it does get confusing at some parts because I didn't know whether she was imagining it or if it was actually happening. After a little bit though, I eventually figured it out. I was so sad when this book ended because I had, whats it called? a book hangover? I think that's it. Because it was so good, and I really loved the main couple and almost wish there was another book where they were together in it. Like a sequel? Hint, Hint. Anyway, I would highly recommend this book to almost anyone.

This book was awesome! The writing was unique and intriguing. It kept me wanting more. This was a unique retelling with some twists and turns. A bit dark/creepy bit I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may also just be a sucker for anything ocean/beach/sea/pirate related but 4 stars!

I loved this fairy tale retelling, which was atmospheric and dark enough to please anyone who grew up with a love of the Grimm fairy tales. Recommended!!

Thank you to Random House Children's Delacorte Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

This was not at all what I was expecting. I have to say my initial reaction when I was finished was disappointment. I never found myself in awe at any point in this book and that was a let down. There was A LOT of crazy things going on in this book and it felt a bit messy and confusing at times However, I found that I couldn't put it down and that I was stuck questioning what the heck was happening to the poor girls at Highmoor. I felt like this book could have gone in so many different directions and it took such a weird stumbling path. Altogether this was a good read and I enjoyed the god aspect of it along with the traditions that the people of the Salt practiced. Old Maude was something I wished was a part of the story more. The descriptions and imagery in this book were excellent and I felt as though I was on the inside of the book watching the story unfold. I think readers will really enjoy this wild tale of the cursed girls by the sea.

Wow! I am truly blown away. I was excited to read this one to begin with, but this was SO much more than I was expecting. And can I just say, Twelve Dancing Princesses? My absolute favorite story as a kid. We were long overdue for a retelling, and this one is amazing.

I have not read a book this imaginative, creative, and unique in a very long time. I'm trying to think of the last book that really blew my mind like this and I can't even think of one. The world building and lore behind this story are so rich and unexpected. I don't want to give anything away, but seriously WOW. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I never knew what to expect. The writing style was engaging and easy to sink into. The characters all felt very accessible, I was never overwhelmed trying to remember who was who of the twelve girls. I may have enjoyed and connected with the characters more had I not been so focused on trying to figure out what the heck was going on. It didn't hurt my reading experience. I'll just have to focus on the characters more in the re-read. (Because I do already want to read this one again.) I can't say much without giving anything away, but I really hope this book gets the hype it deserves. If you like dark retellings that add a new twist to an old favorite and keep you on the edge of your seat, definitely pick this one up.

This was a wild, intense, fun ride, and I'm kind of sorry it's over. Although, the ending was perfect. I can't believe this is a debut novel. Erin A. Craig is definitely on my auto-buy authors list now. I may have to pre-order this book even though I've read it just to have it's beauty on my shelves. (And probably read it again...) I think this is the best book I've read this year so far.

A fairytale retelling much more Grimm than Disney, House of Salt and Sorrows is well written and full of twists.

Madness and murder and dark horror, entwined into the story of the 12 dancing Princesses and a thin thread of romance make for a stormy plot.

HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS was a very atmospheric dark read. It's a retelling of the TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES. I, myself, was unfamiliar with such a classical tale, but having brushed myself up on it, I enjoyed the author's creative liberties. I, also, adored the literary nods to Edgar Allen Poe. Many of the characters (dead and alive) were named after some of his works. The prose and pacing were right-on. The character development was fairly decent, I'd say. The main character, Annaleigh, was fairly passive and the romance didn't grip me like I thought it would.

However, the author created a very fascinating twisted retelling and the ominous mystery kept me turning the page.

I would recommend this. 4/5

A truly cinematic and unique novel, House of Salt and Sorrows begins during a funeral where we learn that one by one, the Thaumas sisters have been tragically dying. Soon our MC, Annaleigh, starts to wonder if Eulalie's death was not accidental after all. This novels starts off fresh with a lot of faces, a ton of personalities, and plenty of mystery. I found myself engrossed from really early on, and looking forward to the wild ride this was bound to be.

After the intriguing beginning, though, I found the pacing to be a little off. The story would lag in places until I was getting close to being bored. However each time that happened, the plot would suddenly jump forward to reveal something new, something exciting, even horrific, saving it altogether. So while the pacing could have been worked a little better, I still ended this book with the opinion that I enjoyed myself greatly.

The best part of this story is by far the imagery that the author creates. The balls, the dancing, Highmoor manor, the monsters, the islands, even the weather - it's all so beautifully depicted. I found I could fully picture everything around me. And while it had me breathless at times, it also made the horror all the more powerful. There is not much I can say about that without spoilers, but let's just say that the author doesn't put on any rose colored glasses when describing the ghastly side of this story. This was definitely the most memorable part of this novel. When reading, I felt transported into this world full of magic and Gods, danger and romance. It was absolutely stunning!

There is also a lot of characters in this book. There are 8 sisters, a step mother, a family friend, a love interest and more. It was a tad hard to keep track at first, but the author does a good job of giving everyone a unique personality to make them interesting. The romance aspect in this book takes a back seat to the plot for the most part. Which was a nice surprise for someone like me who dislikes a romantic subplot taking over a compelling mystery. I found there was just enough romance to balance this book out. I did find it to be a bit swoony, however - the characters falling so deeply in love so very quickly. I didn't really feel any deep connection between them, but he was a puzzling character throughout, nonetheless. I also thought the ending was a bit too happy and convenient. Call me Debbie Downer if you wish, but I much prefer a strong, powerful ending that may have sadness and loss, over one that has a somewhat fluky happily ever after. Especially in this type of story.

All in all, this novel is absolutely enthralling. It brings you into a world that is both enchanting and cruel, dazzling, yet dangerous. Despite my issues with the pacing and such, I would still recommend it to fantasy lovers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I recently got into mystery books within the YA genre. I didn’t know anything about this book so when it became clear to me that this was gonna be little bit of mystery within I was glad! I love this world, the characters. I want to know about these gods so please there be a book 2 about the gods! IM BEGGING HERE!

My absolute favorite kind of book to read is a weird, spooky fantasy retelling and let me tell you, this book was right up my alley! I really didn't know much about the fairytale this book is based on, but the cover and description immediately caught my attention.

Annaleigh's family has terrible luck. In fact, many people believe their family is cursed by the gods. Her mother died years ago followed by four of her older sisters who have died one by one and left her family in a state of perpetual mourning. After the latest tragic death, Annaleigh worries that they haven't been as accidental as previously believed and decides to take matters into her own hands.

I. Loved. Annaleigh. It isn't often that I find a main character that I absolutely adore, but Annaleigh is amazing! She is smart and brave and resilient and loves her sisters with a passion. Speaking of her sisters, there are a ton of them. Eight sisters is a lot to keep up with and I will definitely admit that I still couldn't name more than a few of them, even after finishing the book, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.

This wouldn't be a good YA retelling without a fantastic romance! At first there is a hint of a love triangle between Annaleigh, her childhood friend, and a boy she meets in town, but thankfully it is quickly resolved. And it's a good thing because the romance is so wonderfully swoon-worthy, I couldn't get enough! There was a moment when I thought that things had happened a bit too quickly, but when I realized how much time had passed in the story, I quickly changed my tune. Everything about the romance is perfect and I would love more of these characters!

Of course, this story is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, so there has to be dancing and there is a ton of it. House of Salt and Sorrows has no shortage of magic and gods, ball gowns and dancing, but Erin A. Craig has put a whole new creepy spin on it and I loved it! The villain is not who you'd guess and the reveals are incredibly well written. This book will seriously have you second guessing everything you've read by the end. There are so many twists and turns I'm surprised I didn't end up with whiplash!

Speaking of creepiness, let's talk about the atmosphere! This author knows how to take a reader and plant them right in the middle of a new world. I felt like I could see the cliffs and feel the salt on my skin while reading this book. The world was so easy to picture, I felt like I could see myself in it without even trying. I cannot wait to see what beautiful, gothic world Emily A. Craig comes up with next!

In case it wasn't obvious, this was an amazing read! I was so invested in this mystery and the characters I couldn't put this book down. House of Salt and Sorrows is a unique, spooky YA retelling that I can see myself reading multiple times. If you're a fan of dark fantasy or retellings, definitely give this a try!

Ohhhhh, this book quenched my gothic heroine thirst.

I lovelovelove a gothic mood and this YA retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses does not disappoint--dark passages, macabre secrets, midnight dancing, handsome strangers, and brine-encrusted mausoleums fill the pages. The mystery, the heroine and the local myths/gods are all very well-done. The story drags in places, but never for long.

Did you study the gorgeous cover? The artwork reflects the story perfectly.

I highly recommend The House of Salt and Sorrows and will read the author’s next book for sure. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have a soft spot for retellings, and especially for any fairytale Barbie's also adapted (I'm looking at you, The Enchanted Sonata!) We all vaguely remember 12 Dancing Princesses from our childhood, but it's one of those lesser known fairytales that's ripe with opportunities for reimagining. Although we only meet 8 of the 12 "princesses," this was probably for the best because even with eight girls, only some of them (Annaleigh, Verity, Camille) had clearly outlined characters, and the rest were just kind of...there. But that's the nature of any story.

The plot took a while to get going, and things moved very slowly for the first 3/4, and then moved very quickly in the last 1/4 of the book. It really takes Annaleigh to figure everything out, but in the meantime I was doing a lot of guessing and wondering with her, and I found it an amusing mystery. I will admit, I really wasn't sure where this was going. I kept giving different guesses, changing my mind about who's behind the deaths, but in the end I kind of turned out right, but not nearly as closely as I thought I would be. [ From the outset I'd assumed Morella was up to something, but it was such a classic, cliché move, pinning everything on the stepmother, that I actually thought it was going to be a deconstruction of sorts, and while that ultimately wasn't true, I did find her more compelling, even after her big confession. I also had my doubts about Fisher and Cassius, but that's probably just me distrusting random men with crushes on the protagonist, so there's that. The ending with all the magic and gods and stuff was kind of out there, as the seeds were only slightly planted earlier in the story, and I really hadn't been expecting it to take such a fantastic (as in fantasy) turn. Indeed, I thought it was fairly gripped in reality, but then when in the last quarter reality itself it just turned on its head, I was definitely surprised. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, this was a pretty fun and creepy take on a lesser known fairytale that was a pleasure to read.

I loved this book. I had goosebumps in certain parts, swooning in the next. It’s the perfect amount of romance, mystery and darkness! The cover is gorgeous too. I will definitely add this book to my collection!

I absolutely loved this book! It was fun, the characters were loveable, the retelling was amazing! I felt like every single element for this book was there.

I could tell that it was a retelling, and yet, it continued to be its own story which I loved so much! The story was so unique and I just loved it. I don't have any other words for it.

The main character was so interesting! And the way she dealt with the curse while the other people in her life would never believe her. She was pretty much on her own except for some of her sisters who were there for her, but even then, none of them ever really believed her.

There was also this little triangle, but I liked how it wasn't the most important part of the story and that the story fixated on the curse and Annaleigh trying to figure it out.

Overall, this was a solid novel and I am super excited for the rest of the world to read it! Thank you so much for this ARC!

I really enjoy retellings so I wanted to pick this one up. Thank you Netgalley. I enjoyed it, it was darker than I thought, but I really enjoyed the characters! Would recommend