This is a beautifully written book. The author has an amazing way with words! It's so hard to put down, especially after things really start rolling. A really incredible read. The cover is also really awesome! We have some teens that will check out based on the cover and I think this one will draw attention.

One of my favorite things in a book is the setting, where the atmosphere has a personality all its own. In HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS, Highmoor manor breathed and the sea called. Craig's descriptions were beautiful and eerie and set such a mood! Simply gorgeous writing.

There were threads of darkness and light throughout the story, tragic deaths brushing against the finery of life. The mystery surrounding the untimely deaths of Annaleigh's older sisters pulled me into the story and the creepiness (such as her younger sister Verity's strange drawings and talk of ghosts!) gave me chills. Loved this book!

This book was simply amazing...I loved the new world and all the characters, everything was so much more complex than it seemed at first! This is a fantastic story of the bond between sisters, the love of family, the ability to see beyond what is in front of your face and the magic of storytelling. I loved this book!!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book!

Holy page turner, Batman! This book held me captive until the very last words. There are so many twists and turns! Annaleigh's family is shrinking, daughter by daughter, and it seems as though they are all cursed. Are they really? And if so, what lengths will they take to break the curse?

This book is ghost story, murder mystery, thriller, and so much more. I found Annaleigh to be a great narrator, even with all the craziness around her. I loved how not everything is how it seems, even in the narrator's own mind, and that alone made me keep turning the pages, just to see what was real and was wasn't.

Masterfully written!

House of Salt and Sorrows is a clever and dark retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which on more than one occasion, reminded me of the Netflix version of The Haunting of Hill House. It’s well-written and I didn’t see all of the twists coming. For the most part, I enjoyed this story and am very grateful to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the advanced copy. Thank you!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book was amazing! The writing is beautiful and atmospheric, and do delightfully creepy.

This is based off of the 12 dancing princess story and then barrels it's way in an incredible but completely unexpected direction.

I loved Annaleigh and her sisters. There voices were authentic and tragic. The pervasive loneliness and isolation of the Thaumus sisters was portrayed so we'll!

When I was first saw this book all I hoped was for it to meet my expectations; but it ended up exceeding them. It was beautiful and dark, a lovely story about sisters and the tragedy they go through.

If you like Gothic/Gothic Romance and Mystery, you definitely don't want to miss this!! I really really hope a lot of people read this book come August. I can also see this as a Netflix show :)

I think it's safe to say this is probably going to be in my Top 10 Books of 2019. This was everything I ever could have wanted. I remember adding this to my goodreads last April and I was so excited to read Erin's debut story. House of Salt and Sorrows was hauntingly beautiful, creepy, and a page turner. Annaleigh was a great MC. Currently writing up my full review for my blog now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC! What a whirlwind of a book! It starts off with a bang, throwing us into this mystical and fantastical world with tragedy, family, and power, and what a striking world it was! The world building in this novel was awe-inspiring. I would love another novel on just the different gods and goddesses! For this narrative though, we start out by being given a mystery, and I was very literally kept guessing until the end! There a small clues dropped, red herrings delicately placed, and enough twists and turns to make your stomach roll like you’re on a rollercoaster. I enjoyed the journey from start to finish; it was a delectable spin on an old tale -Twelve Dancing Princesses- but you can tell from the very first chapter that the author made it her own in a variety of ways. My absolute favorite of those is how absolutely dark the story is. Murder, ghosts, madness, and tension that is so tangible you can almost choke on it all make this story wholly original and a delight to have had the pleasure of reading. I had chills the majority of the book, and it was extremely hard to put down. I didn’t want to miss a second of the Thaumas saga! I love retellings, but this book exceeded all of my wildest dreams. It’s a perfect read for a dark and stormy night!

What a beautiful, shimmering ghost story. 12 Dancing Princesses was my favorite fairy tale growing up, and I am elated to say that it still holds up, even now! What a ride.

This is a story of madness, sisterly love, and magic.

Honestly, I would love for this book to be turned into a film (or even a television show) but only if it was directed by Guillermo del Toro. I can't imagine anyone else doing justice to the wonderful terrors scattered throughout this surprising book.

I was not expecting the monstrous things this book offered. I knew, of course, that something not quite natural was happening to these poor sisters. After all, only so many of these girls can die in tragic accidents before it starts to look more sinister. Is it a family curse? Or is there something darker and far more human involved? That was the real mystery and it was absolute fun trying to figure out who - or what - was picking off the girls of Salt.

The author created a fantastic blend of fantasy and horror. The scenes later on in the book, when reality starts to break through the wondrous dreams our dear Annaleigh sees, were so vivid and horrible and beautifully written. My favorite part, however, was when Annaleigh starts to doubt herself. The things she believes to be true - that we believe to be true - only to be told she's wrong, that it's all in her head, and it caused me to even doubt our narrator at times.

The only reason this book isn't a solid 5 stars for me is because I had sort of guessed who was behind all the tricks and terrors early on - though that didn't make the journey any less fun. I wish there had been a little more with the motivation and to be honest I'm not one for characters falling in love so quickly. While there is romance in this book, it doesn't take over the story (or Annaleigh's thoughts) too much and I appreciated that. Some people will be okay with and possibly even love the instant romance in the book but it just wasn't for me.

Still, this book read like a fairy tale and I couldn't seem to put it down! I certainly hope that Erin A. Craig has plans to dip her writing fingers into more fairy tale retellings in the future (and hopefully mixing just the right amount of horror in those as well).

(Also can I just say that I love that this is a standalone book? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a good series but it's so refreshing to get a story that is completed in a single book sometimes.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this one; I mean, look at that—the cover is gorgeous! House of Salt and Sorrows is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I was never a huge fan of this fairytale but I’m a fan of retellings altogether so I was interested to see the authors take on this!

This book follows Annaleigh, who lives in a manor by her sea with her sisters, father, and stepmother. But her family is known for something else. There is a curse, a curse that has cut short four of Annaleigh’s sisters’ lives in the most brutal ways—the plague, drowning, falling…and now, Annaleigh’s sisters have been sneaking out to attend balls and dance with strangers. Needless to say, all is not as it seems, and when Annaleigh suddenly begins having visions, she starts to wonder if her sisters’ deaths were truly accidents.

I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the plot was extremely intriguing and I loved the setting. I’m always a huge fan of stories that mess with the character’s psychology and mind, and this book used that as a twist very well with Annaleigh’s visions. Still, there were some moments that were a little predictable for me.

The writing style was beautiful at times but also a little slow at others. It feels a little bit like books in the magical realism category, but it was definitely also much more straightforward and not as lyrical as I would have expected. Therefore, the book wasn’t quite as “haunting” as it seemed like it was for others.

The romance was a little meh to me, though the love interest definitely grew on me over time. I think overall, the characters were something that fell a little flat for me. Annaleigh, aside from her visions, was a very passive character and I’ve realized that I enjoy main characters that are a little more passionate and headstrong.

Nevertheless, this was a really beautiful twisted version on a traditional fairytale and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes reading retellings or fantasy books!

House of Salt and Sorrows was a great debut. It really showcases Erin's writing skill and sets up for a stunning career.

I loved the atmosphere and bending of fairy tale with spooky bits. Fairy Tales at their base were not all Disney levels of happiness and delight. They're dark and well grim. Ha. This really reminds me of something I would have found in my original book of Grimm's fairy tales. It's got a breathtaking religion, Gods who may or may not be real. I really adored the writing. As far as craft is concerned, this is a stellar example of what it's like to immerse the reader in a world that is not their own and make it feel real. When reading I could smell the salty sea and hear the crashing waves in the background. Just whoa at all the imagery.

The story was really appealing. Enough that it was easy to overlook the parts I felt a little meh about. The twelve cursed sisters was very appealing the mystery really pulled me in, and I've already talked about how the imagery and descriptions really got to me. The picture is painted in such a way to remind me of Maggie Steifvater. See, I've already trailed off back into the writing, so it shows how very beautiful I thought it was.

There were some scene's that while reading I became very aware of the fact I was alone in my dark apartment and I had to put it down for a bit. It was refreshing and beautiful and something new, I loved it.

I imagine it's hard to comp this title to others, but I would pick the atmosphere of The Scorpio Races and the God-play like Tamora Pierce's Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen.

I was very surprised by this book!! At first I couldn’t remember what it was about, however I love the fairytale of the 12 dancing sisters. This story was a take on that with a gothic twist. The first half for me was interesting but slow. The second half of the book reeled me in and I couldn’t stop. All of the characters were so interesting and very dynamic. The twists and turns...and an ending I never saw coming. I was sad to see it end.

I honestly can't believe this book doesn't come out until August, because all I want to do is shove it in people's hands and make them feel all the same magical feelings I felt when reading this phenomenal novel.

It honestly had everything I love in a book: Castles. Royalty. Strong family ties. Unique but not overly complicated world. Strong female lead. Swoon-worthy romance. Creepy atmosphere. Supernatural entities. Heart stopping peril. A book cover to die for.

Once there were twelve of us: the Thaumas Dozen. Now we stood in a small line, my seven sisters and I, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was a ring of truth to the grim speculations.

From the very opening scene, which was a funeral for one of the Thaumas Dozen, I was immediately taken into this world, where (originally) twelve sisters, their father and their stepmother live in Highmoor, a grand castle near the ocean and rule over the land, but always in touch with the sea.

Unfortunately for Annaleigh, after her mother passes some years ago, her older sisters keep dying in mysterious and unfortunate ways until she is suddenly the second in line to take over the throne after her father's passing. While several of the deaths could be attributed to accidents or suicide, Annaleigh is certain her most recent sister's passing has something more sinister beneath it and is determined to figure out what is happening to her family. It is on one of her sleuthing missions does she meet the swoon-worthy Cassius, who Annaleigh comes to befriend and trust.

I couldn't help but smile, remembering their confrontation at the ball. "You sound jealous!"
"Hardly. And do you know why?" I shook my head. "Because I'm the one whispering in the corner with the prettiest girl in the room."

Even with a blossoming romance to contend with, Annaleigh is determined to figure out what is causing members of her family to die. And here is where it starts to get creepy: one Annaleigh's younger sisters starts drawing incredibly disturbing images she shouldn't know anything about, Annaleigh experiences vivid dreams/moments that she can't figure out if they are real or not, and all manner of spooky things are occurring around the house. Plus, more death.

I shook my head, as if warding off a buzzing mosquito.
None of this is real, it persisted. No one else sees it because it's not really here to see. You've gone mad, my girl.
No. that wasn't it. That wasn't possible.
I wasn't mad.
There had to be another explanation.
Does there?

The story continues to climb and build until everything comes crashing together at the end. And let me tell you, what an ending it was. Some things I had kind of guess relatively close, while others I didn't see coming at all. So many different plot points were so expertly tied up that I felt exhausted when I finally finished the last page. So much happens at the end and I just want to talk about it. I have so many feelings! I need to reread it, honestly, because I'm sure I missed things as I raced to see who made it out alive.

I'm honestly surprised this is the author's first published novel, as it was so well done. I truly do not have enough good words to say about it and am already looking forward to reading it again, probably closer to the fall when the atmosphere will perfectly lend itself.

I loved Annaleigh's dedication to her family, even when it meant putting others' feelings ahead of hers, but at the end of the day, she had the ultimate say in what what would make her happy. Her relationship with her sisters was complicated, but full of love, and the same can be said of her relationship with her father. I adored Cassius and the wonderful aspects of Annaleigh he highlighted. His arc was super interesting and only added to the awesome world building of the story.

In case it wasn't clear, I adored this book and almost all that it entailed. I will say, there are two scenes that involve an animal (a turtle). They aren't the worst I've ever read, but they are disturbing, albeit short. As this is a major trigger for me, I feel it's only fair to give others notice as well. So just be warned, but it's easy to skip. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did!

"All my years of imagining you," he murmured, leaving a trail of kisses across my face, "and you are so much more than I ever could have dreamed of..."

I had mixed feelings about this while reading however I think overall it was a 4-star book. I loved the writing and the atmosphere and was sucked right in from the start. The only thing I had a slight problem with was that I couldn't identify what kind of story this was supposed to be. Fantasy? Horror? Mystery? All of the above? I thought it was supposed to be a fantasy retelling however at times it felt like a mystery or even horror. That aside, I still really did love the story. There were a few time that I got a little spooked which rarely happens to me in YA books and I loved it! The atmosphere was my very favorite (I'm a sucker for coastal towns). And the characters were very well written. I feel like what there was for romance was a little rushed but I did really like the love interest and would have liked to see a little more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, enough that I will probably re-read this again when it comes out. And can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

I am going to be DNFing this book. I can see that it is going to be a wonderful book for many readers, I am just not one of them. Very slow burning and I got incredibly sick of all the talk about clothes. There were a few aspects that I found wonderful, one of them being the burial rituals. It felt very unique and gave the book a great atmosphere. In fact, all of the writing lends to a very vivid atmosphere. There are a lot of people out there that are going to love this book.

**I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This book is perfectly creepy with a dark, mysterious atmosphere that had me questioning what the island was capable of. HOSAS is intricately written, and it felt like I lived among the people of the salt myself and was just as invested in figuring out what was causing the deaths of the Thaumas girls.

There is a good deal of dramatic, horror imagery—especially in the last 1/4—and it is executed in a way that makes you sick (and if you’re a horror fan, this is a good thing.)

The family dynamics are complex and strained given the circumstances, which made the story even more interesting. There is also a romantic sub plot, though I wish that had been expanded upon a bit more. Of all the wonderful things about this book, I wish the romance had taken off earlier.

Overall, I’d give this book 4/5 stars.

Craig weaves a mesmerizing tale of murder, madness, and dark intentions. House of Salt and Sorrows is both a deeply atmospheric gothic horror and an immersive fantasy. These elements blend seemlessly into a story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Everything about this book was amazing. I loved the mind games, the mystery and of course the scary. It was a fantastic retelling and I could not put this book down. I cannot wait for more from this author. This story will sweep you away into another world and you will be hanging on the edge of your seat