I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ... I don't even know how to clearly say it. At one point I'd be completely overcome by my interest in the descriptions, then another point I'd be completely annoyed by the fluff of the romance and everything around it. But once I understood where it was all coming from, I LOVED IT. Give me a twist in a storyline any day of the week and I'll fall head over heels for the book. The retelling was just amazing. It threw in different themes that reminded me of a Grimm's fairytale WAY more hope. Erin Craig did wonders with this story and I hope there are more retellings for her in the future.

This ended up being a lot creepier than I was expecting! I thought it would be a Victorianesque fantasy/murder mystery as a spin on the old 12 Dancing Princesses fairytale, which it still was. But there was a really Gothic and twisted element to the story that was a welcome surprise.

All of the characters come off as at least a little bit sinister as you attempt to unravel the strange events befalling the Thaumas family. You're never sure what's real and what's not, which is disorienting in the best way. It's a really devastating story, even if it ends on a high-ish note, there's a lot of death and destruction. I'd suggest not reading while on any downers.

The one thing I wish wasn't as prevalent was the romantic element. Maybe it's my cold, un-dead heart, but I kind of feel like it takes away from the familial love and trauma if in the midst of mourning your sisters there's a week-old romance that gets all the grand gestures and statements. But it's based on a fairytale, so the heroine is expected to fall in love with the first person who says "bless you" when she sneezes, I guess.

On the source material, I really, really liked the answer to the question: "How do the princesses' shoes keep getting worn out?" Craig is quite clever with this storyline and it's one of my favorite parts of the whole book!

So at first I wasnt to sure about this book but once they started to get to the balls, man it picked up!
They want you to believe the bad guy is one person but I knew it wasnt because it was to obvious. Also can I just say that I really like this person.
With about 6 or 7 chapters left you think she has it all figured out. I actually thought it was the person it turned out to be around this point just because I hated that person the whole book. I knew they werent nice.
I was generally surprised with the way it all happened. The ending kept me guessing.
What is real and what isnt.
There are some kind of gross parts during this. I cant deal with maggots and there was a part with them

Erin’s writing in her debut novel was captivating. It was phenomenal. I quickly became entangled in Annaleigh’s emotions and thoughts from the beginning, and throughout the book, I couldn’t help but root for this character who felt so alive.

When it comes to retellings, I think sometimes the world building can be melodramatic or barely a part of the story. To me, I love the fantasy of a fictional world! I want to see, hear, and feel what the character does and to do that I need a well-developed world. That was all done perfectly here and was artful and enchanting. If I’m to be honest, reading about Highmoor and the islands was my favorite part.

I felt sorry for Annaleigh. She had suffered so much grief in her life, and now facing the death of her older sister Eulalie, it seemed that she’d always be in a state of loss. After losing so many, the people of the islands started to say the Thaumus family was cursed.

From the start, Annaleigh assumed there was foul play involved in her sister’s death and in the opening scene you can tell that it will play a big part in the remainder of the book. The first chapter set the stage for the atmosphere of the book, and I got to enjoy a gothic romance with mystery. The story unfolded nicely if albeit a bit slow at time, but I think that may have been an aspect of the book.

Even though Annaleigh was the main character, all of her sisters played a key part in the development of the plot. I really liked how the author included Verity in the story and the tragedies. She didn’t shy away from exposing such a young character to the morbidity of life, and I loved it.

Overall, it was a fantastic book, and I loved reading it! I’m definitely going to reading any future books by this author, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I absolutely love fairy tale retellings and when I saw this was a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which is one of my favorites, I jumped at the chance to read it. This retelling was very well done and did not disappoint. The writing was captivating, the characters well developed, and the setting perfection. I will be passing this one on for my teen to read for sure!

*I was given an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.*
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, is full of chills and thrills sure to keep you reading well into the night.
The story focuses on Annaleigh Thaumas and her journey to figure out the curse on her family. Once there were twelve Thaumas girls, but after the four eldest die in turn, people start to fear her family. Annaleigh never believed in the curse, but when she starts seeing ghostly visions she begins to think otherwise.
With the help of a handsome stranger, Cassius, she begins to uncover the mystery surrounding her family. As more deaths occur, she tries to to save her sisters before it's too late.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a great atmospheric read that will keep you guessing until the end.

Thank you for publisher and Netgalley for approving me an e-arc of this title.


Annaleigh thinks her family is cursed until some instances begin to change her mind. She believes that her sister's deaths are not a mere coincidence and seeks to find out the truth.


This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale and very well done. Though the story was intriguing I did feel that the story was predictable. This did not take away from the entertainment factor. Though I have to disagree with others who said the story was creepy. I did not feel the creep factor, but as I said earlier, I still liked it nonetheless. I absolutely loved the mythology aspects and the romance was sweet.

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, with some cool twists be sure to add this one to your TBR.

House of Salt and Sorrows is a gothic retelling of Grimm's The Twelve Dancing Princesses and while the original was creepy enough, Craig brings a thrill to this story.

Annaleigh is one of twelve sisters of the house of Thaumus. Four of her older siblings have perished in the last 5 years and the story opens with the funeral and eulogy of Eulalie. While three of her siblings have died of natural or "plausible" causes, Annaleigh suspects foul play with this recent death. She begins to investigate despite her sisters wishes and meets the hero, Cassius. Alongside this murder-mystery, the remaining sisters find a door that transports them to a mythical kingdom where there is no Thaumus curse.

Annaleigh and her sisters are each flawed, exhibiting traits common to young teenage girls - greed, lust, and hubris. Annaleigh, however, grows as a character and really shows a maturity when she sets aside her quest and her nightly balls to help her pregnant stepmother plan the annual Churning (a solstice of sorts). In the meantime, her feelings for Cassius continue to grow and merge with fears that he may have had something to do with Eulalie's murder.

This all comes to a spectacular conclusion that reminds me of Crimson Peak in some way. While I love the romance between Cassius and Annaleigh, I can't help but wonder if the author tried a little too hard to give them a happy ending. Then again this is a YA novel and perhaps we can all use a happy ending.

One thing that I personally appreciate is that unlike many YA novels, House of Salt and Sorrows is a standalone. You heard me right, folks. This will not have two more books stuffed with filler plot and never-ending tropes. Craig was able to describe the world in great detail while juggling the mystery of the deaths along with the romance and the eight dancing princesses.

4 stars for House of Salt and Sorrows

To say I was swept away by this novel would be an understatement! From the opening pages, I was immediately sucked in, transfixed, and never turned loose. Annaleigh's character is what held me in not only her words and actions, but overall demeanor, mysterious air, and sense of wonder. Through glorious, decadent descriptions of events and settings, fabulous plot involvement and a beautifully told story, this is sure to be an instant hit for many. Highly recommend!

Interesting read. Annaleigh must figure out if her family's deaths are murder or accidental. It started off a little slow for me. I got about a quarter of the way though it and couldnt finish it. While I enjoy the story line I couldn't stay interested enough to read the whole book. I am however boring to pick it back up. Because I want to know the ending but i can not hold interest at the time.
Thank you so much ti the publisher and netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I can tell it is highly anticipated from my book groups.

Folktales have been told and retold for centuries, and I am always up for reading something new. Often, the retellings are interesting but not very original. Erin Craig, though, has produced an imaginative, lovely, wholly orignal retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses which takes the kernel of the old story and builds a whole new world peopled by fascinating characters and customs.

The Thaumas Dozen is as interesting a group as I can remember from my reading. Twelve sisters, all different in their own ways with very different wishes for their futures. Tragedy strikes the family again and again as first their mother then sisters begin to die tragically. The family, it is whispered, is cursed, with the girls being described by hoped for suitors as “lovely as a bouquet of belladonna.”

Two sisters, Annaleigh and Verity, know something is very wrong and each works towards solving the riddle of their “curse.” Throw in the wicked (is she or isn’t she?) stepmother, an enchanted father, and all the glorious wickedness of Faeryland and you have a tale that will delight and capture your senses.

This will appeal to teens and adults alike, and Erin Craig is on track to take a place next to Marissa Meyer, Naomi Novik, and Sarah Maas.

I'm completely enamored of fairy tale retellings, especially when they are done with a sinister twist. After all, original fairy tales tend to be darker and deeper than the Disney-fied versions that they have become. If you don't know the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, essentially a King had 12 daughters. Each night, they were locked into their bedroom. Yet, in the morning, their shoes were completely worn out. The King promised the choice of his daughter's hand in marriage to the man who could figure out the mystery. The House of Salt and Sorrows takes this and gives it a wonderfully creepy gothic flourish.

For a debut novel, this is an incredible offering. It's a dark fantasy threaded with almost whimsical mystery and peeks of horror elements. Erin A. Craig weaves this eerie world with its own set of mythologies so perfectly, that you even begin to question whether what's happening is real. The horror components were the best part for me. Unexpected and gruesome, with a gratifying nightmarish quality, those little moments of disturbing terror play out in a way that any horror fan will adore. Yet, her overall storytelling vibe is hauntingly beautiful and almost poetic.

The characters were so well done. Even though there are only eight sisters living, the reader is introduced to each in turn. Each sister presents her own distinct personality and traits, even those that are now among the dead. You are drawn to have strong feelings about each character, which shows how well written they are. Annaleigh's father as the inattentive, almost neglectful father and of course, with all fairy tales, there's an evil stepmother...or is she? There are the handsome love interest and the best friend pining for the MC. All written in such a way that your estimation wavers throughout until you don't know who is being truthful. When you think you have it mastered, something else occurs and confounds you again. The ending was like being hit by a sledgehammer.

House of Salt and Sorrows is my #1 read this year, paws down! I'll be saving this one to reread again later. In fact, I kinda want to read it again right now. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next!

This book!! It was so beautiful yet dark. A story about sisters and the absolute heart break that they have to endure. The writing completely blew me away!

I read another reimagining of the 12 Dancing Princesses not that long ago, set in the Jazz era, and it was a very good and very entertaining. As good as that one was, this was better... It was dark and Gothic and weighty and extremely well-written, with horribly creepy details and marvelous characterization. The World created was wholly fresh and the way the plot and reveals played out was masterful. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from Erin Craig!

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!