House of Roots and Ruin continues the story of the Thaumas girls from House of Salt and Sorrow. Verity is ready to leave Highmoor and explore the world despite the counsel of her sister Camille and the secret that is revealed about her life and abilities. Commissioned to paint the next Duke of Laurent, Alex, Verity steals away in the night and makes for the land of Bloem.

Bloem is a land rich with gardens and color, quite the opposite of Highmoor with grey heavy salt air. Verity instantly becomes enamored with Bloem and the Laurent family while instantly forming a sweet innocent romance with Alex. Just when she believes that happily ever after will be but a dress away, the secrets of the Laurent family bloom. Gerard Laurent, the patriach and current Duke, has a multitude of skeletons in the garden that will change the course of Alex and Verity's lives forever.

Through a series of dark twisted events, flowers and gods are the obsession of a mad scientist who pushes the perfection of family to its limits. Verity learns the horrible truth that what blooms is not always beautiful and that she will need the comfort of Highmoor more than she ever thought she would.

House of Roots and Ruin is a delightfully dark mash up of any Jane Austin novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Geek Love. Less

Seventeen year old Verity lives a sheltered life with her sister, Camile, the duchess and her family. When Verity receives a letter saying that the Duchess of Bloem, who is the wife of a famous botanist, wants Verity to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity is determined to see what the world is really like and do things on her own for once. That's when Camile tells her the truth: Verity sees ghosts. But Verity is not letting that prevent her from the opportunity of a lifetime. Chantilale welcomes Verity with open arms, and she begins to feel at home there. But Chantilale has its own secrets, and what Verity finds out just might bring about her ruin.

This is a much better entry into Craig's House series. I thought Salt & Sorrows was okay, but Roots & Ruin was much better. It's definitely giving horror. I do have a few complaints though. First of all, there was way too much weird sex stuff in this book, and for YA it just came off as a "no, thank you" from me. Also, this book is long and there were times when I felt the story dragged. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story and the unique group of characters Craig has crafted here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Thank you, Random House for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love everything that Erin writes. It took me so long to get through his book because I did not want the magic to end. Her writing is so deeply dark and gorgeous. This book gave me total Crimson Peak/Dr Frankenstein vibes and I loved every moment of it. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming and that ending I am still in shock. I need more Erin! I’ll be not so patiently waiting for more.

Yeeeees! That feeling when one of your favorite books has a sequel come out and it is as good if not better...I'm feeling it!!! The House of Roots and Ruin follows along the gothic fantasy-romance that its predecessor had, focusing on the youngest sister's experiences/abilities. This a stunning atmosphere filled with mystery, curses, dire situations, and a menacing romance, I was propelled into the plot following the thrills and unknown along with Verity whom has left one haunted estate for a new one with new ghosts haunting the corridors. I adore the dark beauty of the estate setting filled with hidden passages, a poison garden, and a gothic atmosphere. The mystery at the heart of the book isn't necessarily a surprise, but it is satisfying and unputdownable as the clues and purpose are revealed in a high-action ending. I hope to hear about more amazing adventures with the other sisters from Highmoor estate!

4.5 stars

I loved returning to this world and the Thaumas sisters! The story is so atmospheric and creepy, with a mystery than unfolds so beautifully.

After all that happened in the first book, I wondered what insanity awaited me in the sequel. We already know the youngest sister can see ghosts, so this jumped right in to the spooky stuff. Verity is young and sheltered, so there were times I was frustrated with her actions, but it was understandable and I think fairly accurate for a teenager to think she knows everything.

The only part I wasn't a big fan of was the romance. It was too quick and I never thought the characters had any chemistry beyond friendship. There's even a line where someone says they only fell for each other because that was the only option. Though I think Craig intentionally set up the romance this way, I kind of wish it had played out differently.

I loved reading a story where things constantly surprised me and the ending was great. This series has been fantastic and I hope to see book three soon!

I don’t know, I liked the first book, but this one felt creepier and it wasn’t my vibe. In all honesty, I don’t think a sequel was needed.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I so enjoyed the first in this series that I was overjoyed when I learned there was going to be another. Erin, of course, did no disappoint. This installment is just as chock full of dark gothic vibes that create an atmosphere that will drip cold into your bones and leave you shivering. It sinks its roots into you and absolutely ruins you for other novels.

We start our journey here with Verity Thaumus, a talented painter, who is stuck in her family estate with her older sister, Camille. However, an opportunity arises in the form of a job. Though Camille pressures her to say no, Verity steals away in the dead of night to the mansion of the Duchess and Duke of Bloem-- the former of whom has asked the artist to paint a portrait of her son. Though this seems like the perfect decision at first (what with Verity finding an interest in said son, Alex), our protagonist is haunted by screams, ghosts, and the buzzing of her own mind. Can you tell what's real? Is the Thaumus misfortunate following Verity?

The answers to these questions and more can be found within the pages of this absolutely stunning release. I cannot hide my excitement for the next in this series, nor can I impress upon readers just how crafty and brilliant Erin is. She has delivered an eerie masterpiece that will further cement the Sisters of the Salt books as one of the top tier fairytale retellings. Don't sleep on this collection. If you like Haunting of Hill House or Bly Manor-- those types of vibes reverberate through these pages. Be prepared to have some sleepless, spooky nights!

Good Monday, my friends ❤️

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

We lost my sweet mother-in-law, Bonna, on Saturday evening. She was a bright light in everyone’s life and I was so blessed to have her in my life. I will miss her terribly but she’s no longer suffering and there’s comfort in this. You can swipe to see a photo of her beautiful smile 👉

Despite everything going on lately, I was still able to finish 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘶𝘪𝘯 and I was smitten with it, as I am with all of Erin Craig’s writing. I loved the first 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘵 book, 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 and if you scroll way down to October of 2019, you’ll see my review! Same goes for Small Favors 🖤

Thank you to @PRHA for the gifted ALC and to @DelacortePress for the gifted physical copy!
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
@Penchant4Words
Pub date: July 25, 2023
Read by: Phoebe Strole
Duration: 14H 32M

𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅.

The youngest Thaumas sister, Verity, dreams of leaving Salann and seeing what the world has to offer. When she’s offered an art commission in exotic Bloem, she jumps at the chance.

Leaving Highmoor on the sly and at odds with older sister, Camille, she arrives at the beautiful Chauntilalie, so exotic and lush in comparison to seaside Salann. She’s soon enchanted with more than the scenery, though, when Alex, the subject of her painting commission, turns out to be both charming and handsome.

As her time in Bloem passes, Verity begins to notice that things aren’t all what they seem on the surface and with warnings from the other side, Verity realizes she’s in grave danger but from who and why?

I love the way Craig writes an eerie gothic atmosphere. It is omnipresent, even amongst the beautiful blooms of Bloem and the creepiness of Chauntilalie with all its secrets is hair-raising. And then there’s the plot! So complex and diabolical! I cannot wait for the next book! Where will it take us? I loved the ending in the way I love Hot Cheeto’s, you know? They burn my mouth but I still love them. That’s how I felt about the ending 😂

I need more so please don’t make me wait 4 years!

What are you feeling grateful for lately?

Stay bookish, my friends 🖤

#PRHAudio #PRHAInfluencer #SistersOfTheSalt #HouseOfRootsAndRuin #HouseOfSaltAndSorrows #ErinACraig #FiveStarBookReviews #July2023Release #SummerReading #YABooks #YoungAdult #Gothic #ReaderOfTheWrittenWord #DelacortePress #YAPNR

“In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed…”

This sequel to 2019s House of Salt and Sorrows, was FANTASTIC. The world building is mysterious and dark without being overly complicated. The story is a beautiful blend of gothic, creepy and the slightest touch of sci-if.

While a sequel, I think you could get away with reading this without having read HoSaS recently, if at all (this reviewer does recommend you read it FYI, as it was very very good). House of Roots and Ruin does a wonderful job of gently reminding us of the key elements from the previous book that will come into play here.

I love that this book focuses on Verity, who while not the lead in the last book, played a key part. It was lovely seeing her come into her own and really shine as a character. She is flawed, but is constantly growing and adapting (not without stumbles along the way) to really find her place.

From running away, to a whirlwind courtship that looks to be ending in a ceremony, Verity finds herself uncovering more than she bargained for at Chauntilalei.

@penchant4words .. We need to talk about that cliff hanger!

I highly recommend picking this up if you love:
-Strong Female Leads
-Twists & Turns
-Gardening
-Things That Scream In The Night

My review: House of Roots and Ruin is the young adult fantasy follow up to the 2019 bestseller House of Salt and Sorrows. It has elements of gothic suspense and romance.

Verity is the youngest sister of the cursed Thaumas sisters and nearly 18. After a life in seclusion in the family manor with her sister Camille and her family Verity is ready to spread her wings. The perfect opportunity comes with a commission to paint the son of the Duke of Bloem but Camille fears sending her youngest cursed sister out into the world. After the devastating revelation of Verity’s curse comes to light Verity flees her island for Bloem and is immediately drawn to her new subject Alexander. But the beauty of the estate and grounds is matched by its mystery and dark secrets and Verity’s curse makes her especially sensitive to its pull.

Like its predecessor this novel is rich in beautiful detail, romance and gothic creepiness. You can’t help but root for Verity who has lost so many of her sisters and now fully realizes the depth of her curse.
I think a lot of readers will relate to her desire to find love and adventure out in the world. I highly recommend both books in this creative and beautifully written series.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ugh I don't even know how many stars to give this book.

The mystery was good. The twists were good. The spooks were good. The magic and worldbuilding were good. The characters were interesting. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year as I love Craig's other two books, but this being Young Adult I can't recommend it for that age group.

I don't care for the "innocent girl gets a sexual awakening" subplot a la Belladonna and it was a distraction from an otherwise good story. I am all for an "addressing toxic purity culture" subplot but this book has spice and I have a low tolerance for spice in Young Adult books. It had several scenes that were imo too explicit for that age category (specifically Chatper 22: Verity finds a book of victorian pornography; Chapter 40: descriptive sex dream).

There was also discussion of infertility and EDs, which are definitely topics that should be discussed more often, but I'm not sure if the ED discussion was really addressed properly for teenagers (especially since that topic is more appropriate for those on the cusp of marriage). Just a strange choice, and I understand she was trying to be realistic about Alex's situation, but...it was just another thing that made me pause.

Unfortunately, this removes the author from my auto-buy list and I'll be screening her books more carefully in the future so I am aware of the content before reading.

"In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.".

Craig does it again! She continues in her known creativity to share Verity's story and is filled with deception and mystery. Her story telling pulled me right in and held me until the last page. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book!

I have read every one of Craig’s books and every time I am blown away by her creativity and her story. Verity’s story did not disappoint. Equally mysterious and creepy as the first Sisters of the Salt book, this is a creative world full of deception and mystery. And that ending?!

I can’t wait to see what she does next!

I loved this book! The author writes such dark and atmospheric settings that I felt completely immersed in this mysterious place. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one is even better! The writing is beautiful, the plot is complex, and there is such an air of mystery that I couldn’t put it down! There were twists and turns around every corner that kept me guessing and I was truly shocked several times! The romance was a bit rushed at times for me but I think that also leaves room for growth in the next book.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a spooky, twisty read.

I really should have recognized earlier that this is the second in a sequel, but I think it reads well as a standalone, as well, which is one mark of good storytelling. I love gothic tales and this is about as gothic as it can get! All the hallmarks of classic gothicism resonate through the entire book with great effect.

Verity, an isolated 17-year-old, discovers she can and has been seeing and interacting with ghosts of her dead sisters and nanny and runs away from the proection of her older sister Camille, so she can find and live a life away from the cloistered life she has known. She seeks adventure. She finds love and a future, but also almost too late discovers the danger she has put herself in. There are a lot of twists and turns, some of which seemingly came out of left field and left me thrilled in the most positive of ways.

I'm so curious now if there will be a third book, and if there is, I will read it with anticipation. It wasn't until the end I tied a few strings together, remembering the other characters who featured in the first installment of the series. Perhaps it had been too long since I had read it. But I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it for those who love gothic suspense!

Verity is a talented painter who longs to see the world and leave the stuffy walls of Highmoor, so, when she receives an invitation to stay as a guest at the Bloem estate in order to paint a portrait of a duchess’ son, she jumps at the opportunity. However, once she arrives, she begins to realize that dark secrets lurk in Bloem’s gardens.

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig paints an eerie and disorienting gothic fantasy that hits so many of my favorite niche tropes and appealed to me on so many levels.

There’s trippy, nonsensical architecture and doors appearing where they weren't before. There’s a bit of mad science thrown into the mix, and, without giving too much away, the story even veers into cosmic horror/Bloodborne territory.

Unfortunately, the weakest element of this book for me was Verity's relationship with her love interest, Alex. At first, he starts off as a person with interesting philosophical ideas, but then his personality quickly devolves into simply mooning over Verity. He insists that he cannot live without her even though he just met her and they have zero chemistry together. Really, I wish their connection could have been deeper and less superficial.

While readers looking for a compelling romance may be left disappointed, the story still delivers on some serious thrills and chills, and I feel like even if you haven’t read the first book set in this world (House of Salt and Sorrows), this one can still be read as a standalone.

What I remember most about reading House of Salt and Sorrows was the atmosphere and suspense. The author expertly weaves in the details that keep you wondering what’s going on, and how things will unfold.

The same is true of House of Roots and Ruin. You don’t need to recall the details from House of Salt and Sorrows. You could probably read HORAR without reading HOSAS without any issues. While there are some characters who carry over, we have enough information to follow their journey in this book. HORAR centers on Verity, and there’s very little time spent with the one sibling who makes an appearance. Also, HORAR takes place at a different location. Although the setting may differ, its kinship to HOSAS lies in the atmosphere and the mounting sense of dread.

There were plenty of revelations throughout that served as hairpin turns, changing the course of the story, or making you wonder if Verity’s course would change. She does a lot of growing up here, and has to resolve some things in her own mind. Her internal conflicts feel very real and relatable.

I only had one question from this book, and it has to do with something that occurs at the end. So stop reading here if you don’t want even the vaguest hint about all the things that happen in the intense ending.

In good faith, I’m going to assume there was some reference I missed that explains why JL didn’t anticipate what happened.

Aside from that, that ending!!!!!!! It’s an incredible feat, pulling off an ending that’s both happy and terrifying. That’s going to sit with me for a long time.

Definitely recommend this one. 5 stars.

Erin A Craig always paints a creepy & spooky atmosphere and makes characters who you can relate to. I am always so deeply impressed by her writing & this story was no different! I hope to see what she has next in store for us!

This outstanding novel completely surpassed my expectations! It's even better than "House of Salt and Sorrows," and now I can't help but compare every other YA fantasy/sci-fi novel to it. The mind-blowing ending had me screaming in excitement, and I'm desperate for a sequel ASAP! The author's brilliant twists and gothic atmosphere transported me into the story. Following Verity's journey at Chauntilalei was both intriguing and disturbing. The plot, the characters, and the writing style are pure perfection. I can't get this book out of my head, and I'm officially a fan of Erin A. Craig's work. Gothic fiction lovers will be enthralled by this masterpiece!

Thank you to Netgalley and Erin Craig for this ARC.

What a brilliant gothic fantasy! This book builds the tension expertly and offers a clever plot. Loved it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review.