Years ago I read House of Salt and Sea when it came out, so I was curious to see what Craig would do with a sequel (although per her words it also stands by itself and you don't need to have read or remember anything about the original novel). I would say that that is correct, although I wouldn't be surprised if there are things you pick up on that might make the story fuller if you have (recently) read "book 1". I'll basically be talking about this book as if it's a standalone. With that in mind there were some excellent aspect of this title. Craig is great at building that feeling of foreboding, and for a YA novel she certainly includes some fairly adult-level horror aspects into the story (which I didn't mind, but please prepare yourself/your audience accordingly). Verity is an interesting main character. I'm sure there are going to be some people who call her naïve, and I can see that. She certainly seems younger than she actually is, and while there's a a valid reason for that I'm sure it will put some people off; I certainly found it frustrating at times. As I said above Craig is great at building up a feeling of wrongness, but in doing so I will admit it takes a while for the actual story to get going. When the first major twist is revealed (and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about said twist), I remember thinking the story must be almost over, but it was only about half-way done. She completely nailed the gothic horror element though, and the summery setting was a great juxtaposition to all of the horrific details that were revealed as the story went on. In the end I think it might have gotten a little long-winded and perhaps a touch too complex, but it was certainly lush and beautiful I'll almost certainly be thinking about it for a while thanks to that ending. I'll also be more than happy to hand-sell it to people who are looking for something that fits this bill. It also has made me curious about her second novel (Small Favors) which I have but haven't read, and I'm excited to see what her adult debut will be like when it comes out some time in the next few years.

Verity has known so much tragedy. After the deaths of several of her older sisters, as well as both her parents, the lives of her family have finally calmed down somewhat into a semblance of normal. Some of her sisters are out living grand lives, others are married, but unfortunately for Verity, she’s stuck at her childhood home with her oldest surviving sister, doing little more than playing babysitter. But when an invitation comes from Bloem, one to paint the duke’s son, Verity thinks this is her opportunity to finally leave and actually make a life for herself. Too bad her older sister doesn’t agree. But Verity won’t let that stop her. She makes her way to Bloem and to a flower-covered estate that’s grander than anything she’s ever seen before. But that estate holds more secrets than she could have ever imagined, and Verity soon learns that some flowers have thorns.

I received an advanced reading copy of House of Roots and Ruin in exchange for an honest review.

House of Roots and Ruin is a young adult fantasy novel by Erin A. Craig. It’s also the sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows, which I read literal years ago. Luckily, to pick up House of Roots and Ruin, you don’t actually have to read the first book, since it stands alone fairly well. Sure, you’ll probably understand parts of this book more if you’ve read House of Salt and Sorrows, but I appreciated that it wasn’t necessary, especially since it had been so long since I’d read the first.

From early on in the book, what stood out to me the most was the setting. The manor that Verity spends most of the book in is so sumptuous, but there’s a sense of foreboding throughout. I honestly loved how Craig created this setting, a place that should have been filled with so much beauty, but there was a sense of disquiet all throughout. Of something being not quite right. It was my favorite part of the book, especially when so much of the setting became tied into the rest of the plot, and it really informed everything that was happening with the rest of the book.

As for the plot itself, it hooked me from pretty early on. We have a fairly common beginning: a young girl wants to leave her family home and actually make a life for herself, but then it diverges from that significantly. We discover early on that the reason that Verity hasn’t been allowed to leave her home is that her sisters believe she can see ghosts, and they’re terrified of the fact that someone will catch Verity doing it. I loved this detail, especially since Verity often couldn’t tell the difference between someone living and someone ghostly, which led to me questioning all throughout the rest of the book who was real and who wasn’t. This, paired along with the setting, made for such a good reading experience.

The rest of the plot is also delightfully spooky, with terrifying nights following what should have been perfect days, as Verity lives a dream that should be too good to be true: painting a handsome young man in an idyllic setting. I couldn’t call absolutely any of the twists in this book, but they had me holding my breath in those final chapters. I actually almost let out a real scream at the end, not of fear, but of a twist that was so epic that I just couldn’t stand it.

I don’t know if there’s going to be a third book to this series, but I know that if there is, I absolutely must have it as soon as it’s released. Craig impressed me so much with this story, and I liked it even more than I did her first book.

I’d recommend House of Roots and Ruin to anyone who likes gothic fantasy, thrillers, ghost stories, and even general horror. A great book to pick up, especially when the flowers are in full bloom. Remember that flowers have more in them than just beauty!

House of Roots and Ruin will be released on July 25. You can preorder your copy from Delacorte Press here.

I love love LOVED House of Salt and Sorrows and have been looking forward to this sequel since I heard about it. I didn't think it was possible, but House of Roots and Ruin might be even better than the first book.

This book was an absolute page turner! It picks up 12 years after the events of the first book, and then hits the ground running. Little Verity is now almost 18 and still seeing ghosts, but that is only the beginning of her adventure in this book.

The descriptions of everything actually transported me into the book, and I felt like i was experiencing everything right along with Verity. The dark, twisty, unsettling plot left me anxious for most of the book. For the whole middle section, particularly the goings-on at Chauntilalie I found myself saying "what?" and "what is happening!?" out loud, often earning me strange looks from people around me. The plot is full of un-truths and lies, ghosts, and secrets and at no point did I feel like I had anything figured out until the end. And then there was a cliff-hanger, and I nearly threw my book across the room!

The book was very engrossing and I ended up binge-reading (even while at work) just because I needed to know what happened next. Great storytelling, good pacing, and I enjoyed the character development throughout the book. Verity was very naive in the beginning, and I was very concerned that she was experiencing a whole lot of red-flag situations but continued to ignore her gut. I feel like I would not have stuck around in Chauntilalie as long as she did.

But I loved it; all of it. It was all so very exquisitely delivered. I know this is allegedly book #2 of 2 but PLEASE let there be another one because I need closure from how this book ended! Seriously!

Thanks to PRH for the NetGalley ARC!

I usually am in bed by 10pm, so it speaks volumes that I write this review at 1:30am, having just finished this book.

Wow... That was a WILD (a good and spooky wild!) ride for my most anticipated read of 2023. Most of my reads this year have had endings that have sorely left me wanting, but Erin, once again, did not disappoint! This book was everything I wanted and more.

It was so nice to revisit the HoSaS characters, especially Verity, after so many years, and the entire Laurent family was absolutely captivating. You could tell right from the beginning that beneath their floral facade, something was just a little… off. That’s all I’ll say. :) Alexander especially was such a treat to read.

Erin particularly excels in the story’s world-building. Bloem and Chauntilalie blew me away. When I wasn’t reading, I was constantly daydreaming about the colors and the flowers and the scents. So decadent and sickly sweet! It’s the kind of world I’d simply love to jump through the pages and live in, despite its more macabre elements. Erin thought through every detail, even down to the color of the candle tapers, and it made for one of the most immersive settings I’ve ever read.

Above all, Erin knows how to write an unsettling tale. She knows how to write ghosts, and she’s mastered making things go bump in the night. When you think the story can’t get anymore twisted, she tosses in another wrench (or several) to keep you quite literally on the edge of your seat. She expertly combines seemingly “fairytale” elements with all the dark trappings of a scary story. Many gothic/paranormal/thriller books I’ve read this year haven’t hit the mark in this regard, but Erin succeeds time and again.

I’m so very excited to see what else she has in store for us! She’s an automatic-buy for me, and I hope she will be for you too.

I really enjoyed House of Roots and Ruin!
I have to admit I was a little worried about reading House of Roots and Ruin as I didn't remember much about House of Salt and Sorrows as I had read it years ago but I found that this one worked quite well as a standalone.

The book was really atmospheric.
It had some really creepy moments that were genuinely disturbing.
Also, that ending!
It was so good!
It was quite open-ended, and while I think a sequel would be awesome. I actually think the ending was perfect for the story and quite fitting for the genre.

I also really liked Verity as a character, though I have to admit she did annoy me at times.
In the end, this really was a great book, and i highly recommend it!
It actually reminded me of Crimson Peak, so if you love that movie, you will definitely love this book.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so obsessed with this book! It was so good. This author is the queen of twisting stories and making you second guess everything. The ending was insane and if I don’t get another book to continue this story I will riot!

DNF @ 43%

Honestly, if Craig were to write a tour guide for all the bizarrely themed mansions/estates/palaces in this fictional kingdom, it would be way more interesting than this book… Craig’s biggest skill, in my opinion, is her brilliant descriptions, particularly of structures, scenery, and clothing. Everything else was, quite frankly, boring and slow.

I was nervous when I saw that this book was a whopping 140 pages longer than House of Salt and Sorrows (which I reread in preparation for this one), but even though that one was a touch on the slow side, it had mystery and magic and fanatical elements fit to keep one interested. This one had outlandish characters who can’t be bothered to explain themselves, a “tell instead of show” attraction-turned-romance, a single supernatural element that is thrust upon the MC and then patently ignored in favor of said romance…

What I did really like was the disability rep. The love interest uses a wheelchair and there are some fantastic conversations around the injury, his mobility and independence, and the accessibility of various locations.

But plot? What plot? No plot, just vibes. It didn’t hold my attention at all.

Every time Erin Craig announces a new book, I immediately yearn for it. She's an automatic-buy author for me, and for good reason. She ALWAYS delivers. HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUIN is no exception. I think this book embodies quiet horror; it's not as flashy or blantantly full of terrifying scenes and imagery as her other two novels, but there's always something unsettling about what you're reading, and that alone makes it entertaining. I would call it a fantasy thriller, which is a combination that's so fun to witness.

THE SETTING. I can't remember the last time I felt so immersed. I can't gush about Bloem enough. When I would set the book down for a break, even a short one, I would long to go back to Chantilily and Craig's mastery of its aesthetics. I felt like I was among the twisted flora and wandering the halls of a looming, marble mansion just by virture of reading the book. The world alone should sell you on picking up this book.

The characters were very fun, and distinct. The mood of a scene shifted depending on the players on the page, and I love how everyone had some trait or personality type the characterized them. Not only did it help to keep my thoughts in order amongst the mysteries of HoRaR, it made for characters that were enjoyable to read, rather than just a way to ferry plot points around. I liked Verity's tenacity and wit, it was a good addition and contrast to Annaleigh and Ellerie before her. Her and Alexander's banter, and her interactions with the rest of the cast, heightened by the setting, always kept my interest.

The plot itself, as mentioned, felt like a thriller more than a horror, something I liked immensley. Every chapter added some new puzzle piece to put together from a slowly unwinding story, and every time I flipped the page, I was watching for some new detail that I had to keep track of. It gave everything a lot of substance, and the chapters with scares packed more of a punch. Verity felt like an active participant in the plot rather than a victim of it, and instead of being along for the ride, she was furthering the story along.

This book, in a way, felt like a Grimm fairytale: it was beautiful and brimming with gorgeous description and prose, but underneath the layer of fantasy elements, there is a distinct distortion and decay. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book, and be prepared to grab the next one Erin A. Craig releases.

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun and ghothic story. I think i loved the main character in this book and the romance more then book 1 and loved the romance a bit more. It had a nice balance of horror and mystery. I still really liked the regency connection to this story and really liked the new elements of a retelling tied in and i thought it was so good!! I thought the ending was a bit rushed but such a soild read!!

A gothic mystery set in a mysterious beautiful manor filled with stunning plants and a family with a dark secret. Verity is an artist who is commissioned to paint the portrait of the Duchess of Bloem's son, Alexander. She has been living with her sister in their family estate for years and yearns to finally explore the world and go on an adventure, this would be the chance for her to finally escape. Verity Thaumas comes from a family that is said to be cursed, her parents died, six of her sisters have died, but now the rest of her sisters are happily living their lives except for Verity who yearns to explore. When her sister Mercy sends her a letter telling her that a Duchess is interested in hiring her to paint her son's portrait for his 20th birthday, Verity immediately accepts. Then she discovers that her sister Camille is adamantly against it because of the secret she has been keeping form Verity, the fact that Verity can see and communicate with ghosts. That doesn't stop Verity from going though and soon she fins herself in the gorgeous and luxurious Bloem estate beginning a romance with the handsome and kind Alexander Laurent. Yet strange things are happening and she keeps getting warnings from ghosts that she should escape because there is a monster here and that something much darker is going on with this family. Can she figure out the secret lurking beneath this sickly sweet facade of a family? Unfortunately for me this book was a big let down, it fell flat so many times and I honestly was fed up with Verity for a majority of the book and the romance didn't work at all. This was advertised as a gothic horror with romance and honestly it was just meh. Verity see's so many things wrong and see's so many red flags but purposely chooses and knowingly chooses to ignore them. The romance was so bad, it was insta love, except the entire time Verity was just gas lighting herself into thinking she was in love with Alex despite the amount of time she notes she doesn't really feel like she's in love and doesn't really feel all that much about Alex except that they have a nice time together. Then there was the weird love triangle introduced and ugh, seriously what even was this book. I didn't read the first book but had no trouble following along with this one. Overall, this one was a miss from me, I love gothic romances and mysteries but this one just missed the mark a bit. However, if you do enjoy gothic mysteries with twisted families then give this one a go maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.


*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Listen, I would just like to that I was not prepared for the emotional toll this book was going to take on me. Erin A. Craig came here and said you thought the first book was messed up, you haven't seen anything yet. This book was not what I was excepting and I mean that in the best way possible. I thought I had things figured out but then there would just be more layers to uncover. I will have this book burned into my memory because I am still just in complete and utter shock.

I will buy and read anything that Erin A. Craig comes out with. She continues to prove she is an incredible writer. She keeps you on your toes. She also knows how to write an eerie setting. If anyone ever doubted her writing, you won't after reading this.

Please tell me that there will be more in this series because I need it. I needed it yesterday, honestly.

Holy hot potatoes! That ending!

I was prepared for a 4 star rating, but that ending?! My mind is blown!

If you were in the fence with House of Salt and Sorrow, House of Roots and Ruin is absolutely amazing! I loved the addition of ghosts being more than just haunting and actually adding to the plot and substance of the story.

Though Verity is a bit naive in many ways, it's to be expected considering her upbringing and only adds to the story as she comes into her own person.

As desperately as I want a sequel, I'd actually be ok with the ending. But, my heart would leap for joy if there was a continuation to the story.

Any story in this series is a must-read!

Except for the first little bit when there is name dropping and I am trying frantically to remember House of Salt and Sorrow (which I had read awhile ago and was a bit fuzzy) this definitely can be read as a standalone/companion novel thankfully. I enjoyed following Verity around as she traveled to the People of Bloem to fulfill a painting commission which turns out to be so much more than that!. And while we were no longer by the sea, the different flowers were interesting and it did not take long for the darkness to show up. This book was as deliciously macabre as the first book twisting with the plant life so cherished by the duke and his family, though Alex and Verity are quite sweet.. So many secrets! And with that ending, I am quite eager to find out what is happening next for them!

House of Roots and Ruin is described as a gothic thriller-fantasy, and while it’s definitely a gothic fantasy - the book wasn’t as thrilling as I had hoped.

Let’s start with the good things. Erin A. Craig is amazing at writing atmosphere and painting up gorgeous images of the world her books are set in. This truly is a gothic world, it’s dark and mysterious in a way that will make you look twice at the shadows. It’s spooky without being too scary. I really loved the descriptions of Bloem and the large inclusion of flowers into the story. I’m just a sucker for florigraphy. Its bright and flowery appearance of Bloem really helped serve as a stark contrast to the more unsettling and darker aspects of the place. These aspects were further highlighted by the many twists and turns of the story. Because while the villain was quite obvious, the story still managed to keep me on my toes. It wasn’t about the ending, but the journey there and all the things it contained.

And now the less good things. While the story and writing was really good, the characters were a bit lack-luster for me. Verity was not a bad main character and there were moments where I got really invested in her. But she was no Annaleigh. Not to mention that while the romance was sweet, it fell a bit flat. Something I didn’t have a problem with until another character was introduced and everything they came in contact with turned into fire. It was such a big contrast, and made the ending seem like a relationship purely out of convenience. Not to mention that the introduction of the new characters about a two thirds in changed everything for me, and not in a good way. Not to mention the disappointing climax scene. There had been all these big reveals and things happening, only for it to fizzle out to nothing.

I really loved the first book, and this one didn’t quite live up to that. So if you wanted something like House of Salt and Sorrows, you probably won’t find it (unless you wanted more family drama). But if you want a gothic fantasy with Erin A. Craigs signature writing, then this book is for you.

HOUSE OF ROOTS AND RUIN (Sisters of the Salt #2), by Erin A. Craig, takes place twelve years after the events from HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS. This is Verity Thaumas' story--youngest of the, once-twelve, Thaumas girls. Verity has lived at Highmoor her entire life. After the fire that killed her father and mother-in-law, her then oldest sister, Camille, became the Duchess.

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

Although Verity longs to travel off the island, as she soon turns eighteen, Camille always finds excuses to deny her. When a letter from Duchess Laurent of Chauntilalie comes, requesting Verity travel to Bloem and stay with them to paint a picture of her son, Alexander Laurent, she leaps at the chance. It's only then that Camille breaks down to tell the truth of why Verity shouldn't go...she is still seeing ghosts and doesn't realize it.

Heartbroken, yet determined, Verity leaves her home in the night and heads to Bloem.

I won't go into spoilers of Verity's story, but will say that it has depth, atmosphere, and fantastic characters that I never wanted to leave. A beautiful estate that houses more secrets than even Highmoor, everything about this novel just begs to be read over again. Verity herself is a character I think most everyone will love--her need to break free and discover herself, her fear of her unusual "talent" being discovered, and the first stirrings of love beginning are all-consuming. The very beauty of the mansion creates the illusion of perfection until small cracks begin to show.

". . . Grief so terrible can't be soothed away by words whispered in haste."

This trip to Chauntilalie was so much more than I was expecting! While carrying over some characters from HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS, this is a story all of its own--just as intricate as its predecessor. The images and memories held inside Chauntilalie won't let go until long after you've finished. I look forward to re-reading this one in the future.

Highly recommended.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

House of Roots and Ruin was my first ever Erin A. Craig book and to say I’m impressed isn’t the beginning of it! It’s eerie, dark, and gothic and I absolutely cannot wait to reread this when spooky season comes around.

I’ll do a full review when the novel releases to avoid spoilers but if you’re a fan of gothic fairytales then you absolutely need to pick this book up! I adored the characters throughout this book, especially Veirty the FMC, and Craig’s twists and turns throughout the book had be gasping and biting on my nails at times!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for this arc!

House of Roots and Ruin is a Gothic masterpiece! Craig has a way of being able to twist the reader's mind and perception right along with the character's, creating that perfect spooky psychological vibe of unease that I feel is lacking in lots of modern-day 'Gothic' books. If you loved House of Salt and Sorrows, you're definitely going to want to read this one!

Verity is the youngest of a large family stricken by loss; at least half of her dozen sisters have died in various accidents, as did her mother. At 17, she hasn't left the island of Salann, where she was born, and where her sister Camille, the duchess, strives to keep her safe - but safe from precisely what, Verity isn't sure. Her first hint comes when she finds out the truth about Hanna, her nurse, but that's not enough to keep her from accepting a commission to paint Alexander Laurent, heir to his father Gerald, who is a duke. Alexander is intelligent, witty, charming - everything a young woman of good breeding could want in a husband, except that a childhood accident left him with no use of his legs, and therefore permanently in need of a wheelchair. From the beginning, Alexander charms Verity as she begins the painting - but something is very odd, even off, in the family manor of Chauntilalie, and the more Verity learns about Alexander's family, and especially his father and his botanical experiments. the odder things get.

This novel is a mystery in a fantasy setting, and the fantastical elements are key to solving the mystery. the clues are well-written, properly hidden in sequence, but obvious in retrospect, as a good mystery should be. Some of the details of the family and their activities, especially those of Gerard, Alexander's father, are rather graphic, and therefore this novel is recommended for high school students and adults, and will be enjoyed by those who prefer mysteries, fantasy, and especially both. I look forward to the sequel implied by the epilogue.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I gasped so loud I’m sure I stirred the whole house. I’m finishing this at 1:08 am after I spent all day reading. I could not put this down to save my life. I was such a big fan of House of Salt and Sorrow, I was so excited to be back in the world and to see Verity’s story take hold.

This book was so creepy in all the best ways, the writing is done so outstanding that you are completely entranced in what is happening at all times. There were so many twists and turns and as the characters played out theories I couldn’t help but have my own theories only to be completely wrong, shocked, and fully destroyed. But what really DESTROYED me was the ending of chapter 49 and the ending of the Epilogue. In my mind, there is no way Erin will leave us hanging, there has to be another fantastic spooky book in the works to justify the information left for us in that ending.

I loved Erin A Craig's first book, but this one is EVEN better! Sometimes gothic literature is hard to write unless you create the proper atmosphere and characters, but she nails it with House of Roots and Ruin. The Laurents seem too good to be true for Verity- a loving couple, a handsome and single son. They wanted her to paint his portrait. Romance blooms...and then the cracks begin to show in the beautiful floral facade. You do not really have to have read House of Salt and Sorrow to understand this book as it is set over 10 years after the events of the previous, but it does give some good context. I sincerely hope there is more to come for the Sisters of the Salt because this ending is just too much! So, so good! (and so frustrating!)