I missed the sisters a lot so it was nice reading about them again. It had really good mysteries and plot twists just like the first book. And I recommend it for everyone who liked the first one.

I knew upon reading House of Salt and Sorrows that Erin A. Craig had created a world that needed more stories. I was thrilled when I learned she was returning to this world and these characters with a follow-up novel.

House of Roots and Ruin follows the youngest Thaumas sister, Verity, and shows the effects of the events that transpired in House of Salt and Sorrows upon her life. I really liked how Erin took what was established in book one and threaded it through the plot of book two. While this book follows a different sister, which makes it seem more like a companion novel than a true sequel, I think readers would understand the story if they were familiar with the first book. The stories weave together in intricate ways.

The story itself is a bit slower paced than I anticipated, but it has a good balance of fantasy elements and horror that kept me reading. Erin always does a great job creating super atmospheric places and giving such vivid details to her prose. It all reminded me a bit of The Secret Garden mixed with Jane Eyre mixed with Frankenstein. A truly Gothic thriller with so many twists and turns and horrific reveals.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me. Some of the plot points kind of dropped once certain conflicts were resolved. And while I know the romance was meant to be rushed on purpose for plot, it still felt a little too rushed at the end and I wish things had been a bit more natural and believable between Verity and Alex.

But overall, House of Roots and Ruin is a good sequel, giving a glimpse of what happened to the Thaumas sisters after House of Salt and Sorrows while also letting Verity shine as the protagonist of her own story.

Sometimes, I get a little anxious about giving a five star review to a book that isn't critically-acclaimed ~*~literature~*~, the kind of book that is almost beyond reproach. This book kicked me off that high horse! House of Roots and Ruin is a YA Gothic Thriller (and a spiritual sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows) that isn't perfect and may not be for everyone, but my goodness folks, IT WAS FOR ME.

Twelve years after the events of House of Salt and Sorrows, Verity Thaumas is still at Highmoor manor. Her watchful sister Camille seems desperate to keep her contained there. When Verity receives a tempting invitation to travel to faraway Bloem for an art commission, an ugly truth emerges: The sisters' past encounter with the gods left Verity with the ability to see ghosts. She's been interacting with them for years, believing them to be living figures, and everyone outside her home will think her mad if she's caught. Overwhelmed but unwilling to give up hope for a different future, Verity flees to Bloem. There she takes residence at the estate of the Duke and Duchess, where she was invited to paint a portrait of their charming son, Alex. While she undoubtedly feels a fascination with the estate and a connection to the family— especially daring and keen Alex— strange events begin to unravel her confidence and slowly, the dark secrets of this powerful family make themselves known.

Having read House of Salt and Sorrows probably aided my enjoyment of House of Roots and Ruin, but this book could be read as a standalone. The plot takes place long after the original story, doesn't rely on callbacks, and weaves a tale that's specific to 18-year-old Verity.

Long before the mystery elements came into play, I was drawn in by the characters. Verity is driven by her own naiveté to a degree, so I didn't always agree with her actions. In fact, there were a couple moments where I wanted to yell "GIRL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" But I still found myself rooting for her and her happiness. In the midst of everything, she's discovering what SHE wants and fights for it above all else. Alex pops off the page from the moment you meet him. His chemistry with Verity was palpable and super sweet. However, this story isn't instalove, despite some wonderfully tender moments, and I really appreciate the hell outta that.

The other secondary characters are captivating in their own right, each with a distinct personality and secrets to unravel, especially the Duke and Duchess of Bloem. Everyone in this book has their own motivations that they're pursuing ruthlessly. It keeps the story fresh and fast-paced.

Of course, this is largely a mystery, so I can't speak too much to the greater story other than to say it was deliciously twisty fun that isn't afraid to dive into the bizarre and grotesque. There was so much more to the story than Verity's ability. Yes, there are some horror/thriller cliches involved, but the details are laid out so intricately and the story flows so vividly that I just didn't care.

Finally, the ending. THE ENDING. There was no way I could react the way I did to the ending and not give it 5 stars! The book isn't out yet, there's no announced sequel, and yet I need the sequel IMMEDIATELY!

17 year old Verity Thaumas has remained at Highmoor, her family’s estate, with older sister Duchess Camille following the events from 12 years prior. Her other sisters have all ventured away, fulfilling their dreams, when one day sister Mercy writes that the Duchess of Bloem wants Verity to paint a portrait of her son. Verity is more than excited, but Camille is not. In a blazing row, Camille reveals that Verity has been kept at Highmoor because she is still seeing ghosts and doesn’t realize it.

Shocked and feeling betrayed, Verity runs away in the middle of the night to the Laurents at Bloem. The new land brings her a renewed joy to paint, but so does the heir, Alexander. However, it quickly becomes apparent that something isn’t quite right at Bloem, and Verity is somehow a part of it.

I admire Verity. Her desire to show that she’s more than what Camille fears. To capture her own dreams. I didn’t find this one to be as spooky as House of Salt and Sorrows. I mean, there are ghosts here but there were ghosts in HoSaS too who were way more creepy. There is, however, some super dark parts, so readers be warned. This is labeled horror for a reason.

This is not a standalone novel. I feel like I should have gone back to the first novel and re-read it. There were so many references to it, some vague, some not, that I had to keep double-checking on. With the way this one ended, I can’t help wondering though if the first book was meant to be a appetizer, and now the audience is getting to the main event. I just want to know what happens next, and I really don’t want to wait.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

The second book in the Sisters of the Salt series has the gothic twist with a mystery and ghosts. This will keep you on your toes in the very best way!

O...M....G...... THIS WAS AMAZING!!!

So, so, so good! I give this a definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, and the ending 😳, cannot wait for more. I hope @penchant4words is already writting a third!?!

Coming out in just a few more day 'House of Roots and Ruin' is a fantasy thriller, if I do say myself. There are Gods, a little Ghost seeing, and a twisty story of one man's push to create beings above a God.

Many many thanks to @netgalley, @penchant4words, and @randomhousekids for the opportunity to enjoy this book early!

#houseofsaltandsorrows #houseofrootsandruin #fantasythriller #gods #mortals #powers #bookstagrammer #ilovebooks #homelibrary #booktok #bookhoarder #readeverything #kalislibrary #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #bookstagram

3.5 stars. hour of Roots and Ruin is the follow-up to House of Salt and Sorrows, but reading the first book isn’t necessary to understand this one. The story is set 12 years after the end of the first book and follows Verity, now almost 18 years old, as she finally leaves Highmore Estate for the land of Bloem. There, she’s taken in by the Laurents, the family of the duke, and commissioned to paint a portrait of their son Alexander. Behind the picturesque beauty of Bloem’s gardens, however, something is festering, especially as Gerard, the duke, continues to breed hybrid plants.

The novel is fast-paced and well-written, and the atmosphere is strange and eerie. I did love the twist, and the book generally kept me guessing. However, the romance, and the relationships between the characters in general, is a bit too YA-esque. Still, House of Roots and Ruin is a quick, fun read that kept me up late into the night.

Great follow-up to House of Salt and Sorrows but can be read as a stand alone novel. Atmospheric will a strong female protagonist.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC

A beautifully descriptive book that will lull you into a false sense of security with the enchantment of Chantililae, complete with the beautiful flowers and grand facade of the estate. I was first introduced to Erin A. Craig's work with House of Salt and Sorrows and fell in love with the story, so I jumped at the chance to get reacquainted with the characters there. This time, I get a chance to see Verity grown and follow up with the events that happened since the first book.
Here, we have Verity in the aftermath of the events from the first book. Verity continues to paint and draw and spends her days with her artwork. One day, Verity gets correspondence from Bloem in which the Duchess requests her presence to paint her son, Alexander's, portrait, as he will be the future Duke of Bloem one day. Verity feels stifled in Highmoor, and so takes this into consideration. Camille, however, is strongly against it. Verity presses to find out why, when Camille reveals to Verity that she continues to see ghosts, long after the house fire 12 years ago occurred. At first, she doesn't believe her, until she sees the ghosts of her long-departed twin sisters, and reveals to her that Hanna, who we see Verity talk to, is indeed, a ghost.
Verity is disheartened, but not completely discouraged, and runs off anyway for Bloem looking for a different life. She meets the duchess, charming Dauphine Laurent, her affable enigmatic husband, Gerard, and her endearing, sweet son, Alexander. They generously accommodate her, including her as part of the family. Verity gets to make herself at home at Chantilale. Gradually, she starts to fall in love with Alexander, whose kind spirit draws her to him. It looks like a fairy tale come true, until the cracks start to show on the beautiful, polished facade, and terrifying, sinister secrets begin to be revealed.
This story is quite different from the first book, but every bit as enjoyable. It's a much slower burn that the first, for one, and you get a lot of description of the loveliness of the house and all the plants that Gerard grows. You also have an adorable, slow burn romance with Alex, the sweet, loveable son of the Duke and Duchess. I love the representation Erin has with him. He's in a wheelchair due to an accident from when he was four. Despite this, he's very charismatic and easy to love, but realistically talks about how his disability impedes him and makes him shier and hard to include people in his circle. He still makes a wonderful, albeit unconventional romantic hero, and it's enjoyable watching his and Verity's relationship grow.
The family has many secrets, and as Verity and Alex's wedding date gets closer, the story takes on a darker and stranger turn where the secrets begin to unravel. I myself didn't see every twist and turn that I get taken to. Everything revs up to an exciting climax, and just when I think the story's going to end one way, I get one more shocking twist that leaves me stunned to a thrilling finish.

I was absolutely blown away by "House of Salt and Sorrows" and when I found out a companion book "House of Roots and Ruin" was being released, I knew this was something I needed immediately. The second book is set about 11-12 years after the events of the first book and still follows the Thaumus sisters, but this time the focus is on Verity and her ability to see spirits. She's invited by the Bloem family to paint a portrait of their son, and is excited to escape from her island... but soon Verity is wrapped up in the ulterior motives of the family, and begins to question reality. A gorgeous gothic novel - reminiscent of "Mexican Gothic". 

I've had plenty of students who've loved 'House of Salt and Sorrows' - I'm sure that they'll be just as excited for "House of Roots and Ruin".

5/5 would recommend. Erin A. Craig never fails to impress.

Thank you to NetGalley and  Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for the digital ARC of "House of Roots and Ruin" by Erin A. Craig.

I thought the first book in this series was good, but this one takes the the absolute cake. The first half of the novel is a bit slow and uneventful, but the second half demands to be read in one sitting because it has the most spine-tingling, blood-curdling, did-not-see-coming plots twists I have ever read. Erin A. Craig’s writing is stellar. This novel is atmospheric, creepy, romantic, sexy, fun, and adventurous all in one, and don’t even get more started on how strong and solid her plot line was, all my applauds to Erin Craig, I would read a million books in this series if you let me. Oh my goodness, I will never stop screaming over this book, it is an absolute jaw-dropping, can’t-put-down masterpiece, and this series as a whole is SEVERELY under appreciated. I will be eagerly waiting to see if there is more to come for this universe, and I honestly don’t think I’ll be satisfied until there is, I am never going to shut up about these books!

If (like me) you loved House of Salt and Sorrows...welcome home.

This time we follow the baby sister of the Thaumas family, Verity, except she's all grown up. You don't need to have read HOSAS to enjoy HORAR, though, nor do you need to do a reread to refresh your memory. This story is Verity's and Verity's alone.

I was so happy to get to see more of the world in this fantasy series. Last time we were on an island chain, and this time we're in a garden filled with blossoms, statues, and mysteries waiting to be solved. The plot twists and turns and keeps you on your toes. You're never sure who to trust, or even who is real or who is really a ghost, trapped in a beautiful mansion filled with secrets.

I loved the atmosphere and the story and the characters. I was (pleasantly) surprised by how spicy this book was, compared to its predecessor! I even tried drinking hot tea while reading in bed, hoping to fall asleep and dream of Chauntilalie, but turns out that stuff's full of caffeine. At least I was able to stay up and read late into the night. lol

The House of Roots and Ruin read very similar to the House of Salt and Sorrow which was both a good thing and a bit of a disservice. It is fun for horror fans and reads quickly, but the plot itself tends to be a bit messy in areas that it shouldn't be.
Overall, it was. an ok read. But forgettable as a whole after the fact. Good for rainy October days and less for the summer beach or one that is taken as a favorite.

This was a perfectly chilling horror story with complex sister relationships, romance, and fantasy elements. I absolutely loved all of the twists and turns. I was scared of the dark in a way I haven’t been since I was a kid while reading this book at 2am. I read it in one sitting and was on the edge of my bed the whole time. I loved it even more than the first book since the horror elements were sprinkled a little more consistently and everything seemed planned with hints dropped throughout. This book has definitely put me into my horror era so if you want to join me here, definitely pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Canada for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, first of all, how dare this book be so good?! Also, second, if there’s not a sequel, I’ll be UPSET! I haven’t been so taken aback by a last sentence since I read HOSAB so if you’ve read that, you know I mean business!

This was horrifying and atmospheric and spooky and literally everything. I started this book last night at like 11pm (mistake for anyone who is easily spooked like I am) and finished at 6:25pm the following day. I have an 11 week old child and that’s how compelling this book is. Every spare second, I read.

Erin A. Craig makes me want to read more spooky books because she proves that they can be beautiful and horrifying and thought provoking all at the same time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an amazingly well done dark and twisty tale. I think it might even be darker than the first book. It starts out a little slow, but the suspense slowly builds until you get to the fast paced and unbelievable twists at the end.

I really liked Verity, even in the first book, I felt like she was someone I would like. Now she is all grown up and so unsure of herself as she ventures off into the world. Much of her hesitancy and doubt in herself is due to her sister’s mishandling of her youth. I get why they did what they did, but what a way to mess a person up. Yes, she sees and talks to ghosts, but why not just admit that to her, it would have been far kinder I think. But it was good to see her grow throughout the book. Starting off rather timid and socially awkward, but slowly growing into a strong young lady, and someone not to be trifled with. It was a satisfying journey and even when things around her were going to hell, she was able to keep her wits about her.

Alexander was a bit harder to like, not that he wasn’t a nice person or difficult, he was just kind of a bit flat, and I’m not sure a good fit for Verity. But I could respect his feelings for her. Alexander is in a wheelchair due to a childhood accident, and I loved how that part of his life was handled. The author was up front about the hardships this caused, but no one seemed fazed by it, and it certainly did not impact their romance in any way.

The one thing I really liked about the romance, was how Verity reacted to Alex’s first kiss and touches. She was so unsure of herself and couldn’t shut her mind down with thoughts about whether or not she was doing it right, and was it suppose to feel like this, type of questions. It was nice to see a first kiss, and some other ones, that was not all heart melting and over the top sensations. This felt right for her character.

As soon as Verity reaches Highmoor, you can tell that something is off about the house and the family. The suspense is slowly spun out through the slow reveals of what is really going on and why Verity was asked to come to Highmoor. There are many twists in this dark tale, some a little hard to take, but the true horrors are not revealed until closer to the end. The pacing is a bit slow, but slowly picks up as the suspense mounts until it all comes crashing together at the conclusion. Even though the book ended a bit predictably, it was still done masterfully and so skillfully that I still felt the tension and the shocks as things were revealed. The ending was shocking, and I so hope there is going to be a sequel because it can’t end like that.

I don’t think you really need to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. It wouldn’t hurt, as I think it sets up Verity’s character and her relationship with her sisters well. If you have read the first book, you will really want to read this one. It is so dark and twisty that it will keep you guessing until the end.

I can’t believe I was given an arc of this! Thank you netgalley!
We are thrown back into that eerie magical world from Erin’s prior novel.
Her writing was addicting and magical.
The character and world building was well done.
Erin is becoming an auto but author for me.

I am not usually a reader of the horror genre but there is something about Erin. C. Craig’s books that I just can’t resist. I first read House of Salt and Sorrows about two years ago, and I picked it up randomly in Target because I like the cover and the premise was right up my alley, I loved the twelve dancing princess. At the time I did not realize it was a horror novel and let me tell I was thoroughly creeped out but I couldn't put it down, I loved the story and writing too much to stop. To sum up I loved the first book and didn't ever expect a second but when House of Roots and Ruin was announced I got so excited. House of Roots and Ruin takes place in a very contrasting setting compared to the first books, in the first it takes place in Salann a very dark, gothic setting by the sea, and in this book we the bright, colorful, and romantic Bloem. Verity travels to Bloem against her eldest sister's wishes, commissioned to do a portrait of the young Alexander Duke-to-be. She finds herself on a journey of self-discovery and can’t help the romance that begins to blossom as her time there dwindles. But not everything is as it seems, the beauty of Bloem is hiding something dark and dangerous. Verity might not be the only one with a secret but who’s is more dangerous? Can she keep her own secret while she unravels the truth? And at what cost? Let me tell you House of Roots and Ruin did not disappoint, it might be one of the top books I have read this year. While I was reading this book my anxiety was sky-high and I was second-guessing everything up until the very end. What I mean by that is I was suspicious until the very last chapter and I'm still side-eyeing a certain character weeks after finishing this book because this book has given me serious trust issues. The setting is a perfect gothic romance, that will leave you with chills of various kinds. I love the characters, Verity was such a wonderful character, I really just love seeing her come into her own in this book. Also, I want to add that I absolutely love the disability rep in this book, as a wheelchair user myself it was fantastic to see a character similar to me and one that was written so accurately. The story is the perfect amount of eerie and romantic and I love the way Craig writes, it's just so easy to get lost in the fantasy of everything. That epilogue had me gasping, I can't freaking wait for what's to come. I have some theories but ill keep them to myself for the sake of not spoiling in this review.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the eARC.

When I finished "House of Salt and Sorrows" in 2019, I desperately wanted more of this world and here in 2023 we've got it!

"House of Roots and Ruin" takes place over a decade after the first book and the point of view switches from Annaleigh to her younger sister, Verity.

Verity is still seeing ghosts but doesn't realize they're ghosts because older sister Camille doesn't tell her until she's 17.

And this only happens when poor Verity gets a chance to leave home and paint a rich family's son.

So, Verity is understandably angry and leaves by herself and that's where the book takes off.

I truly felt for Verity and I think I enjoyed her voice a smidge more than Annaleigh's. The scary parts in this book are pretty disturbed ng and the body horror fan in me was over the moon.
This is a fantastic gothic romance that you don't really need to read the first book to jump into (I'd recommend it,though)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me an advanced copy of this book!

4.5⭐️ Wow. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I must say, I only read this book during the day haha.

You will get to know the youngest of the Laurent sisters, Verity, and her longing to see more of the world and do more than what is available at Highmoor. When she is presented with an opportunity to do just that, she jumps at the chance. Little did she know she would be uncovering dark family histories and why it seemed as though her sisters tiptoed around her when it came to leaving Highmoor.

Brace yourselves, friends, because this book will take you on a wild ride! I had NO idea where the story would go and I was SHOCKED at every single reveal that happened throughout. I absolutely loved the growth you see in Verity and how much she learns about herself and the world around her apart from her sisters and Highmoor. As I said earlier, I had to read this book only during the day towards the end because I am a scardey cat and it got a little too spooky for me but I still very much enjoyed it! But lemme tell ya, THAT CLIFFHANGER!! I definitely am eagerly awaiting book 3!