Just as good as her first if not better! I hadn't realized how badly I wanted a sequel to her first book until I read this.

I downloaded the ARC of this book on Saturday morning and barely put it down. It’s now Sunday night and I’m sitting here stunned at Erin A. Craig’s skill. It was easy to be drawn once again into the dark world of Highmoor, this time with young Verity. She’s almost 18 and frustrated with her lack of future options due to her sister Camille guilting her into remaining home. She receives a commission to paint a Duke’s son far away and believes it’s finally her opportunity to seek adventure and leave Highmoor to find herself. What she gets is far more than she bargained for and her very future is quickly in danger. Darkness follows her as she strives to uncover the secrets hidden behind the beauty at the Chauntilalie estate.

This sequel contains all of the fantastic gothic details that the first had. There are times when Verity - and the reader - must wonder what’s real. The pacing was perfect and no moment felt too slow or drawn out. Verity’s romance was sweet and though his family seemed just perfect at the start, I loved watching everything unravel to the point where Verity had no idea who to trust. I was dazzled by the description and detail and stunned by the continuing plot twist. Once again, Craig has shown that she is a master of mixing romance, suspense, and gothic horror. I cannot wait to share this novel with others when it comes out!

A great read with great characters and a good follow up to House and Salt and Sorrow I'm sure fans of this author will enjoy this book!

This was such a great read! I absolutely loved this story and characters which is why I flew through this book. The plot was exciting and full of twists and turns. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Summary:
This story follows Verity Thaumas as we revisit Highmoor Manor. Verity remains haunted and dwells in Salann with her sister Camille yet she feels sheltered and longs for adventure. An avid painter, she receives an invite by the duchess of Bloem to paint a portrait of her son Alexander. Upon her arrival she is fascinated by the grandeur of the estate and the Laurents.
When she begins to see and hear things that shouldn’t be possible she discovers what is truly growing within the grounds and the twisted secrets it holds.

What I Liked:
- The innocence of this love story between Verity and Alex.
- The intricate imagery, detailings.
- The antagonists are well hidden. The mood is eerie and suspenseful.

What Could Have Been Improved:
-The pace was slower than expected however the last quarter really drew me in. I like a faster pace.
- I wish there was more interaction between the sisters.
- The love story seemed a bit sudden within such a short timeline.

Final Thoughts:
This is a story about embracing who you are, taking a leap of faith and confronting your fears. The love story gives an extra layer to the story but it wasn’t convincing to me. I love Erin’s books and would definitely recommend this one after reading House of Salt and Sorrows.

Thank you to @delacortepress for the eARC.

House of Roots and Ruin was a beautifully written book filled with mysteries and suspense and a very sweet love story to top it all off. I loved that the story started at Highmoor and Verity finding out some harsh truths about not only what she has seen in the past but also the present as well. I enjoyed the tension between her and her sister and her stubbornness as well as her determination to have an adventure of her own. As always I was pulled in with all the details describing every little thing which brings such a visual in the readers head while they are reading this story! I also really enjoyed the romance between Verity and Alexander and appreciated their healthy relationship and will to be strong together as ghastly events unfold in Bloem. The mysteries and twists and turns certainly kept me on my feet and kept the story exciting! I also really enjoyed how Verity's curse relates back to House of Salt and Sorrows and it wraps that mystery up very well. Overall this was a fantastic read that I think readers are going to love!