House of Roots and Ruin is the sequel to the Sisters of Salt but I think it can be read as standalone, the relevant events of the previous book are mentioned, although I recommend reading House of Salt and Sorrow first for a better experience.

Verity is the youngest of the Thaumas sisters, at almost 18 years old she is ready to leave her seclusive manor and her overprotective sister, when the opportunity presents itself she runs away from home. She is a talented painter and is hired to paint the portrait of Chaunilalie's heir.

It was more atmospheric gothic rather than a dark fairytale as it is the previous book, some descriptions, especially in the mansion reminded me a bit of The Crimson Peak and Daphne du Maurier's stories. Chaunilalie is a big manor with secret passages and hidden doors.

The setting was wonderfully mysterious with overtones of horror and paranormal. The story is slow which is good because it allows you to get to know Chaunilalie, at first glance a beautiful mansion, with blooming gardens and unique trees, but the more you observe, you discover that there is something strange and spooky happening in the house and the family.

Verity is a good lead character, she is a curious, smart, and down-earth girl, she wants to own her destiny and life but shadows and ghosts keep haunting her. Alex is the romantic interest, he was sweet a romantic dreamer who has his head in books and due to a child accident, and due to an accident when he was a child, he uses a wheelchair.

I liked both characters, but in romance, I feel something has missing a spark that is present in the other books of the author, it's weird because I feel the romance was slow but fast at the same time.

The first part of the book shows you the manor, you walk through the gardens, have picnics by the lake, and you meet the family it's the second part where the action begins with twists, and turns. Underneath the pretty flowers hide creepy secrets.

It's supposed to be a standalone and it is, until you read the last paragraph and the epilogue, now it needs answers.

PS: I would love a novella about the Gods, Goddesses, Tricksters, Harbingers, and Immortals. The mythology and folklore are fascinating and there is still a lot to show.

Read it if:
• Like YA atmospheric gothic stories 
• Want something with spring spooky vibes
• Mystery, the language of flowers
• House with secrets and garden with poisonous flowers
• Paranormal creepy  

Thanks to Turn the Page Tours and Delacorte Press for ARC, I received a copy as a part of the promo tour in exchange for a playlist inspired by the book and an honest review.

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig is a dark, eerie fantasy sequel to House of Salt and Sorrow. Set several years after the first book, House of Roots and Ruin sees the youngest sister, Verity, embark on her own ghostly adventure.

I really enjoyed this book! Its been a while since I read House of Salt and Sorrow so it was nice with the little refresher scenes but also i think this novel stand pretty uniquely on its own too! I actually think I enjoyed House of Roots and Ruin more than the first one!

I loved the ghostly, spooky vibe of this book. Some of the scenes were pretty horrific but it fit the theme! It was really fun to read about Verity and her ability to see and interact with ghosts. I also really liked Verity as a character and enjoyed reading this book with her.

I'd definitely recommend House of Roots and Ruin to lovers of the first book and both of the books to anyone who wants an eerie young adult read!

Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Delacorte Press for a gifted copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children’s, and Ms. Craig for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I really enjoyed the first sisters of the salt book and was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this one just as much. Definitely a slow starter like its sibling, it got going once Verity was out from under the protective watch of her big sister Camille. Verity has been offered a commission to paint the son of the Duke in Bloem, a garden-centric district where people are very into gardens and the language of flowers. It’s immediately clear that something is definitely off there but what? I hesitate to get too descriptive because it would be easy to spoil things but let me just say that the creep factor is at its max here. The entire book I thought, hmm, ‘what a pleasantly creepy book’, but then, omg. THAT ENDING. No, not the epilogue, although that clinched it, but seriously. That last paragraph of the final chapter. I read it, did a double take, re-read it, then re-read the entire last two chapters. *Then* I went straight to Netgalley and goodreads to see if anyone else noticed. I want to discuss that ending with someone so bad!!!!!!!!!! Suffice to say, Ms. Craig knocked that ending out of the freaking park. Wow. A-MAZ-ing. I’ll be thinking about that for a while. How can she leave it that way? I’m guessing future sisters of the salt books will feature other sisters but I really hope Verity gets a revisit so I can find out WHAT THE **** HAPPENED.

Verity feels trapped by her life in Salann, stuck in her family’s estate with her older sister Camille, who is the head of the estate. Camille won’t let her leave Highmoor, even though all of her other sisters have been allowed to travel throughout the continent. When Verity is invited to paint a portrait of the heir to Bloem by an acquaintance of one of her sisters, she seizes the chance to spread her wings and sneaks off without Camille’s permission. As Verity arrives in Bloem and meets the Laurents, she is immediately taken by the manor and the subject of the portrait, Alexander. She finds herself falling for him, but as they grow closer, secrets cannot remain hidden. Verity’s long forgotten memories begin to resurface, as well as the horrors of the beautiful Bloem.

I truly enjoyed the first of this series and was excited to learn that a second books was on the way. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it seems that many times book 2 tends to be a bit of a letdown but that was not the case here. It was helpful that you didn’t have to read the first book or have much knowledge of it to be able to appreciate this story on its own. I am very curious to see what happens next, as this was left on a bit of a cliffhanger.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy horror, plants, magic, fairytales, mystery

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 2/26 and my book blog as of 3/8 and has been posted to Instagram as of 3/19.

I absolutely loved this! There's a lush setting, ghosts, murder and mysteries, and plants plants plants! The setting is atmospheric in a very different way than Highmoor was. Where Highmoor had the drafty manor and moody sea vibe going, Chauntilalie has plants galore and twisting rooms and gardens. I really loved the descriptions of the estate and surrounding land. It was so beautiful but kept so many secrets and horrors. I also loved the obsession with plants, experiments, and genetics. It was perfectly creepy in a completely different way. There was so much focus on perfection in Bloem, and within Chauntilalie itself, and even botanical experiments took on a sinister tone.

One thing I will say is that this book is much, much less scary than HoSaS. I didn't actually mind the horror aspect from the previous book even though I tend to be easily freaked out by that stuff. At the same time, this book has a different take on creepiness/suspense that I think works well for this book. The perpetrator is different, the motive is different, the setting, the targets, and I think the focus on switchbacks and suspense works very well for this book.

Verity starts the story feeling restricted by her life in Highmoor. All of her sisters aside from Camille have left the estate and are living their own lives and Verity is well past ready for her turn. Despite having spent most of her life either with Annaleigh at Hesperus or with Camille at Highmoor, Verity is extremely compassionate and eager to help other people. She also has the ability to see beauty where other people might not. Verity's compassion is part of what jumpstarts things, though there are already undercurrents of things being not quite right. I really liked Verity's journey in this book as she tries to figure out who she is and how she wants to live her life going forward.

Alex surprised me. I thought he was going to be one of the problems at Chauntilalie but he turned out to be a fantastic friend (and more) to Verity. He has slightly different views of what constitutes beauty than most of Bloem, including his parents. He also seems to have the same compassion as Verity. I really like Alex's character and how gentle and sweet he is.

Their love is both insta-lovey and not. Alex and Verity begin flirting almost immediately and quickly begin courting. While it happens quickly, I appreciate how Verity takes time to figure out what she wants and make the distinction between lust vs love.

Camille is the only sister from HoSaS that's in this book, though all the living sisters (and the dead ones, actually) are mentioned. So we get updates on Annaleigh! Camille comes across as quite strict and inflexible at first, but her concern and love for Verity is real. There are a handful of other side characters who play various roles as well. Dauphine and Gerard are Alex's parents and are immediately welcoming to Verity. Marguerite is Alex's grandmother and is not welcoming to Verity...ever. Other characters are a bit spoilery, but there's multiple layers to each that slowly get revealed over time.

Also, that ending...we're going to get more from the Sisters of the Salt, right?! I absolutely need to see another book with the Thaumas family in it, preferably one that centers Verity again or Annaleigh (or both), but I would also love to see something with Mercy, Honor, or Lenore. I feel like each of those three has a really good setup for a future book, and Lenore feels like a bit of a mystery in and of herself.

I knew it was going to be hard to read a sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows, because IT WAS SOO good! The author made a clever choice in not having the main character (sister) as our heroine but rather one who we did not get to spend a lot of time with in the first one. However, 90% of this book takes place on a different estate so those looking for the sea atmosphere from the first will only get a dabble of it. Most of this one is in an entirely new place where gardens and flowers are the reigning features. It has many Secret Garden vibes but also plenty of horrific twists that Erin Craig is making herself known for. I wonder if we will see more of the other sisters in the future in other different types of kingdoms?

What a page turner! This sequel to, "House of Salt and Sorrow' is a worthy follow-up. This story follows the youngest of the Thaumas sisters, Verity, to the kingdom of Bloem where she has been commissioned by the Duchess to paint of portrait of her son, Alexander.

Upon arriving, Verity finds the house and grounds beautifully arranged with an abundance plants and flowers and landscaping to keep her busy exploring. She is also intrigued by the handsome heir, Alexander, as they spend time together while she is creating his portrait. Not long into her stay, Verity begins to suspect that things in Bloem, and especially at the Laurent Estate, are not as calm and loving as they originally appeared to be. The suspense is palatable as she learns more and more about the family and the secrets they've been keeping.

This sequel did not disappoint and I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in the "Sisters of Salt" series! This is a perfect read for fans of Erin A. Craig's other titles, "House of Salt and Sorrow", and "Small Favors." Highly recommended for readers who enjoy suspense, mystery, romance, and horror.

Thank you to Erin A. Craig, NetGalley, and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig is the sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows that we didn't know we needed. Occurring several years after the first book, it follows the youngest of the Thaumas girls, Verity. Now seventeen and desperately needing a change of scenery, she takes matters into her own hands and sneaks off the family island to take a commission with a family across the country. Chaos ensues.

Actually, chaos does not ensue for the first half of the novel. In fact, the first half is pretty damn boring. Nothing happens outside of Verity learning more about the family with whom she is staying, flirting with the boy whose portrait she is painting, and exploring the estate and its many whimsies. I imagine Ms. Craig did this at such length to drive home the fact that Bloem is very different from Highmoor and that the Laurent family is open and welcoming where her sisters are not. I understand the need to establish this familiarity for the reader. Unfortunately, it does not make for the most compelling of reads.

Once you hit the halfway point, the story slowly shifts into something darker, and tension builds as Verity realizes all is not as it seems. And when I say slowly, I mean that it takes almost the entire remainder of the novel to ratchet up the suspense and eerieness to the levels of the first book. Again, knowing how it ends, I can see why Ms. Craig is so careful to build each layer of the story. Sadly, I believe she is too cautious, and the pacing suffers.

In a complete turnaround in pacing, the final scenes of House of Roots and Ruin are over before you know it. You obtain so much information at the last minute that I can see how readers might find it confusing. Plus, it contains at least one convenient plot twist that had me rolling my eyes at the lack of complexity to that particular conflict.

Speaking of the story's conclusion, I don't know how to interpret it. Even though I did expect the final twist, the end of House of Roots and Ruin is my favorite part of the novel because it is so clever. (Here is where I hide potential spoilers.) I cannot decide if the ending suggests Ms. Craig is writing a third book about Verity and the Laurent brothers. An entire novel about mistaken identities does not seem like it would be engaging; maybe Ms. Craig has something else in mind. I am cautious about a third book because I like that Ms. Craig unveils one last plot twist during the novel's final sentences. It is a brave thing to do; it certainly closes the story with a bang. However, if the ending is an author hint about a forthcoming third book, my enthusiasm for the final two scenes wanes.

At the end of the day, House of Roots and Ruin is not as good as its predecessor. The horror elements are not nearly as potent, and Verity is not as strong of a heroine. There are some disturbing scenes and dirty secrets, but Ms. Craig takes it easy on the readers this time. Between the story's slow pacing and the lack of major horror elements, the best I can say about House of Roots and Ruin is that I enjoyed what Ms. Craig did with the ending the most.

Erin A. Craig does it again with the second installment of the Sisters of the Salt series. It promised thrills, chills, ghosts, and a gothic atmosphere--and boy did it deliver.

I was a huge fan of House of Salt and Sorrows so needless to say I couldn't wait to read its sequel. Since it has been a while since I read HoSaS, I was worried I wouldn't understand what was going on. Thankfully, HoRaR reads just as well on it's own and I fell into the story just as easily as I would have if it wasn't the second in the series. Of course, you'll understand bits more if you've read the first novel, but nothing that would keep you from understanding this one!

I will say (and maybe it's because I haven't read HoSaS for a while) that I thought House of Roots and Ruin was way scarier/creepier than the first book. My heart raced and my skin crawled more than once!

Of course, Craig does a wonderful job of making her world come to life. The atmosphere and world-building was fantastic. Each scene is all-encompassing.

The only downside for me was that it felt a little slow in the beginning for me, and then again after her arrival in Chauntilalei. But it definitely picks up and leaves you with so many twists and turns and an ending that will leave your head spinning! So. Many. Twists. And. Turns.

This is a fantastical horror story you won't want to miss!

3.5 stars. House of Salt and Sorrows was one of my favorite books of 2019. This was not what I expected following that book, but I overall enjoyed it once I adjusted my expectations.

HoRaR is set around a decade after HoSaS and features the youngest Thaumus sister, Verity, who can see ghosts. You do not need to read HoSaS to understand HoRaR, but HoRaR does spoil HoSaS.

The dark and haunting atmosphere, mysterious estate, creepy plant lore, and suspicious family dynamics initially gave me Belladonna vibes, but this book takes some bizarre and uncomfortable turns. This threw me off from a YA fantasy where I usually look for emotional connections to the characters. I enjoyed this more when I distanced myself and approached it more like a thriller or soap opera; yes, the story has weird and outlandish twists, but I was eating up the drama.

I was not a fan of the way the romance was written. The scenes were mostly lackluster or lusty, and not actually romantic; even when Verity *said* how she felt, I couldn’t believe it. And Verity could be so oblivious! But again, it made for good drama.

Despite a few issues, the writing is excellent, and the ending totally got me in a morbidly satisfying way! I hope this book gets a direct sequel.

I loved this book even more than the first one! The plot was a lot more involved and well rounded out than the first one. This one took the lore we learned in the first book and ran with it to create this spooky and incredible read. I loved the characters and how we got to focus on the youngest sister. It was a nice change from the first book. I loved all the twists and turns and I really hope there is another book!

Verity is haunted by ghosts, but they don’t always appear as gaunt as deceased beings. While Camille is afraid of what might happen to Verity when she ventures out of Highmoor, Verity yearns for new experiences, new people, and new things. Caged in this place for too long, longing for more, Verity decided to leave everything and everyone she knows for Chauntilalie, to paint Alexander Laurent.

Alex’s father, Gerard, seems to be playing god with the way he mixes plant breeds that he grows. Moreover, Gerard’s reactions to Alex’s accident, which left him in a wheelchair, reveal a lot about Gerard’s own prejudices and desire for perfection. The horror will only continue to escalate from this point on.

Our main character, Verity, ventures out of her comfort zone for the first time. Even though there were warning signs, innocent Verity didn’t notice them until later in the novel. When she finally does, Verity doesn’t act impulsively, which I highly appreciate. The romance with Alex was a bit sudden, considering it was her first time meeting a guy, so I wasn’t fully invested until I could ensure everything was alright on that front.

The haunting feeling, the suspenseful drop that something might happen always lingers in the background, especially with the secrets of the people in Chauntilalie. Everyone seems to be hiding something or expecting something from Verity. Everything happened too fast, too coincidental, too well-planned. Additionally, the mythology and legends of the goddesses felt incredibly real since some of the characters are future descendants of the immortal beings.

Although Verity was alone most of the time in the book, away from her sisters, she still thought about them all the time. The Sisters of the Salt stayed together whether they were alive or dead, near or far. Verity could find comfort from her sisters at the most daunting moments and stability in the most confusing times.

The open-ended conclusion gave me chills. If there were ever a third book in this setting, I would definitely pick it up at the first opportunity. Erin A. Craig was so sneaky with that. I am at her mercy. 🥲

I’m so happy we finally got more from this world!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Verity Thaumas. She is the youngest of the sisters and doesn’t remember much of what happened to her sisters, mother, or father during the tragic and dark time at Highmoor Manor. I honestly couldn’t remember her in the first book and probably should have reread it before starting this one, but the characters do a good job of filling in the details. So it wasn’t a big deal since I was on the same page as Verity when it came to not knowing anything ha.

Verity wants adventure and the oldest of the sisters, Camille, wants her to be safe and protected at the only home she has ever known. Verity feels left out since her sisters have moved on with their lives and have things going for them outside of this manor besides Camille who is the duchess now but she has a family of her own. I did feel bad for Verity. She wanted adventure but wasn’t allowed to have it for fear what others would say or do when they found out about her gift, or a curse depending on how you look at it. I definitely see where Camille was coming from though. As the oldest and seeing everything that had previously happened to your family you would want to protect those that are left. You wouldn’t want the youngest to go out and not have any protection. Sisters do know best in this instance! I did like the bond they shared, even if they weren’t together for a lot of the book, and they only grew to care for each other more.

The romance was my least favorite part. I actually winded up rooting for the wrong person haha. I felt like Verity ended up settling because she wasn’t sold with the idea in the beginning but kind of grew to care for him even if there was a better spark with someone else. Although picking the other would cause potential harm. It was also a very quick romance and I can understand that due to reasons but I just didn’t love it.

I also did have a problem getting into the story at the beginning, but once it picked up I had a hard time putting the book down. It got real intense and I wasn’t sure who to trust. Everyone has secrets!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I can’t wait for my physical copy to get here so I can add it to my bookshelf.

First and foremost, let me say, this book did a wonderful job of being just as good as the first and if Erin A Craig writes more, I will happily wait in line for another ARC or for the release date. I also love that someone leaving a review stated that this felt less like a sequel and more like a companion novel. We have a different character and a different storyline, but they are connected. They can stand alone because you do not fully need to know what happened in the first, though it does help. This book has so many amazing twists and turns and I was left guessing up until the final pages. Even then, I think I was still holding my breath. Once you pick up this book, I think you will understand why I am saying all of this. Some conversations are a bit prosaic, but I think that’s what you are going to get sometimes when people are supposed to be of the “upper crust” of society.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I do wish Verity had maintained a bit of a backbone as the wedding was being planned and not been so passive and amenable to everything Lady Laurent told her was custom for the Bloem culture. Verity is of the Salt and so some of her customs should also be taken into account as well. Even if they are rushing this wedding, like three weeks after meeting. I do wish I knew if she took inspiration from another Grimm’s tale. I thought perhaps the original Rapunzel, but I don’t think that’s right. I might wait to see what other people think and if they come up with a fairytale that fits better.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be reviewing this on the podcast soon with my co-hosts. I can’t wait for others to read it and dive into such a great gothic fairytale that snarls and twists like thorns on a vine.

I absolutely loved House of Salt and Sorrows, so it was a no-brainer to pick up House of Roots and Ruin, devour it, and love it.

My first impression of this book was, "oh, she's thick!" It made me nervous at how big it was because I knew things were about to go down. And go down they did. Thankfully this story had moments related to the first book, and the critical moments of HOSAS are brought up, so you don't have to worry about remembering every little detail, which was nice because it had been a couple of years since I read HOSAS. This story follows Verity, who is now grown up, and boy, did I feel so sorry for her at the beginning. Living under the care of her sister Camille, she has a chance to go and see another part of the world after being confined to Highmoor. Camille is reluctant to let her do anything, so Verity finally escapes to live for herself. Immediately you are drawn to the charms of Alex and the flowery beauty of Bloem until things start going bump in the night. There is so much that happens that just blew my mind. Every revelation had me on the edge of my seat.

When I tell you that Erin A. Craig is a mastermind, believe me! The ending of this book had me floored! It took me at least 15 minutes before I could read the epilogue. That ending still haunts me so much that I need Erin to give us another story following that ending so I can know what happens next.

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press, and Turn The Pages Tour for allowing me to be a part of the tour and for providing an eARC of House of Root and Ruin. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Going in, I had not read the first book, but believe that you can read this one as a stand alone .
This gothic thriller/fantasy follows Verity when she accepts an invitation to the mainland where she will paint a portrait of a duchess's son. Verity is intrigued by the manor and the family it houses until strange things happen that make Verity question why she was REALLY invited to the manor.

The pacing for me was slow until about 2/3 of the book, then it raced to the end. I think overall, if the book had moved along a bit faster, it would have kept me more intrigued. As it is, I was only mildly interested about the twists and turns by the time I finally got to them.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

If you are in the mood for a YA read with lush, atmospheric writing and dark, gothic vibes - then 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒖𝒊𝒏 by Erin A. Craig may be for you.

This is the second installment of the House of Salt and Sorrows series, and while familiar readers will enjoy being swept back into this creepy, beautiful world, it can definitely be read on its own.

The story follows eighteen year old Verity, as she accepts an invitation from the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—requesting Verity to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander.

Dreaming of adventure, she accepts leaving her family’s estate, Highmoor, and her older sister Camille who warns her of dark troubles if she leaves.

Erin A. Craig knows how to weave together elements of gothic horror and romance, and once Verity reaches the enchanting landscape of Bloem and meets the enigmatic Alexander Laurent, danger and romance ensue.

Here you will encounter strange experiments, gardens of deadly delight, and family secrets.

I really enjoyed the creepy and lush atmosphere, and ordinary garden plants may never again look the same.

The ending really stands out and all the twists make for a great, thrilling read. I would definitely recommend it to fans of Erin A. Craig.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to TBR & Beyond, Delacorte Press, and Erin A Craig for the e-arc.

I read House of Salt and Sorrows at the end of last year and while I enjoyed it I did feel like it was missing something but I didn’t know what. This book on the other hand was everything I wanted, it was spooky, disgusting, romantic, and intriguing all at the same time. While from my knowledge this wasn’t based on any fairytale like book 1 it still had that whimsical feeling that book 1 had.

This book follows Verity Thaumas who is the youngest of the 12 Thaumas’s daughter and most of her life she has been stuck at Highmoor. She wants to have her own life and pursue a career but when she has a startling revelation she runs away from Highmoor to Bloem where she was commissioned to paint a portrait of the future Duke of Bloem, Alexander Laurent. But while in Bloem things aren’t what they seem.

This book was so unhinged at times and often I didn’t see it coming. There was one part I literally had to put the book down to process what I had just read before continuing. Craig does an amazing job at luring you into a false sense of security just to do the most bonkers thing the next chapter. But it all flowed so well.

My only issue with this book was just that it was very long and some points did drag but it made up for it at other points. The pacing just wasn’t all that consistent which both worked in some spots and didn’t in others.

You could 100% read this as a standalone from book 1 and would understand everything but I do think reading book 1 gives you more oh wow moments. I highly highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to see more from Erin A Craig.

The Sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows.

Verity, the youngest Thaumas sister has grown to adulthood, and is feeling stifled by her older sister Camille. Most of her sisters have left island home of Highmore to live their lives in other places. Verity wants explore more of the world and visit her sisters, but feels stifled by older sister Camille who won't let her leave. Then Verity finds out why: She's still seeing ghosts, and some of the people she talks to aren't really there. Verity knows she will never leave Highmore if she doesn't take matters into her own hands, and so she flees her home in the middle of the night.

This was top-tier thriller in my opinion. I haven't read a horror novel I've enjoyed this much in a long time, and this was pretty close to perfect. Gothic setting, ghosts, mad science, uncomfortable descriptions, questionable love interests...so good.

Poor Verity, that girl cannot catch a break.

I'm not a fan of the sexual depictions, and lusty encounters, which is why I'll take off half a star.


Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for an advanced copy to review.

4 1/2 stars

Ah yes. This was just as good as House of Salt and Sorrows. It's a wonderfully written piece of gothic fiction. told from Verity's point of view. This story takes her from home to another island where she is commissioned to paint a portrait. But once she arrives there, it starts to become clear there is more going on than initially suspected. Much more.

Verity is one of the surviving sisters from the first book. She has been sheltered for years by her older sister so when the opportunity presented itself, she took it. But Verity may have jumped from the proverbial frying pan into the fire in this situation. Bloem isn't necessarily the dream location she dreamt it would be and now that she's there, Verity finds herself feeling a sense of foreboding and having nightmares. Yet, Alexander, the young man whose portrait she is painting is kind and she finds herself starting to care for him. It's all quite confusing for her. And it only gets worse.....

This is such a cleverly written story. I enjoyed it and found it to be quite original and inventive. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.