House of Salt and Sorrows
Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows is a twisted retelling of the classic Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, but in her version, not everything is as it seems.
Annaleigh and her eleven sisters of Highmoor, a manor by the sea, are cursed. Four of her sisters have met untimely deaths, each more tragic than the last, and Annaleigh suspects foul play in her latest sister’s death. There are whispers the family is cursed by the gods. When she and her sisters find a secret entrance that leads to beautiful balls and dancing strangers, Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to stop them from attending– for who, or what, are the girls dancing with?
When Annaleigh meets a mysterious stranger with secrets of his own, and her disturbing visions increase, she’s determined to save her family before the darkness that’s fallen over them claims her next.
What makes House such a terrifying book for me is the inability for Annaleigh, and therefore the reader, to trust what she sees. A trickster god manipulates what Annaleigh and her sisters see, hear, and remember to the point where the girls can’t trust their surroundings, or each other. They think they’re attending a glamourous ball, but in reality, they are sleep-dancing in their rooms, moving like manipulated puppets.
Annaleigh is so close to her family, especially her sisters, so it’s heartbreaking to see her go through so much tragedy as she continues to lose her sisters to this supposed curse. What’s even worse, Annaleigh’s remaining family’s memories are manipulated, so they don’t remember certain things and make Annaleigh seem like she’s crazy. If I were in Annaleigh’s position, I would start to wonder whether I really was losing my mind.
Annaleigh’s relationship with Cassius is well written and really draws the reader in. Their dedication to each other, especially Cassius’ as he does everything he can to help Annaleigh solve the mystery of her sisters’ deaths, tugs on the heartstrings. Their reunion in the epilogue had me in tears – it was too sweet for words and was the perfect way to end a book that had me on the edge of my seat.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a story about loss, family bonds, love, and the determination of one girl to save her family, no matter the cost.
House of Salt and Sorrows Rating: ★★★★★
Annaleigh and her eleven sisters of Highmoor, a manor by the sea, are cursed. Four of her sisters have met untimely deaths, each more tragic than the last, and Annaleigh suspects foul play in her latest sister’s death. There are whispers the family is cursed by the gods. When she and her sisters find a secret entrance that leads to beautiful balls and dancing strangers, Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to stop them from attending– for who, or what, are the girls dancing with?
When Annaleigh meets a mysterious stranger with secrets of his own, and her disturbing visions increase, she’s determined to save her family before the darkness that’s fallen over them claims her next.
What makes House such a terrifying book for me is the inability for Annaleigh, and therefore the reader, to trust what she sees. A trickster god manipulates what Annaleigh and her sisters see, hear, and remember to the point where the girls can’t trust their surroundings, or each other. They think they’re attending a glamourous ball, but in reality, they are sleep-dancing in their rooms, moving like manipulated puppets.
Annaleigh is so close to her family, especially her sisters, so it’s heartbreaking to see her go through so much tragedy as she continues to lose her sisters to this supposed curse. What’s even worse, Annaleigh’s remaining family’s memories are manipulated, so they don’t remember certain things and make Annaleigh seem like she’s crazy. If I were in Annaleigh’s position, I would start to wonder whether I really was losing my mind.
Annaleigh’s relationship with Cassius is well written and really draws the reader in. Their dedication to each other, especially Cassius’ as he does everything he can to help Annaleigh solve the mystery of her sisters’ deaths, tugs on the heartstrings. Their reunion in the epilogue had me in tears – it was too sweet for words and was the perfect way to end a book that had me on the edge of my seat.
House of Salt and Sorrows is a story about loss, family bonds, love, and the determination of one girl to save her family, no matter the cost.
House of Salt and Sorrows Rating: ★★★★★