It’s not a secret that I’m complete and utter trash for fairy tale retellings, especially lesser known ones such as The Twelve Dancing Princesses. So when I saw that House of Salt and Sorrows was exactly that… welp, I couldn’t reserve a copy at my library fast enough. Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I’d encourage anyone thinking of reading it to give the audiobook a go! I will cherish this story, always. It is definitely one of my all time favourite books. I cannot wait to read it again, and again. Regarding the horror elements...I would only recommend this book to older young adults. This book includes a lot of very descriptive and gory horror elements. There are also a lot of other mental health things going on here like suicide, madness, and self-harm. Just a heads up to anyone sensitive to those topics. When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family–before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways.Be careful who you dance with…

This story takes place years after the conclusion of the first story. In this one, we're following Verity, who I believe is the youngest of the remaining Thaumas sisters. But things suddenly change when Verity's sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem, Dauphine, married to the celebrated botanist Gerard Bloem, is interested in Verity's unique painting talent, requesting her to draw a portrait of her son Alex, who is in a wheelchair after his tragic childhood accident. When Annaleigh starts to experience vivid, ghostly visions of her sisters, she comes to realize that the deaths that have been written off as tragic accidents may not be accidents at all. On top of this, her sisters have been running off to go dancing at lavish balls each night, returning at dawn with their shoes completely worn through. But where are her sisters going? And who are they dancing with? Annaleigh must work to discover what is plaguing her family before more harm can come to them. I read this book as my first read of 2023 as part of #diversefirst by Horror Spotlight in an effort to support female, non-binary, and other diverse horror authors.

Customer reviews

Verity decides she can't wait any longer. Under the cover of darkness she flees, making her way to Bloem. This story follows Verity who has always wanted to escape the grasp of her older sister's protection and run out on adventures. When she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to flee her sister's property and paint portraits for a wealthy family, she is more than elated to get the hell out of there. As she arrives though, eery things start happening and she's not 100% convinced it's just the *recent* talent of hers she has just uncovered and perhaps the oddity lies within the manor and family inhabiting it.

EAC is a master when it comes to developing a world shrouded in the dark and the mysterious. this isnt a story that will give you nightmares, but its definitely one that will have you wary of the things that hide in the shadows. this story pulls inspiration from ‘the island of dr. moreau’ and ‘the haunting of hill house’ and creates the perfect blend of scary sci-fi and creepy gothic paranormal. In the town of Amity Falls, a family of beekeepers lives in relative harmony with their close-knit group of townspeople. Their town exists in the valley of a hard-to-travel mountain range, and monsters, perils, and death plague anyone who tries to get into Amity Falls....and out. Supply runs to the outside world are dangerous and infrequent. The people of Amity Falls are isolated. Reading House of Roots and Ruin was such a beautiful journey. It's different than the first book, because of the setting. We're now removed from the sea and thrust into a more botanical scene, but I still really enjoyed it.is it JUST the YA genre that has all the girl protagonists be dumb for the entirety of the book until its convenient for the plot that she suddenly connects all the pieces and becomes a genius ?? 😑🤚 I loved the setting, which was loosely based on colonial (?) America, although no specific time period or region was referenced. I love to crochet and my grandpa has bees, so all of those aspects were very relatable, sweet, and fun. I especially enjoyed the bee content. Unfortunately this was just not it. Verity was SO stupid I couldn’t take it. I don’t know why she needed so many times to be presented with evidence before she finally came to grips with what was happening but her naivety was too much. I hated being in her head and she was so childish. Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Ellerie and her sisters are so adorable, easy to relate and it was quite fun to read their genuine, loyal relations. Their sisterhood bond reminded me of March Sisters. They get through the tough times together, supporting each other! The weather is terrible the entirety of the book, with storms, fog, and other atmospheric and perfectly timed phenomenon such as howling winds and eerie noises that can’t be explained. Ellerie Downing lives in Amity Falls with her family and has to experience strange events in their quiet town that have forced her to keep her family safe. the fact that im actually angry i wasted my time reading this - DUDE IT TOOK LIKE A WEEK TO READ IT WAS SO BORING AND HARD TO GET THROUGH I listened to this on audiobook and the narration might have been part of my issue with this. The narrator does an excellent job with most character voices but Annaleigh's voice sounds breathy and dreamy, almost overdone.Though, at the end of the day, this was an excellently done, provocative, subtly terrifying tale, and I will definitely be looking out for more from Erin Craig. as the self proclaimed #1 erin a craig stan you do not know the scream I SCRUMPT when i woke up to this notification the other day. I was still so impressed by this and I love Craig with all my heart! I cannot WAIT for another release from her. I will totally be purchasing a physical copy (or two) to complete my collection! I looooooooved the first book, House of Salt and Sorrows, so much and I couldn't wait to return to this beautifully-eerie world. It was one of my most anticipated YA-releases of 2023 and it did not disappoint. A fantastic entry into the folklore horror canon, and another beautifully written story by Erin A. Craig.

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Be careful who you dance with... And I LOVE how this book showed that sometimes people can be more scarier than supernatural elements.Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who--or what--are they really dancing with? The novel’s vivid, evocative atmosphere will please fans of the gothic . . . chills aplenty.” —The Bulletin I actually ended up really loving the romance in this novel. This is something that I say very rarely, but Craig created such a sweet and lovely relationship that melted my heart. I was a little wary early on as a love triangle is hinted at briefly. However, it never actually happens, which I was very thankful for. There is quite a bit of insta-love here, but that is something I don’t usually mind, especially when the romance is well-constructed. Craig does one of my favorite things when it comes to romances in fantasy novels which is truly keeping it a side plot. Never once does it overpower the main plot and Annaleigh maintains her focus on her family and taking care of them.