Fanciful Review | House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“We are born of the Salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt we return.”

Annaleigh Thaumas has lived much of her life in mourning, losing sister after sister to various accidents, labelled by the superstitious inhabitants of the islands they live on as a curse. Can Annaleigh unravel the truth of the curse before it can claim any more of her sisters, and before she is driven mad by the haunting visions of her dead sisters?

Annaleigh is a compelling main character. This story is told from her first person perspective, so we learn alongside her, and our thoughts and ideas are coloured by her thoughts and ideas. This may go a long way in explaining how I had so many suspicions yet was thrown for a loop as many of the plot twists were revealed. I enjoyed experiencing Annaleigh’s confusion, upset, joy, and horror alongside her.

Speaking of sharing Annaleigh’s experiences and emotions, the author’s tale was so vividly written I actually felt dizzy reading one scene where Annaleigh found herself frightened and overwhelmed. I can only dream of eliciting this reaction in my future readers.

The setting was truly captivating. The Highmoor Manor was everything you would expect from a Gothic tale. It was expansive, gorgeous, and seemed to have a personality all its own. The islands were also fascinating to explore and learn about. They provided a lively setting, isolated from the wider world. The local customs were lovingly showcased and a joy to experience.

The world building, despite seeing very little of the further kingdoms, was descriptive and left me sure that the world outside the story was alive and going about its usual business. If the author wrote more stories set in this universe, I would happily read them.

Some of the earlier horror scenes seemed to lack a certain tension. However, as the story progressed and my understanding grew, I began to wonder if this was in fact a deliberate side effect of the way the story was woven, as each horror scene became more and more tense.

Ultimately, this was a gorgeous book that continued to surprise, delight, and horrify me. Despite now knowing the truth of the story, I found myself overcome with the immediate desire to reread this book as soon as I put it down. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy Gothic ambience, horror, and even romance.



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