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siglerbooknook's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was every bit as entertaining, chilling, twisted, and enjoyable as the first.
I was surprised when this story focused so much on the romance. Then it surprised me again by being sweet, gentle, and almost like a daydream.
I spent half the book on the edge of my seat sure things were about to go terribly wrong.
And BOY did they. Once the chilling secrets started to show up they felt like a waterfall sweeping me along at a mad rush along with Verity. Every twist was a jarring mix of anticipation, hope, uncertainty, and fear. Every answer made perfect sense yet offered 3 more questions.
The plot is a wonderfully example of the dangers of ego and "playing god".
The ending made me want to throw the book across the room in the best possible way, and I can't explain why without major spoilers. It's the kind of ending that makes me speechless and shaking my head because "that can't be right!" You'll have to read it for yourself to truly understand what I mean...
I was surprised when this story focused so much on the romance. Then it surprised me again by being sweet, gentle, and almost like a daydream.
I spent half the book on the edge of my seat sure things were about to go terribly wrong.
And BOY did they. Once the chilling secrets started to show up they felt like a waterfall sweeping me along at a mad rush along with Verity. Every twist was a jarring mix of anticipation, hope, uncertainty, and fear. Every answer made perfect sense yet offered 3 more questions.
The plot is a wonderfully example of the dangers of ego and "playing god".
The ending made me want to throw the book across the room in the best possible way, and I can't explain why without major spoilers. It's the kind of ending that makes me speechless and shaking my head because "that can't be right!" You'll have to read it for yourself to truly understand what I mean...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
kah035's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
mybooksarenovel's review against another edition
5.0
This was top tier horror in my opinion. I haven't read a horror novel I've enjoyed in a long time, and this was pretty close to perfect. Gothic setting, ghosts, mad science, uncomfortable descriptions, questionable decisions...so good.
4.5 stars
I'm not a fan of the sexual depictions which is why I'll take off half a star.
Poor Verity. That girl cannot catch a break.
Thank you to Random house and Netgalley for a copy to review.
4.5 stars
I'm not a fan of the sexual depictions which is why I'll take off half a star.
Poor Verity. That girl cannot catch a break.
Thank you to Random house and Netgalley for a copy to review.
mybooksarenovel's review against another edition
4.0
The Sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows.
Verity, the youngest Thaumas sister has grown to adulthood. 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 a 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.
Verity, the youngest Thaumas sister has grown to adulthood. 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 a 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.
lophil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
karabeta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Seizing an opportunity to experience life away from the tragic, haunting past of her family, one young woman learns that all families seem to have unpleasant things lurking beneath the surface in House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
The youngest daughter of the cursed Thaumas family, Verity lives at the family estate under the protective care of her older sister Camille and spends her time sketching and painting, but she’s eager to experience the world beyond Highmoor, daydreaming of adventure. When an invitation arrives from the Duchess of Bloem for Verity to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander Laurent, Verity is excited for the opportunity, but Camille quickly dismisses the notion. After her heated exchange with Camille about her confinement to Highmoor, Verity has an unsettling encounter with two of her dead sisters, an experience that’s unique to her that her remaining sisters have kept secret from her, which forces Verity to confront an uncomfortable realization about herself. Shocked by the revelation, Verity flees toward adventure, heading to Bloem to begin the commissioned painting. Captivated by the lush landscape and the charms of the Laurent family, especially those of Alexander, Verity is quickly drawn in by the wonders of this life and the potential of a blossoming romance. But not all is as wonderous as it appears when Verity is plagued with nightmares, kept awake by screams in the night, and repeated warnings from ghostly beings to leave the Laurent estate. With the dark secrets and plots of the Laurent family stemming from the Duke of Bloem’s botanical experiments surfacing, Verity faces the reality and consequences of the situation she’s in as she makes her decision of who to trust with her future.
Depicting the life of the youngest daughter of the Thaumas family twelve years after the events of The House of Salt and Sorrow, this tale presents a slowly building plot devised by meticulous and manipulative cultivating characters whose actions contribute to an ominous, yet enticing, atmosphere. As this story focuses on a different sister than the first novel of the series, there’s relevant information provided in the text on an as-needed basis to flesh out and connect the stories and the world the characters reside in, but the story can stand on its own well. There was interesting representation of disability and the accommodations for Alexander as a wheelchair user to function independently were inventive and fittingly within the scope of technology of the established world. The prose of the novel was highly descriptive with floral imagery and an added layer through the language of flowers featured prominently throughout the narrative; those details and other abundant clues offered foreshadowed what’s to come during the more slowly moving middle portion of the story, though the clues presented shine clearly and brightly as Chekov’s guns, leaving readers to ponder just when they’ll finally come into play. Similar to the structure of the first in the Sisters of Salt series, the supernatural elements were gradually introduced, ramping up in presence and involvement for driving the narrative forward to a wild, rapid series of events constituting the ending, which teasingly raises some unanswered questions to pique interest in what Verity’s future might hold.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
The youngest daughter of the cursed Thaumas family, Verity lives at the family estate under the protective care of her older sister Camille and spends her time sketching and painting, but she’s eager to experience the world beyond Highmoor, daydreaming of adventure. When an invitation arrives from the Duchess of Bloem for Verity to paint a portrait of her son, Alexander Laurent, Verity is excited for the opportunity, but Camille quickly dismisses the notion. After her heated exchange with Camille about her confinement to Highmoor, Verity has an unsettling encounter with two of her dead sisters, an experience that’s unique to her that her remaining sisters have kept secret from her, which forces Verity to confront an uncomfortable realization about herself. Shocked by the revelation, Verity flees toward adventure, heading to Bloem to begin the commissioned painting. Captivated by the lush landscape and the charms of the Laurent family, especially those of Alexander, Verity is quickly drawn in by the wonders of this life and the potential of a blossoming romance. But not all is as wonderous as it appears when Verity is plagued with nightmares, kept awake by screams in the night, and repeated warnings from ghostly beings to leave the Laurent estate. With the dark secrets and plots of the Laurent family stemming from the Duke of Bloem’s botanical experiments surfacing, Verity faces the reality and consequences of the situation she’s in as she makes her decision of who to trust with her future.
Depicting the life of the youngest daughter of the Thaumas family twelve years after the events of The House of Salt and Sorrow, this tale presents a slowly building plot devised by meticulous and manipulative cultivating characters whose actions contribute to an ominous, yet enticing, atmosphere. As this story focuses on a different sister than the first novel of the series, there’s relevant information provided in the text on an as-needed basis to flesh out and connect the stories and the world the characters reside in, but the story can stand on its own well. There was interesting representation of disability and the accommodations for Alexander as a wheelchair user to function independently were inventive and fittingly within the scope of technology of the established world. The prose of the novel was highly descriptive with floral imagery and an added layer through the language of flowers featured prominently throughout the narrative; those details and other abundant clues offered foreshadowed what’s to come during the more slowly moving middle portion of the story, though the clues presented shine clearly and brightly as Chekov’s guns, leaving readers to ponder just when they’ll finally come into play. Similar to the structure of the first in the Sisters of Salt series, the supernatural elements were gradually introduced, ramping up in presence and involvement for driving the narrative forward to a wild, rapid series of events constituting the ending, which teasingly raises some unanswered questions to pique interest in what Verity’s future might hold.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
em_rubin's review against another edition
4.0
Like the previous book, i felt pretty meh about the beginning. but oh boy was I wrong. this book was fantastic. The mystery is so well written. The author does a great job at giving you clues that require full attention. I’m so excited for the next one. I think the only thing that didn’t make a whole lot of sense was the grandma. i felt like that could have had a better “reasoning”.
jackipyt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I loved the first book, but this one did not affect me the same way. I was very confused about the feelings Verity had towards Alex. The ending left me wanting more, but not knowing if this has another book. I guess I just finished and was confused and asking myself what did I just read.