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jojo_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
bookishjenn15's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rachrreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
House of Salt and Sorrows is a gothic retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses with paranormal elements. Annaleigh is the 6th daughter of Duke Thaumas, but now she’s second in line to inherit the title from their father. Tragedy has struck their family often— first their mother, dying after childbirth. Then followed by her four eldest sisters, all in varying circumstances. I was immediately hooked by this story, but I was left feeling like something was missing from the story.
The ending felt so out of pocket to the beginning of the story and I found myself trying to figure out what in the world was going on? The big plot twist, while hard to guess, was also at the same time predictable. I think this could’ve been resolved better or been more fleshed out.
Cassius is a dream though. We stan him and Annaleigh
The ending felt so out of pocket to the beginning of the story and I found myself trying to figure out what in the world was going on? The big plot twist, while hard to guess, was also at the same time predictable. I think this could’ve been resolved better or been more fleshed out.
Cassius is a dream though. We stan him and Annaleigh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
slimy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I feel like this book is just so close to being a great YA fantasy that I would have loved at 12/13. There’s one scene that I talk about below that is SERIOUSLY out of place, but mostly this book felt unfocused and scattered.
There’s a romance that’s supposed to grab your interest in the early chapters that just disappears halfway into the book when a new romantic interest is introduced. There’s no explanation to this world’s government structure and thusly the MC’s family’s place in it. It’s an underdeveloped mystery that doesn’t really get resolved or avenged. The bad stuff happens, and then the people who did the bad things just… go back to where they came from… with no punishment, accountability, or remorse.
There are some really cute parts that I think reflect the sweeter, lighter side of YA, like innocent romances and the relationships between sisters. The MC is very relatable and reflects her age well.
I would place this book firmly in YA, with the exception of one seriously out of place scene that I don’t believe is age appropriate or fits the book.
* TW r@p£ and SA*
There’s one scene at the end, which marks the final climactic push before we wind into falling action. The stepmother (uncharacteristically and unconvincingly) has a change of heart and tries to undo a deal she’s wagered with a demon/devil (he’s confusing, I don’t know). The way that she makes this deal is by offering up herself to be pretty brutally raped in front of her two eldest step-daughters. The demon/devil then LITERALLY rapes her into a pile of bones. When I read this scene I literally had to take like 10 minutes to understand what was actually happening. Literally no precedence for this sort of content within this book or with its intended audience. Really really out of place. That should have been caught by content editors, beta readers, etc. It does not have a place in the book and only serves to shock/alarm the reader without furthering the plot or providing resolution.
There’s a romance that’s supposed to grab your interest in the early chapters that just disappears halfway into the book when a new romantic interest is introduced. There’s no explanation to this world’s government structure and thusly the MC’s family’s place in it. It’s an underdeveloped mystery that doesn’t really get resolved or avenged. The bad stuff happens, and then the people who did the bad things just… go back to where they came from… with no punishment, accountability, or remorse.
There are some really cute parts that I think reflect the sweeter, lighter side of YA, like innocent romances and the relationships between sisters. The MC is very relatable and reflects her age well.
I would place this book firmly in YA, with the exception of one seriously out of place scene that I don’t believe is age appropriate or fits the book.
* TW r@p£ and SA*
There’s one scene at the end, which marks the final climactic push before we wind into falling action. The stepmother (uncharacteristically and unconvincingly) has a change of heart and tries to undo a deal she’s wagered with a demon/devil (he’s confusing, I don’t know). The way that she makes this deal is by offering up herself to be pretty brutally raped in front of her two eldest step-daughters. The demon/devil then LITERALLY rapes her into a pile of bones. When I read this scene I literally had to take like 10 minutes to understand what was actually happening. Literally no precedence for this sort of content within this book or with its intended audience. Really really out of place. That should have been caught by content editors, beta readers, etc. It does not have a place in the book and only serves to shock/alarm the reader without furthering the plot or providing resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
katrinarose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a solid enjoyable spooky read! I liked the unreliable narrator, atmosphere, and premise. The romance fell a bit flat for me, though. This book isn’t ground-breaking or incredible, but it was fun
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
maddy_sofie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 stars and just because I was a bit slow reading this ( which is totally my fault and I know it, but it made the story a bit hard to put together for me)
I loved the slight horror aspect, the plot twists at the end and the bit of love which was just the right amount to not be the focus of the book but important enough to care.
I loved the slight horror aspect, the plot twists at the end and the bit of love which was just the right amount to not be the focus of the book but important enough to care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
alicelalicon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love how unique and twisted this story was. Despite this being a retelling of a fairy tale, Craig made this one of her own. Lots of exploration, especially with the violent / gore ish parts of the novel ! I enjoyed the red herrings and occasional side plots, not making the obvious person the obvious choice right away. Although a little wordy and could have been reduced by a few pages, the ending was such a sweet way to close the book. There were a few deaths that I wish didn’t happen but the love story that happens was enough to help me push through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
graciejames121's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
shaybrawner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"A shooting star danced across the opening, but before I could point it out, Cassius's lips descended on mine, and I forgot all about the sky."
This book is for you if... you want a darker fairytale that's also a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses.
This was soooo good! I think this will definitely be a book that's rating could raise with a reread of it. The story of The 12 Dancing Princesses was always one of my favorite as a child, I would beg my mom or grandma to put on the barbie movie or read it from the story book we had, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about one of my childhood favorites being retold in a dark way. But I loved it, it was done so well and I didn't want to put it down except when my eyes needed a short break.
The romance in this book was perfect. And I'm not usually a crazy fan of romance in my books like leave me with my fantasy and keep the romance, but this pairing, just made sense to me. I will say it has a bit of an insta love feeling so if you aren't into that you might not like it as much as I do(I usually don't like insta love but I liked this one).
My main issue with this book, was the pacing in the first half, it just felt so slow and like things were happening but not happening. That probably make absolutely no sense. Is this book perfect? Not in my opinion no. Is it a damn good book that I would recommend? Absolutely. I felt like I was pulled into this beautiful seaside world, filled with ghosts and gods.
CAWPILE Rating: 7.43/10
Stars: 4/5 Stars
Felt like living a fairytale.
This book is for you if... you want a darker fairytale that's also a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses.
This was soooo good! I think this will definitely be a book that's rating could raise with a reread of it. The story of The 12 Dancing Princesses was always one of my favorite as a child, I would beg my mom or grandma to put on the barbie movie or read it from the story book we had, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about one of my childhood favorites being retold in a dark way. But I loved it, it was done so well and I didn't want to put it down except when my eyes needed a short break.
The romance in this book was perfect. And I'm not usually a crazy fan of romance in my books like leave me with my fantasy and keep the romance, but this pairing, just made sense to me. I will say it has a bit of an insta love feeling so if you aren't into that you might not like it as much as I do(I usually don't like insta love but I liked this one).
My main issue with this book, was the pacing in the first half, it just felt so slow and like things were happening but not happening. That probably make absolutely no sense. Is this book perfect? Not in my opinion no. Is it a damn good book that I would recommend? Absolutely. I felt like I was pulled into this beautiful seaside world, filled with ghosts and gods.
CAWPILE Rating: 7.43/10
Stars: 4/5 Stars
Felt like living a fairytale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Body horror and Gore