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ignited_redqueen75's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely intense, kept me on my toes and creeped me out at times. I can't wait till the next book comes out... Anxiously waiting :)
ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
4.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
I am not sure what I expected when I first read the summary of this book, Romeo and Juliet? Children of the Corn? It was an interesting but different mix. A mix that worked out really well. Salt and Blood is one of the creepiest books I have read so far this year. From the first line of the book I was entrapped in the world that Kim built for us.
Almost everyday since Ash was a young girl she has seen a dead girl, hanging from corn husk rope. Something that no one else sees. As time when on the dead girl began to look like Ash. Ash and her twin brother Rhys always lived a normal life, even if their mother did have weird tendencies because she grew up in a cult in a place called Quivira. But one day when Ash comes home from school and her mother is missing she knows right where to look. Packing a few belongings, and the things her mother seemed to leave behind for Ash to find. Ash and Rhys hit the road in search of Quivira. When arriving they are met by corn fields, and abandoned cars. Once in Quivira things are only about to get weirder. Who was the strange boy Ash met in the corn? Why are people suddenly dying? And where is their mother?
I love the banter between all the characters, even though the book is dark the constant banter between everyone gave it a lighter and funnier feel. Ash and Rhys who are twins have some of the best dialogue together. I enjoyed the fact that Ash is very protective of Rhys despite everything that is going on, and it is seen more in some books that the guy is more protective of the girl, then vise versa. Besides Ash and Rhys, there is Beth. Who meets the siblings when they first step out from the corn. She is a little out there, mostly due to an incident of hitting her head. She is the little blooming ray of sunshine in this horror book. (Besides the romance) Beth reminds me of a puppy. She wants everyone to be happy.
Insta-love is typically a turn off for me in books. But due to the plot and the history of Quivira, and they Ash's overall personality it fit in with the book well. And Dane. You guys. As Kim described him to me in a tweet he is: "tortured." But he is also a mixed (Families play a huge role in Quivira's culture) which means any romance between him and Ash is basically forbidden. But there is always ways around that isn't there? Kim basically destroyed me in the last fifty pages of this book, and I am excited where she will take this in with the second book.
The world building was really well done. I pictured Quivira as in almost like a settlement back in the 1700s. (Which I may be wrong but that is how Ash described it to us) But also the flashbacks, and how they were told through Ash's "Gift" added to the creep factor of Blood and Salt. Overall I really loved Blood and Salt, I can't wait to see what Kim has planned for us in book 2!
I am not sure what I expected when I first read the summary of this book, Romeo and Juliet? Children of the Corn? It was an interesting but different mix. A mix that worked out really well. Salt and Blood is one of the creepiest books I have read so far this year. From the first line of the book I was entrapped in the world that Kim built for us.
Almost everyday since Ash was a young girl she has seen a dead girl, hanging from corn husk rope. Something that no one else sees. As time when on the dead girl began to look like Ash. Ash and her twin brother Rhys always lived a normal life, even if their mother did have weird tendencies because she grew up in a cult in a place called Quivira. But one day when Ash comes home from school and her mother is missing she knows right where to look. Packing a few belongings, and the things her mother seemed to leave behind for Ash to find. Ash and Rhys hit the road in search of Quivira. When arriving they are met by corn fields, and abandoned cars. Once in Quivira things are only about to get weirder. Who was the strange boy Ash met in the corn? Why are people suddenly dying? And where is their mother?
I love the banter between all the characters, even though the book is dark the constant banter between everyone gave it a lighter and funnier feel. Ash and Rhys who are twins have some of the best dialogue together. I enjoyed the fact that Ash is very protective of Rhys despite everything that is going on, and it is seen more in some books that the guy is more protective of the girl, then vise versa. Besides Ash and Rhys, there is Beth. Who meets the siblings when they first step out from the corn. She is a little out there, mostly due to an incident of hitting her head. She is the little blooming ray of sunshine in this horror book. (Besides the romance) Beth reminds me of a puppy. She wants everyone to be happy.
Insta-love is typically a turn off for me in books. But due to the plot and the history of Quivira, and they Ash's overall personality it fit in with the book well. And Dane. You guys. As Kim described him to me in a tweet he is: "tortured." But he is also a mixed (Families play a huge role in Quivira's culture) which means any romance between him and Ash is basically forbidden. But there is always ways around that isn't there? Kim basically destroyed me in the last fifty pages of this book, and I am excited where she will take this in with the second book.
The world building was really well done. I pictured Quivira as in almost like a settlement back in the 1700s. (Which I may be wrong but that is how Ash described it to us) But also the flashbacks, and how they were told through Ash's "Gift" added to the creep factor of Blood and Salt. Overall I really loved Blood and Salt, I can't wait to see what Kim has planned for us in book 2!
stephfsteph's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rachcannoli's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really weird read and realizing that it's not a stand-alone book made a lot more sense to me upon finishing and also frustrated me. It's a really interesting concept that I don't think I've ever read anything like it, but this whole spiritual religious cult thing is super off-putting and I found myself having a difficult time getting into it especially since it's from the POV of Ash who seems excited and inviting vs. her twin that's skeptical and weirded out which was more how I was. I also get that the insta-love of Dane and Ash is the point, but it still felt ridiculous and forced. I don't know, this was a tough one for me simply because I didn't hate it and found it interesting as a concept, but I didn't like or relate to the main character and I didn't feel the mystery unraveled well enough either to keep me engaged. It was super confusing until it was just spoon-fed to me at the end and I wasn't about that. Also the twist at the end was a clear series move of wanting me to read the next one, but I don't really care enough to do that and also was annoyed they used the twist to force the need of continuing on. I'd much rather stand-alone first books that offer some intrigue vs. a cliffhanger, but I get why it was used. I think this rambling review proves how much I'm just unsure on this one, but I'd definitely say anyone can give it a go. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief, but if you're spiritual and believe in destiny, fate, or soulmates, which I don't really know if I do, I think it'd be much more up your alley than mine.
talya_'s review against another edition
DNF, I couldn't take it any longer. I don't even know what this book is about. Visions and man-eating corn?
kristyhill's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read that moves along at a great pace and is a bit of an edge-of-your-seat story that isn't trying to be another book! The main characters, Ash and Rhys, are twins that are trying to find their mother they believe has run off to rejoin a cult she used to belong to. They find themselves in the middle of a familial battle like no other.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
4.0
Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.
These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.
Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.
As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.
- - - - -
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: intriguing, unique horror story; a romance that sweeps you off your feet and leaves you crushed at the end; lots of twists, turns, and general roller-coaster emotions; intense drama, mystery, teenage angst, and the occult; an outside perspective into the “cult” lifestyle
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the month of October, so when I “treated” myself to a few newly released kindle books, I made SURE this was one I snatched up. Having finished it not long ago... I'm so glad that I did.
From the very first page, Kim Liggett wraps readers in a world of mysterious occult happenings and intense, breath-stealing drama. The prose is absolutely GORGEOUS, with hints of the poetic and lyric combining to make certain moments—and descriptions—almost sing-songy and picturesque. This story literally drags readers in head-first, and keeps them enthralled until the very end.
The characters are realistic and complex, leaping off the page to tug at your heartstrings and make you long to know what happens next. Even the minor characters are redeemable, lovable, and surprising, helping to bring this story more fully to life. You will root for them, you will loathe them, and you will understand them all at once. Their motivations, their reactions, and their interactions all come together in beautiful, painful ways, keeping readers always guessing. Keeping readers effectively in the dark until the right moments.
The world-building is done well, a staggering look into the “magic” of the occult... and the ways beliefs can, sometimes, become obsession. Can go wrong. Kim Liggett gives readers an interesting, dramatic glimpse into a world most of us aren't privvy to, and weaves the story together like the frayed edges of a favorite shirt. The plot is strong and serves a purpose; no stone is left unturned, no hole left to fester and seep at the end—everything comes together in a resounding, breath-stealing conclusion you won't expect. The twisty-turny structure, the “big reveal,” all lead to a heart-stopping ending that both ties up the loose ends and leaves room for the next book in the series (to be published sometime in 2016)!
I absolutely LOVED this read, and can't wait for the second book to be released! This is devour-worthy, filled with chills, thrills, and the obsession of first-love...and wanting things we can never have. This is one read you don't want to miss—I'd definitely recommend, particularly to lovers of authors like Stephen King, William Shakespeare, and Rin Chupeco. This is a must read!
“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”
These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.
Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.
As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.
- - - - -
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: intriguing, unique horror story; a romance that sweeps you off your feet and leaves you crushed at the end; lots of twists, turns, and general roller-coaster emotions; intense drama, mystery, teenage angst, and the occult; an outside perspective into the “cult” lifestyle
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the month of October, so when I “treated” myself to a few newly released kindle books, I made SURE this was one I snatched up. Having finished it not long ago... I'm so glad that I did.
From the very first page, Kim Liggett wraps readers in a world of mysterious occult happenings and intense, breath-stealing drama. The prose is absolutely GORGEOUS, with hints of the poetic and lyric combining to make certain moments—and descriptions—almost sing-songy and picturesque. This story literally drags readers in head-first, and keeps them enthralled until the very end.
Then I thought of my mother's words. Maybe this was what she meant by blood and salt.
Salt in the wound.
The characters are realistic and complex, leaping off the page to tug at your heartstrings and make you long to know what happens next. Even the minor characters are redeemable, lovable, and surprising, helping to bring this story more fully to life. You will root for them, you will loathe them, and you will understand them all at once. Their motivations, their reactions, and their interactions all come together in beautiful, painful ways, keeping readers always guessing. Keeping readers effectively in the dark until the right moments.
Fireworks didn't go off in my chest when he touched me, but maybe that was better—who wants to spend their whole life getting burned?
The world-building is done well, a staggering look into the “magic” of the occult... and the ways beliefs can, sometimes, become obsession. Can go wrong. Kim Liggett gives readers an interesting, dramatic glimpse into a world most of us aren't privvy to, and weaves the story together like the frayed edges of a favorite shirt. The plot is strong and serves a purpose; no stone is left unturned, no hole left to fester and seep at the end—everything comes together in a resounding, breath-stealing conclusion you won't expect. The twisty-turny structure, the “big reveal,” all lead to a heart-stopping ending that both ties up the loose ends and leaves room for the next book in the series (to be published sometime in 2016)!
But I still felt Dane like a phantom limb.
Every step I took away from him only seemed to deepen the ache. I loved him and I hated him. Even whispering his name felt like fire and ice scraping against my lungs. And now I was bound to him for all eternity, a prisoner of my blood.
I absolutely LOVED this read, and can't wait for the second book to be released! This is devour-worthy, filled with chills, thrills, and the obsession of first-love...and wanting things we can never have. This is one read you don't want to miss—I'd definitely recommend, particularly to lovers of authors like Stephen King, William Shakespeare, and Rin Chupeco. This is a must read!
bmg20's review against another edition
1.0
Blood and Salt was easily my most anticipated YA horror of the year. Alas, I’m slowly losing faith that I’ll ever find something that is worthwhile. This isn’t to say that there isn’t enjoyment to be found, I’m just clearly not the targeted reader. Considering horror is one of my favorite genres you would think there wouldn’t be a difference but the way the YA versions always seem to be written just doesn’t do it for me. I was leery about this one from the get go, because honestly? Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn?
There’s something I find thoroughly compelling about cults. How did they begin? How were people allured into this following? I read another cult-ish YA novel earlier this year that did a superb job at illustrating it all and at the same time leaving you completely unsettled; reading about cults should leave you feeling like that. Alas, the cult in Blood and Salt lacked the unsettling feeling, but rather had so many plot holes in the logistics of it all that I was more or less just confused.
Ashlyn and her twin brother Rhys have been raised by their mother who grew up in a cult in the middle of the corn fields in Kansas. The cult centers around the belief that their ancestor, Katia, has been waiting for centuries to be reunited with her lover who was murdered. The only thing she is waiting for are appropriate “vessels” for her and her lovers’ souls to be able to use to finally be together. The rest of the followers believe that once this happens, Katia will share her immortality with them. When Ashlyn and Rhys find their mother has disappeared one day, they think that she was meant to be Katia’s vessel, and they set off to the corn fields of Kansas to save her. Immortality, a hint of alchemy, and cannibalistic corn (or cornnibalism as Dani so eloquently put it) could have been a most excellent story but I felt that too many aspects of this story were left tragically unexplained.
From the very start, this book requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief. Ash and Rhys have both grown up in the modern day, but Ash is always seeing this random dead girl that hangs from a rope by her ankles and who coincidentally seems to look exactly like her. There’s little to no explanation for this, but her mother knows and occasionally gives her a new tattoo that is meant to protect her. When Ashlyn receives the voicemail from her mother saying that she’s gone to “walk the corn” one final time, the twins set out to Kansas immediately, driving the twenty hours straight to get there. Ash’s immediate acceptance of this cult and their belief systems was a bit far fetched and upon their arrival begins having visions of Katia that only succeed in confusing the story even more. There’s also her immediate attraction (by his scent, no less) to an individual that she’s immediately told she can’t be with, that he’s of mixed bloodlines and that sort of thing just isn’t allowed. So naturally she’s obsessed with him. Because apparently he smells that good.
Of course he’s gorgeous too.
‘…he was the kind of beautiful that made me think I might still be hallucinating.’
Followed shortly by:
‘I’d never felt such a strong physical attraction to anyone.
Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, he seemed to make all my problems disappear. I wanted to bottle that feeling and carry it around in my pocket. The thought of kidnapping him crossed my mind.’
I really should have called it a day.
http://media.giphy.com/media/10ABvIA9IM29tC/giphy.gif
It only continued.
‘He coaxed the bottle away from me and took a deep swig. […]
I snatched it back and took another drink, not because I wanted more, but because his lips had just touched the bottle.’
‘Firelight was kind to just about everyone, but what it did to Dane’s face was… criminal.’
‘For a moment, I wondered if I’d imagined our kiss last night, but he glanced down at my lips like he owned them.’
While all this is going on, she’s practically forgotten all about her prior concerns for her mother, the memory flashes continue to complicate everything, and she continues to fall deeply in love within the span of about 3 days. The out of nowhere plot development for her brothers side of the story didn’t help anything either. Given the fact that this is the first in a series, I would have hoped for a bit more character development and definitely more relationship development, but the lack of both left this one a most befuddling read for me. The ending lacked real resolution, just ending with the intent to bring readers back for the next installment but unfortunately the first installment didn’t hook me enough to be invested in seeking out the sequel.
I received this book free from First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There’s something I find thoroughly compelling about cults. How did they begin? How were people allured into this following? I read another cult-ish YA novel earlier this year that did a superb job at illustrating it all and at the same time leaving you completely unsettled; reading about cults should leave you feeling like that. Alas, the cult in Blood and Salt lacked the unsettling feeling, but rather had so many plot holes in the logistics of it all that I was more or less just confused.
Ashlyn and her twin brother Rhys have been raised by their mother who grew up in a cult in the middle of the corn fields in Kansas. The cult centers around the belief that their ancestor, Katia, has been waiting for centuries to be reunited with her lover who was murdered. The only thing she is waiting for are appropriate “vessels” for her and her lovers’ souls to be able to use to finally be together. The rest of the followers believe that once this happens, Katia will share her immortality with them. When Ashlyn and Rhys find their mother has disappeared one day, they think that she was meant to be Katia’s vessel, and they set off to the corn fields of Kansas to save her. Immortality, a hint of alchemy, and cannibalistic corn (or cornnibalism as Dani so eloquently put it) could have been a most excellent story but I felt that too many aspects of this story were left tragically unexplained.
From the very start, this book requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief. Ash and Rhys have both grown up in the modern day, but Ash is always seeing this random dead girl that hangs from a rope by her ankles and who coincidentally seems to look exactly like her. There’s little to no explanation for this, but her mother knows and occasionally gives her a new tattoo that is meant to protect her. When Ashlyn receives the voicemail from her mother saying that she’s gone to “walk the corn” one final time, the twins set out to Kansas immediately, driving the twenty hours straight to get there. Ash’s immediate acceptance of this cult and their belief systems was a bit far fetched and upon their arrival begins having visions of Katia that only succeed in confusing the story even more. There’s also her immediate attraction (by his scent, no less) to an individual that she’s immediately told she can’t be with, that he’s of mixed bloodlines and that sort of thing just isn’t allowed. So naturally she’s obsessed with him. Because apparently he smells that good.
Of course he’s gorgeous too.
‘…he was the kind of beautiful that made me think I might still be hallucinating.’
Followed shortly by:
‘I’d never felt such a strong physical attraction to anyone.
Even if it was just for a fleeting moment, he seemed to make all my problems disappear. I wanted to bottle that feeling and carry it around in my pocket. The thought of kidnapping him crossed my mind.’
I really should have called it a day.
http://media.giphy.com/media/10ABvIA9IM29tC/giphy.gif
It only continued.
‘He coaxed the bottle away from me and took a deep swig. […]
I snatched it back and took another drink, not because I wanted more, but because his lips had just touched the bottle.’
‘Firelight was kind to just about everyone, but what it did to Dane’s face was… criminal.’
‘For a moment, I wondered if I’d imagined our kiss last night, but he glanced down at my lips like he owned them.’
While all this is going on, she’s practically forgotten all about her prior concerns for her mother, the memory flashes continue to complicate everything, and she continues to fall deeply in love within the span of about 3 days. The out of nowhere plot development for her brothers side of the story didn’t help anything either. Given the fact that this is the first in a series, I would have hoped for a bit more character development and definitely more relationship development, but the lack of both left this one a most befuddling read for me. The ending lacked real resolution, just ending with the intent to bring readers back for the next installment but unfortunately the first installment didn’t hook me enough to be invested in seeking out the sequel.
I received this book free from First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
adillon12480's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. It has a great storyline. The problem is that the plot is overshadowed by long, droning, hormonally-charged descriptions of the main character's love interest, his dimple, his eyes, how she feels when she looks at him, etc. I gritted my teeth and waited for some scenes to be over, because the teenaged angst just. almost. killed. me.