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kateh0321's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Author: Cassandra Khaw
Genre: Short Story/Horror
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5
TW: Gore, body horror, cannibalism, child death, torture.
This was a fascinating novella. With the rich language (confusing at first in the audio format), Cassandra was able to explore a retelling of The Little Mermaid that is delightfully morbid and dark. It relies heavily on body horror, which will not be easy to stomach for many, but to me added to the macabre and eerie tone. I understand it was a novella, so I felt like I could have learned more about the plague doctor and the cult, but overall it was an absorbing story that I finished in one day.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book publishes on May 2nd. 2023!
Genre: Short Story/Horror
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3.5
TW: Gore, body horror, cannibalism, child death, torture.
This was a fascinating novella. With the rich language (confusing at first in the audio format), Cassandra was able to explore a retelling of The Little Mermaid that is delightfully morbid and dark. It relies heavily on body horror, which will not be easy to stomach for many, but to me added to the macabre and eerie tone. I understand it was a novella, so I felt like I could have learned more about the plague doctor and the cult, but overall it was an absorbing story that I finished in one day.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book publishes on May 2nd. 2023!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Torture and Fire/Fire injury
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
enchantressreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“It is always interesting to see how often women are described as ravenous when it is the men who, without exception, take without thought of compensation.”
A mermaid has just ravaged her husband’s kingdom, when she takes up with a local plague doctor. They happen upon a strange village filled with children and three surgeons that call themselves Saints. A childish game goes awry when the children start killing each other. The children reassure the mermaid and doctor that there’s no problem, the children have to die to be resurrected by the Saints.
Cassandra Khaw writes *very* interesting books. I had trouble reading The All-Consuming World, Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a solid four-star read, and I absolutely fell in love with The Salt Grows Heavy.
It’s no secret that not only do I love mermaid stories, I love revenge stories. Even better when they’re queer. Even better when they’re bloody. Khaw adds a little of each to this novella to create something truly outstanding. The language they use is often poetic and intense, which really sucked me into this story. As often with novellas, there can be a feeling the story is rushed or not flushed out enough, but that’s not a problem here. I think the story is appropriately paced with a satisfying ending.
If you are hesitant to read Khaw, please give The Salt Grows Heavy a chance. I am glad I still have a backlog of their work to read. I’d love to see how their writing has evolved over time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the chance to read this advanced review copy.
CW for blood, body horror, violence, gore, death, fire, child death, grief, and animal death (minor)
A mermaid has just ravaged her husband’s kingdom, when she takes up with a local plague doctor. They happen upon a strange village filled with children and three surgeons that call themselves Saints. A childish game goes awry when the children start killing each other. The children reassure the mermaid and doctor that there’s no problem, the children have to die to be resurrected by the Saints.
Cassandra Khaw writes *very* interesting books. I had trouble reading The All-Consuming World, Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a solid four-star read, and I absolutely fell in love with The Salt Grows Heavy.
It’s no secret that not only do I love mermaid stories, I love revenge stories. Even better when they’re queer. Even better when they’re bloody. Khaw adds a little of each to this novella to create something truly outstanding. The language they use is often poetic and intense, which really sucked me into this story. As often with novellas, there can be a feeling the story is rushed or not flushed out enough, but that’s not a problem here. I think the story is appropriately paced with a satisfying ending.
If you are hesitant to read Khaw, please give The Salt Grows Heavy a chance. I am glad I still have a backlog of their work to read. I’d love to see how their writing has evolved over time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the chance to read this advanced review copy.
CW for blood, body horror, violence, gore, death, fire, child death, grief, and animal death (minor)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was provided to Me by NetGalley and torNightFire for free in advance of publication for me to provide an honest review. Thank you Net Galley and tor!
This is a travelogue following not your Disney princess mermaid who has a taste for human flesh and a plague doctor who is non-binary. During their journey of a cross a kid being hunted by a group of other kids, the surviving kids take them to a village to meet the three adults that the kids called the saints. The saints harvest the organs from the victim and use it to extend their lives. The victim is then resuscitated. The plague doctor does not want this to continue and wants to expose the saints for what they are: monstrous humans.
This book examines what it means to be monstrous. At its heart, it's also a love story. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the tiaga setting. Cassandra Khaw's writing is so brutal and gory and honest I could read it all the time.
This is a travelogue following not your Disney princess mermaid who has a taste for human flesh and a plague doctor who is non-binary. During their journey of a cross a kid being hunted by a group of other kids, the surviving kids take them to a village to meet the three adults that the kids called the saints. The saints harvest the organs from the victim and use it to extend their lives. The victim is then resuscitated. The plague doctor does not want this to continue and wants to expose the saints for what they are: monstrous humans.
This book examines what it means to be monstrous. At its heart, it's also a love story. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the tiaga setting. Cassandra Khaw's writing is so brutal and gory and honest I could read it all the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
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