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nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
It took me a while to get into (it only started really picking up for me around pg 123). But once I did get into it, I really did enjoy it.
At first it was hard to keep track of all the names because there were 12 sisters plus more characters (though four of the sisters are dead from the beginning). Although I liked having a large cast of characters, it was a bit confusing for a while.
There were also some cliché romance moments and a bit of instalove which isn’t my favorite but didn’t ruin the whole thing.
It felt like it was trying to be a little too much all at once: a psychological thriller, horror, fairy tale retelling, fantasy, romance, family drama, mystery. I think this might be why it felt a little all over the place and rushed in some areas.
HOWEVER, I really just loved the ~vibes~ of the whole book and I did NOT expect it to get so dark and unsettling but I enjoyed that (despite it being a shock). I had also totally thought I guessed the twists but BOY was I WRONG lol.
The description was lovely and the tension, suspense, and mystery definitely kept me intrigued.
would recommend!
At first it was hard to keep track of all the names because there were 12 sisters plus more characters (though four of the sisters are dead from the beginning). Although I liked having a large cast of characters, it was a bit confusing for a while.
There were also some cliché romance moments and a bit of instalove which isn’t my favorite but didn’t ruin the whole thing.
It felt like it was trying to be a little too much all at once: a psychological thriller, horror, fairy tale retelling, fantasy, romance, family drama, mystery. I think this might be why it felt a little all over the place and rushed in some areas.
HOWEVER, I really just loved the ~vibes~ of the whole book and I did NOT expect it to get so dark and unsettling but I enjoyed that (despite it being a shock). I had also totally thought I guessed the twists but BOY was I WRONG lol.
The description was lovely and the tension, suspense, and mystery definitely kept me intrigued.
would recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Murder and Self harm
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Vomit
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
This book was a wild time, and not in a good way. An author has to know when there are too many plot points in a book and I’m sorry, but a Twelve Dancing Princesses murder mystery retelling set in a newly created fictional world with many murders and ghosts as well as new gods and a (maybe) love triangle with a Monday’s Not Coming styled semi-twist at the end is too much. Way too much. 2.75⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
I wanted to love this book, one bc it’s a 12 dancing princesses retelling, and two bc the romance was good. Also really loved the atmosphere and spookiness. Truly a horror fantasy YA novel.
But there were a few problems that were great enough to knock this rating from a 4 star down to 3.
Without spoilers, this mc has little going for her. She’s rich and pretty and entitled and does care about the people she loves.. but she doesn’t do much except figure out the problems and even then she was told the problems. Seemed like she wasn’t trying to find the villain/murderer and just was exasperated from the grief ensued upon her—which I can understand but to an extent. But the outcomes would’ve happened even if she had done nothing.
Now here for the main reasons with spoilers. <Why did Cassius come to her and await Annaleigh? Never brought that up besides the fact that he was looking after his father. And why were the 3 sisters deaths not explained? That seems to be a stupid plot point because it didn’t even shine light on a lesson. And also, I thought the point of this was that the dancing was supposed to kill people? It hasn’t killed the first five people! Their deaths were substantial but not enough to give in my opinion. Also, I’m conflicted with Cassius bc he could’ve killed those five people but he didn’t. I think that would’ve enticed me more if it was him rather the step mom. But I knew it’d be her from that first moment she was peeved that her son wouldn’t be heir. I do like that he loved Annaleigh though and was kinda sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
rubbertree14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Lovely twist of horror, I was mesmerized by the slow incline into madness our protagonist was going through. Would have loved a deeper connection to literally anyone in the book, I think 12 sisters was just too many to keep track in a shorter book, I didn’t feel like any of them had any distinguishable characterization. Even our main characters felt a little 2 dimensional. Wonderful mythology however and good stand-alone book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Suicide
jahodge714's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
afterall's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I don’t even know where to start! This book pleasantly surprised me.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
While at times the writing seemed rushed, like characters were doing one thing and suddenly another with no connection in between, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospheric description and the seemingly effortless way that words turned to pictures in my mind. I experienced this book with all five of my senses. The environments were beautifully described.
There was so much lore that sometimes I felt like the world had been thoroughly built but there wasn’t enough book to explain enough of it to me. I found myself confused and re-reading some parts just to make sure I understood what was happening regarding the myths, legends, and gods in the story. Despite the confusion at times, I felt like it was all pretty well explained and wrapped up in the end. I guess ultimately I would rather it be this way then be OVER explained. It’s a fast paced story set in a world that is clearly big enough for multiple stories.
The horror aspect of this book was so intriguing. I didn’t expect it to get as dark and frightening at some parts, but I loved the way I could see the scenes play out in my mind.
I felt like the romance was almost unnecessary in this story. Perhaps if it had been more believable, I’d appreciate it a little more. But the couple seemed to fall in love instantly for no real reason other than to have a romance in the story. The love between the sisters was enough to carry the story for me.
This book has the near perfect amount of happy, sad, and purely horrific moments, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was so refreshing to read a unique story like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
ewarde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Enticing the whole way through. Borderline psychological thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Body horror
1997's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
The Twelve Princesses retelling with ghosts, murder, and mystery? I’m in. I simply disappeared into this world as soon as I opened the book. Pick this up during a dark and stormy night; you won’t regret it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, and Suicide
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Holy moly, did this book creep up on me, in the best ways possible. Gorgeously gothic and atmospheric, the world is a slow build of horror that culminates in a head-spinning fireball of an ending. Literally.
Right from page one you know this is gothic horror. From the land the people live on to the house itself, and you know, the funeral of the opening scene, you know this is not going to be a light story. Just what my black heart desires.
I’m not gonna lie though, I did question the purpose of the world for about half the book. It’s a very nice world, but I couldn’t help asking myself why wasn’t this just set in am ambiguous, Englishy area of our world in the past? WAIT FOR IT. It’s a slow weave, but everything does come together.
But that’s also a testament to the writing too. It’s beautiful without being florid, completely immersive, and horribly haunting. It’s everything I would want in a gothic story. It reaches out for you instead of pushes you away. As someone who LOVES worldbuilding, in a less well-written book I probably would have been turned off, but HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS kept drawing me in.
On top of that it’s fantasy horror. I haven’t read too much of this, if anything at all that I can think of. It’s glorious and the world needs more of it. It’s like fantasy world folk horror and I’m here for this.
I loved Annaleigh and yet again, a testament to Craig’s writing in how turned around I felt by the end of it all. I LOVE it when books do that. Spin my head right ’round! I was seriously questioning what was real and what wasn’t right along with Annaleigh.
HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS is also creepy as hell. Not only do you have the creepy gothic mansion, you have creepy things that may or may not be lurking in the bath water, or in the shadows, or in the catacombs. The ambiance of the story was absolutely wonderful. Everything my horror-loving heart desires.
What a freakishly fantastic addition to YA horror. It’s so different yet so recognizable and so utterly devious and creepy. Exactly what I’m looking for in a YA horror read. I can’t wait to read more by Craig!
5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway opportunity.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
missmollyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Vomit