Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

44 reviews

purplehulk713's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Macabre and enchanting, like a ballgown woven from spiderwebs. The world-building of Arcannia, especially of the gods and their canon was fascinating and clever. “We are the People of the Salt.” The motif of dancing was exquisite, both as a breathless art and a dangerous temptation, magical, even. The story’s mystery is incredible, always keeping you guessing, even if you do grasp some pieces of the puzzle you don’t have them all. Death surrounds Highmoor, but Annaleigh seeks to protect life, her cleverness and loyalty to her family (especially her sisters) makes her a lovable, formidable, and powerful protagonist. Believe me, you’ll have trouble figuring out who the antagonist is. The salty seaside atmosphere is the perfect setting for a horror retelling of a classic fairytale. There are also plenty of edge-of-your-seat reveals. The one thing about the climax that slightly disappointed me was that it didn’t let Annaleigh shine as much as I thought she would, taking on some bold protective battle against the evil invading her home. But I guess it still showcased her development in avoiding temptation. It also showed her strength even in the face of loss, perhaps her greatest challenge in the novel. A unique pantheon of gods with potent and wonderfully crafted abilities creates a mesmerizing lore. Erin A. Craig does an impeccable job at balancing and blending the opulent and the sinister. Do you wish to escape your grief? Rest from the bitter and wearisome struggles of the everyday? Do you long for the joy that makes your heart light and your soul sing? Can you hear the melody? Well then, dance with me?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content and Toxic friendship

ka_ke'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

4.75

I loved this book! I’m not sure if the balls were necessary, but it all tied together! The ending is horribly sad, at least until the epilogue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

howlsbreakfast's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

THIS BOOK HAS ME FLOORED I LOVE IT. THE AMOUNT OF EMOTIONS THIS GAVE ME EVERY CHAPTER, CONFUSION, DISBELIEF, DOUBT. LOVE IT. I love Cassius Corum 🫶🫰.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

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!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Self harm and Murder

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent

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⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Cursing and Alcohol

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

cyan_altaria's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is one of the best fairytale retellings I've ever read! I love how it takes the original fairytale and twists it into something darker.  The mystery was engaging, and it was hard to put the book down.  I loved the complex characters.  The romance was well done, and I appreciate that Craig avoided making it a love triangle.  10/10 would recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail

econcomics's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

4.75

Really good, but really sad and emotional book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

queenrivanni's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail