6.68k reviews for:

The Salt Grows Heavy

Cassandra Khaw

3.69 AVERAGE

vsaurio's review against another edition

4.25

dark 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: Yes

rogaecia's review against another edition

1.5

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I heard of this book as a masterful horror which really made me want to read it. I am not sure what it is about this style that makes me think they write with a thesaurus at hand but that’s how reading this book felt. It was too high brow yet also gory, and high makes a terrible mix. It made reading the book sluggish and prevented the reader from actually engaging or having empathy for the characters. 

I don’t think I will reach for this author’s work in the future. 

lulaabees's review against another edition

5.0

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i loved it. i would have liked for the worldbuilding to be more developed, especially when it comes to the mermaids, but the mystery honestly adds to it in a way, so it's ok.

i_dara_u_2's review against another edition

1.0

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder

feral_forest's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

snophysh's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kleewi's review against another edition

3.75

dark sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

witchybird49's review against another edition

2.5

dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

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The story itself is interesting. I really didn't care for the writing style. It felt like the author found a thesaurus and went crazy. Honestly my favorite part was the short story at the end. I wish that had been the book. 

jessemartin2025's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark tense fast-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: Yes

csawyer06's review against another edition

3.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes