A review by cheriepie
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Very lovingly described gore, occasionally verging on the purple. That's usually not an issue for me (I love my books with pretty words) but often the prose verged into indie rock lyrics territory -- it makes sense on a first glance and might capture a vibe, but once you think about it for a second, it doesn't make any sense at all.

I also wish we got to sit in the atmosphere a little longer before the plot kicked off. I was taken with the story and theming of the Plague Doctor.

Additionally -- I think the epilogue cheapened the story a lot. I get it's supposed to be a love story or something and therefore we're supposed to feel happy when the two leads get together again, defying even death. Usually I love that shit. But it's really out of place here, especially when the Plague Doctor had expressed several times their disgust with the Saints' revival of the children, their desire to die, and then they're okay with the mermaid reviving them? With that weird additional "Mad Father" ending where she becomes the thing she was fighting against (done better in Mad Father). I think if it ended after Chapter Three it would have felt more complete.
 
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