A review by woodsybookworm
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The Salt Grows Heavy is not your childhood little mermaid story. Opening with a kingdom on fire and a brood of baby mermaids tearing into the last remaining citizens, we meet our main characters - the Mermaid and the Plague Doctor.

Leaving behind a kingdom in ruin, the two set out together to find a new home - and maybe a new kingdom to throw into chaos. But like anyone who's played a videogame, these two get distracted by a side mission and find themselves in an encampment of feral children run by three otherworldly surgeons. 

I can see why there are so many mixed reviews about this book now. It is very atmospheric...abstract? Philosophical? It's all vibes, let's say that, but with every 10 dollar word in the thesaurus being used to fill its pages. It's easy to get lost in the story which is written like a stream of consciousness diary from the mermaid's perspective, but there were some surprisingly tender moments sprinkled throughout that chaos. 

The ending and the epilogue (which is actually a prologue) were beautifully written and I honestly fell in love with the Plague Doctor.
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