Scan barcode
A review by danaslitlist
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Once again Erin A. Craig has written a book inspired by gothic literature and nails every marker of that. Unnerving warnings from ghosts? Check. A mysterious manor with dark secrets around every corner? Check. A family full of weird traditions and skeletons in their closets? Double check. Every moment of this book was like watching Rebecca (1940) crossed with Crimson Peak. And as a fan of both, I was in heaven the entire time.
Though I hadn't reread House of Salt and Sorrow I fell right back into the world and the setting that had been established with ease. This is made possible by the fact that this story occurs years after the events of the first novel and follows Verity, the youngest of the twelve Thaumus sisters as she finally flees her island home and towards the the mysterious and famous home of The Duchess of Bloem against the wishes of her sister. What follows next is a series of plots and discoveries that show that the legacy of the Duchess and her family might not be what it appears to be.
I think all the characters were so fascinating and even the ones that fell into tropes were enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised that we have a disabled male love interest who is so complex and also proud to be disabled. I was a bit nervous at the beginning but Erin A. Craig did a great job of writing him well and remaining respectful of disabled bodies and agency.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and despite trying to slow down the reading experience, I couldn't bring myself to put the book down. Each chapter just captured my attention more and more! The only reason this isn't a five star read is that I wish the ending had unraveled a bit slower or had happened earlier in the novel instead of everything coming to a rushing ending in the last thirty pages. Though this definitely invoked a sense of frenzy and confusion that was most certainly intended on part of the author and I don't feel like this is necessarily a flaw that would bother most readers.
And that epilogue....leaves a bit of a tease that I both like and dislike. But then again, in true fashion of most gothic literature and media, it fits perfectly.
Though I hadn't reread House of Salt and Sorrow I fell right back into the world and the setting that had been established with ease. This is made possible by the fact that this story occurs years after the events of the first novel and follows Verity, the youngest of the twelve Thaumus sisters as she finally flees her island home and towards the the mysterious and famous home of The Duchess of Bloem against the wishes of her sister. What follows next is a series of plots and discoveries that show that the legacy of the Duchess and her family might not be what it appears to be.
I think all the characters were so fascinating and even the ones that fell into tropes were enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised that we have a disabled male love interest who is so complex and also proud to be disabled. I was a bit nervous at the beginning but Erin A. Craig did a great job of writing him well and remaining respectful of disabled bodies and agency.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and despite trying to slow down the reading experience, I couldn't bring myself to put the book down. Each chapter just captured my attention more and more! The only reason this isn't a five star read is that I wish the ending had unraveled a bit slower or had happened earlier in the novel instead of everything coming to a rushing ending in the last thirty pages. Though this definitely invoked a sense of frenzy and confusion that was most certainly intended on part of the author and I don't feel like this is necessarily a flaw that would bother most readers.
And that epilogue....leaves a bit of a tease that I both like and dislike. But then again, in true fashion of most gothic literature and media, it fits perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, and Drug use
Moderate: Gore and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent