A review by rose_celeste
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I liked many things about this book. The characters, the universe, the unfolding story, the tense atmosphere that kept on growing more and more intense. I loved how odd events were described as perfectly normal, how the Isles felt isolated from the rest of the world. The visions that unfolded first as magnificent magical feats and then descended like furies upon the characters, nightmares all too real and tangible with horrible consequences.

However, two parts did bother me enough to feel a tad disappointed. (This might spoil too much for some, so be warned)

The causes for the sisters' demises surprised me. Nothing truly foreshadowed them enough for me that I felt that they fitted seamlessly into the world.
The Trickster God and the Goddess of Madness and Nightmares
are interesting and do fit in the whole worldbuilding, but I would've preferred some more lore being developed before having them suddenly being revealed as they were. 

The ending felt...off to me. All of it would've felt smoother if more had been explained throughout the story. I felt unsatisfied by the conclusion as the cause of the death in this House of Salt and Sorrows was rushed in the last chapters. Leaving important characters underdeveloped despite that they were the reason why it all happened. Had we been given more than a few crumbs, perhaps I would've felt more involved in the tragedies of it all and the consequences for this unfortunate family.
And for all I loved Cassius, the lad also desperately needed some more development.


All things concluded however, I devoured this book with great enthusiasm and would recommend it for those who enjoy darker shades of fairytales.
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