“We are born of the Salt, we live by the Salt, and to the Salt, we return.”
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House of Salt and Sorrows is a perfect read if you are looking for a standalone, set on an island with a large family, spooky elements, murder mystery, ghosts, curses, and something to creep you out completely.
I had seen the “Twelve dancing princesses” Barbie movie when I was younger, so I had the basic idea of what happens, who is the killer and betrayer. That was why my expectations were low, while diving into this story. And I seldom read horror or creepy stories too.
But, the author still managed to scare the shit out of me, all the while making me doubt every character! It was an eerie, twisty, surprisingly interesting, nightmarish tale.
“All the dreamers are castle-bound. At midnight’s stroke, we will unwind, Revealing fantasies soft or unkind. Show me debauched nightmares or sunniest daydreams. Come not as you are but as you wish to be seen.”
The writing was beautiful and managed to set up the atmosphere of grief and sadness.
The first half was not much eventful. They are all just mourning and Annaleigh is suspecting a murder. Then it picked up the pace in the second half, when they go to the ball dances. It got interesting after that.
“All my life has been moonlight and the stars. I can smell the sunlight racing through your veins from across a room. Sunlight and heat and salt. Always the salt,”
I enjoyed suspecting and guessing who could be the killer. Even though it was the one I suspected first, the author still managed to make me question every one of the characters. And that is what made this book fun for me.
“It shouldn’t matter what your parents did, just what you do as a person.”
The dynamic between the sisters was good. I loved Verity & the triplets the most. Annaleigh’s, the main character, relationship with her Father and Stepmother was so different from the movie.
As for the romance, it felt underwhelming to me. The whole introduction of their Gods in these killings felt incomplete. When it is a murder mystery with a bunch of characters suspecting each other then, I like someone familiar among them to be the killer or conspirator than a new addition, out of the blue.
I loved that there was something truly supernatural behind the nightmares, the ball dancing, the grotesque pictures Verity (youngest sister) drew. It was not only some mortal poisoning them to take the Highmoor palace. (Uhm kind of close…) But there was a supernatural edge behind the killings. (Don’t worry! it’s not exactly a spoiler, you still won’t be able to guess the killer) It is just that, the supernatural part wasn’t explored much for the readers to understand and connect to the story. I still think the Gods, ghosts, and curses storyline could have been delved into a little more.
But as a standalone and retelling, I was satisfied.
Loved the ending. Four frightening, ghostly stars for this one.