House of Salt and Sorrows

By: Erin A. Craig

Narrated by: Emily Lawrence

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Get swept away by this “haunting” (Bustle) novel about twelve beautiful sisters living on an isolated island estate who begin to mysteriously die one by one.

"Step inside a fairy tale." —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who--or what--are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family--before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Be careful who you dance with...

And don't miss Erin A. Craig's newest novel, The Thirteenth Child, a haunting and romantic novel about the impossible choices we make in the name of love.

Critic reviews

"It’s a fairy tale, a young-adult romance (though gothic enough for adult readers) and a whodunit too."—The Wall Street Journal

“A tingling and chilling read.”—Huffington Post

"An eerie, lovely Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling full of ghosts and gods and a fascinating waterfront world and I'm reading it from behind my fingers."—Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

"Chilling and atmospheric."—Laura E. Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds

“Evocative details and lyrical, moody prose . . . a richly conceived story that blends mythic and Gothic storytelling."—PW

"The novel’s vivid, evocative atmosphere will please fans of the gothic . . . chills aplenty."—The Bulletin

"Equal parts gothic fairy tale and romance . . . compulsively readable."—SLJ

"This moody maritime retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses blends elements of suspense and horror for a gothic twist on a familiar tale. A memorably built world populated with a hauntingly doomed family."—Booklist

reviews

i went back and forth with purchasing this audiobook. There really wasnt anything i really liked about this book. I didnt like the narrator and the way she portrayed the main charecter. All of the sisters where downright annoying except for verity and camille being one of the most annoying characters i've encountered in a long time. I loved the direction the author was trying to take it, but it was just so many antagonist that it almost made it not worth finishing. all in all i rate this a three. The picture they painted was beautiful. the rest was not.

Good premise but confusing

Well, first of all, I liked the spooky, mysterious plot a lot. It drew me in and was so different and fun. I liked the sisters and felt sad that they were all in perpetual mourning and kept suffering tragedies. The littlest sister Verity was my favorite character, even though she's about 6 maybe? She was cute, but also creepy with her seeing ghosts and her drawings were super morbid. Haunted little kids are scary and it made the story even spookier. The pacing over the first half was fairly slow, but then the second half felt rushed. I also got confused a few times and even at the end, I have questions.
The narrator did a really good job, she got into it and helped draw me into the story.
Fun book to read in October and great premise!

Absolutely Beautiful

I can’t say a whole lot about this book without giving too much away. It was lovely and dreadful and almost perfect. The only thing I wanted was for the crazy to come sooner, but once it did it did NOT disappoint. I love doubting everything the narrator sees, feels, and thinks. I love that no one is safe. I love not knowing if it’s even possible to have a happy ending. I just wish it had lasted longer. I felt too safe for too long.

So much to say! Enjoyable read/listen.

I did enjoy this book. It’s busy and it took me a little while to get into the storyline, that could be me though, often an audible takes some time to build for me.
There are a lot of sisters and a lot of sisterly conflict with this story, some I wish had a little more depth or storyline, but enjoyable and real all the same. Erin Craig did wonderfully with the plot twists and just enough foreshadowing for this novel to come together in the end. Emily Lawrence narrates with emotion and infliction switching back and forth between characters with ease. I thought I had it all figured out and knew who I wanted to be the root of all evil, but I missed it! There was sorrow and triumph in a very heart broken way and I loved it. I would recommend this book as an intricate read for anyone wanting a love story, mystery, suspenseful, mythical, sad but happy ending all rolled into one.

entertaining and intriguing

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy listen and kept my attention thoroughly.

Beautiful

I love it, this amazing story made me cry at the end ❤ truly amazing

beautifully written

This book was twisting and turning like mad. Didn't know from moment to moment what was real. Loved it.

Twists and turns

Imaginative book with great characters. This isn’t really like any other story I have read before. A little old world charm a few gods and a mystery to solve to save a family. Lots of twists and turns with amazing narration. This will be a hardcover purchase to add to the library.

Great Story!

This story is 12 dancing princesses meets horror and I absolutely loved it. It was creepy, interesting, and I couldn’t predict it which is always a huge plus for me. There were several twists I didn’t see coming and I could not stop listening! The narrator was also really good and fit the characters well.

Slow starter that turns into a page turner

The narrator was a little too dramatic at times, but overall she was great. The beginning starts out slow, but by the last three hours you don’t wanna stop listening.