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The Salt Grows Heavy

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The Salt Grows Heavy

By: Cassandra Khaw
Narrated by: Susan Dalian
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From USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw comes The Salt Grows Heavy, a razor-sharp and bewitching fairytale of discovering the darkness in the world, and the darkness within oneself.

“Narrator Susan Dalian viscerally conveys the gruesome body horror while deftly capturing the lush imagery.” - Library Journal

“This brilliant novella is not to be missed.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

You may think you know how the fairytale goes: a mermaid comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids have teeth. And now, her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to ashes.

On the run, the mermaid is joined by a mysterious plague doctor with a darkness of their own. Deep in the eerie, snow-crusted forest, the pair stumble upon a village of ageless children who thirst for blood, and the three “saints” who control them.

The mermaid and her doctor must embrace the cruelest parts of their true nature if they hope to survive.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire.

 Fairy Tales Fantasy Merfolk Scary Fiction Royalty

Featured Article: The top 100 horror books of all time


This list encompasses the full spectrum of what horror can be—campfire-worthy tales, stomach-churning gore, and incisive social commentary. The classics are accounted for, but it also spotlights more recent titles, because that’s the nature of the genre—it is as perennial as it is ever-evolving, conjuring whatever frights most haunt our collective consciousness. Each title does have one thing in common: It makes for devilishly good listening. So cut the lights and press play—if you dare.

Featured Article The top 100 horror books of all time
Beautifully Written Story • Creative Mermaid Reimagining • Fantastic Reader • Lovable Characters • Dark Fairy Tale

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love the mermaid and her plauge doctor. A little mermaid retelling with a gorey slant and cannibalistic children

great story!

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Wish there was more to this interesting premise. Ending feels rushed but I truly loved these characters. I am torn.

Feels a bit unfinished

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Fairytale type stories aren’t really my thing usually, but Cassandra Khaw is good. Real good. So, I gave it a go and am glad I did because I really enjoy her work. She has a poetic prose about her. Elegant with the lurking possibility of the grotesque.

The Salt Grows Heavy is a very good lyrical fairytale with a lot of heart. And the appropriate amount of viscera and violence. Very nicely done.

A very good lyrical fairytale with heart

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I loved this book, I loved the main characters and the way they were written.

Mermaids, but way more interesting.

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I though this book was super well written in a dreamy yet spooky but sophisticated way. I was intrigued and I started to feel for the characters by the end.
I highly recommend if you want a short read.

Fabulous short story about s dystopian mermaid and her love

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