This means that readers even unfamiliar with the source material can enjoy the novel without missing out. First of all, as far as retellings go, The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a bit more obscure than some of the other popular retellings. With the help of a sympathetic stranger, Annaleigh begins an investigation of her own.Ĭraig’s story is a retelling of the Brothers’ Grimm The Twelve Dancing Princesses but with several original touches. Annaleigh, however, believes that something more nefarious is happening to her sisters. Villagers begin to whisper that the family is cursed. These deaths have been as tragic as they have been mysterious, leaving the family in almost constant mourning. While Annaleigh was once one of twelve daughters, she is now only one of nine. But if you’re looking for a fun fairytale read that doubles as a horror/murder mystery book, then pick this up! Its beautiful cover is never leaving my bookshelf.58 House of Salt and Sorrows is a Subtle Retelling with a Unique TwistĪnnaleigh lives at Highmoor, a castle by the sea with her father, stepmother, and sisters in House of Salt and Sorrows. My only critiques are that the romance was a little too underdeveloped and cheesy for my taste, and the dialogue in certain scenes felt a little flat.

So if you’re not into any type of horror, then this isn’t for you. I should’ve known from the book’s description, but this book is full of (in-depth) murder and death. I also enjoyed learning about the gods and mythology of this world.

While most of this book was dark and gothic, there were fun ball and festival scenes in between. I loved the octopus imagery and the descriptions of the sea. Craig’s descriptions of Highmoor and the world around them brought this fantasy world to life. They felt very Jane Austen to me, especially when they prepared to go to the balls. I really enjoyed this book! I it had a lot of twists and turns, and while I guessed two of the major plot points, the rest, particularly at the end, were great and surprising. In between dancing in myserious balls with her sisters, Annaleigh works to uncover the dark truth. When Annaleigh’s younger sister begins seeing ghosts, she believes that her last sister to die was actually murdered. She used to be one of twelve sisters, but four of her sisters have died tragic deaths. Without further ado, let’s start the review!Ī dark, gothic fairytale retelling? Very up my alley!Īnnaleigh lives in Highmoor, a manor on an island by the sea where the people worship a sea god. While I’m bummed about that, it means I have more time to read and post on here. I’m currently on an extended Spring Break, and my classes have all been moved online for the rest of the semester. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

The house of salt and sorrows book 2