House of Salt and Sorrows

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...
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *House of Salt and Sorrows* is a dark, gothic retelling of *The Twelve Dancing Princesses* set by a eerie seaside town, blending mystery, ...
wow wow wow so many Haunting of Hill House vibes, the atmosphere was incredible, messed with my mind in the best way possible, for sure a new favorite
I gave the starts for Verity, horror elements and finally being free of this book. Sorry, I wished I cared. Never again!
If Edgar Allan Poe were to rewrite my favorite fairy tale the "Twelve Dancing Princesses," this book would be the result. A dark, gothic seaside setting with lots of death, mystery, and twisty madness thrown in make for a great story.
Don't get me wrong. This is NOT a sweet fairy tale. In fact, the author takes the premise of 12 sisters, and a little dancing and creates a completely different story.
The book begins with Annaleigh (MC) attending the funeral of her sister, Eulalie - the fourth to die. Now, Annaleigh has only seven sisters left: Camille, the now oldest and most concerned with finding a husband; the triplets, Rosalie, Ligeia, and Lenore; and the Graces: Honor, Mercy & little Verity the youngest of the sisters. Of all the sisters, Annaleigh is the most introspective. She feels more deeply and questions the death of Eulalie, whereas the others believe they're cursed.
There is mystery, intrigue, danger, a love interest, and some supernatural witchy weirdness that make this book so different from others I've read. I was captivated immediately by the creepiness. Keep in mind, there are some scenes that are really gory and shocking (yet another reason I enjoyed it). I figured out part of the ending, but I didn't see the twist coming.
This book could definitely survive as a stand-alone, but not for long. Book #2 is on its way...
Don't get me wrong. This is NOT a sweet fairy tale. In fact, the author takes the premise of 12 sisters, and a little dancing and creates a completely different story.
The book begins with Annaleigh (MC) attending the funeral of her sister, Eulalie - the fourth to die. Now, Annaleigh has only seven sisters left: Camille, the now oldest and most concerned with finding a husband; the triplets, Rosalie, Ligeia, and Lenore; and the Graces: Honor, Mercy & little Verity the youngest of the sisters. Of all the sisters, Annaleigh is the most introspective. She feels more deeply and questions the death of Eulalie, whereas the others believe they're cursed.
There is mystery, intrigue, danger, a love interest, and some supernatural witchy weirdness that make this book so different from others I've read. I was captivated immediately by the creepiness. Keep in mind, there are some scenes that are really gory and shocking (yet another reason I enjoyed it). I figured out part of the ending, but I didn't see the twist coming.
This book could definitely survive as a stand-alone, but not for long. Book #2 is on its way...
4.5
J'ai adoré et jai fait durer ma lecture en conséquence mais je pense que la fin méritait plus de temps plus de pages.
Je recommande !
J'ai adoré et jai fait durer ma lecture en conséquence mais je pense que la fin méritait plus de temps plus de pages.
Je recommande !
I didn’t know what to expect when I bought this book. I fell in love with the cover and with the idea that it was a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses. But, oh, my! I couldn’t put it down. It was plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. It reminded me of stories that are no longer written. I haven’t enjoyed a book as much as I did this one in ages. The Gothic, eerie feeling. Wow! I can’t wait to read the next one.
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