House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig - ESSENTIAL

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, 416 pages. Delacorte (Random), 2019. $19.

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (affairs mentioned, birthing); Violence: PG-13 (murders, deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Once there were 12 Thaumus girls with a loving mother and father, but the mother died the same day the last was born. Over five years four of the daughters have died from various causes and AnnaLeigh, now second in line is sure that someone murdered the last.  As she investigates, the odd, mysterious air around the family intensifies.  A little bit of romance frames mystery atfer mystery as AnnaLeigh becomes more sure that even the gods are against them with this curse.

While my summary is poor indeed, Craig writes a well-drawn world with a story that lovers of gothic romance and retold fairytales will be sucked in.  The retold tale – The Twelve Dancing Princesses!  I know!  She includes almost everything you’d expect from the original, but twists it far beyond you could ever predict!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS