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Annaleigh Thaumas has lived a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. She’s worn the black and gray of mourning so long she’s become accustomed to the stares, the whispers, the talk of accidents, of suicide, of a curse placed by the gods on the Thaumas sisters.
It started with her mother’s death six years ago. One by one, Annaleigh’s four eldest sisters followed. Each death was more tragic than the last. A plague. A terrible fall. A drowning. A slip on the cliff edge.
But what if her sisters’ deaths weren’t the working of a curse or even mere accidents? What if they were murdered? What if the ghostly visions that have been haunting Annaleigh aren’t signs of madness, but the souls of her dead sisters unable to find rest? If that’s true, Annaleigh is determined to find the killer before they come to claim the next Thaumus sister.
Meanwhile, her sisters are intent on leaving their lives of perpetual mourning behind and eager to start again. They’ve found what they believe to be the doorway of a god, and every night, they sneak out to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and slippers that wear out far too quickly.
Annaleigh wishes she could be rid of these frightening visions and fears and join them in their forbidden trysts. Or should she be trying to stop them? Are these glorious balls even real? Because if they aren’t, who — or what — are her sisters really dancing with?
House of Salt and Sorrows is a huge tangle of genres, including fantasy, fairy tale retelling, romance, murder mystery, and gothic horror, which seem to mesh surprisingly well. I did feel the romance at the ending was a little unrealistic and forced, and I would have liked to have a better understanding of the villain’s motive, but, surprisingly enough, I found myself enjoying this new take on a familiar fairy tale.
If you love fairy tale retellings or enjoy mind-twisting tales, you might want to give this story a try. But be warned: this book is definitely not for the faint of heart, and, just to be safe, you may want to read the ending well before bedtime.
Rated: Moderate, for countless gory descriptions, some gruesome deaths, and a vicious, bloody birth scene. A little sister sketches unsettling images of her dead sisters. A married couple are interrupted in the middle of the night, and the character mentions hearing sounds of pleasure from beyond the bed-curtains. There were a few innuendos and one use of moderate language. Two characters share several passionate kisses.
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