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House of Salt and Sorrows

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House of Salt and Sorrows

By: Erin A. Craig
Narrated by: Emily Lawrence
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About this listen

 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...

And don't miss Erin A. Craig's newest novel, The Thirteenth Child, a haunting and romantic novel about the impossible choices we make in the name of love. Horror Literature & Fiction Paranormal Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic Reviews

"It’s a fairy tale, a young-adult romance (though gothic enough for adult readers) and a whodunit too."—The Wall Street Journal

“A tingling and chilling read.”—Huffington Post

"An eerie, lovely Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling full of ghosts and gods and a fascinating waterfront world and I'm reading it from behind my fingers."—Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

"Chilling and atmospheric."—Laura E. Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds

“Evocative details and lyrical, moody prose . . . a richly conceived story that blends mythic and Gothic storytelling."—PW

"The novel’s vivid, evocative atmosphere will please fans of the gothic . . . chills aplenty."—The Bulletin

"Equal parts gothic fairy tale and romance . . . compulsively readable."—SLJ

"This moody maritime retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses blends elements of suspense and horror for a gothic twist on a familiar tale. A memorably built world populated with a hauntingly doomed family."—Booklist
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Loved it. A little extra gory in some scenes. Not a horror novel but definitely a touch of it

Scary as hell.

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Lovely narration. Everything you want from a fairytale and more. Highly recommend if you are a fan of Robin McKinley.

Beautiful Retelling

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The voice sounds like fake radio announcer but you kind of get used to it. Male voices were performed better than female who all sounded like newsreaders.

The story is ok, a bit darker than the very peppy voice narrating it. There are a few interesting twists and turns and times when you don't know who to trust. not too much foreshadowing. moderately engaging but won't blow your mind. 4 stars as I finished this one but not other recent listens that I thought were mediocre and couldn't continue with - so it must have been ok!!

annoying voice but it's ok

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I didn't realise a gothic/horror/romance was a genre I needed. Cannot wait till the next instalment

Oh I loved this 💜

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I listened to this only because of the reference to a fairy tale I couldn't quite remember. The characters are weak, swooning girls I simply couldn't find interesting. There is another little reference to another well known fairy tale, which made a nice addition.

The narrators voice suited the characters. It was well performed, but was not able to convey any sense of horror.

Ended up using this as background noise while doing other tasks.

A simple read and just ok

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