Masuk Free Press

By LAUREN CHIPDEY, ANASTASIA TSICHLAS & SARAH VERRASTRO

Sarah: I read House of Salt and Sorrows for the first time four years ago and was absolutely enchanted. I remember reading the second half in one afternoon, looking up and wondering what was real. Not just in the book, but in real life. It was chilling for 13-year-old me, the psychological implications that crept their way into my brain. 

I knew I wanted to read this book again, especially since it gained an unexpected sequel earlier this fall. And what better way, than to review it for Masuk Free Press and have others appreciate it in all its glory?

This book has heavy undertones of Edgar Allan Poe, which thrilled me because I consider myself an Edgar Allan Poe enthusiast. Though marketed as a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling, each of the sisters are named for a significant female character from one of Poe’s works. For example, our narrator, Annaleigh, is named for Annabel Lee, one of Poe’s most famous poems about a woman he loved who died and was entombed by the sea. 

It adds an extra level of creepiness to the already suspenseful novel, as Edgar Allan Poe is the king of creepy. It all feels more sinister when you know the stories of the women the girls are named for. 

There are also so many plotlines to follow. There are the mystery balls, through a magic door that takes them to faraway places. The “curse” and its impending doom on the remaining sisters. The never-ending question of one sister’s supposed murder. Not to mention how their gods fit into everything. 

First and foremost, I recommend this book to all Edgar Allan Poe fans. It is just so fun connecting his stories to that of the characters. But the story can still be appreciated by any thriller or fantasy lovers looking for an ominous fall read. 

Anna: An avid watcher of ‘Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses’ as a child, this book was right up my alley. Starting you off in the midst of tragedy, this book keeps you guessing right from the beginning. Twelve daughters plagued by a killer series of so-called curses, all with suspicious circumstances. 

As much as the family tries to believe it is coincidence, it is clear something suspicious is happening. As the protagonist, Annaleigh, the sixth daughter, battles the grief of her older sisters’ deaths and the daunting weight of now being second-in-line, she begins to see and hear things that are not there. With no one else believing her except her youngest sister, Verity, everyone starts to believe she is truly going crazy.

Personally I really enjoy when a protagonist is hearing or seeing things that are not really there and as the reader you have to try and decipher what is really happening. The further into the book you get, the harder it is to tell, yet at no point was I entirely lost and I often felt like I understood what was real, even if the characters did not.

As far as the plot of the book went, I did feel like it could be predictable at times. While I still thoroughly enjoyed the novel, it was easy to pin an archetype on each character and though the suspense in the novel kept me doubting myself, in the end, everyone was revealed to be exactly as expected.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and do recommend it. It was a quick read and by the second half of the book it is hard to put down. Being a person who dislikes thriller novels, this book allows you to get to the spooky spirit and keeps you on the edge of your seat without the added anxiety of a jumpscare. 

Lauren: Wicked creatures that lurk in the dark and horrors that creep in the night make for a twisted retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, an already ghoulish tale. Annaleigh and her sisters are cursed, with each one of them dying in increasingly tragic ways, and visions haunting the family. 

In an attempt to combat the gloom, each night Annaleigh’s sisters sneak out to attend glamorous balls, dancing until their shoes are ruined — but there is more to these balls than meets the eye, as is the case with much of this book. 

House of Salt and Sorrows is just the right amount of unsettling, enough to get your heart rate up, and hook you thoroughly. Each reveal somehow adds to the mystery, each page builds intrigue. I am not one for mystery or thriller novels, I usually find them dull and frustrating, but this novel was the perfect mix of fantasy and gothic to really draw me in. In combination with Craig’s beautiful prose and vividly cruel world building, I can confidently say that this book did not bore me. 

First person points of view are difficult to get right, but Craig executed this beautifully, the unraveling of Annaleigh’s psyche adding to progression. Annaleigh herself was incredibly compelling, with a good head on her shoulders and a fierce devotion to her family. All of the many characters were distinct and developed, with Annaleigh herself a headstrong and admirable protagonist. 

Wicked creatures that lurk in the dark and horrors that creep in the night make for a twisted retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, an already ghoulish tale. Annaleigh and her sisters are cursed, with each one of them dying in increasingly tragic ways, and visions haunting the family. 

In an attempt to combat the gloom, each night Annaleigh’s sisters sneak out to attend glamorous balls, dancing until their shoes are ruined — but there is more to these balls than meets the eye, as is the case with much of this book. 

House of Salt and Sorrows is just the right amount of unsettling, enough to get your heart rate up, and hook you thoroughly. Each reveal somehow adds to the mystery, each page builds intrigue. I am not one for mystery or thriller novels, I usually find them dull and frustrating, but this novel was the perfect mix of fantasy and gothic to really draw me in. In combination with Craig’s beautiful prose and vividly cruel world building, I can confidently say that this book did not bore me. 

The pacing of the book was not ideal, with the first half dragging and the second half skyrocketing, but the added fun of my poorly crafted theories at every turn of the book helped to fill in the gaps. And this novel truly did leave you guessing. 

First person points of view are difficult to get right, but Craig executed this beautifully, the unraveling of Annaleigh’s psyche adding to progression. Annaleigh herself was incredibly compelling, with a good head on her shoulders and a fierce devotion to her family. All of the many characters were distinct and developed, with Annaleigh herself headstrong and admirable, and just morose enough for a good gothic lead. 

House of Salt and Sorrows was stunning and cryptic, a horror novel with all of the best parts of an addicting fantasy and an elegant gothic. While it may take a bit to get into the book, once Craig’s disturbing and gripping world of Highmoor pulls you in, you will not be able to put it down.