Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell's Reviews > House of Salt and Sorrows
House of Salt and Sorrows (Sisters of the Salt, #1)
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I have developed my following by being 100% honest, whether or not a book is popular. I think this is especially important in the YA genre, when many books are over-hyped in a way that comes across as incredibly artificial and manufactured at times. I'm sorry, but you can't all be the #1 best-selling YA book, especially not if you're all doubling down on the BLANK of BLANK AND BLANK forgettable title game. I mean, come on. I can barely remember my own name half the time, let alone a baker's dozen worth of best-selling YA titles that all sound virtually the same.
HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS appealed to me, in spite of my misgivings, because of several things. 1) it's a faerie-tale retelling and I love those. I love them a lot, in fact. I was raised on faerie-tales from all over the world, and I will never stop feeling that same magic and mysticism from reading them. 2) it is a gothic novel and if you have been following me at all, you know how much I love me a dark and creepy novel set in some crumbling manor home on a cliff and peopled with ghosts. It's bomb. Combined? That's a c-c-c-combo breaker to the MAX.
The book is about a girl named Annaleigh. She and her sisters are the daughters of this incredibly rich dude who lives in a crumbling manor home on a cliff. Her sisters are dropping like flies, beginning with the death of their mother, and some say it's because of a curse. We meet them when they're all gathered at the funeral of their latest dead sister, and mood is grim. Helpful and oblivious stepmother Morella thinks it's time that morning be over because she's preggers and wants to party. Never mind that she is the same age as her stepdaughters and they'd so Parent Trap her sorry behind if their mother was still alive. As it is, they're stuck with her, but at least they get new shoes out of it.
Mysteriously, the new shoes end up tattered within a week. And other weird things start happening. Images of their dead sisters. Parties that nobody remembers. Suspicious deaths. A love triangle-- oops, scrap that last one. That's not weird at all, just par for the course in YA land. A whole bunch of other stuff happened, too, but I skimmed the middle of this book pretty heavily because I wasn't really amused by the sad descriptions of the heroines lackluster attempts at Nancy Drewing.
In the last act, the book manages to valiantly rise to the task of bringing this book to conclusion. There are some truly creepy scenes in here, and honestly if the whole book had been like that, this could have been a four- or even five-star read for me. If you've read this, you know what I mean. That ballroom scene. YES. I also think the author could have played up the use of the creepy masked man, instead of having him pop up only twice and immediately be a figure of suspicion. That's the problem; if the middle is SUPER boring, I'm going to jump on exciting things when they happen, and everything is going to seem super obvious. I figured out the "surprise" twist right away.
The writing in here is decent and the author is capable of setting the mood well when she so chooses. But someone-- the editor-- should have cut about 100 pages from this book and had the author rewrite the beginning to be more suspenseful. Likewise, there was some inconsistent characterization in this book, as Heather pointed out in her review. Morella was all over the place, as were several of the sisters, and the father went from being an oblivious patsy to kind of abusive and scary? As I said, foreshadowing would have fixed ALL of this and made the ending feel less... convenient.
I was going to give this book a 2-star review, but the ending sufficiently wowed me enough that I feel like I can be generous and award a paltry half-star. I'm definitely not blown away by this like some of the other preliminary reviews were, though, and while this author is definitely a cut above the rest when it comes to some of the other BLANK of BLANK and BLANK authors, I'm not sure I loved this enough that I'd instantly race out to acquire anything else she writes. But maybe. The jury is still out on this one. My rating, however, is decided.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
2.5 stars
by
Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell's review
bookshelves: les-arcs-de-triomphes, ya-ya-land, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit, blank-of-blank-and-blank, doth-the-goth, fairytale-retelling
Aug 30, 2019
bookshelves: les-arcs-de-triomphes, ya-ya-land, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit, blank-of-blank-and-blank, doth-the-goth, fairytale-retelling
Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest
I have developed my following by being 100% honest, whether or not a book is popular. I think this is especially important in the YA genre, when many books are over-hyped in a way that comes across as incredibly artificial and manufactured at times. I'm sorry, but you can't all be the #1 best-selling YA book, especially not if you're all doubling down on the BLANK of BLANK AND BLANK forgettable title game. I mean, come on. I can barely remember my own name half the time, let alone a baker's dozen worth of best-selling YA titles that all sound virtually the same.
HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS appealed to me, in spite of my misgivings, because of several things. 1) it's a faerie-tale retelling and I love those. I love them a lot, in fact. I was raised on faerie-tales from all over the world, and I will never stop feeling that same magic and mysticism from reading them. 2) it is a gothic novel and if you have been following me at all, you know how much I love me a dark and creepy novel set in some crumbling manor home on a cliff and peopled with ghosts. It's bomb. Combined? That's a c-c-c-combo breaker to the MAX.
The book is about a girl named Annaleigh. She and her sisters are the daughters of this incredibly rich dude who lives in a crumbling manor home on a cliff. Her sisters are dropping like flies, beginning with the death of their mother, and some say it's because of a curse. We meet them when they're all gathered at the funeral of their latest dead sister, and mood is grim. Helpful and oblivious stepmother Morella thinks it's time that morning be over because she's preggers and wants to party. Never mind that she is the same age as her stepdaughters and they'd so Parent Trap her sorry behind if their mother was still alive. As it is, they're stuck with her, but at least they get new shoes out of it.
Mysteriously, the new shoes end up tattered within a week. And other weird things start happening. Images of their dead sisters. Parties that nobody remembers. Suspicious deaths. A love triangle-- oops, scrap that last one. That's not weird at all, just par for the course in YA land. A whole bunch of other stuff happened, too, but I skimmed the middle of this book pretty heavily because I wasn't really amused by the sad descriptions of the heroines lackluster attempts at Nancy Drewing.
In the last act, the book manages to valiantly rise to the task of bringing this book to conclusion. There are some truly creepy scenes in here, and honestly if the whole book had been like that, this could have been a four- or even five-star read for me. If you've read this, you know what I mean. That ballroom scene. YES. I also think the author could have played up the use of the creepy masked man, instead of having him pop up only twice and immediately be a figure of suspicion. That's the problem; if the middle is SUPER boring, I'm going to jump on exciting things when they happen, and everything is going to seem super obvious. I figured out the "surprise" twist right away.
The writing in here is decent and the author is capable of setting the mood well when she so chooses. But someone-- the editor-- should have cut about 100 pages from this book and had the author rewrite the beginning to be more suspenseful. Likewise, there was some inconsistent characterization in this book, as Heather pointed out in her review. Morella was all over the place, as were several of the sisters, and the father went from being an oblivious patsy to kind of abusive and scary? As I said, foreshadowing would have fixed ALL of this and made the ending feel less... convenient.
I was going to give this book a 2-star review, but the ending sufficiently wowed me enough that I feel like I can be generous and award a paltry half-star. I'm definitely not blown away by this like some of the other preliminary reviews were, though, and while this author is definitely a cut above the rest when it comes to some of the other BLANK of BLANK and BLANK authors, I'm not sure I loved this enough that I'd instantly race out to acquire anything else she writes. But maybe. The jury is still out on this one. My rating, however, is decided.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
2.5 stars
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Reading Progress
August 30, 2019
– Shelved
August 30, 2019
– Shelved as:
wishlist
August 30, 2019
– Shelved as:
les-arcs-de-triomphes
August 30, 2019
– Shelved as:
ya-ya-land
September 4, 2019
–
Started Reading
September 4, 2019
–
0.5%
"Two pages in and already I can tell that the Goth is strong in this one"
page
2
September 4, 2019
– Shelved as:
magic-and-sparkles-and-shit
September 7, 2019
–
19.35%
"I have so many theories about what's happening right now. I hope all of them are right and also that none of them are right. I want to be surprised."
page
78
September 8, 2019
–
26.3%
"I don't trust Marella at all. Pretty sure she's a BiD, or Bitch in Disguise™"
page
106
September 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
blank-of-blank-and-blank
September 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
doth-the-goth
September 9, 2019
–
Finished Reading
September 17, 2023
– Shelved as:
fairytale-retelling
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)
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message 1:
by
Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~
(new)
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rated it 2 stars
Sep 03, 2019 01:38PM
Did you end up getting your copy? I have it from the library if you're interested in a BR! I've only read the first chapter.
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Heather *Awkward Queen and Unicorn Twin* wrote: "Did you end up getting your copy? I have it from the library if you're interested in a BR! I've only read the first chapter."
I don't have it yet it's still in the post. Should get it in a few days though. Would love to BR. :)
I don't have it yet it's still in the post. Should get it in a few days though. Would love to BR. :)
Ashley wrote: "Lucky! My sister stole my copy the second I took it out of Owlcrate so she could read on the plane and over her vacation. Still waiting for her to finish it... she's a slow reader"
Oh noooo! That sounds torturous! That's why I never lend out books until I've read them first. I'm SO impatient haha.
Oh noooo! That sounds torturous! That's why I never lend out books until I've read them first. I'm SO impatient haha.
Kaora wrote: "I just got it from the library!"
Yay!!!! Everybody's reading this! I keep seeing it pop up in my feed.
Yay!!!! Everybody's reading this! I keep seeing it pop up in my feed.
Heather *Awkward Queen and Unicorn Twin* wrote: "Great review! We're basically on the same page. This had soooo much potential!"
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING
*cries*
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING
*cries*
Terrific review, Nenia! I agree that the middle was so long and boring. This is one of those books with a terrific premise that just never lived up to its potential.
Yun wrote: "Terrific review, Nenia! I agree that the middle was so long and boring. This is one of those books with a terrific premise that just never lived up to its potential."
Thank you so much, Yun!
Thank you so much, Yun!
I was going to rate this 4/5 stars, but the ending had me weeping... so .... one more star for you!
The combo did not gel well. It did not make the narration feel trustworthy either (bc the laws of science, and magic, and gods altogether was wayyy to unaccountable).
The combo did not gel well. It did not make the narration feel trustworthy either (bc the laws of science, and magic, and gods altogether was wayyy to unaccountable).
Cal wrote: "I was going to rate this 4/5 stars, but the ending had me weeping... so .... one more star for you!
The combo did not gel well. It did not make the narration feel trustworthy either (bc the laws ..."
Yeah I wish the author had picked a tone and stuck with it.
The combo did not gel well. It did not make the narration feel trustworthy either (bc the laws ..."
Yeah I wish the author had picked a tone and stuck with it.
Authors of Black of Black and Blank 😂😂 (I was on the floor!!) No, it’s so true, it’s almost like they try to sell a title rather than a story. 🥲 I’ve become so picky with my YA choices that my consumption of them has gone from 80% to 30% these last 2 years. I’d rather read adult fantasy, not as hyped, but I’d prefer good, non-trope storytelling over following the trend any day.
Almney wrote: "Authors of Black of Black and Blank 😂😂 (I was on the floor!!) No, it’s so true, it’s almost like they try to sell a title rather than a story. 🥲 I’ve become so picky with my YA choices that my cons..."
LOL I'm the same way. So much YA fantasy coming out has felt incredibly derivative. I'm always so excited when I find something that feels fresh and new. One of my latest finds (courtesy of a friend's rec) was BLOODLEAF. I loved that book!
LOL I'm the same way. So much YA fantasy coming out has felt incredibly derivative. I'm always so excited when I find something that feels fresh and new. One of my latest finds (courtesy of a friend's rec) was BLOODLEAF. I loved that book!
Well crap, I was hoping this wouldn't be young adult. I love fairytale retellings, especially when they are as gruesome and scary as the original stories. I'm not sure why they told stories like that to children, but I enjoy them as an adult.
Another book that sounds like great fantasy, but is in the young adult genre. Considering the number of books on my list it's probably better to delete one rather than add more, haha.
Another book that sounds like great fantasy, but is in the young adult genre. Considering the number of books on my list it's probably better to delete one rather than add more, haha.
Kristy wrote: "Well crap, I was hoping this wouldn't be young adult. I love fairytale retellings, especially when they are as gruesome and scary as the original stories. I'm not sure why they told stories like th..."
You might enjoy it. Young adult can be good and this one was very mature. But if the summary doesn't appeal to you, it's up to you.
You might enjoy it. Young adult can be good and this one was very mature. But if the summary doesn't appeal to you, it's up to you.