My Book Reviews

Category: Gothic

  • The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney

    The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney

    The Cicada Tree

    The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney

    Release: February 22, 2022
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Moonshine Cove Publishing
    Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, TBD

    __

    __

    The summer of 1956, a brood of cicadas descends upon Providence Georgia, a natural event with supernatural repercussions, unhinging the life of Analeise Newell, an eleven-year-old piano prodigy. Amidst this emergence, dark obsessions are stirred, uncanny gifts provoked, and secrets unearthed.

    During a visit to Mistletoe, a plantation owned by the wealthy Mayfield family, Analeise encounters Cordelia Mayfield and her daughter Marlissa, both of whom possess an otherworldly beauty. A whisper, a sense of déjà vu, and an act of violence perpetrated during this visit by Mrs. Mayfield all converge to kindle Analeise’s fascination with the Mayfields.

    Analeise’s burgeoning obsession with the Mayfield family overshadows her own seemingly, ordinary life, culminating in dangerous games and manipulation, setting off a chain of cataclysmic events with life-altering consequences—all of it unfolding to the maddening whir of a cicada song. 

    About the Author:

    Robert Gwaltney, a writer of southern fiction, is a graduate of Florida State University. He resides in Atlanta Georgia with his partner, where he is an active member of the Atlanta literary community. By day, he serves as Vice President of Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc., Children Services, a non-profit supporting children with disabilities and other special needs. Robert’s work has appeared in such publications as The Signal Mountain Review and The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. Robert also serves as Prose Editor for The Blue Mountain Review. 

    Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    The Cicada Tree Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    It’s been a while since I read a gripping gothic tale, and while “The Cicada Tree” is not your traditional gothic tale, it is simply mesmerizing.

    How do I even begin to describe this book? When you start reading this story, you think it will just be a historical drama. But the author beautifully adds suspense, drama, and thrills and turns this into a spell-binding gothic tale. Add to that, and we also have mystical elements like nymphs and fairies to add to the magic.

    The characters are dynamic, and I enjoyed ANaleise and Etta Mae in the lead. The author adds layers, like Analeise’s bond with her mother, her hatred towards her father, and her obsession with the Mayfields. For me, the story took off wonderfully when we met Cordelia, Marlissa, Virginia, and the others. Analeise’s emotions are raw, and I was surprised how I enjoyed her and how she sometimes scared me with her impulsive nature and wanted some people to die. Some notable moments are when she pushes Etta Mae or goes through the first day of school of being the “Bug Girl.”

    The author also adds a sense of foreboding and suspense, mainly when she hears her mother’s dream fire song or witnesses the fire incident. Some shocking moments will make your jaw drop and contrast with beautiful moments that make you feel like reading a rich tale. I truly enjoyed the author’s style of writing. I had no idea where the story would go because this book was unlike anything I had ever read.

    Overall, “The Cicada Tree” has a little of everything and is one of the best books I read this year.

    Book Tour Schedule

    The Cicada Tree

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney Blog Tour hosted by Suzyapproved Book Tours.

     Rozier Reads and Wine-Jan. 23rd
    Nurse Bookie-Jan. 24th
    Books and Coffee MX-Jan. 27th
    Dani Reads-Jan. 28th
    Bookish Heidi-Jan. 30th
    Shooks Books-Feb. 2nd
    Sarahs Bookstack-Feb. 2nd
    Bookishly Becky-Feb. 4th
    Biblio Reviews-Feb. 7th
    Rajivs Reviews-Feb. 8th
    Reecas Pieces Books-Feb.12th
    Subakka Bookstuff-Feb. 16th
    We Break For Books-Feb. 18th
    Novels and Latte Book Club -Feb. 19th

  • Love On All Hallows Eve by Martha Wickham

    Love On All Hallows Eve by Martha Wickham

    Love On All Hallows Eve

    Love On All Hallows Eve by Martha Wickham

    Release: September 1st 2021
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Amazon
    Source: RABT Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, 

    __

    __

    Love bites Terra this Halloween night. On All Hallows Eve Terra meets Bobby. He pretends to be a monster while dating her. When she finds out they break up and he and his friend fear her and they kidnap her.

    Bobby becomes another Frankenstein so she sees a psychic when she is haunted by him. It is the source of all her troubles. Can she let go of what brought her to life? In the mean time Rose is there to help.

    About the Author:

    Martha has studied writing with Writer’s Digest and has an associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase and read Martha’s books a review would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

    Website | Twitter | Smashwords | Goodreads

    Love On All Hallows Eve Review:

    “Love On All Hallows Eve” is the perfect book to get you in the mood for Halloween. It is short yet atmospheric and will want you leaving for more.

    Don’t let the number of pages fool you. Even though this book is less than 30 pages, it is entertaining on every page. The story moves quickly with many twists and turns, as the author shocks us with what Terra does on the eve of Halloween. While the night’s incident gets over in the first half of the story, I also enjoyed the second half that deals with the repercussions of what Terra does. You will not notice the time fly by once you start reading this short novella.

    The author also writes the characters dynamically. I enjoyed Terra in the lead and the emotions she feels, considering what we know about her. More than Terra, I adored Rose, the psychic. When Cortez came into the picture, I thought the author was writing another story, but then realized how she seamlessly blends Cortez and Rose into Terra’s tale. I thought I was reading an homage to the classic Frankenstein tale, as the protagonist plays with life and tries to bring the characters back from the dead.

    However, this is one of those tales where I wished the author had made it a bit longer and we had more details. I would love to read more background of Terra’s life and her connection with ‘Frankenstein.’ The author also writes Sam and Bobby interestingly as the antagonist, and one of the highlights was how Terra deals with them.

    Overall, “Love On All Hallows Eve” is a great creepy story that will put you in the mood for Halloween.

    Giveaway

    https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/328549-love-on-all-hallows-eve

     

    Book Tour Schedule

    Love On All Hallows Eve

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Love On All Hallows Eve by Martha Wickham Blog Tour hosted by RABT Book Tours. 

  • Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce

    Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce

    Ruby Falls

    Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce

    Release: May 4th 2021
    Format: Hardcover
    Publisher: Post Hill Press
    Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

    __

    __

    Like the chilling psychological thriller The Silent Patient, Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Ruby Falls is a nail-biting tale of a fragile young actress, the new husband she barely knows, and her growing suspicion that the secrets he harbors may eclipse her own.

    On a brilliantly sunny July day, six-year-old Ruby is abandoned by her father in the suffocating dark of a Tennessee cave. Twenty years later, transformed into soap opera star Eleanor Russell, she is fired under dubious circumstances. Fleeing to Europe, she marries a glamorous stranger named Orlando Montague and keeps her past closely hidden.

    Together, Eleanor and Orlando start afresh in LA. Setting up house in a storybook cottage in the Hollywood Hills, Eleanor is cast in a dream role—the lead in a remake of Rebecca. As she immerses herself in that eerie gothic tale, Orlando’s personality changes, ghosts of her past re-emerge, and Eleanor fears she is not the only person in her marriage with a secret.

    In this thrilling and twisty homage to Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, the story ricochets through the streets of Los Angeles, a dangerous marriage to an exotic stranger, and the mind of a young woman whose past may not release her.

    About the Author:

    Deborah Goodrich Royce’s first novel, Finding Mrs. Ford, debuted in 2019 to rave reviews. She divides her time between the Northeast and Florida, where she writes, reads, watches a lot of movies, and spends time with her family.

    Deborah serves on the governing and/or advisory boards of the Avon Theatre, the American Film Institute, New York Botanical Garden, the Greenwich International Film Festival, the Greenwich Historical Society, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the Preservation Society of Newport, and the PRASAD Project. She and her husband have restored more buildings than she can count, including the Ocean House Hotel, and the Deer Mountain Inn.

    Deborah holds a BA in French and Italian from Lake Erie College and an honorary doctorate from the same institution. In an earlier life, she was an actress in film and television and a story editor for Miramax Films. Ruby Falls is her second psychological thriller, and she owes a debt of gratitude for its inspiration to Daphne du Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock.https://deborahgoodrichroyce.com/

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    Ruby Falls Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    “Ruby Falls” was a psychological thriller that I just could not put down, and it made me reminisce about the classic Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock movies.

    The author did a terrific job of maintaining the suspense of the story. I got engrossed with the story right from the first page, as we learn about Ruby’s life with her new husband, Orlando. I adored Ruby and rooted for her throughout the tale. She has a fascinating history, and you immediately root for her as she tries to balance her newly married life with her professional career. Similarly, Orlando is one of those people you love to hate, and the author wrote him in a deliciously evil manner. Right from the get-go, you sense that he has an ulterior motive for the strange way in which he behaves towards her. I also loved Dottie as the mysterious clairvoyant who knows about Ruby’s past. Even Howard was adorable, and I wished he were more prominent in the tale.

    There are many exciting twists and turns that I did not see coming, and they made the book memorable. I loved the moments when Ruby searched for her cat and found something shocking or when she deciphers the mysterious letter from her father. Furthermore, I always enjoy a story with a surprising twist in the end, and this book did not disappoint! The climax shocked me and was one I did not see coming from a long shot. The author executed the entire story perfectly, and I loved reading every bit of it!

    Overall, “Ruby Falls” is a gripping psychological thriller, and I highly recommend it if you are a fan of the genre.

    Book Tour Schedule

    Ruby Falls

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce Blog Tour hosted by Suzyapproved Book Tours.

  • The Phantom of the Opera by Varga Tomi

    The Phantom of the Opera by Varga Tomi

    The Phantom of the Opera

    The Phantom of the Opera by Varga Tomi

    Release: October 20th, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: A Wave Blue World
    Source: Netgalley
    Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N,

    __

    __

    THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the iconic gothic romance, is retold with all the spectacle its legend demands in this devoted graphic novel adaptation that marries stunning artwork with Gaston Leroux’s haunting prose.

    Everyone has heard the whispered tales of the phantom living beneath the opera house, the mysterious trickster behind all the little mishaps and lost things. But no one has ever seen the monster . . . until now. The promise of a blossoming love allures him from his intricately constructed hideaways in the labyrinthine building’s walls and cellars. A  hideously disfigured artist trains the lovely Christine to be the opera’s next star for a steep price. More so, the  Ghost’s obsession with Christine only grows, and he seeks to possess her as his bride. What is she going to do? Does she choose her newfound success or her beloved Count Raoul? This doomed love triangle threatens to combust when a tragic death, a series of betrayals, and increasingly dangerous accidents cast the players of The Palais Garnier into a heart-wrenching horror story that will echo through the ages.

    About the Author:

    Tomi is a cartoonist from Hungary & a graduate of The Kubert School. He colored a bunch of Kevin Eastman’s TMNT covers and created a graphic novel adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, coming out in October 2020.

    Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    The Phantom of the Opera  Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    Let me preface by saying that I have never seen any of the other renditions, and the graphic novel was my first experience of reading the classic. Hence, I did not have anything to benchmark my expectations. Having that said, I enjoyed the story and the graphic novel representation.

    Firstly, the creators did an excellent job in the graphic novel. I was in awe at the level of details added in each background panel. Some of the imagery took my breath away and gave the book a perfect gothic feel. The Phantom is genuinely eerie and repulsive, yet there are scenes where you feel sorry for him. The scenes where the Chandelier falls or when Christine disappears after her performance was breath-taking!

    Similarly, I loved the plot as well. I am a sucker for gothic romance, and this is probably one of the earliest stories in the genre. Erik is one of the most complex characters, where hate him, yet part of you roots for him for what he has gone through.

    However, there were a few minor things that felt disconnected. For one thing, I thought the romance seemed off. I don’t blame the illustrators per se (as it could have been a translation from the original storylines). But, I didn’t feel the romance between Raoul and Christine. Moreover, I was rooting for the Phantom as I thought he was the most mesmerizing character. Also, I thought that the font text could have been better, as soon bubbles felt small to read.

    Apart from that, this was a delightful graphic novel to read. I would love to see the musical the next time I visit New York. Overall, I recommend “The Phantom of the Opera: The Graphic Novel” even if you haven’t seen the musical.

  • Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon

    Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon

    Hide and Seeker

    Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon

    Release: September 15, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Scholastic Press
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at: Amazon , B&N

    __

    __

    One of our most iconic childhood games receives a creepy twist as it becomes the gateway to a nightmare world.

    I went up the muddy hill, stomped my toe and made it bloody, should I wash it?

    Justin knows that something is wrong with his best friend.Zee went missing for a year. And when he came back, he was . . . different. Nobody knows what happened to him. At Zee’s welcome home party, Justin and the neighborhood crew play Hide and Seek. But it goes wrong. Very wrong.

    One by one, everyone who plays the game disappears, pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin and his friends realize this horrible place is where Zee had been trapped. All they can do now is hide from the Seeker.

    About the Author:

    Daka Hermon was born in Tennessee and spent her childhood huddled under a blanket with a flashlight reading and writing fairy-tale and fantasy stories. She works in the entertainment industry, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She loves peach sweet tea, chocolate, cupcakes, and collecting superhero toys. Daka lives in California .

    Website | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads

    Hide and Seeker Review:

    I don’t think I have ever read a middle grade book that was so creepy that it scared me, but this book sure did!

    This book felt like a middle grade, scary version of “IT” by Stephen King, and I say that as a compliment. What really stands out in the story is the villain, the Seeker. The Seeker is not just any villain but one that is feeds off our fears. He is truly a terrifying villain for a middle grade novel, and probably one that would give me nightmares as an adult. Similarly, the author writes the characters also in a compelling manner. I loved most of the characters in the story. You immediately connect to all the characters / players like Justin, Nia, Lyric, Carla etc. because most of them face common fears like us. I also have a fear of losing a loved one, of snakes, rats and spider-webs.  Hence, as a reader, you immediately side with them to overcome their fears to defeat the Seeker.

    Moreover, the author also did a great job in making the characters complex. Initially when I started reading the story, I didn’t like Carla or Shae, but I liked them as the story progressed. Similarly, Mary and Duke are wonderful in the supporting role. Also, I loved all the random facts that Nia spurts out, and how loyal Lyric is to his friends. Justin is wonderful in the lead and my heart just went out to him whenever he missed his mother.

    Overall, this book surprised and terrified me, and made it a very memorable read. I high recommend reading this if you are in the mood for a scary story.

  • Devil’s Ways Anthology

    Devil’s Ways Anthology

    Devil's Ways Anthology

    Devil’s Ways Anthology
    Authors: Nancy Kress, Ben Loory, R. S. A. Garcia, Michael Swanwick, Andy Duncan, Curtis C. Chen, Darrell Schweitzer, Imogen Howson, Edwina Harvey, Avram Davidson, J. M. Sidorova, Nancy Kress, (Edited by Anna Kashina and J. M. Sidorova)
    Release: June 25, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Dragonwell Publishing
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

    __

    __

    There is no light without dark, no highlights without shadows and no good without evil. The Devil is where things happen. Where stories begin. This collection brings together stories from multiple cultures, featuring the Devil both as an abstract concept and a creature, a terror, a force of nature, an enemy, a trickster, and so many more.

    Step into the world of shadows, and travel through Devil’s many incarnations spanning centuries of history and myth, from the Ancient Greece, African and Caribbean folklore, dark ages in Europe, all the way to the present day.

    This anthology features new and established authors from diverse, multicultural backgrounds.

    About the Authors:

    Founded in 2012, Dragonwell Publishing is based in the US Northeast and publishes 4-6 books a year, focusing mostly on science fiction and fantasy. Dragonwell Publishing titles have been featured by Publishers Weekly, ForeWord Magazine, RT Book Reviews, San Francisco Book Reviews, and Portland Book Reviews, and highlighted by Historical Novel Society and Mythopoetic Society. Their books have been among the winners of the 2013 ForeWord Book of the Year Award and 2014 Independent Publishers Book Award.

    Get to know all the authors here on the Dragonwell Publishing Site!

    Website | Twitter | Facebook

    Devil’s Ways Anthology Review:

    I love reading creepy short stories, and this book offers a very nice collection of them! What struck out about this anthology is how different each of the stories are. There is a variety of themes, cultures and folklore mentioned. Moreover, each story stands out in its own manner.

    “Of Finest Scarlet Was her Gown” was my favorite story! I loved everything about the story and how Su-Yin goes to the depths of hell just to bring her father back. My second favorite story was “The Hag”. The story has a nice medieval setting, and what the knight experiences in the woods is terrifying. “Frayed Tapestry” was my third favorite story and I loved how Candy tries to find out what is happening to her.

    A lot of the other stories were nicely written too. “Fire in his eyes, Blood on his teeth” was very nice and felt like a wonderful Gothic revenge love story. “Unto the Daughter” was an interesting take on Adam and Eve from the devil’s point of view. Also, I liked the quick small tales like “Death and the Lady” and “The Fisherman”.

    However, I did not give this book a 5 star rating was because I felt a few of them were too confusing. Even though “Nzembe” is unique in its own way with the African folklore, I didn’t get a clear view of the evil mentioned. Also, I felt like some of the stories were not really scary in any manner. For example, “Where is Evil” is also a nice story that changes our perception of good and evil, but there was no horror element to it.

    Overall, “Devil’s Ways Anthology” offers a nice variety of creepy short stories about good vs. evil and our perceptions of them.

    Giveaway:

    Enter the giveaway to win $10 Amazon Gift Card, International!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Devil's Ways Anthology

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DEVIL’S WAYS ANTHOLOGY Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Book Tour Schedule
    Week 1:
     Week 2:
  • Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson

    Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson

    Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson

    Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson
    Release: May 19th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Liveright
    Source: Amazon

    Synopsis:

    In this bewitching debut novel, a sensitive teen, newly arrived in Alabama, falls in love, questions his faith, and navigates a strange power. While his German parents don’t know what to make of a South pining for the past, shy Max thrives in the thick heat. Taken in by the football team, he learns how to catch a spiraling ball, how to point a gun, and how to hide his innermost secrets.

    Max already expects some of the raucous behavior of his new, American friends—like their insatiable hunger for the fried and cheesy, and their locker room talk about girls. But he doesn’t expect the comradery—or how quickly he would be welcomed into their world of basement beer drinking. In his new canvas pants and thickening muscles, Max feels like he’s “playing dress-up.” That is until he meets Pan, the school “witch,” in Physics class: “Pan in his all black. Pan with his goth choker and the gel that made his hair go straight up.” Suddenly, Max feels seen, and the pair embarks on a consuming relationship: Max tells Pan about his supernatural powers, and Pan tells Max about the snake poison initiations of the local church. The boys, however, aren’t sure whose past is darker, and what is more frightening—their true selves, or staying true in Alabama.

    Writing in verdant and visceral prose that builds to a shocking conclusion, Genevieve Hudson “brilliantly reinvents the Southern Gothic, mapping queer love in a land where God, guns, and football are king” (Leni Zumas, author of Red Clocks). Boys of Alabama becomes a nuanced portrait of masculinity, religion, immigration, and the adolescent pressures that require total conformity.

    Boys of Alabama Review:

    This book was weird and strange, but I actually enjoyed it. It is one of those stories that creeps into you.

    It’s somewhat of a queer, witch hunt story set in the modern evangelical world. There is a lot happening in this book! It covers a lot of topics, like coming of age, sexuality, murder, homophobia, religion, witch-hunt etc. just to name a few. The overall theme of the book is very dark and atmospheric and just eerie. Max is great as the protagonist. At times you really hate him for not realizing his potential. But you still feel what he feels and empathize with him. He really is one of the most enigmatic characters I have ever read. Pan is also a very interesting character. Even though I didn’t like Pan personally, I really liked how gutsy he is to do what he wants.

    Moreover, I really loved the author’s style of writing. She has done a wonderful job in her debut novel. The writing is simple and to the point, but still makes it so engaging. The dialogues weren’t embedded in quotation marks and felt like this set the story to another level. The story also ends a bit abruptly, which I would have usually been annoyed, but I felt placed well for this book.

    However, there were some problems with the story. For one thing, I thought it dragged on for a while. The book starts off well and there are a lot of things happening. But towards the middle, nothing happens except for Max and Pan and their relationship. Also, there are a few interesting characters like Wes and Glory, but we really don’t get further details about them.   

    Overall, Boys of Alabama is a strange but captivating read, and a very good debut novel!

    My Sketch

    Click out more sketches in my Insta page

  • Heaven (Casteel #1) by V.C. Andrews

    Heaven (Casteel #1) by V.C. Andrews

    Heaven

    Heaven (Casteel #1) by V.C. Andrews
    Release: November 1st 1990
    Format: Paperback
    Publisher: Pocket Books
    Source: Second Hand Bookstore

    Heaven



     

    Heaven Synopsis:

    Of all the folks in the mountain shacks, the Casteels were the lowest — the scum of the hills.
    Heaven Leigh Casteel was the prettiest, smartest girl in the backwoods, despite her ragged clothes and dirty face…despite a father meaner than ten vipers…despite her weary stepmother, who worked her like a mule. For her brother Tom and the little ones, Heaven clung to her pride and her hopes. Someday they’d get away and show the world that they were decent, fine and talented — worthy of love and respect.
    Then Heaven’s stepmother ran off, and her wicked, greedy father had a scheme — a vicious scheme that threatened to destroy the precious dream of Heaven and the children forever!

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of Heaven by V.C. Andrews

    [embedyt] https://youtu.be/wOK3Su0boGE[/embedyt]

    I love reading soap-opera styled family sagas and it is one of my guilty pleasures. VC Andrews writes pretty trashy, but very gripping novels which I enjoy. “Heaven” was a fun read as it has some very scandalous events that even readers of today would find shocking. There are some shocking moments like when Sarah gives birth to the baby and when Kitty abuses Heaven in the bathtub. Moreover, I loved Heaven as a protagonist. Even though she comes from a poor family, she is ambitious and level headed and still supports her family. The author has also written the characters very well, as I really didn’t how Kitty would react since she is so unstable.

    However, the only thing which I thought could have been better was the pacing. This book is so slow at times where you feel like nothing happens. Overall, Heaven is a nice book to read, if you enjoy the classic VC Andrews style of writing of a family saga with incestuous relationships and shocking scandals.

  • House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

    House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

    Sorrows

    House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
    Release: August 6th 2019
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: Delacorte
    Source: Amazon

    Sorrows



     

    House of Salt and Sorrows Synopsis:

    In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

    Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they 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 the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters 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.

     

    Review:

    Watch my video review of House of Salt and Sorrows  by Erin A. Craig

    [embedyt] https://youtu.be/fGnowhJBuJg[/embedyt]

    To be honest I was so conflicted when I was reading this book. On one hand, it is so good because it has all the elements that I love to read about in YA. It is a retelling of the Grimm’s fairy tale called “The Twelve Dancing Princesses”. It is also a Gothic murder mystery with a touch of romance, and had other elements like ghosts and gods. There are a lot of creepy elements, with some truly terrifying and gory parts. Moreover, there is also lot of twists and turns where you just don’t know what is going to happen next.

    But that is exactly the same reason why I also could not enjoy this book at times. There is just too many things happening where the focus just shifts from one thing to the next, to a point where I really did not know what was happening. Overall, this book was interesting to read but it did not live to my expectations.