5
stars!
Book
Blurb:
“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.”
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:
A
lovely and original take of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” though beware;
this is a dark fairy tale retelling.
While not quite ‘horror,’ there are more than a few moments which may
lead to using a nightlight.
Author
Erin A. Craig has accomplished the most challenging part aspect of re-telling
this particular fairy tale; readers learn something unique and memorable about
all twelve sisters. Though four are
departed before we begin to follow Annaleigh’s narration, they are mentioned just
enough to provide us with a window into their personalities. Even more detail is given to the eight living
sisters; their hobbies, personalities, and their place within the family dynamics.
Craig
created her own mythology and lore of deities for this tale; Gods of the Sea,
the Night, Tricks, Nightmares, and others.
Though this is a complete story with an ending, I hope Craig continues
to write of characters in this world, as there are several other kingdoms. Perhaps one day we’ll read other fairy tale
re-tellings set in this magical place.
This
is a skillfully written YA fantasy / fairy tale re-telling that I highly recommend,
especially for fans of A.G. Howard’s ‘Splintered’ series.
‘House
of Salt and Sorrows’ will be available on August 6, 2019.
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