House of Roots and Ruin

Sisters Violet and Rosie Sauvage run their family's luxury hotel, working to restore both the building and their financial standing after their mother's death. When mysterious disappearances begin plaguing their small town, the sisters must confront dark forces that threaten everything they've built. The book combines elements of gothic horror with fairy tale inspirations, centered around a grand hotel in the mountains of nineteenth-century France. Magic and curses intertwine with family obligations, romance, and the bonds between sisters who must protect not only their legacy but also their guests. The setting functions as both sanctuary and prison, with the hotel's maze-like corridors and hidden passages mirroring the complexities of the sisters' relationship. The story explores themes of sacrifice, duty, and the price of power, while questioning what truly makes a monster - and who gets to decide.

Readers position House of Roots and Ruin as a darker, more mature follow-up to its predecessor. Most reviews highlight the Gothic horror elements and complex character dynamics. Likes: - The atmospheric descriptions of Vale Hall - The romance between Violet and Jensen - Character depth and emotional stakes - Integration of body horror elements Readers note the "perfect balance between horror and romance" and "satisfying but bittersweet ending." Dislikes: - Slower pacing in first third - Some found it too dark compared to first book - Side characters underdeveloped Several readers mentioned difficulty connecting with new characters introduced late in story. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (350+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.15/5 Top review on Goodreads (380+ likes) states: "Much darker than House of Salt and Sorrows but in the best possible way. The horror elements feel more psychological this time around."

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig A gothic retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" features sisters dying under mysterious circumstances in an isolated manor by the sea.

Small Favors by Erin A. Craig Supernatural forces terrorize a mountain village while sisters fight to protect their family's farm from dark bargains and mounting horror.

The Bone Houses by Emily-Lloyd Jones A gravedigger teams with a mapmaker to stop the dead from rising in a Welsh-inspired tale of family curses and ancient magic.

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo A girl returns to her family estate to discover her relatives harbor monstrous secrets and ancient bloodlines that put them all in danger.

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman Four founding families must protect their small town from an ancient beast trapped in a parallel dimension through ritual sacrifices and inherited magic.

🌿 House of Roots and Ruin is a reimagining of the classic fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with a gothic horror twist. 🏰 The book features identical triplet sisters living in a crumbling manor house called Orman House, which has its own sinister personality and dark secrets. 🌙 Author Erin A. Craig worked as a pastry chef before becoming a writer, and often incorporates her love of baking into her storytelling. 🕯️ The story draws inspiration from Victorian mourning traditions and customs, including the practice of wearing specific colors and jewelry to signify different stages of grief. 🌺 Like Craig's previous novel House of Salt and Sorrows, this book combines elements of folklore with atmospheric descriptions of decay and nature to create a uniquely haunting narrative style.