I liked a lot of the elements of the book, but found that they didn’t tie together very well.
The world building was somewhat lacking. I got the vague impression of a pseudo-British world.
I wanted to know more about the Salt culture. I loved what we did see- the grotto, the sea burials, the light house etc. I wanted to know more about the relationship between the people and the sea.
The religious elements should have been brought in earlier on and made more important. The sudden addition of gods as characters felt jarring.
The sisters felt somewhat indistinct to me, but I liked their dynamic overall.
Classic fairy tale trope of evil/ mean step mother and dead mother. Handsome prince vs the boy next door
I loved the gothic overtones of the book. I could really visualize the spooky mansion.
Overall, not a terrible book, but not one I would want to read again. 2.5 stars
E-galley courtesy of Netgalley and Random House