Bookworm Banter

  Review of House of Salt and Sorrows, by Erin Craig Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows is a gorgeously dark gothic fantasy that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. Loosely inspired by the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” fairytale, the novel follows Annaleigh Thaumas, once one of twelve sisters living in a crumbling manor by the sea, where death has become an unsettlingly frequent visitor. As more of her sisters die in increasingly suspicious circumstances, Annaleigh begins to unravel the truth behind the strange balls they secretly attend and the eerie forces haunting both the house and her family. From the very beginning, the story feels steeped in mystery, grief, and salt-soaked dread—in the best way possible. What truly makes this book exceptional is its atmosphere. Every page feels heavy with tension: the roaring sea, the decaying halls, the candlelit dances, and the constant sense that something is wrong . Craig’s writing is vivid and immersive, making it easy...

  Review of A Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side , by Agatha Christie Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side is a deceptively quiet mystery that proves once again that the most dangerous crimes don’t always come from obvious villains. Set in the seemingly peaceful village of St. Mary Mead, the novel begins with a murder at a charity fête — polite society, tea cups, and suddenly poison. Miss Marple steps in to untangle a case where gossip, appearances, and old memories are far more revealing than forensic clues. A central theme of the novel is how the past intrudes upon the present. Christie explores how long-buried trauma and guilt can quietly shape people’s actions, even years later. The title itself reflects this idea: a small crack can reveal a devastating truth. Christie’s characters appear calm and respectable on the surface, but beneath that lies obsession, regret, and emotional damage. Miss Marple’s strength is her understanding of human nature — she recognise...

  Review of Inferno , by Dan Brown Dan Brown’s Inferno is a relentless, puzzle-packed thriller that throws the reader straight into confusion and never really lets up. The novel follows Robert Langdon, who wakes up in a hospital with a head injury, missing memories, and people trying to kill him—because of course he does. Soon, Langdon is racing across Europe with Dr. Sienna Brooks, attempting to decode clues rooted in Dante’s Inferno to stop a catastrophic global threat. The story blends art, literature, science, and ethics into a high-stakes chase where time is always running out. One of the strongest elements of Inferno is how it uses Dante’s Divine Comedy as both a thematic backbone and a codebook. Brown leans heavily into symbolism, hidden meanings, and historical references, making the reader constantly guess what matters and what doesn’t. You’re always solving alongside Langdon—sometimes feeling smart, sometimes realizing you’ve been completely played. Deception is every...