Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

The last words Ash hears her mother say are, “When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.” Determined to find her mother when she disappears, Ash follows her to Quivara, Kansas, the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time. Her mother is nowhere to be found, but Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love, murder, alchemy, and immortality. Charming traditions give way to a string of deaths. And Ash feels herself drawn to Dane, a mysterious, forbidden boy with secrets of his own. As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash fights to save her mother, her lover, and herself. She must discover the truth about Quivara before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

Dissapointed. I expected more from this book but it was long, slow and the story wasn't interesting.

I'm finding the joy in reading and enjoying books that aren't the best more and more. And you know what? You should too! Not all books have to be well-written in order for you to enjoy them. I found Kingdom of Blood & Salt to be that exactly. There were things I would've changed if I were writing/editing it but as a reader I just allowed myself to enjoy it – and that I did.

I liked that there was a bit of Greek inspiration to be seen in the book. They wore peplos – a type of Greek outfit commonly worn by women. Hades was mentioned – actually I think he was the only one to be mentioned – I'm not bothered by that because he's my favourite. Hoping the second book (which seems to be the last one as well – so just a duology) will have more of that.

I was a bit upset that the entire book was set in the Kingdom. I think from reading the synopsis I had surmised various things would happen and when they didn't I was annoyed. But that's not the book's fault – just mine for assuming things