Point of View

House of Salt and Sorrows is told from the first-person perspective, with the character of Annaleigh Thaumas serving as the narrator. This point of view makes her the natural protagonist of the story, allows the reader to experience the central mystery more acutely, and contributes greatly to the building of relationships between the characters, since the first-person perspective allows for greater insight into the Thaumas sisters’ lives. The common thread between these benefits of the point of view is that the first-person perspective imbues the book with a high degree of empathy, not only towards the protagonist on the part of the reader but also towards other characters on the part of the protagonist and, by extension, the reader.

Annaleigh narrates without referring directly to the reader. Rather, the narration mirrors her consciousness and reflects her true emotions at all times. This makes the content...