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The Salt Grows Heavy

By Cassandra Khaw
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Brief Description
Khaw's poetic prose and stylish approach to gore make it a blood-soaked, unforgettable gem. --The New York Times From Cassandra Khaw, USA Today bestselling author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth, comes The Salt Grows Heavy, a razor-sharp and bewitching fairy tale of discovering the darkness in... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$4800

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Khaw's poetic prose and stylish approach to gore make it a blood-soaked, unforgettable gem. --The New York Times

From Cassandra Khaw, USA Today bestselling author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth, comes The Salt Grows Heavy, a razor-sharp and bewitching fairy tale of discovering the darkness in the world, and the darkness within oneself.

A Best Horror Book of 2023 (The New York Times, Library Journal) - A Best Book of 2023 (NPR) - A Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award Finalist! - An Indie Next Pick

You may think you know how the fairy tale goes: a mermaid comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids have teeth. And now, her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to ashes.

On the run, the mermaid is joined by a mysterious plague doctor with a darkness of their own. Deep in the eerie, snow-crusted forest, the pair stumble upon a village of ageless children who thirst for blood, and the three "saints" who control them.

The mermaid and her doctor must embrace the cruelest parts of their true nature if they hope to survive.

Includes the bonus short story, "And In Our Daughters, We Find a Voice", set in the same universe.

Also by Cassandra Khaw:
The Library at Hellebore
Nothing But Blackened Teeth
A Song for Quiet
Hammers on Bone
The Dead Take the A Train (co-written with Richard Kadrey)

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250417978

Publisher: Tor Nightfire

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 October 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Tor Nightfire

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 113g

Pages: 128

Collections

Cassandra Khaw Fantasy Fiction General Fiction LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi & Fantasy

About the Author

CASSANDRA KHAW is the USA Today bestselling and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Library at Hellebore, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, The Salt Grows Heavy, Breakable Things, and coauthor of The Dead Take the A Train with Richard Kadrey. They are an award-winning game writer.

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