The salt grows heavy

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw A Dark Fairy Tale That Will Haunt You

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my coffee cup full and my blog running – thank you for your support! 

If you think The Little Mermaid is all about glittering tails, bubbly songs, and bittersweet romance, think again. Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy takes that familiar fairy tale, rips it apart with teeth sharper than glass, and leaves you gasping for breath in the cold, dark depths.

This isn’t Disney.

This isn’t Andersen.

This is blood, salt, and the kind of beauty that hurts to look at.

Synopsis: When Fairy Tales Drown in Blood

The story begins with a mermaid — not the soft-voiced, lovestruck kind, but a predator with jagged teeth made for tearing, not singing. She has already watched her monstrous daughters devour an entire kingdom.

Her only companion? A mysterious plague doctor whose past is stitched together from shadows and secrets.

Together, they travel through a nightmare masquerading as a fairy tale: a desolate land where children are molded into something unnatural… something that should never exist.

The Writing:

Sharp, Cruel, and Unforgettable

Khaw’s prose is a weapon. Every sentence is honed to a fine edge, slicing deep before you realize you’ve been cut. It’s lyrical, savage, and leaves behind the sting of salt in an open wound.

This novella isn’t here to coddle you. It doesn’t guide you gently through the horror — it drags you under and dares you to fight for breath.

Rating: 4/5 stars

I wanted more — more time to drown in this strange, terrible beauty. But even in its brevity, The Salt Grows Heavy delivers an unforgettable punch.

It’s short, brutal, and leaves the taste of iron on your tongue. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, horror fairy tales, and stories that turn your favorite myths into nightmares.