By Belana Beeck
Dark yet poetic, The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw takes its reader on a journey that can only be described as a nightmare. The violent imagery is chilling but more so is the existential dread and the themes of life and death–real factors that are bound to leave readers thinking about this book and its characters long after they’ve finished reading it.
If you’re looking for a slow burn, this book isn’t for you. Khaw delves straight into the story and its characters. Narrated by a tongueless mermaid, the story begins with this mythical creature escaping from home after her daughters devoured their father and destroyed the kingdom she had married into. The mermaid begins her journey with a plague doctor with a raptor-like face. They find a village of ageless children who thirst for blood, governed by three surgeons who call themselves saints with the power to grant life through witchery and horrific rituals. The characters and setting are convoluted and yet, I trusted Khaw and enjoyed discovering more of this world with the characters.
Inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” this story tackles themes such as feminism and the power of names and folklore, including their dangers.
“Once upon a time, a man wrote a parable about a mermaid who fell in love with a prince, and when she failed to kill him in his wedding bed, she evaporated to foam,” Khaw writes.
The word that stands out from the quote above is “man.” There is a clear emphasis on the fact that a man wrote that story. It reiterates this idea that men hold a level of dominance and have the power to share or spread stories, lies, or rumors about women.
“Names have so much power. Enough even to hide a soul in the curl of a stranger’s tongue.”
This beautifully written quote signifies the idea that people hold the ability to destroy and control others just with the use of words. Sadly, the dominant or controlling nature of men is highlighted again and again throughout the novella. However, so is the idea that women have strength of their own and the ability to fight injustice. Even more powerful is the perseverance of the main character. Despite her suffering, she manages to keep moving forward and to find solutions to the problems that haunt her.
Another captivating concept in The Salt Grows Heavy is the juxtaposition between greed and love. The book conveys the chilling human nature through dialogue and imagery. It shows us that people are envious and selfish, stuck in their ways and only looking out for themselves. The saints in this book are devil-like beings that look for ways to gain power by physically torturing others, not to mention the emotional brainwashing that occurs between the plague doctor, saints, and children. However, the plague doctor is selfless in their attempt to save the children. The mermaid also chooses to stay by the doctor’s side even when in danger. These altruistic acts showcase the light amidst the darkness.
“Certain stories are recounted so many times that they become parched of meaning, stories like those concerning the girl and her wolf in the woods, the cinder-smudged princess, the monstrous beauty who vomits pearls with every sob…Complicated stories with no easy ending, stories that remind us of karmic debt is a contrivance of despair, that there is nothing fair or sweet about this world.”
Khaw takes it upon herself to utilize beloved fairy tales and bring out the darkest aspects of our world. The need for revenge and lust for power are prevalent themes throughout the novella. Nonetheless, I could feel the hope in the characters. This story didn’t fail to bring a smile to my face with loyalty, compassion, and tenacity being shown in the main characters.
The end of the book, albeit interesting and up for debate, did leave me impressed. While some people may question Khaw’s motive for this novella, I’m starting to realize that maybe there was a point to it all along.
In a way, one could say the end contradicted some of her earlier messages of permanence and existentialism. But I disagree. The characters often discuss mortality. There is a level of despair and exhaustion among the mermaid and the plague doctor after living so many lives, cycles that are never broken. The end showcases love being a driving factor for one character saving the other. One could see this as a romantic act, or perhaps another selfish one. Seeing it as a romantic action falls in line with the love conveyed in the story. But this novella also speaks on the darker human traits. One character is incapable of letting go at the expense of the other’s peace. Their unwillingness to live life without them could very well be the whole point in showcasing the innate selfishness in people. To fully understand, and to prevent spoilers, I suggest you pick up The Salt Grows Heavy. And if this book is one you enjoy, be sure to check out Khaw’s second novel, Nothing But Blackened Teeth.
The Salt Grows Heavy is available from Bookshop, Loyalty Bookstore, Magers & Quinn Booksellers, Strand Book Store, Vroman’s Bookstore, and Waucoma Bookstore.
Belana Beeck is a prose and poetry writer, interested in fantasy, historical, and contemporary fiction. She is also eager to showcase her Latinx culture through her work. She earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Chapman University.