Sarah J. Maas’s "House of Earth and Blood" is an absolute triumph. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated by her extraordinary writing style and her remarkable ability to draw readers deep into the lives of her characters.
Maas has a unique talent for crafting intricate and vivid worlds, and Crescent City is no exception. The detailed and immersive setting serves as a perfect backdrop for the complex and emotionally rich narrative. Every scene is beautifully described, making it easy to visualize and feel as though you're truly a part of this fantastical universe.
The characters are the heart of this novel. Bryce Quinlan, with her strength, vulnerability, and unwavering determination, is a protagonist who instantly won my admiration. Her journey of love, loss, and self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Each character, from the enigmatic Hunt Athalar to the loyal and brave secondary characters, is meticulously developed, with their own unique personalities and arcs that are woven seamlessly into the overarching plot.
What I love most about Maas’s writing is her ability to evoke such a wide range of emotions. Her prose is both lyrical and accessible, making it easy to get lost in the story for hours on end. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, adding depth and authenticity to the characters' relationships.
The plot is masterfully paced, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Maas expertly balances action, mystery, and romance, creating a narrative that is as thrilling as it is heartfelt. The themes of friendship, love, and sacrifice are explored with great sensitivity and depth, leaving a lasting impact.
"House of Earth and Blood" is a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a testament to Sarah J. Maas’s incredible storytelling prowess and her unparalleled ability to create worlds and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for an epic, emotionally charged adventure. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it highly enough!
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Popular Highlights in this book
I see you, Quinlan, he silently conveyed to her. And I like all of it. Right back at you, her half smile seemed to say.Highlighted by 17,596 Kindle readers- “Do yourself a favor, Orion Athalar: keep well away from Bryce Quinlan.”Highlighted by 16,962 Kindle readers
- The power shall always belong to those who give their lives to the city.Highlighted by 14,894 Kindle readers
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I own this and HOSAB on kindle but bought the hardcovers because how could I not??? And they are SO BEAUTIFUL
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2024Verified Purchase
- Reviewed in Canada on August 7, 2021Verified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
- FatimaReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on October 26, 2022
Never a dull moment !!!
Verified Purchase - ateachersguidetoreadingReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2020
This books is EPIC... You need to read it!
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This book in one word... Epic! And I wholeheartedly mean that! Read it and then tell everyone you know, and their Granny, to read it too! It's just that good!ateachersguidetoreadingThis books is EPIC... You need to read it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2020
Crescent City is a murder mystery with an urban fantasy twist. Honestly, from page 1 this played out in my head as a top class, big city, detective drama with mythological creatures - compareable to those you'd watch on HBO. It's literally shock-after-shock twists (page 599 anyone?) but, particularly in the last 200 pages, it has a way of going from 0-100 in seconds! It plays with your emotions, in pure Sarah J Maas fashion - one minute you're crying, hysterically I might add, body wrecking sobs and all (those photos and that phone call), and the next minute you're laughing at something that's been said or done. And Gods, the slow-burn romance! I love and hate it in equal measures. It's amazingly written and I adored seeing their story develop but I wanted more action, especially as this is an adult book and ACOTAR had more, even in the first book. I'm assuming SJM has this up her sleeve for book 2 and she's purposefully left us hot and bothered, longing for more.
We see our main character, Bryce Quinlan, as the ultimate party girl, enjoying life to the full, before it is ripped from her by the brutal murders of her closest friends. Over the span of two years she coasts along, a ghost of her former self, while she battles on a daily basis to cope with her grief and come to terms with her devestating loss. But soon up pop similar murders, despite the original suspect being behind bars. In order to solve the mystery Bryce is thrown together with dangerous fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, the Governor of Crescent City's very own top assassin. The two must work against the clock to find out what is going on but in the process they unravel a fifteen thousand year old secret that many had assumed was lost forever. Their bond deepens and blossoms into friendship, helping each other heal from their own tragic pasts but their passion can't be denied.
This is Sarah J Maas' first adult book and it dives in covering a range of themes, from grief, loss and suicidal thoughts to sexism, discrimination and body image. It focuses strongly on the bonds of friendship and loyalty, with Bryce and Danika's story played out with just as much emphasis and importance as Bryce and Hunt's. The character development, especially in the last 200 pages and particularly with Bryce, is immense and the world building is fantastic, albeit a bit heavy in the beginning but, like any good fantasy or detective story, as long as you're paying attention none of it will go over your head. The side characters are as alluring at those in other SJM series and I find myself hoping their stories will be expanded on in coming books. I really want to see more of Ruhn but also Aidas, Queen Hypaxia, Tharion, Jesiba, Ithan, Flynn and Declan.
Bryce, as a main character, has now become my favourite leading lady. She is smart and sassy, caring, loyal to a tee and she is as fierce as they come - you definitely want her in your corner. Not to mention she's drop dead gorgeous and curvaceous with stunning long red hair (check out the fanart). I love how she is not afraid to be herself, in all he glory. She curses and speaks her mind. But there's a strong vulnerability there although she does allow those close to her to see.
Hunt is a breath of fresh air in the respect that he's a non-toxic male. He's the poster-boy for soft (but still sexy as Hel). He's there for her when she needs it. And he has easily joined the ranks of my favourite SJM winged males. I am well aware of the pattern that her other books follow but I'm hoping that this time things will be different. When reading it I felt a lot of similarities with the behaviour between another certain revered couple from the ACOTAR series and I hope, with all hope, he's endgame! (I'll admit to having over 50 tags from the book, where the wording is similar to the 'mate' descriptions used in the other two series, in my desperate attempt to decode some of the foreshadowing for book 2)
Be prepared to go through the motions with this book. You will laugh, you will cry and you will freeze with shock, curse at the book and be half afraid to read on. But you will love it! You will love it so much that, like me, you'll have already started a countdown to November 2021, anticipating book 2.
Pros:
Immense character development
Fantastic world building
Extremely well written
Lovable and interesting characters - main and side
A strong and relatable female lead
A non-toxic male love interest
Relatable (despite being in a fantasy world)
Cons:
World building can be a bit heavy, especially at the start
More action needed between Bryce and Hunt
Noteworthy quotes:
'Light it up!'
'I see you, Quinlan. And I like all of it'
'Through love, all is possible'
'You're the person I don't need to explain myself to - not when it matters. You see everything I am, and you don't run away from it'
'That's the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow. It makes everything that more precious'
'He'd been waiting for her form the moment he'd been born'
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- MizuReviewed in France on May 15, 2025
read this if you wanna cry
Verified Purchase - Meghan BartieReviewed in South Africa on February 13, 2025
My favorite book of all time
Verified Purchase - Andrea OttoReviewed in Germany on August 12, 2025
LOVED IT!
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