˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ (4 stars)
Phew! 799 pages later and I’ve finally finished this book. I’ve been attempting to read Maas’ latest series since it was published in 2020 with little luck. For some reason, I just couldn’t get past the first 30 pages. I must have read the initial chapter at least 4 times at different points in the last few years…I checked out the book and failed. I tried listening to the audiobook and I failed. I tried reading it here and there as an eBook on my phone; no surprise, I failed. I truly think that pure determination is what made it possible for me to get far enough into the book to finally be hooked. And truly, like Maas’ other books, it is good. I just wish it wasn’t so hard to get into.
but first, the summary
A #1 New York Times bestseller!
Sarah J. Maas’s brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.
Casteel Da’Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.
**some spoiler highlights**
📚 📚 📚 📚HIGHLIGHTS: 📚 📚 📚 📚
**FAE AND HUMANS AND DEMONS AND PRINCES AND ANGELS AND WITCHES AND REAPERS AND ASTERI AND SHIFTERS AND VAMPIRES – OH MY! – One of my biggest issues unequivocally about this book was there were simply too many concepts. It felt like Maas couldn’t decide which fantasy species should be a part of this world so she literally included ALL of them. It added too many layers of complexity and it was difficult to keep track of all the species and their houses. In a typical fantasy novel, you’re already keeping track of one to three different species with their own customs and culture that affect the plot of the story. In this book, I had to remember SO many nuances…and I know it was one of the primary reasons I struggled so long to read this book. It was overwhelming and it felt indecisive. Don’t get me wrong, by the end of the book, I had a handle on the world and its characters, but it still felt forced to have so many powerful species in one world. Ever wonder who would win in a fight between a fae and an angel? Maas tries to answer that here.
**THE WORLD BUILDING – One of my favorite reasons for loving Maas’ Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series was the world building. Frankly, the books that get me the most always involve in-depth and extensive world-building. I love being invested thoroughly. Combine that with some strong character development and you’ll get a 5-star rating from me. House of Earth and Blood did involve some extensive world building, and some aspects were very interesting. However, this book was one page off of 800 pages! That is sooooooo long! And to be honest, it takes a couple hundred pages to truly be invested in this book. There’s just so much happening and yet nothing at all. So much time has to be spent explaining the minutiae to make this book work in the first place. And admittedly the last couple hundred of pages make it worth it. But, I felt like I had to work for it…and I’d like it to feel a bit more effortless.
**THE DROP – One of the most interesting concepts in this world was the “Drop,” an act where people in this world, once of a certain age, leave their mortal bodies behind to become immortal. They untether themselves from their physical bodies in a burst of energy. The energy is used to power the whole world and is an opportunity to develop a rating for how powerful the being is. After the drop, the being’s self has to ascend back to their body, and if they are successful, they are immortal. They have come into their power and able to heal quickly. One of the things that struck me was how fascinating it was that this act is committed by all the different species in the story.
**THE BRYCExHUNT ROMANCE – I really enjoyed the buildup of the relationship between Bryce and Hunt. There was a lot of vulnerability involved and they were more friends than lovers for most of the book. I appreciated the intimacy and connection. The relationship was one of the most compelling elements of the book and truly, it’s one of the reasons I will pick up the sequel, so that I can continue to see it develop. Many of these fantasy series that include a romance rely on smut to carry the relationship forward, but to be honest — almost nothing happened in that arena. And truly, I enjoy a smut-filled romance, but it was refreshing to see true connection between characters developed in a fantasy landscape.
**SYNTH & MURDERS & MORE – I am not a mystery reader. It is absolutely not my genre. However, it’s not surprising to see this format for Maas’ stories come up again, since that was the basis of the Throne of Glass title too. And, as much as I don’t like the genre, I can appreciate how the mystery focus can give time for character and relationship development, as well as easily subvert your expectations with plot twists and turns. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about the mystery’s result…it was a bit convoluted and weird, but I got the general outcome and was accepting of it. It just seems to come back to the same original premise issue I had with the story — and that’s that there is just too much going on. Synthetic magic being so powerful that it could both heal and destroy? Open realms between worlds? I just had these moments where I thought the it was all too much.
**I FEAR MAAS IS LOSING HER TOUCH – Since reading Throne of Glass years ago, I have been an avid fan of Sarah J. Maas. Over the years, the whole #booktok world has apparently also joined in on the bandwagon. Her books have been re-released (color me surprised when I saw Throne of Glass on the new adult shelves when it was originally a YA release). But between this title and A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #4), I am starting to wonder if Maas is losing her touch, almost becoming a Prometheus of the fantasy book world, having gotten so popular and so good that she’s over-complexifying her stories.
📚 📚 📚 📚CONCLUSION: 📚 📚 📚 📚
When combing through my thoughts, I had more negative to say than positive…but ultimately, I did still enjoy this book. Between the enjoyment I did garner in reading it in combination of my loyalty to Sarah J. Maas, I felt this was a 4-star book. I am hoping I enjoy the sequel much more.
where to read it
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Available on Amazon in Hardback, Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
Lala.Librarian’s Bookish Thoughts 