Review: House of Earth and Blood ( Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Title: House of Earth and Blood ( Crescent City #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 3rd March 2020
Hardcover: 799 pages
BLURB:
Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.
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.
MY REVIEW
My Rating: ★★★★★
House of Earth and Blood is one of those books that will stay ingrained in your mind for a long time. Sarah J Maas had yet again created a captivating world where supernatural creatures rule and the story unfolds bit by bit making you hungry for more with each page.
The story opens with the death of the protagonists best friend. Two years later secrets about that fateful night are surfacing and the killer is back in business. Our heroine, Bryce, is determined to discover why her friend was killed and with the help of a broody but very powerful fallen angel – Hunt Athalar, she embarks on a quest that takes them into the dark underbelly of the Crescent City, where chaos and danger follow in their steps.
I'm gonna start by saying that the world-building was fantastic. Yes, it may seem like there is a lot of info dump at the beginning, but it's all necessary to get a full picture of the intricate political system, the realms presented and the protagonist's backstory. But once you get passed the first twenty chapters the action becomes fast-paced, suspenseful and heart-gripping. There was never a dull moment, it was a wild ride. I could hardly catch my breath from one chapter to another and by the end, I was a sobbing mess.
I found Bryce's character perfectly crafted. She seems, shallow and detached in the beginning, just another spoiled party girl, but as the story progresses she undergoes a huge personal growth. She's fierce, strong-headed, loyal to a fault and selfless. She hides behind a mask of indifference and carelessness but deep down she feels and loves too much, she values friendship above anything else and her relationship with Danika was heartwarming.
“Allow me to demonstrate why you all can kiss my fucking ass.”
As for Hunt, he completely conquered my heart. He's this tall, dark and dangerous angel, who works for the Archangels as a personal assassin. But beneath his tough exterior and sulking attitude, he is caring and sweet and has a big broken heart which needs mending. I loved his protectiveness towards Bryce, and the connection that transpired between them was beautifully presented. Their banter, their conversations and their tender moments made me feel extremely emotional. They made such a perfect couple.
“I’ve got you, Sweetheart, I’ve got you.”
Now I have to mention my favourite secondary characters, who added salt and pepper to this story. Rhun, Bryce's brother, the Fae prince who captivated my attention from the beginning. He's a loyal brother and he will protect Bryce no matter what. I hope we get to see more of him and the witch queen in the next books of the series. Then there's Lehabah who I adored, she was the sweetest and funniest character. Fury, the mysterious assassin, feared across all the realms. She's a total badass and I loved her attitude. And last but not least, Danika, for who I had mixed feeling throughout the book but in the end, I understood her actions and I appreciated her a lot.
“Through love, all is possible.”
So, overall I can say this book was brilliant. From the writing style, which was enthralling, to the message it conveyed, that love is the most powerful force, this story was wonderfully presented. There were twists and turns at every corner and it kept me on my toes until the last page. I can't wait for the next instalment in the series.
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