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. Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her … 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.
more
Through the first 50% of the book, I wasn’t impressed– it was a pretty typical urban fantasy with familiar tropes. The second half of the book goes in unexpected directions and turns many of the tropes on their head. Highly recommend to anyone that enjoys urban fantasy or the author’s other series.
AMAZING. Sarah J Maas never disappoints. CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 2.
Have you ever had a book that you just knew, the expectations were too high for an author to reach? Well Sarah, you came pretty damn close. I’m a Maas head through and through. I’d read her books even if they were crap. This book was a struggle to get into. I’m a very much a YA genre but I was going to get through this book. Get past all the minute details and background. I could do it. And I’m SO glad I did. I ended up loving characters who died and it hurt. I loved Bryce so much. Hunt was an unexpected joy to read about. He’s no Rhys but he will be someone I compare other male leads too. Ruhn is going to be a fav and I’ll forever wish to get a side story for him. The last half of this book blew me out of the water. I saw a few of the twists coming but man did I enjoy the ride. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this series.
Absolutely loved this book. Sarah’s writing always takes you on this hugely emotional journey, and I hate when the story ends!
The worlds and characters she creates are always so complex and intriguing and I just am in awe of her mind. This was an amazing read!
WOW! My girl Sarah nailed this book! What a difference from her other series! At first I was a little iffy about it but honestly it was just so great. Putting together fantasy with modern age tech. At first in the beginning I was really confused with all the terminology and houses but after a while the story really picks up! Around the middle I got a little bored and took a break but as soon as I picked it back up I couldn’t bring the book down. THAT CLIMAX WAS INSANE!!!!
This has romance in it but in my option the true love story was between Bryce and Danika. It was so intense it actually made my heart ache. Hunt was an awesome guy reminds me of a certain character from her past series lol I look forward to the upcoming books but I am so sure there’s more to this!
This book was great 🙂 if you love her other books you’ll love this one! and if you haven’t read her other books what are you waiting for!? xD
So awesome!!! Just a little to many swear words.
Love all of her books. Amazing, such depth for such a young human
Please tell me there is another book after this!!!!
Sarah Maas does it again, folks. She roped me into her skillful world-building and didn’t let go until the very end.
Hands down my favorite book in quite a while. I dread those last 100 pages. I read it in two days and now I hate myself for flying through it. Hands down another beautiful fantasy thqt left my aching for more by my new queen of fantasy…. Sarah J. Maas Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood
More depth with this series, the author’s writing is growing in character development, enjoyable read.
The first 1/4 was hard for me to get into. The second 1/4 I was curious enough to keep reading. The third 1/4 it really picked up. By the last 1/4, I didn’t want it to end! 4.5 stars.
stars
This first 500 pages are a 3 star but the last 200 or so are a definite 5.
This book is like Sarah’s other 2 series starters in that it’s a huge info dump throughout the entire thing. It is a lot to learn! The only thing that really kept me going with this one was knowing who the author was and the characters. I am a huge fan of bryce’s potty mouth, take no crap, totally loyal, always put everyone first, heart on her sleeve self. I also really liked hunt and hope we don’t go the way of the other series and have him not be the one. This book was a little too long, she could have cut about 100 pages off at least but in the end it didn’t matter that much. Can’t wait til the next one, which if it continues in the way the other series did, should be a 5 star!
I’ll admit I was a little bit skeptical about this book. I have seen a lot of mixed reviews, but I am very happy to say that I absolutely loved this it!
Sarah did a fantastic job. The world building was done very well, and there is a lot to learn in the beginning of the book. And the plot, oh my gosh. The plot had me interested through the whole book, but those last couple hundred pages were intense!
I loved all of the characters. Danika and Bryces friendship is goals.
And obviously we can’t forget about Bryce and Hunt. Holy shit.
The development we get to see from these two throughout the book is so good. And the banter and humor is on point! I loved it.
“That’s the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing it might all vanish tomorrow. It makes everything that much more precious.”
Bryce is amazing. Her character development throughout the book is truly one of my favorite parts. She is a damn queen in her own right, and I am so damn excited to see where the story will take her in the next book.
Hunt, the Umbra Mortis, ugh. He’s so moody and brooding in the beginning of the book. He’s had to be so brutal for most of his life and watching him slowly let Bryce in and let himself be soft with her. Be still my heart.
I love fantasy, but its been awhile since I’ve read one that has gripped me the way that House of Earth and Blood did.
It has amazing characters, awesome world building and politics, keep you on your toes action, lots of sexual tension, and just overall an amazing plot and story. It all unravels throughout the book so well.
I know its only March, but this book is definitely one of my favorites of the year. It made it onto my favorites list on Goodreads, of all time.
This is the perfect, well written, fantasy to get you hooked and have you disappearing into another world while reading. This book is something else and the wait for the sequel is going to be freaking torture!
I definitely recommend this book. If you are hesitant like I was I encourage you to take the leap. This book is amazing.
“Through love, All is possible”
What an amazing new world Sarah has created. This was a gripping story with everything, honestly: mystery, romance, magic, friendship, complicated families, fantastic creatures, a whole new world. In the very beginning I had troubles following the government/geography… just because it was all so new… but the more you read the more the new setting becomes natural. By the end I cried over several passages. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this new series. And the ending was such a tease (not a cliffhanger) for the next book I cannot wait for it to come out.
Lele, I bow to you.
A rich, vivid new world full of magic and every supernatural creature you could imagine by the immensely talented Sarah J Maas. Exceptional story telling, a magical world rich in history and culture that I could not put down. A little different than her previous works but well and truly worth a read. Bryce had her world turned upside-down with the death of her bestfriend and has basically been a shell of her former self. A drift with no real direction . Living one day at a time, pushing everyone away and never really feeling anything. Until the day she is forced to work with Hunt, a fallen angel slave to solve a string of murders before the next summit meeting is set to take place. A tentative and reluctant friendship forms between the two, with the power to become so much more if only they are willing to take the chance. Action-packed, thrilling, sad and so worth a read! So many amazing characters, complex and unique, each with something different to add to the story. I am so looking forward to the next one!
Absolutely mesmerizing and fantastical!
Can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Oh man, I don’t even think I can put into words how amazing this book was. Whats more sad is that I will probably have to wait a whole year for the next installment. In just the first chapter there is tons of world building and it can be kind of overwhelming at first but just keep going because oh man. The amount of original characters, worlds, and magic she puts in is amazing. There are ties to her other series as well which I find to be also equally amazing how an author can write three separate series about completely different people and they all tie together in a way. If you love Sarah J Mass or your new to fantasy and the Fae PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
I want to be completely honest here!! This is a 5 star read because just before that 50% mark, this got me!! I was overwhelmed with all of the info dumping in just the first 5 chapters!! I decided that this would be a book that I just couldn’t finish. I hated the language used between friends and the huge atmosphere of drugs. Blek. But after hearing how much so many others loved it, I dove back in! And I’m so glad that I did!! While I won’t call it a masterpiece, I will say that it’s a must read. You have to meet Bryce and Hunt because that is where the real book begins. Yes, I cried, yes I was blindsided. This will confuse, frustrate, make you smile and keep you flipping through its pages. The sacrifices will gut you, most especially towards the end. If I do reread this, I know what parts I’ll be skipping ahead to. This is not at all in the same vein of the other young adult series from Ms. Maas that have captured me body and mind. It really should not be compared to those! I had a difficult time connecting with Bryce but half way through once she started evolving, I finally felt comfortable with her. I wanted to see her succeed, I wanted that seemingly unattainable happily ever after. I wanted the baddies to go down in a major way. I can’t say that these are my favorite characters, however I feel like we’re just starting to know them. I’m looking forward to the next book! I want to see what happens next because this world is intensely intriguing and multifaceted.