TITLE: House of Earth and Blood
SERIES: Crescent City #1
AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas
PAGE COUNT: 816 pages
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury Publishing
PUBLICATION DATE: 3 March 2020
GENRE: Fantasy, Romance & New Adult
SYNOPSIS: 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.
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.
Heart-wrenching. Chilling. Unforgettable. These are the only words I have to describe House of Earth and Blood.
I was terrified going into this book. I love the author’s writing and loved the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as the Throne of Glass series, so much that I was afraid this book would not meet my expectations. Let me tell you, I had never been more wrong about a book.
The first 100 pages, I admit, made me almost put it down. It felt overwhelming, getting to know all these characters, politics and background stories but I was so saddened by the thought of doing so, that I decided to push through. And oh my, am I glad I did because I would not have found the treasure the rest of the pages held otherwise.
I could not stop even if I really wanted to. I spent a few days binging this book, living in the world of Crescent City, amongst the many characters, monsters and whimsical creatures. The amount of times I got goosebumps, laughed, cried and recoiled in horror are uncountable. It has been many months since I found a book that had this major impact on me.
This story is a powerful one. Not just because of the genre which is a mix between fantasy, paranormal, romance, mystery and thriller but because of the messages it delivers. Each message, contained in these eight hundred pages, shoots an arrow through the softest parts of your heart. Loss, love, betrayal, hope, heartache, disappointment, sacrifice, friendship and many more, find their way into your heart and soul.
Sarah J. Maas wrote a masterpiece. An overwhelming masterpiece that had my heart in its grip. How she even thought of it all is beyond me. This book has everything; from the mix of genres and many morals to the most light-hearted scenes and corrupt politics. The author gives you an all-seeing eye into what we can only call a cruel but breathtaking world.
Through love, all is possible.
“Through love, all is possible.”
“That’s the point of it, Bryce. Of life. To live, to love, knowing that it might all vanish tomorrow. It makes everything that much more precious.”
“Then let the world know that my first act of freedom was to help my friends.”
“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.”
“It is a symbol – and symbols will always wield power of their own.”
“Remember that you will die, and enjoy each pleasure the world has to offer.”
“What blinds an oracle, Bryce Quinlan?”
“The power shall always belong to those who give their lives to the city.”
“I’ve got you,” he murmured. “Sweetheart, I’ve got you.”
“There are worse fates than death, you know.”
“The universe is massive. Some believe it has no end. Or that our universe might be one in a multitude, as bountiful as the stars in the sky or the sand on a beach.”
“Memento Mori. Remember that you will die.”
“What brings loyalty beyond death, undimming despite the years. What remains unwavering in the face of hopelessness.” …Through love, all is possible.”
“But she was the one person I could be myself around and never feel judged. The one person that I knew would always pick up the phone, or call me back. She was the one person who made me feel brave because no matter what happened, no matter how bad or embarrassing or shitty it was, I knew that I had her in my corner. That if it all went to Hel, I could talk to her and it would be fine.”
“He told me to stop crying. Said it would only satisfy those who had wronged me. That I shouldn’t hive them the gift of my sorrow.”
“So living, and living well—it’s the greatest fuck you that you can ever give them.”
“To Hunt, to his hand, to the softness in his eyes, she held on. With all she had. “I’ve got you,” he murmured. “Sweetheart, I’ve got you.” He’d never said it like that before—that word. It had always been mocking, teasing. She’d always found it just this side of annoying. Not this time. Not when he held her hand and her gaze and everything she was.”
“It was joy and life and death and pain and song and silence.”
“She was sea and sky and stone and blood and wings and earth and stars and darkness and light and bone and flame.”
Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she’s not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and canine companion.
Keep on reading, and never stop telling stories.
White Rose Stories 
I loved this book So much , Especially the last 200 pages :) <3
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Same here! So glad you loved it! 🤗✨
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I’m currently writing my review :P
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Looking forward to reading it! 🤍
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<3 <3
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I loved this book! I definitely struggled with the first 50 pages, I had to reread and try and get past it but the rest was amazing. I can’t wait for the next one! Great review 🌟🌟
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So glad you loved it! It was the same way for me. A lot of information was given at once, so I found it very overwhelming but once I got past that, it was fantastic. Same here! I’m really excited to see what’ll happen next! Thank you so much! 🤍✨
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I’m so conflicted about getting this! I couldn’t get into ACOTAR but I want to give her another chance. Do you think I should try it?
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I can’t guarantee that you’ll love it as much as I do but I sure hope you give it a try! It’s quite different from ACOTAR as it’s set in a modern world (urban fantasy). The first 100 pages or so are quite hard to get into because there’s a lot of information given but nothing felt as if it was given unnecessarily once you know that whole story. In the end, I think it’s worth it to push through. There are so many diverse characters and the plot is one of a mystery/thriller. You also have to keep in mind that as it’s an adult fantasy, there are more gruesome scenes, quite a lot of cursing and a few drops of romance. If that sounds like something you might like reading, please do give it a try! Let me know if you ended up liking it if you decide to pick it up! x
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