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oliviabrcka's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
House of Earth and Blood essentially follows party girl Bryce Quinlan as she tries to solve the mystery surrounding the brutal murders taking place in her city. I have always enjoyed reading Sarah J. Maas's books, as I find them very entertaining, and although this book certainly was entertaining, I just didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did her other books. Overall, I just found it lacking the usual appeal that Sarah J. Maas books have. I was expecting a sweeping romance with a fantasy sub-plot and an interesting mystery tied in, but I didn't really get any of those things.
I have always liked Sarah J. Maas's writing and that didn't change with this book. I think she has a great way of describing things in enough detail that the reader can picture them clearly without spending half a page on one description. It was the pacing that didn't do anything for me with this book. Although Maas's books are monstrous by nature, I usually find them fast-paced and addicting, and I am never left wondering why a book of hers was so long because I'm entertained the whole time. Something new is always happening. However, HOEAB was constantly slowing down and speeding up, leaving me with readers' whiplash. I would get bored for a while, then be unable to put the book down, then go back to being bored. Then, the last 150 pages moved at breakneck speed, making me wish that we had taken out some of the boring, earlier material and instead given that last part more time since that was all of the important stuff anyway.
Bryce and Hunt are our two main protagonists in this story, and at this point, the main characters in SJM books just feel formulaic to me. I personally don't have a problem with the way she writes them, but I'm just getting a little tired of reading about virtually the same two characters in some combination of every book she writes. Honestly, I think there are side characters that would have been far more interesting to read from than Bryce and Hunt. I would have liked to read from Ruhn, Hypaxia, or Fury, but these main characters fell so flat to me. I know it is only the first installment, but we should have seen way more of the cast of characters given the book was over 800 pages long. Usually, I like more time to get to know characters, but I could hardly stand reading 800 pages of literally only Bryce and Hunt. That was not at all fun. We needed way more variation there as well. I was left very underwhelmed by the cast of characters and I am going to need way more substance from them in the next installment of this series if I'm going to continue reading.
One of the things I always have liked about SJM books is how accessible they are. In my opinion, she has always done a great job at worldbuilding and fleshing out the magic and society enough for the reader to understand it well, even if she doesn't go into great detail. That was all thrown out the window in HOEAB. 800 pages later, and I am unable to explain the politics of the city, what the magic system really even is, or anything else. Through the majority of the book, I was majorly confused about how the world worked, and this bled into the plotline.
SJM books have always had logical, addicting plots that keep me captivated, but again, this was not present in this book. However, the whole time Bryce and Hunt were trying to solve the mystery, I was so confused about why they were looking into certain things and how they were making certain connections. There were too many dead ends and far too many pages spent exploring routes that had literally no connection to the true plotline at all. I get we needed some of that frustration to build the urgency in both the characters and the audience, but it was very excessive, and cutting some of that out would have made the plot far more concise. I think if SJM would have spent more time fleshing out the plot and world before writing, we could have ended up with a far clearer picture throughout.
Something that I did really love while reading was the fierce friendship between Bryce and Danika. The grief that Bryce has to deal with is incredibly powerful, and that relationship is one of the only things that gives her substance as a character. I found it really beautiful that their friendship was so impactful even when they were no longer together, and it was one of the redeeming qualities of this book for me.
I think that this was worth reading for SJM fans, but if you already aren't very impressed by her work, this isn't going to do it for you either. I will be picking up the next installment, but I am not going to continue with the series if that one doesn't instill some love in my heart.
I have always liked Sarah J. Maas's writing and that didn't change with this book. I think she has a great way of describing things in enough detail that the reader can picture them clearly without spending half a page on one description. It was the pacing that didn't do anything for me with this book. Although Maas's books are monstrous by nature, I usually find them fast-paced and addicting, and I am never left wondering why a book of hers was so long because I'm entertained the whole time. Something new is always happening. However, HOEAB was constantly slowing down and speeding up, leaving me with readers' whiplash. I would get bored for a while, then be unable to put the book down, then go back to being bored. Then, the last 150 pages moved at breakneck speed, making me wish that we had taken out some of the boring, earlier material and instead given that last part more time since that was all of the important stuff anyway.
Bryce and Hunt are our two main protagonists in this story, and at this point, the main characters in SJM books just feel formulaic to me. I personally don't have a problem with the way she writes them, but I'm just getting a little tired of reading about virtually the same two characters in some combination of every book she writes. Honestly, I think there are side characters that would have been far more interesting to read from than Bryce and Hunt. I would have liked to read from Ruhn, Hypaxia, or Fury, but these main characters fell so flat to me. I know it is only the first installment, but we should have seen way more of the cast of characters given the book was over 800 pages long. Usually, I like more time to get to know characters, but I could hardly stand reading 800 pages of literally only Bryce and Hunt. That was not at all fun. We needed way more variation there as well. I was left very underwhelmed by the cast of characters and I am going to need way more substance from them in the next installment of this series if I'm going to continue reading.
One of the things I always have liked about SJM books is how accessible they are. In my opinion, she has always done a great job at worldbuilding and fleshing out the magic and society enough for the reader to understand it well, even if she doesn't go into great detail. That was all thrown out the window in HOEAB. 800 pages later, and I am unable to explain the politics of the city, what the magic system really even is, or anything else. Through the majority of the book, I was majorly confused about how the world worked, and this bled into the plotline.
SJM books have always had logical, addicting plots that keep me captivated, but again, this was not present in this book. However, the whole time Bryce and Hunt were trying to solve the mystery, I was so confused about why they were looking into certain things and how they were making certain connections. There were too many dead ends and far too many pages spent exploring routes that had literally no connection to the true plotline at all. I get we needed some of that frustration to build the urgency in both the characters and the audience, but it was very excessive, and cutting some of that out would have made the plot far more concise. I think if SJM would have spent more time fleshing out the plot and world before writing, we could have ended up with a far clearer picture throughout.
Something that I did really love while reading was the fierce friendship between Bryce and Danika. The grief that Bryce has to deal with is incredibly powerful, and that relationship is one of the only things that gives her substance as a character. I found it really beautiful that their friendship was so impactful even when they were no longer together, and it was one of the redeeming qualities of this book for me.
I think that this was worth reading for SJM fans, but if you already aren't very impressed by her work, this isn't going to do it for you either. I will be picking up the next installment, but I am not going to continue with the series if that one doesn't instill some love in my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
beckyyyy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
At first i couldnt get into this book as it started off slow paced, but when Bryce and Hunt began to interact more I found myself beginning to enjoy it.
I liked all the unexpected twists it took and found ot very enjoyable.
I also really like the world building. I look forward to the next book.
I liked all the unexpected twists it took and found ot very enjoyable.
I also really like the world building. I look forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence
marigonz26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Torture
jrobrien99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Even after my best friend's glowing recommendation and insistence that I read this book, I was still not prepared for how good this was. This novel is Sarah J. Maas's best work yet.
First of all, the world that SJM has created here is absolutely incredible. I have read all of her other works so far, and world-building is something that she does very well. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the names and locations that are kind of thrown at the reader, but once you are sucked into the book, it all becomes easier. Midgard is familiar enough that the reader can relate to it, but is definitely fantastic with angels, sprites, shifters, witches, and more living in (semi) harmony with humankind. Lunathion (otherwise known as Crescent City) plops the reader in the middle of a metropolis that is just like our world, with clubs and drug deals and art galleries. The setting is more magical realism than fantasy - our world today but with supernatural elements.
However, the characters and plot are pure fantasy. Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human, teams up with Hunt Athalar, an angel enslaved to the Republic because of his participation in an uprising centuries ago. These characters are complex in their own way, but both share the pain of grief, which is a central theme throughout this novel.Bryce has to come to terms with her best friend, Danika's, death and realizes that she might not have truly known who Danika was. Hunt still grieves for his lost lover and for the dream of taking down the Republic that never happened. Together, the two unlikely partners investigate a string of strange murders. What I loved about this novel was that it was mystery, romance, and fantasy all in one book. SJM combines tropes from multiple genres to create a true masterpiece of fiction.
This book was fast-paced without feeling too overwhelming. Each chapter furthered the novel in some way, whether it be intense fighting sequences, a shocking plot twist, or character development. Even though House of Earth and Blood is 800 pages, nothing feels like it is unnecessary. Part of me thinks that she might have put too much into this book, just because there are so many plot developments within the last 200-300 pages that seem like they could have been major events in later novels. But as always, I will trust Sarah to continue the story and the characters in a way that is exciting and new.
First of all, the world that SJM has created here is absolutely incredible. I have read all of her other works so far, and world-building is something that she does very well. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the names and locations that are kind of thrown at the reader, but once you are sucked into the book, it all becomes easier. Midgard is familiar enough that the reader can relate to it, but is definitely fantastic with angels, sprites, shifters, witches, and more living in (semi) harmony with humankind. Lunathion (otherwise known as Crescent City) plops the reader in the middle of a metropolis that is just like our world, with clubs and drug deals and art galleries. The setting is more magical realism than fantasy - our world today but with supernatural elements.
However, the characters and plot are pure fantasy. Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human, teams up with Hunt Athalar, an angel enslaved to the Republic because of his participation in an uprising centuries ago. These characters are complex in their own way, but both share the pain of grief, which is a central theme throughout this novel.
This book was fast-paced without feeling too overwhelming. Each chapter furthered the novel in some way, whether it be intense fighting sequences, a shocking plot twist, or character development. Even though House of Earth and Blood is 800 pages, nothing feels like it is unnecessary. Part of me thinks that she might have put too much into this book, just because there are so many plot developments within the last 200-300 pages that seem like they could have been major events in later novels. But as always, I will trust Sarah to continue the story and the characters in a way that is exciting and new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit
adria_422's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this book with all of my heart. It was one of the best books I’ve read in a long, long time. It definitely lives up to the high fantasy genre and is such an inventive and emotional take on fantasy. 100/10 would recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Murder, Death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Vomit, Violence, and Sexual content
The main character deals with a lot of depression and what not afterisabellaft's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Grief
jhaneveauguste's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
stephanies_leabharlann's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
whispertales's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Self harm, Slavery, and Alcohol
miss_sunshine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book made me cry, at multiple points. Sarah J. Maas is a queen of giving us, real female protagonists. Bryce was everything I could ever want in the main character. She is strong, sexy, badass, and full to the brim of emotions. This book is a 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Violence, Addiction, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping