Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

210 reviews

hellandhogwarts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Addiction, Bullying, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Gun violence, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, and Torture

amy_in_the_city's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really liked the slow-burn development of the relationship. The characters tell us and show us why they fall for each other, instead of it just being insta-love because they're both attractive people. 

The mystery plot was really engaging and the world was interesting. I was confused by the worldbuilding and think a map of the world (instead of just the city) and a glossary of terminology would have been helpful.

I found the rudeness and hostility between Bryce and Hunt at the beginning to be immature and very annoying. Luckily the characters were developed, and I really liked them and their relationship by the end of the book. I thought it was great that they develop a friendship first and then eventually a romantic relationship. The scene where she takes care of him when he's feeling messed up after getting back from one of Micah's assignments was so sweet.

The last 200 pages or so were awesome. Just a wild ride, crazy action-packed and full of emotion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Body horror, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Gore, Death, Drug abuse, Vomit, Drug use, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and War

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Confinement, Sexism, Addiction, Torture, Police brutality, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I had been warned that the first quarter of the book was lore-heavy, but I didn't find that to be true. I felt like the story started straight away and many things in later chapters had just as much lore and worldbuilding as the beginning of the book. 

I love the mix of fantasy and urban elements, especially mixing magical power with science. I liked how visceral the feelings and reactions were to the classist hierarchy in the society; it felt very real and bought the 1984 vibes that we no longer have in this social-media based society. 

I felt like the end came too quickly; I would have liked to see some aftermath and some clue as to how society will move forward. It felt very ambiguous. I'm hoping more questions will be answered in book 2.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Slavery, Gore, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Racism, Cursing, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Drug use, Vomit, Colonisation, Genocide, and Sexual content

Minor: Medical content, Torture, Animal cruelty, and Bullying

smuttymcbookface's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

It took me a while to get into this, as the start of the book is nothing like the middle and end.

What we see at the beginning is Bryce, someone who parties too hard. She is not a likeable character here. She's dating someone just because he's rich and attractive, she sleeps with someone else after agreeing to go out with the person who's pined after her for years, and she'll take any type of drug put in front of her - even spending what little is left of her money to get some. She's irreverent and dislikeable.

Then, the plot unfolds. And we begin to see a new Bryce, one trying to rebuild a new life whilst unable to move on from the past. SJM does an amazing job of humanising Bryce, showing her difficulty and grief and trauma about moving on from the person who was her entire life.

And amongst all this development, we have a well-written mystery that she has to dig deeper and deeper into. Although I had guessed at some part, others left me shocked. I enjoyed the new people we met, the world-building and courts we were shown along the way, and the discrepancies in treatment for those of different races.

I did not find myself drawn into the love story of Bryce and Hunt; no matter how many times SJM writes that they're the same, she can't convince me the man held a slave for 200 years and the girl who has suffered two years of grief understand each other's pain in that way. Sympathise? Yes. But they are in no way the same. And since a lot of their relationship developed on this shared trauma, it was hard to believe I was watching these two properly fall in love, and not just trauma bond - particularly since their relationship was over the course of *a month*.

I also wasn't impressed by the last 100 pages. The views of people at the summit was exhausting to read; Bryce in these pages seemed like a different character compared to Bryce earlier on, all the feeds at the summit seemed ridiculous (

and camera's some how survived a nuclear bombing?

), and it all felt ridiculously cheesy.

This was still a good read, though I'm not sure I'll continue the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, War, Drug use, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Slavery, Drug abuse, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Torture, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

zia_c's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

To be very honest, this is story is hella entertaining. I can't wait to read the 3rd book in this series. 🥰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Vomit, Drug use, Medical content, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Classism, Cursing, Alcoholism, and Panic attacks/disorders

forgottencupoftea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

that_awkwardpart's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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

5.0

The first 200 pages are quite intense and the world building komplex. 
I had to cry multiple times , the characters are written beautifully and realistic. The book is written in multiple pov. The story enfolds naturally and doesn't seem rushed or to stretcht. But I would definitely recommend to read the other books of the author first. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Slavery, Death, Animal death, Medical content, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Blood, and Murder

britwalsh16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

I barely have any words! I am a very emotional person, & all the grief & loss in this book just tore me apart. BUT I loved every minute of it! I flew through this book, I could not put it down! 

Based on Sarah J Maas’ other books I kept expecting Hunt to flip a switch & become another Tamlin; but I am so glad that never happened! I love Bryce! & I love Hunt! I love Ruhn! & I loved Danika! And though I didn’t know him much, I loved Conner, & whenever Bryce talked about him, I always started tearing up! I teared up with Danika too. But something about the not knowing what could have been with Conner makes me super sad! Atleast with Danika she knew what they had, what they were. Conner never had that chance & it just kills me!

This book hit me in the feels sooo much, & I’m not fully healed from the last book I read either, so together, I’m just falling off a cliff! Thanks Romantasy books! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Torture, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Classism, Death, Slavery, Abandonment, Gun violence, War, Confinement, Dysphoria, Grief, and Cursing

Moderate: Bullying, Genocide, Hate crime, and Eating disorder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Animal death, Vomit, and Panic attacks/disorders

mistyhearts's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, and Death

Minor: Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and War

selena13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I didn’t understand why people liked this book until I read it! I’ve read all of ToG and ACOTAR before starting this book and loved it more for it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, Classism, Torture, Vomit, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mass/school shootings, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Slavery