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ashbul22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
kamrynkoble's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
This was so, so good. Just like with Throne of Glass, I think it helped that the SJM community primed me with what to expect. I went in knowing there would be 200 pages of worldbuilding but was pleasantly surprised by it. Just persevere—it’ll be fine.
I really didn’t find this slow, despite lots of other reviewers saying so. I really enjoyed the characters and the world, and found the murder mystery aspect so engaging.
Genuinely, I cannot remember a time where a slow burn was so frustrating to me. Oh my word. I need more in the second book.
Speaking of the second book: I’m terrified. Shaking.
Like always, the last 200 pages are insane and I’m still reeling. Maybe I’ll have more eloquent thoughts soon but I really enjoyed this one and I’m so thankful I’ve gotten into fantasy this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Sexual content
carolinesoverbooked's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Grief, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
ladylaelae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
3.75 for this first one, because it was the second edition of this series that truly took me by storm. This one still deserves recognition, though.
As many others have likely stated, this book does start off slow. There is a mountain of worldbuilding to be done, especially since the setting of this book (urban fantasy) is markedly different from SJM's two other major series (which are a combination of high fantasy and mid-range fantasy settings, since ACOTAR's level of high fantasy and urban fantasy identification is ambiguous).
Outside of the initial pains of worldbuilding, this book took me by surprise. I'm not normally an urban fantasy kind of gal, and yet the characters pulled me right in. There was a devastating twist in the beginning of the book (iykyk) that shocked me and pulled me right in. There was flirtatious banter and charm between the characters that had me rolling my eyes in amusement, occasionally blushing, and giggling like a madwoman. And then there was one particular set of scenes toward the end that had me sobbing my heart out(the Lehabah scene) , laughing through my tears (the vacuum scene) , and then sobbing my heart out some more. SJM definitely delivered on a set of characters that you can grow to love.
No, her writing is not the top-tier writing you may expect from the upper echelons of fantasy authors. This book is meant for adults coming off of young adult fantasy and moving into something more mature. Yes, she does her usual thing where she uses certain phrases and themes over and over again. NO, you should NOT read this before you read her other series, if you can help it.
Manage your expectations, and I think you'll fall in love. Not every book, series, or author has to be the next Tolkien, Greenwood, or Sanderson. This book - as with all of SJM's fantasy books - is fun, romantic, emotional, and packed with action and adventure. The writing is mid-tier fantasy writing, but the world can be captivating and imaginative. Just immerse yourself in it and enjoy it for what it is.
As many others have likely stated, this book does start off slow. There is a mountain of worldbuilding to be done, especially since the setting of this book (urban fantasy) is markedly different from SJM's two other major series (which are a combination of high fantasy and mid-range fantasy settings, since ACOTAR's level of high fantasy and urban fantasy identification is ambiguous).
Outside of the initial pains of worldbuilding, this book took me by surprise. I'm not normally an urban fantasy kind of gal, and yet the characters pulled me right in. There was a devastating twist in the beginning of the book (iykyk) that shocked me and pulled me right in. There was flirtatious banter and charm between the characters that had me rolling my eyes in amusement, occasionally blushing, and giggling like a madwoman. And then there was one particular set of scenes toward the end that had me sobbing my heart out
No, her writing is not the top-tier writing you may expect from the upper echelons of fantasy authors. This book is meant for adults coming off of young adult fantasy and moving into something more mature. Yes, she does her usual thing where she uses certain phrases and themes over and over again. NO, you should NOT read this before you read her other series, if you can help it.
Manage your expectations, and I think you'll fall in love. Not every book, series, or author has to be the next Tolkien, Greenwood, or Sanderson. This book - as with all of SJM's fantasy books - is fun, romantic, emotional, and packed with action and adventure. The writing is mid-tier fantasy writing, but the world can be captivating and imaginative. Just immerse yourself in it and enjoy it for what it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Cursing
reesespuff6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Medical trauma, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Medical content, Murder, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Confinement, Gore, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, and Gun violence
andrealinia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt and Misogyny
aeola's review against another edition
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas showcases eloquent descriptions and a single-line narrative that unveils a vast and immersive universe. However, despite its promising start, this book fails to deliver on several fronts, ultimately leading to my decision to not finish it at the 35% mark.
From the very beginning, it becomes apparent that the first chapter focuses heavily on characters who are destined to meet a tragic fate. While this serves to create a sense of urgency, it also makes it challenging to engage with the story. Fantasy elements aside, the core narrative revolves around a protagonist who leads a self-destructive life. It is disconcerting to witness the romanticization of a nymphomaniac and drug addict, which leaves a sour taste in the reader's mouth.
Although the story does show signs of improvement, it suffers from a significant slowdown in pacing. The narrative becomes bogged down with unnecessary details, forcing readers to seek spoilers in order to maintain interest. The author seems unsure of how to bridge the gap between the beginning and the revelation of the central mystery. As a result, the characters repeatedly dwell on the same memories and engage in lengthy conversations about the universe. This reliance on repetitive exposition and mundane actions, such as going to the table or the office, becomes tiresome and detracts from the overall storytelling experience.
Furthermore, the characterization in House of Earth and Blood falls flat. The protagonists are portrayed with youthful maximalism, often behaving and thinking like children. Additionally, the heroine is presented as unrealistically cool and intelligent, while the hero, despite his masculine appearance, possesses feminine qualities. This lack of depth and nuance in the characters further diminishes the reader's connection with the story.
Regrettably, after struggling through 285 pages, it became apparent that enduring another 500 pages of this monotonous pacing and lackluster character development would be an exercise in futility. The need to rely on internet spoilers to maintain interest ultimately overshadowed any potential enjoyment I could have derived from the book. Considering that there is a sequel to House of Earth and Blood, I find it difficult to justify investing more time in this series when there are countless other books awaiting my attention.
In conclusion, House of Earth and Blood presents a promising premise but fails to deliver on its potential. While the descriptive prose and world-building are commendable, the slow pacing, too simple characters, and romanticized portrayal of destructive behaviors hinder the overall reading experience.
Rating: 2/5 Stars
From the very beginning, it becomes apparent that the first chapter focuses heavily on characters who are destined to meet a tragic fate. While this serves to create a sense of urgency, it also makes it challenging to engage with the story. Fantasy elements aside, the core narrative revolves around a protagonist who leads a self-destructive life. It is disconcerting to witness the romanticization of a nymphomaniac and drug addict, which leaves a sour taste in the reader's mouth.
Although the story does show signs of improvement, it suffers from a significant slowdown in pacing. The narrative becomes bogged down with unnecessary details, forcing readers to seek spoilers in order to maintain interest. The author seems unsure of how to bridge the gap between the beginning and the revelation of the central mystery. As a result, the characters repeatedly dwell on the same memories and engage in lengthy conversations about the universe. This reliance on repetitive exposition and mundane actions, such as going to the table or the office, becomes tiresome and detracts from the overall storytelling experience.
Furthermore, the characterization in House of Earth and Blood falls flat. The protagonists are portrayed with youthful maximalism, often behaving and thinking like children. Additionally, the heroine is presented as unrealistically cool and intelligent, while the hero, despite his masculine appearance, possesses feminine qualities. This lack of depth and nuance in the characters further diminishes the reader's connection with the story.
Regrettably, after struggling through 285 pages, it became apparent that enduring another 500 pages of this monotonous pacing and lackluster character development would be an exercise in futility. The need to rely on internet spoilers to maintain interest ultimately overshadowed any potential enjoyment I could have derived from the book. Considering that there is a sequel to House of Earth and Blood, I find it difficult to justify investing more time in this series when there are countless other books awaiting my attention.
In conclusion, House of Earth and Blood presents a promising premise but fails to deliver on its potential. While the descriptive prose and world-building are commendable, the slow pacing, too simple characters, and romanticized portrayal of destructive behaviors hinder the overall reading experience.
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Murder, Grief, and Alcohol
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Blood, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
hvtardiswltrvl's review against another edition
Found it confusing and the pacing was off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Death, and Drug use
sarahmcg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I really enjoyed the first installment of the Crescent City series! I know a lot of people say the world-building is a lot, but once I got the hang of the different species, it was pretty easy for me to follow. Bryce might be one of my new favorite FMCs of SJM. She is stubborn, brave, loyal to a fault, and smart. Of course I love Hunt and Ruhn too, but how about Syrinx and Lehabah?! Characters that do not get enough hype 🥲❤️ anyway, the last 100-150 pages were wild and I could not stop until I knew what happened. I hear the next book is even wilder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Violence, Grief, and Drug use
Moderate: Slavery and Bullying
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and War