Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

210 reviews

wiley_coyote5's review against another edition

adventurous funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Classism, and Cursing

Minor: Drug use

This book goes into detail about how a character deals with the death of a friend. Includes the whole process, can be hard to read

tanya_1992's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

It's slow to start but it does pick up after the fire 100 pages. There is a lot of info dumping in some sections but it isn't the worst that I've read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual content

ashlynnlee_14'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this book for the first time almost exactly two years ago—and then proceeded to forget everything that happened in it. So I did a quick reread so I could continue the series. 

This book fell victim to one of SJM’s favorite way of conveying plot twists: long ass unnecessary monologues. The plot itself was interesting enough to me, with some twists and reveals that weren’t TOO obvious. 

I’m not usually a big fan of urban fantasy (it’s goofy to me when the fae are communicating to each other over text—pls keep them in high fantasy settings) but it was still enjoyable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

anjasshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Confinement, Cursing, War, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Medical content, Vomit, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Grief, Alcohol, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Torture

meredith_williams_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.75

At this point, anything SJM writes, I’ll read. She always delivers with a quick paced fantasy romance that includes fun characters, good world building, and interesting plot twists. The first installment of the Crescent City series was no exception. While the beginning felt a bit slow, the build up was necessary for the story. I loved the FMC, Bryce. She was strong, smart and sure of herself from the beginning. I also liked the setting of a futuristic fantasy world in which magic and technology mix in interesting ways. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Blood, Gun violence, and Drug use

Minor: Sexism and Fire/Fire injury

emmerylynn's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

Like most, I found the beginning to be a struggle, but once Danika died…I couldn’t put it down. (Finally SJM uses death as a plot device!). Could have used more romance, but I was very satisfied with Bryce and Hunt’s relationship. The ending was sooo powerful, probably one of SJMs best endings. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

amartin48's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is just beautiful. It has mystery and intrigue, but it’s about pain and the love of found family that runs so deep, not even death can diminish it. The emotions portrayed in this book are so honest and accurate that I found myself in tears by the end. Maas did all of these characters justice, and portrayed lovely ideas in a bold and not-cheesy sort of way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Slavery, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Gore, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Gun violence

cady_sass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.5

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up 
To think I almost DNFed this after 50 pages!!! Which is why I deduct half a star. The first few chapters are really hard to read, they’re nonsensical, lazy world building and make almost zero sense to the point where I felt compelled to put it down. Some friends convinced me it was worth the push so I started over and pushed through part 1, at which point I absolutely *devoured* the rest of the book. I didn’t guess any of the twists, I fell in love with all the characters, my heart broke and pieced itself back together and broke over and over again. Loved this. ACOTAR who? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Medical content, Vomit, Slavery, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Torture, War, Blood, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

tiff_taff's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I devoured Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR series earlier this year and instantly knew I had to start the Crescent City series. This book did not disappoint. My one point of critique is that the first half feels slow. There’s a lot of world building that doesn’t make sense at first. I will definitely benefit from a re-read before the third book comes out. 

Bryce Quinlan is half-fae, half-human and quite honestly a mess. She’s reeling from a significant loss that happens early on in the book and trying to keep a grip on living. Hunt Athalar is an enslaved, assassin fallen angel who gets thrown into the mix of a curious investigation. The relationship development between these two was a delight to read. Definitely a slow burn but their friendship was my favorite part. 

The rest of the immediate characters have vibrant and different personalities. I loved everyone, even the characters you want to hate.  

There’s a fair amount of action that explodes in the last part especially. I couldn’t put the book down for the last 200 pages or so and had to stay up late to finish it. 

I cannot wait to pick up the second book this weekend and dive back in to Lunathion. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Drug use, Torture, and Slavery

Moderate: Confinement, Abandonment, Body shaming, Addiction, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty

mbrogs2024's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Suicide, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship