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A review by lydiarama
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
It took me a while to warm up to the world of Crescent City, having read ACOTAR and TOG last year. I felt like a ridiculous amount of lore was dropped on me as soon as I cracked the book open, and I had doubts that I’d find my footing in a series that’s much more diverse in the types of species as well as the class systems, governmental entities, vocabulary, and histories. However, in that distinctly SJM way of hers, I was dragged into the story headfirst, hardly able to rip myself away at times.
Bryce, not unlike the heroines of ToG and ACOTAR, is rough around the edges, multilayered, and complicated. Her unstable place in a world that is uncomfortable with and even hostile to people of her heritage: half-Fae and half-human. With her best friend as a courageous, reckless force at her side, she begins the series stumbling and partying her way through life, keeping her problems and secrets at a distance.
Then a tragedy irrevocably changes her life, twining her path with that of an angel assassin who is serving a seemingly unending sentence for his role in an uprising from decades ago. Hunt, also not unlike the male leads in ACOTAR and TOG, has lived through unimaginable horrors, and will do anything to ensure he doesn’t have to again, even if it means doing the governor’s dirty work for the foreseeable future. When the governor enlists Bryce to help solve a series of violent attacks, Hunt is assigned as her bodyguard and partner in the investigation. Maas proves again that she’s not just a fantasy or even romance literary giant, but one of mystery as well—taking Bryce and Hunt through labyrinthine twists and turns in their investigation.
SJM does not hold back her punches when she crafts her stories, and House of Earth and Blood is no different. Returning readers will be familiar with the acute feelings of heartbreak and despair that Maas renders in her words, as well as the almost-painful moments of utter joy. SJM has mastered the art of breaking her readers’ hearts to ultimately reassemble them into something bigger and brighter.
I finished the book feeling as if I’d completed a grueling yet rewarding journey, and I know that these characters will stay with me for a long time (even more once I complete the series, I’m sure). Many scenes, ones that ripped me apart with sadness as well as joy, will continue to resonate with me.
Despite truly being in awe of the story, I withheld a perfect score because I do feel that all of the lore was too dense, at least for the beginning, and some of the elements of the plot felt disproportionate to the motives of the main characters. I also feel like the blend of modernity with a fantasy landscape caused some inconsistencies in the world, but not too much so that it wasn’t engrossing and exciting.
Bryce, not unlike the heroines of ToG and ACOTAR, is rough around the edges, multilayered, and complicated. Her unstable place in a world that is uncomfortable with and even hostile to people of her heritage: half-Fae and half-human. With her best friend as a courageous, reckless force at her side, she begins the series stumbling and partying her way through life, keeping her problems and secrets at a distance.
Then a tragedy irrevocably changes her life, twining her path with that of an angel assassin who is serving a seemingly unending sentence for his role in an uprising from decades ago. Hunt, also not unlike the male leads in ACOTAR and TOG, has lived through unimaginable horrors, and will do anything to ensure he doesn’t have to again, even if it means doing the governor’s dirty work for the foreseeable future. When the governor enlists Bryce to help solve a series of violent attacks, Hunt is assigned as her bodyguard and partner in the investigation. Maas proves again that she’s not just a fantasy or even romance literary giant, but one of mystery as well—taking Bryce and Hunt through labyrinthine twists and turns in their investigation.
SJM does not hold back her punches when she crafts her stories, and House of Earth and Blood is no different. Returning readers will be familiar with the acute feelings of heartbreak and despair that Maas renders in her words, as well as the almost-painful moments of utter joy. SJM has mastered the art of breaking her readers’ hearts to ultimately reassemble them into something bigger and brighter.
I finished the book feeling as if I’d completed a grueling yet rewarding journey, and I know that these characters will stay with me for a long time (even more once I complete the series, I’m sure). Many scenes, ones that ripped me apart with sadness as well as joy, will continue to resonate with me.
Despite truly being in awe of the story, I withheld a perfect score because I do feel that all of the lore was too dense, at least for the beginning, and some of the elements of the plot felt disproportionate to the motives of the main characters. I also feel like the blend of modernity with a fantasy landscape caused some inconsistencies in the world, but not too much so that it wasn’t engrossing and exciting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma
A big theme of the series is slavery, which exists in the modern society of the book. The main character, Hunt, has to navigate being owned by someone else, as well as his past experiences of being tortured while enslaved.
Gore is extremely prevalent. Folks who are sensitive to descriptions of body horror should take care.
There are many discussions about Bryce’s heavy drinking and recreational drug use, as well as her history of hooking up with strangers while partying. She is judged, bullied, and belittled for this many times, and the harassment for that lifestyle almost caused her to take her own life.
Unlike other SJM series, guns exist in this world and are used and spoken of often. No mass shootings occur, but there are detailed descriptions of firearms and gun violence.
Grief is explored thoroughly and with frankness, and is a major part of Bryce’s journey.
There is one instance of on-page animal cruelty, but the animal is saved.