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A review by livist
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Overall I liked this book. At this point, I will generally enjoy anything this woman writes haha. There are definitely some issues and even potentially plot holes.
I liked the idea of Ruhn & Lidia having some back and forth. But I didn’t understand her gripe regarding him being caring after finding out she had kids. He stayed by her side night and day even before she woke up and ran to them. Why he didn’t mention that to her I have no clue. It was clear that it was only upon the idea that he was going to lose her and that she risked everything for him that he accepted her love. The kid thing was kind of ancillary. Also, she says having the kids was what changed her own motivations/outlook. So, she mad that the kids humanized her to Ruhn but also they humanized her to herself. It’s wild.
I feel like Pollux should have been the dad. It would mean so much more for Ruhn to accept them and care for them. And make Pollux that much crueler if he was willing to sacrifice them to get to her.
Up until the last part I was pretty on board with things. But the ending felt so hastily written. Regarding the smut, there was so much tension and back and forth with Ruhn and Lidia that when they finally physically get down and dirty, it ends up being a short 2 page thing. Like what???
The beginning of the book I enjoyed even though it was like 3 different television shows for a while. Always down for a trials and tribulations journey. Nesta & Az willing to be cruel to Bryce at the end that journey, specifically after beating the Asteri together made 0 sense to me. Like…while they had been bamboozled by her, she was clearly telling the truth as evidenced the little video thing. So I don’t get why they went back into over defensive bad guy mode there.
Also Hypaxia said they would get reinfected if they drank the water again, or maybe it was just a high likelihood? Either way, how was Tharion not immediately affected when he jumped into the Istros???
Lidia also got OP’d which seemed random/came from nowhere. Her powers seem to mimic Nesta’s which was confusing since Nesta was, “made,” and that’s why her powers were special.
Also, while I can appreciate a good ending, it felt a little weird for Danika, Connor & Pack of Devils to basically be revived in the afterlife. It sort of belittles their sacrifice. I guess taking solace in that they didn’t know this could become their eventual fate (which like wouldn’t that already have been the case for Danika?) is how we’re supposed to appreciate their sacrifice but again it just feels a bit hollow.
I was able to ignore most of these gripes and keep it moving. There were lots of things I liked, Jesiba being sacrificed and her whole back story (although at the end her confrontation with Apollion seemed lackluster after 15,000 years of being cursed but it is what it is).
Not sure if SJM felt like it was getting too long and had to make cuts or if she was pressed against a deadline. Either way, in comparison to the other ones if felt a bit rushed and a bit all over the place.
Since CC4 has been confirmed, I’m interested to see where it goes and if it will land on the seemingly standard if ~800 pages.
I feel like Pollux should have been the dad. It would mean so much more for Ruhn to accept them and care for them. And make Pollux that much crueler if he was willing to sacrifice them to get to her.
Up until the last part I was pretty on board with things. But the ending felt so hastily written. Regarding the smut, there was so much tension and back and forth with Ruhn and Lidia that when they finally physically get down and dirty, it ends up being a short 2 page thing. Like what???
The beginning of the book I enjoyed even though it was like 3 different television shows for a while. Always down for a trials and tribulations journey. Nesta & Az willing to be cruel to Bryce at the end that journey, specifically after beating the Asteri together made 0 sense to me. Like…while they had been bamboozled by her, she was clearly telling the truth as evidenced the little video thing. So I don’t get why they went back into over defensive bad guy mode there.
Also Hypaxia said they would get reinfected if they drank the water again, or maybe it was just a high likelihood? Either way, how was Tharion not immediately affected when he jumped into the Istros???
Lidia also got OP’d which seemed random/came from nowhere. Her powers seem to mimic Nesta’s which was confusing since Nesta was, “made,” and that’s why her powers were special.
Also, while I can appreciate a good ending, it felt a little weird for Danika, Connor & Pack of Devils to basically be revived in the afterlife. It sort of belittles their sacrifice. I guess taking solace in that they didn’t know this could become their eventual fate (which like wouldn’t that already have been the case for Danika?) is how we’re supposed to appreciate their sacrifice but again it just feels a bit hollow.
I was able to ignore most of these gripes and keep it moving. There were lots of things I liked, Jesiba being sacrificed and her whole back story (although at the end her confrontation with Apollion seemed lackluster after 15,000 years of being cursed but it is what it is).
Not sure if SJM felt like it was getting too long and had to make cuts or if she was pressed against a deadline. Either way, in comparison to the other ones if felt a bit rushed and a bit all over the place.
Since CC4 has been confirmed, I’m interested to see where it goes and if it will land on the seemingly standard if ~800 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Sexual assault