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A review by jrobrien99
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Even after my best friend's glowing recommendation and insistence that I read this book, I was still not prepared for how good this was. This novel is Sarah J. Maas's best work yet.
First of all, the world that SJM has created here is absolutely incredible. I have read all of her other works so far, and world-building is something that she does very well. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the names and locations that are kind of thrown at the reader, but once you are sucked into the book, it all becomes easier. Midgard is familiar enough that the reader can relate to it, but is definitely fantastic with angels, sprites, shifters, witches, and more living in (semi) harmony with humankind. Lunathion (otherwise known as Crescent City) plops the reader in the middle of a metropolis that is just like our world, with clubs and drug deals and art galleries. The setting is more magical realism than fantasy - our world today but with supernatural elements.
However, the characters and plot are pure fantasy. Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human, teams up with Hunt Athalar, an angel enslaved to the Republic because of his participation in an uprising centuries ago. These characters are complex in their own way, but both share the pain of grief, which is a central theme throughout this novel.Bryce has to come to terms with her best friend, Danika's, death and realizes that she might not have truly known who Danika was. Hunt still grieves for his lost lover and for the dream of taking down the Republic that never happened. Together, the two unlikely partners investigate a string of strange murders. What I loved about this novel was that it was mystery, romance, and fantasy all in one book. SJM combines tropes from multiple genres to create a true masterpiece of fiction.
This book was fast-paced without feeling too overwhelming. Each chapter furthered the novel in some way, whether it be intense fighting sequences, a shocking plot twist, or character development. Even though House of Earth and Blood is 800 pages, nothing feels like it is unnecessary. Part of me thinks that she might have put too much into this book, just because there are so many plot developments within the last 200-300 pages that seem like they could have been major events in later novels. But as always, I will trust Sarah to continue the story and the characters in a way that is exciting and new.
First of all, the world that SJM has created here is absolutely incredible. I have read all of her other works so far, and world-building is something that she does very well. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all of the names and locations that are kind of thrown at the reader, but once you are sucked into the book, it all becomes easier. Midgard is familiar enough that the reader can relate to it, but is definitely fantastic with angels, sprites, shifters, witches, and more living in (semi) harmony with humankind. Lunathion (otherwise known as Crescent City) plops the reader in the middle of a metropolis that is just like our world, with clubs and drug deals and art galleries. The setting is more magical realism than fantasy - our world today but with supernatural elements.
However, the characters and plot are pure fantasy. Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human, teams up with Hunt Athalar, an angel enslaved to the Republic because of his participation in an uprising centuries ago. These characters are complex in their own way, but both share the pain of grief, which is a central theme throughout this novel.
This book was fast-paced without feeling too overwhelming. Each chapter furthered the novel in some way, whether it be intense fighting sequences, a shocking plot twist, or character development. Even though House of Earth and Blood is 800 pages, nothing feels like it is unnecessary. Part of me thinks that she might have put too much into this book, just because there are so many plot developments within the last 200-300 pages that seem like they could have been major events in later novels. But as always, I will trust Sarah to continue the story and the characters in a way that is exciting and new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Vomit