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A review by cdrescher
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
EDIT: rounding this down to 4 stars only because I keep thinking about how much of a bitch Bryce was LOL
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars! I broke out the laptop for this review so you know it's about to get INTENSE.
If you want the TL;DR: My membership in SJM's cult remains stronger than ever. I much prefer less POVs and more character development like with her other series, but this book is better than CC2 and gave me life.
I will have some SPOILERS below, but first my non-spoiler thoughts:
- More than anything, I was just really happy to be in SJM's world. Even when I'm reading the books of hers I don't love as much, it feels like I'm curled up with a good mug of coffee talking with my best friend. It was refreshing to be back with characters I love!
- If you don't ride hard for Hunt and Ruhn the way you do for Rhysand or Cassian or Rowan...that is needs to change! I have always been a Hunt fan (he's my third favorite SJM man behind Cassian and Rowan) but Ruhn stepped up in this book in a big way and I love that softy tattooed badass man.
- Bryce was interesting in this book...one thing I love about Bryce vs. Aelin/Feyre/Nesta is how much more relatable she is (could be because of the modernity of Crescent City). This book she definitely takes a more Aelin-esque role which is fun because Aelin is the best but also no one can be Aelin...which is kind of the point. Some of Bryce's decision making I deeply questioned but she's still my girl and I think ultimately the decisions she made at the VERY end were true to her character.
- I was getting WHIPLASH HONEY from the POV changes throughout this book! Hunt, Bryce, Ruhn, Lidia, Ithan, Tharion...even in the middle of chapters! I think Crescent City is Sarah's most sprawling work and while I am obsessed with the world-building, she needs to focus the characters a little more so their development feels more earned.
- The plot was plotting!!!!!!!!!!! This bitch can write a book. I laughed, I cried (see: sobbed), I kicked my feet like a little girl, I threw the book in the corner because I couldn't stand it, I felt all of the things and that's what I want out my girlie Sarah Janet!!
- If you're an ACOTAR or TOG fan who is nervous about this book...don't be. There are a lot of fun easter eggs and it sets up some of ACOTAR5, but this is Bryce's story through and through.
LET'S SPOIL IT UP!!! Beware below:
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- Bryce and Nesta being friends is everything I have ever wanted on this earth. If you know me in my personal life you know I am deeply connected to both of these female characters and relate to them on transcendent spiritual planes. The bonus scene from Walmart with Bryce showing Nesta and Azriel the music on her phone will live in my head rent-free. I love how Bryce and Nesta were sharing their worlds (kind of...since they were enemy-adjacent most of the first part of the book).
- I know some people are upset by the crossover but I'm actually happy that it was more Spiderman: Homecoming and not Captain America: Civil War. Even though I was initially disappointed I didn't see my homegirl Aelin or daddy Rowan, I'm happy to leave those stories where they are (or a different one...someday) and focus on Bryce and Hunt and their friends. If Sarah wanted to write a Christmas novella where all of the characters from her three series hang out for 250 pages and get drunk and share their worlds I would buy 70 copies, but for now I'm okay with what we got.
- RUHN AND LIDIA!! When Lidia said "Those are my sons" READER I GASPED!! And had to put the book down!! I love that Ruhn loves his single mom mate and their relationship was my favorite of the book. Bryce and Hunt were kind of disconnected for 65% of the book, and I actually prefer those two in their normal moments as opposed to when they're fighting. The ending with the gallery, that was perfection to me!
- I said the plot was plotting earlier AND IT WAS but...it was also like I couldn't catch a single breath. So much was happening, moreso than in any of her other books, that I was like Sarah I need another sex scene or a dinner where everyone is eating takeout. It was intense and sometimes hard to track and will probably require a re-read since I didn't get it all. The plot did take over where I thought there could be some better character development (like with Ithan, Hypaxia, Bryce and Hunt's relationship, etc.)
- Piece of advice to SJM: You can't have the main character die in the third of your book series and bring them back to life, and then do it AGAIN in another series! I knew Bryce wouldn't die and couldn't even will myself to be sad because I knew they would find a way to save her. Either kill her or don't, babes!
- I am RIDING for Tharion and Sathia! I liked them a lot, and I foresee CC4 involving them and Ariadne now that she's back from wherever she was???? That was weird????
God I need a nap and to think!!
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars! I broke out the laptop for this review so you know it's about to get INTENSE.
If you want the TL;DR: My membership in SJM's cult remains stronger than ever. I much prefer less POVs and more character development like with her other series, but this book is better than CC2 and gave me life.
I will have some SPOILERS below, but first my non-spoiler thoughts:
- More than anything, I was just really happy to be in SJM's world. Even when I'm reading the books of hers I don't love as much, it feels like I'm curled up with a good mug of coffee talking with my best friend. It was refreshing to be back with characters I love!
- If you don't ride hard for Hunt and Ruhn the way you do for Rhysand or Cassian or Rowan...that is needs to change! I have always been a Hunt fan (he's my third favorite SJM man behind Cassian and Rowan) but Ruhn stepped up in this book in a big way and I love that softy tattooed badass man.
- Bryce was interesting in this book...one thing I love about Bryce vs. Aelin/Feyre/Nesta is how much more relatable she is (could be because of the modernity of Crescent City). This book she definitely takes a more Aelin-esque role which is fun because Aelin is the best but also no one can be Aelin...which is kind of the point. Some of Bryce's decision making I deeply questioned but she's still my girl and I think ultimately the decisions she made at the VERY end were true to her character.
- I was getting WHIPLASH HONEY from the POV changes throughout this book! Hunt, Bryce, Ruhn, Lidia, Ithan, Tharion...even in the middle of chapters! I think Crescent City is Sarah's most sprawling work and while I am obsessed with the world-building, she needs to focus the characters a little more so their development feels more earned.
- The plot was plotting!!!!!!!!!!! This bitch can write a book. I laughed, I cried (see: sobbed), I kicked my feet like a little girl, I threw the book in the corner because I couldn't stand it, I felt all of the things and that's what I want out my girlie Sarah Janet!!
- If you're an ACOTAR or TOG fan who is nervous about this book...don't be. There are a lot of fun easter eggs and it sets up some of ACOTAR5, but this is Bryce's story through and through.
LET'S SPOIL IT UP!!! Beware below:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
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*
*
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*
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- Bryce and Nesta being friends is everything I have ever wanted on this earth. If you know me in my personal life you know I am deeply connected to both of these female characters and relate to them on transcendent spiritual planes. The bonus scene from Walmart with Bryce showing Nesta and Azriel the music on her phone will live in my head rent-free. I love how Bryce and Nesta were sharing their worlds (kind of...since they were enemy-adjacent most of the first part of the book).
- I know some people are upset by the crossover but I'm actually happy that it was more Spiderman: Homecoming and not Captain America: Civil War. Even though I was initially disappointed I didn't see my homegirl Aelin or daddy Rowan, I'm happy to leave those stories where they are (or a different one...someday) and focus on Bryce and Hunt and their friends. If Sarah wanted to write a Christmas novella where all of the characters from her three series hang out for 250 pages and get drunk and share their worlds I would buy 70 copies, but for now I'm okay with what we got.
- RUHN AND LIDIA!! When Lidia said "Those are my sons" READER I GASPED!! And had to put the book down!! I love that Ruhn loves his single mom mate and their relationship was my favorite of the book. Bryce and Hunt were kind of disconnected for 65% of the book, and I actually prefer those two in their normal moments as opposed to when they're fighting. The ending with the gallery, that was perfection to me!
- I said the plot was plotting earlier AND IT WAS but...it was also like I couldn't catch a single breath. So much was happening, moreso than in any of her other books, that I was like Sarah I need another sex scene or a dinner where everyone is eating takeout. It was intense and sometimes hard to track and will probably require a re-read since I didn't get it all. The plot did take over where I thought there could be some better character development (like with Ithan, Hypaxia, Bryce and Hunt's relationship, etc.)
- Piece of advice to SJM: You can't have the main character die in the third of your book series and bring them back to life, and then do it AGAIN in another series! I knew Bryce wouldn't die and couldn't even will myself to be sad because I knew they would find a way to save her. Either kill her or don't, babes!
- I am RIDING for Tharion and Sathia! I liked them a lot, and I foresee CC4 involving them and Ariadne now that she's back from wherever she was???? That was weird????
God I need a nap and to think!!