A review by emilysmessydesk
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

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

3.25

I've read both of SJM's other popular series, ACOTAR and TOG, and I wanted to add this one to my list (especially with a few theories spreading that all 3 worlds are connected...). I didn't have a lot of expectations, considering, so I went into it with a decent knowledge of SJM's other worlds.

I liked the world building in this one: the combination of modern day & magical and how that might look. Cell phones for quick text messages makes communication so much easier!!

Bryce is a spitfire and sassy, and there's a lot more to her character. (Which as per SJM's normal formula, isn't revealed until the very end!) Hunt quickly climbed my list of favorite SJM male characters; he's clever and thoughtful.

However, I really did *not* enjoy the twist with Hunt at the end. That felt like it came out of left field, which I'm sure was the point, but there was no other indicators that something was up with him. I waited for the other shoe to drop; surely this is a test for Bryce, somehow? It's just a set-up to catch someone else red-handed? But no, this was actually legit and now we're down 2 side characters and Hunt has royally fucked up.

Here's one of my complaints: SJM's characters are quick to forgive big lies/betrayals/etc. Way too quickly. That doesn't feel realistic, or logical, or even *right* because there's oftentimes a lot to unpack about those situations. And a lot to communicate between characters, if they even decide to keep the communication lines open! This plot point just felt kind of thrown in there at the last second, to stew distrust/drama between the two main characters if only to keep the other main plot moving along. I wish there had been more to it than that.

I did cry when Lehabah sacrificed herself at the end. It felt very real, and that friendship was true throughout the book despite its moments of flightiness. Bryce's reveal of buying her deed and freeing her! So good, so heartbreaking.
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