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House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 119,228 ratings

A #1 New York Times bestseller!
Sarah J. Maas's brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1
New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.

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crescent city, sarah maas, sjm, house of earth and blood, acotar, throne of glass, fantasy

crescent city, sarah maas, sjm, house of earth and blood, acotar, throne of glass, fantasy

crescent city, sarah maas, sjm, house of earth and blood, acotar, throne of glass, fantasy

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The mystery element presents a stunning twist, and the emotional depth of Bryce's relationships with both Hunt and Danika is incredibly moving. Fans will eagerly await the next installment.” ―Booklist, starred review

“A dizzying, suspenseful whirl that surprises at every turn.” ―
Entertainment Weekly

“A master class in world-building adventure. Don't miss it.” ―
#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris

“A richly imagined tale spiced with snarky humor and smoldering romance.” ―
Publishers Weekly

“House of Earth and Blood is a gamechanger! A must read. Sarah J. Maas has set the new standard with this book.” ―
#1 NYT bestselling author J. R. Ward

“Tender, funny, frustrating, hot, and satisfying… Modern day paranormal mixed with good old-fashioned fantasy…of truly epic proportions.” ―
#1 NYT bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton

About the Author

Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series, as well as a USA Today and international bestselling author. Sarah wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in thirty-five languages. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. Empire of Storms, the fifth Throne of Glass novel,is available now.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07QBC8QTP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing; 1st edition (March 3, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 8686 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 804 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 119,228 ratings

About the author

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Sarah J. Maas
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Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages. A New York native, Sarah lives in Philadelphia with her husband, son, and dog. To find out more, visit sarahjmaas.com or follow @therealsjmaas on Instagram.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
119,228 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's readability and excitement. They appreciate the plot twists and turns that keep them interested. The characters are described as riveting, vibrant, and human. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and descriptive. They find the world-building complex and unique. The emotional depth of the story is appreciated, with some finding it raw and heartwarming. However, opinions differ on the pacing - some find it too slow or fast-paced, while others say it's done at the perfect pace.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,818 customers mention "Readability"1,818 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it exciting, immersive, and worth the hype. The world is interesting and relatable.

"...Athie is a deep, tortured, sweet and loving male who slowly opens up to the reader, and he swept me right off my feet...." Read more

"...in the meantime a solid foundation of the characters, the fantasy world and back stories...." Read more

"...this book 4 out of 5 stars, it was far from perfect but it was highly enjoyable and I'm anticipating the next book in the series. ********..." Read more

"Well, this is my new favorite book and I'm nervous whatever I pick up next isn't going to be able to come near this book...." Read more

1,222 customers mention "Twists and turns"1,067 positive155 negative

Customers enjoy the plot twists and turns that keep the story engaging. They find the world complex and intricate, with an epic ending. The characters have a good dynamic and understand each other when needed.

"...And it is definitely a complex and intricate world of which we get a glimpse, but that is sure to open up to us even more, and I cannot wait to..." Read more

"...The magic in this fantasy world is varied and an interesting part of the story...." Read more

"...against their masters and finding a way to fight back was a good plotline; however I also think Bryce doesn't seem to care too much about their cause..." Read more

"...Their dynamic was phenomenal and they understood each other when they needed it the most...." Read more

827 customers mention "Character development"687 positive140 negative

Customers enjoy the vibrant and dynamic characters. They appreciate the chemistry between the main characters and consider Sarah J. Maas a master of writing characters that become human.

"...despite the fact that Bryce is half-Fae, she is very human in her actions and emotions...." Read more

"...The depth of the main characters and supporting characters are brilliant and feel real as well -friendship built by experience, loyalty and love...." Read more

"...The main and side characters kept me interested and I was never disappointed by a new point of view...." Read more

"This book is one of SJM’s greats. The storyline, the character development, the feelings it stirs up...." Read more

525 customers mention "Writing quality"409 positive116 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the book descriptive and easy to visualize. The author's writing style is different and flows well once they get the rhythm down.

"I still hold that this is the best book Sarah Mass has written. The characters are real - not flawless or holier than others...." Read more

"...the caste system and the way the Vanir reign is well explained and makes sense. I thought the concept of "The Drop" was unique and interesting...." Read more

"...She is a phenomenal writer and I can’t get enough. Excuse me while I start reading book 2!" Read more

"...text book/Wikipedia description of this new world that was very, very dense to read and quite difficult not to skim over with glazed eyes...." Read more

422 customers mention "World building"302 positive120 negative

Customers enjoy the world-building in the book. They find it unique and detailed, with thoughtful reflections on the world and relationships. The book features elements from different civilizations and a magic-fueled quest to save the world. Readers appreciate the thought-provoking plot and the satisfying ending.

"...I really like the world building. I think the caste system and the way the Vanir reign is well explained and makes sense...." Read more

"...I was hooked into the story fairly early. The world was creative and something that held my attention even when I was trying to remember who was..." Read more

"...But everything at the end and who she was felt unrealistic, and not in a sense that this is fantasy but just...rushed?..." Read more

"I've read ACOTAR, TOG, and the first CC. SJM never disappoints. Great world building, romance, character development make an immersive read." Read more

343 customers mention "Emotion level"307 positive36 negative

Customers find the book's emotional depth to be powerful. They describe it as a real and raw story with a deep, unquestioning love between the two best friends. The book is comforting and blends old-world tradition and futuristic settings. Readers appreciate the author's skill in portraying depression and trauma.

"...Athie is a deep, tortured, sweet and loving male who slowly opens up to the reader, and he swept me right off my feet...." Read more

"...the main characters and supporting characters are brilliant and feel real as well -friendship built by experience, loyalty and love...." Read more

"...My biggest love of the book was the deep and real feeling of unquestioning love between the two best friends, Bryce and Danika...." Read more

"...The storyline, the character development, the feelings it stirs up. She is a phenomenal writer and I can’t get enough...." Read more

603 customers mention "Pacing"190 positive413 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it easy to follow and engaging, never getting bored or waiting for something. Others feel it's slow at the beginning and difficult to get through.

"...House of Earth and Blood is not a perfect novel...." Read more

"...At first, it was hard to keep up with the world building but that didn't last too long for me. I was hooked into the story fairly early...." Read more

"...The ending of the book wrapped everything up pretty well, but it also leaves a lot unanswered...." Read more

"...this to what you can get away with when you're a famous author-- pointless chapters. Miscellaneous closing thoughts:..." Read more

200 customers mention "Length"86 positive114 negative

Customers have differing views on the book's length. Some find it engaging with a powerful ending and deep worldbuilding. Others feel it is too long, with unnecessary details in the beginning.

"...Also-- side note-- this book was WAY too long. Let me say, I have NO problem with lengthy books...." Read more

"...while a part of me thinks this story doesn't need a sequel, the world is so massive and there's so much that hasn't been explored yet that a second..." Read more

"The world building is not done well in this book...." Read more

"800 pages is not enough! On to the next, it was cute, funny, had me feeling everything. cannot wait to see what Bryce does next" Read more

Review - House of Earth and Blood
5 out of 5 stars
Review - House of Earth and Blood
Title House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)Author Sarah J. MaasDescription from AmazonBryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.Initial ThoughtsThis book was my most anticipated release of 2020. Back in the time before I had read any SJM, I actually thought that her books were overhyped. Then, I read Throne of Glass and realized the error of my ways. After reading that series, I couldn’t wait to read Sarah’s next series. And, much to my disappointment, I was not one of the lucky ARC reader for this book. I knew I was going to start it the day it came out.Some Things I LikedMURDER 👏 MYSTERY 👏SJM is famous for her intricate world building, intense political plots, and epic romance, but something she hasn’t done yet is a real inquiry into a murder. Throne of Glass had a bit of that element but Hunt and Bryce’s investigation was a true crime story and I loved every second of it.Intricate world building. Speaking of classic SJM, the world building in the Crescent City series is nothing short of complex. Seven levels of Hel, seven Asteri leaders, the various courts of the Fae, the dynamics with the angels / archangels, etc. all make for a vast world with incalculable potential story lines.Everyone wasn’t an orphan. I feel like one of my hiccups with the Throne of Glass series was that every character either had terrible parents or was an orphan. I liked that we got to actually see normal parents (like Bryce’s mom and step-dad) as well as multi-generational conflicts (Sabine, Danika, and the Prime).The romance. I liked it. I think Hunt and Bryce are a good pair. However, I will say, I’ll be terribly disappointed if down the line, Bryce meets someone else (because SJM does love to do that).One Thing I Was on the Fence AboutI won’t say I disliked this, but this story felt a smidge formulaic compared to Throne of Glass.Celaena = BryceSam = ConnorChaol (possibly Rowan) = HuntNyhemia = DanikaAedion = RhunThere were a lot of similarities. I didn’t dislike it for that fact, but I felt like it was worth noting.Series ValueI would trade my eternal resting place in the Bone Quarter for an ARC of the next book in this series. It was phenomenal and I can’t wait to keep reading.Final ThoughtsThis is easily my favorite read of 2020. I loved every word. Please note, I downloaded the 28 hour long audiobook on Tuesday morning and had listened to the entire thing by Wednesday evening. I will definitely be re-reading this one when the next book comes out.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Recommendations for Further ReadingThe Shadowhunter series by Cassandra Clare – if you enjoyed the series value of Throne of Glass, try this series by Cassandra Clare. It spans multiple generations and she’s still expanding the extended universe.Furyborn by Claire Legrand – if you enjoyed the magic, characters, and plot twists of TOG, try the Empirium trilogy by Claire Legrand. Book #3 is coming out this October.A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – if you like Sarah’s writing style, try her other series.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2020
    Being the fan of an author's work is both a blessing and a curse. You count down the days until their next—usually hyped up—release is to be published. You talk about it more and more the closer that said release day approaches. You try to enter any possible pre-order special is available, in the hope of getting a lovely exclusive pin, or a poster, or a print.

    And then the book releases...

    I don't know about you, but once that book hits shelves, I am violently torn between a crazed eagerness to read it, and a nearly crippling fear that I am going to hate the book no matter how much I have loved this author's stories in the past. Which, let's face it, is one of the worst things to happen in a reader's life.

    Thank you, Maas, for delivering the goods once again.

    House of Earth and Blood is not a perfect novel. I'm not even sure that such a thing is possible, to be frank, because our love of books is a very personal thing. But, this novel is a punch to the heart, in the best possible way. I absolutely fell in love with the story, with the characters, with the world that was created. And it is definitely a complex and intricate world of which we get a glimpse, but that is sure to open up to us even more, and I cannot wait to continue exploring it as the series progresses.

    I'm a huge fan of badass female leads in novels. What can I say, I live vicariously through them. Ironically, I usually don't like so-called “badass” female leads in novels, because most of the time what we're given are annoying females that try too hard. I initially read the sample for HoEaB that NetGalley provided, and I was a bit unsure about Bryce. She came off a tad strong for me, and I was instantly worried that this meant negativity throughout the rest of the novel. Maybe my mindset was not in its proper place then, but I am so glad that I decided to read the full novel from the first chapter again, because my opinion of Bryce completely changed.

    I love this woman.

    Despite the fact that we are reading a fantasy, despite the fact that Bryce is half-Fae, she is very human in her actions and emotions. She makes her mistakes, she suffers through them, she learns, she picks herself back up, puts on a new pair of teal-colored panties, and she keeps going. She's believable and realistic in who she is, and it's very easy to become connected to her.

    This is actually true of the rest of the characters. They don't always connect right away—I was unsure of Hunt at first, of Ruhn, of Jesiba even—but once they do, they stick and you root for these people. You suffer with them, you are excited alongside them, you want them to kick ass and come out winning on the other side.

    Hunt—or as I like to think of him in my head, Orion...such a gorgeous name—had one of the best evolutions. I can see that Maas wanted to make him this dark, introverted being at the beginning, and I saw hints of it, but I couldn't quite see him that way full-force. I think that's one of the things that made me question him for those first few chapters of his appearance in-story. I see what you want me to see, because you're telling me what to see, but that's not really who he is, and that's coming out more so than the facade he's portraying. Athie is a deep, tortured, sweet and loving male who slowly opens up to the reader, and he swept me right off my feet.

    That's probably why the sudden twist at the end of the novel's third part was such a slap to the face, and the biggest problem that I had with this book.

    We're navigating a story that's centered around the death of Bryce's best friend, Danika, and her pack of shape-shifting wolves—one of the most heartbreaking moments of the book, by the way, even if the synopsis warns us about it (the writing in this piece, at the start, was wonderfully done and it tore through me). Eventually, we know that Danika's death, and that of the pack, is surrounded by the use of a drug called synth, which makes people—both human and non—have strength and violence to such a degree that they can tear others apart. And the culmination of that is that Hunt is involved in this so that he, and those with him, can use this drug to help themselves be freed from those who have enslaved them.

    It did not fit with his character.

    Hunt, who strives to keep others safe, who works and does the horrible things that his handler, Micah, tells him to do so that he can keeps streets safe? Hunt, who deals in killing demons that come through rifts? Yes, he has been suffering for over two hundred years, and he has been tortured within an inch of his life, and the love of his life was killed in the midst of this. But to make him be a buyer, when he comes to know the consequences of the usage of synth, did not fit in with who he is. As the last part of the novel progressed, things were smoothed out a bit and it sort of fit in. But this nagged at me so much that I was not able to let it go.

    I did, as a matter of fact, stop reading for the day once I hit this point, and had to force myself to pick up the book again the next day so that I could continue.

    It doesn't take away from the story, mind you. I said it once, and I say it again, I love this book. I felt every single emotion that was in here, and that's one of the best things that I can ever ask for in a story: make me feel. And you certainly feel. You feel to the point of tears sometimes. Lehabah's end did it for me, that little fire sprite was one of the good ones. Bryce's phone call to Hunt when she's in the middle of taking out demons after the Gates open and knows she might very well die, did it for me again. Danika and Bryce's reunion after Bryce makes her Drop did it for me a third time. And then that bittersweet moment, near the end of the book, when Bryce gets just a glimpse of the pack and Connor waves to her, brought tears to my eyes once again.

    But I still think that there is, and was, so much to explore. And while we're taken to the brink of those moments that can be darker, like the ones that Hunt described having experienced during his years with Sandriel alongside Pollux, we're not taken there. It's not that I want to see my beloved characters suffer, it's that sometimes that suffering can have room for that much more growth. Sometimes when we bypass that, things appear a little too easy.

    At the end of the day, though, this was stellar. My worry was for nothing, and I am going to be suffering until the second book is so much as announced. I'm still not over the losses in this first installment, I still remember the epic scene of Bryce against Micah, of Hunt's plummet over that helicopter, of Lehabah's sacrifice. I am so curious to see how the obscure Aidas ties in with this story and what more he has to offer, and I can't even imagine how the Asteri will likely play a part in the future of this world.

    Bring it on, Crescent City. I'm waiting.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024
    I still hold that this is the best book Sarah Mass has written. The characters are real - not flawless or holier than others. The depth of the main characters and supporting characters are brilliant and feel real as well -friendship built by experience, loyalty and love. The magic in this fantasy world is varied and an interesting part of the story. The hierarchy between magical beings and mortals/humans without magic follows other epic fantasies, as well as real life for some here on our planet. I have no doubt that this book will satisfy readers that love romantasy.

    The world is set in more modern times with access to phones, technology and modern medicine - just with magic. The FMC is confident without being course and empathic without being naive. She's experienced hardships and a feeling of abandonment that leaves her unable to trust men. The romantic MMC starts off a bit of an arrogant jerk, but we quickly see that it's his mask and there's a good heart in him. So this enemies to lovers isn't as dark as some books I've read. Slow burn is very accurate, but it heats up in the next book significantly, so for those who love spice will have to wait... It's worth it, and in the meantime a solid foundation of the characters, the fantasy world and back stories.

    For those, like me, who have that one deep friendship that goes beyond the superficial - the ride or die, the definition of unconditional love and support- you'll relate to the FMCs experiences. You'll cry and laugh and just...know how Bryce feels. It's a great adventure with depth.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021
    Spoiler Free Part:

    I'm going to start off by saying that I am a moderate SJM fan. I tried but failed to ever get into her Throne of Glass series (particularly thrown off by the multiple love interest changes) and really only got truly into ACoTR series towards the end of the first book. While I liked her writing style, I just couldn't connect with the characters. The last third of ACoTR was the first time I felt like the characters were interesting and the plot became engaging. So, I say this without rose colored glasses- I liked House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Book 1). I thought it was well written, interesting and I connected with the characters. My biggest love of the book was the deep and real feeling of unquestioning love between the two best friends, Bryce and Danika. It's not a spoiler to say that Danika is murdered, as its in the book blurb, but I had totally forgotten and was absolutely gutted when it happened. Bryce's grief for her friend felt so real throughout the books. I think that was what made me empathize with and like her beyond her sassiness. Also, I for one didnt mind the partying and drug use specifically because its depicted that she realized she was basically wasted her life chasing stupid pleasures and not doing anything meaningful. However, this book has a TON of info dump and exposition. I'll go into it more below in the spoiler section, but there is a LOT of information for the reader to process constantly, and new characters are introduced constantly as well making it feel like there are just too many cast to keep track of. The relationship between Hunt & Bryce feels organic to me and I didn't feel that it was "insta-love" as some others have complained. It made sense to me that they were the only two people who saw each other as they really were. My biggest gripe is that the very last bit of the book feels like it was supposed to be part of one of her other series compared to the rest of the story.

    Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars, it was far from perfect but it was highly enjoyable and I'm anticipating the next book in the series.

    ********SPOILERS**********

    DO NOT READ BELOW UNLESS YOU WANT SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!

    I really loved the relationship between Bryce and her friends throughout the book. They felt very real and genuine. Even the relationship with Rhun felt nicely done. The friend characters were well fleshed out and didnt feel too two dimensional.
    I really like the world building. I think the caste system and the way the Vanir reign is well explained and makes sense. I thought the concept of "The Drop" was unique and interesting.
    And of course, I loved Danika. Oh boy did I love Danika, and I was heartbroken when she died, because I had forgotten it was coming. When Lele died, I was also genuinely saddened. I felt like the emotions in the book were really well done. Although some people complained about the multiple dead-end leads, I enjoyed them (at one point I was certain Sabine was the killer) because it would have been really boring if they just easily figured it out right away. The Kristillos demon was kind of a disappointment. I mean, it took down Micah but really didn't seem that dangerous overall.
    I liked Aidas and am intrigued to see him return in future books.
    I also liked the war between Humans & Vanir. That was something that ACoTR hinted at being a possibility but I think the concept of rebelling against their masters and finding a way to fight back was a good plotline; however I also think Bryce doesn't seem to care too much about their cause. She is always befriending and trying to free slaves, her parents are humans, but she doesn't seem to care all that much about the overall subjugation of multiple species. It kind of gets treated like "thats the way it is" without any sense of outrage or hatred about it.

    Alright now for some gripes:

    Fury is just a carbon copy of Amren. What is the point of her whole character? Bryce could have been partying with June that night; Rhun could have put a gun to Hunts head and rode Bryce off on the wave runner; Rhun also could have been the one with a helicopter stashed off site. What did Fury actually do for the plot?

    Everyone is soooooooooooo super crazy off the charts perfectly hot, and also, everyone is insanely deadly. Now I get it, they are Vanir and Angels, but come on. Is there no such thing as an ugly werewolf or an unattractive mermaid? And everyone is a super honed amazing assassin. Fury, Bryce's adopted dad, Rhun and his friends, Hunt, every werewolf, etc. Everyone is stunningly hot and dangerous. To us, they might be, but if that was your entire world your entire life wouldnt it seem a little trite? If everyone is hot, does it mean anything anymore?

    Also like others have said, jesus with the overkill about Bryce being scorch-the-earth-hot. I get it if Conner & Hunt are super attracted to her, and if she gets hit on occasionally. But it is literally like every male she meets throughout the book can't bear to keep their hands off her. Every time she walks down the street every male is just falling all over themselves to look at her. It definitely feels slathered on a little thick.

    One of the biggest things that bugs me though is this: The last third of the book. Oh my god. Everything happening on screen, Micah going all Bond Villain and giving a long monologue explaining everything he did and why and just happened to be on camera for everyone important to see. Eye roll. We weren't even with Bryce during most of the action but rather watching it alongside the other secondary characters. The whole scene with the Nok was absolutely unnecessary and just felt like it was dragging out the ending of the book. Micah could have slammed Bryce into the tank, resulting in it cracking and her being severely injured, and Lele still could have broken the glass without the whole Syrinx-Rescue/Nok-Fight even needing to happen. In fact, it would have felt more believable that the Nok fought Micah and occupied him long enough for Bryce to escape than for Micah, the Archangel, the immensely powerful Governor, to have been....conveniently locked in a magically warded bathroom while a whole other scene got played out. It just felt totally unnecessary.

    Okay- now- last major gripe:

    THE LAST 50 PAGES OF THE BOOK. What the hell? Did we suddenly get transported into A Court of Thorn and Roses? Portals to Hel opening up all over the city, the lead character running around fighting in hand-to hand combat to protect helpless citizens, the magical companions fighting demons with her.......it felt like I was suddenly watching Feyre, not Bryce. On top of that, while I appreciate the symbolism of Bryce using Danika's sword, it felt totally unrealistic to see a woman who spent the last five years of her life first partying and being a college student then an antiquities desk clerk suddenly is an amazing sword wielding killer. The gun thing is believable due to her Stepfather and the scene at the gun range. But we never once see Bryce mention ever knowing how to use a sword or pick one up, but suddenly she's single handedly taking on an army of demons with flawless sword fighting? I really enjoyed the ending bit with her making the Drop and Danika being there (so touching) but other than that the very last part of the book suddenly felt like it was just a rehashing of the battle scene from A Court of Mist & Fury.

    The ending of the book wrapped everything up pretty well, but it also leaves a lot unanswered. Bryce admits that the entire city saw her use her Starborn powers and that she is now more powerful than any other mixed-species has ever been before. She even says the Fae & Angels can't let it stand that she showed their caste system was invalid. And yet, the highest Angels told her just to lay low and they would leave them alone. Obviously, we know that they probably don't, but I feel like a cliffhanger as to what would happen now in the fate of humans Vs Vanir/Angels and what that revelation was going to mean for Bryce would have worked better than just wrapping it up in a neat but not really logical bow.

    I still liked the books, I still like the characters and I am excited for the next one, but hopefully some of these issues will be corrected going forwards.

    Anyway that concludes my long as heck summary, thanks for reading!!!
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  • Jill (readinginpjs)
    5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED this SO MUCH!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2024
    I’m becoming such a huge fan of SJM’s writing, I can’t wait to read it all.

    The best advice I was given going into this was to focus on the story, and not worry too much about the world building elements. There’s a lot of it, but everything gets explained in time and comes back around to what’s important.

    Bryce is definitely one of my fav FMCs I’ve ever read. She’s so incredibly strong, and such an interesting character.
    I love how her and Hunt balanced one another, but also had so much in common, even if it didn’t seem so on the surface.

    Another highlight for me - FREAKIN mail carrying OTTERS!!! WHAT?! I love otters so much. Just imagining them made me so happy 🦦

    This book was phenomenal, couldn’t put it down.

    Tropes + topics:
    🌙 Romantasy
    🌙 World building
    🌙 Bodyguard/forced proximity
    🌙 Strong friendships
    🌙 Badass female characters
    🌙 Magic
    🌙 Mystical creatures - fae, werewolves, angels
    🌙 Grief
    🌙 Curvy rep
    🌙 Mystery
    🌙 Slow burn
    🌙 Multiple POVs + 3rd person
  • Elizabeth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilloso
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 11, 2024
    Es una edición muy hermosa, llegó en excelentes condiciones! Recomendado
  • IriniAm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 28, 2024
    Love Bryce!
  • Raquel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy recomendable
    Reviewed in Spain on July 5, 2024
    Fantasía, romance y misterios que resolver. Me
    ha encantado, enganchada desde el principio.
  • Lovisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book from Maas
    Reviewed in Sweden on June 25, 2024
    Could not for my life put it down. Never cried and laughed to a book that much before.

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