Title: House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City 1)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: March 2020
My rating: 5/5

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas is the first book in the Crescent City series and my first ever Sarah J Maas book which has sealed my eternal love for her. To be very frank, I was little intimidated by the size of this humongous book at first. Also, I’m not sure what to except since I haven’t read any Sarah J Maas book before, but I think it’s for the good because it let me enjoy this book as it is without any comparison.

Let’s start with the world-building! If I were given a chance, I would never leave the world Maas has so meticulously and atmospherically created even though it would put my mortal life at stake. There are Fae, Archangels, Werewolf, Witches, Vampires, Mermaids, Shapeshifters, Demons and what not. Maas has thrown all the supernatural beings into this one tome of a book and had spun a story that is both enthralling and emotional.

The first few chapters were a bit confusing as we’re introduced to the magic system, characters, and all but as the story gradually took its pace in the following chapters, I find myself invested in the plot. While the first half of the book deals with the grief of Bryce Quinlan over her best friend’s demise, the latter half of the book will keep you on the edge with one after another shocking revelation as Bryce unties the knot behind her best friend’s murder mystery. A perfect Fantasy which has a murder mystery at it’s heart.

It’s hard not to fall for Maas’s characters. One of the many things I love most about Sarah J Maas books (I recently read the ACOTAR series) is that it has strong female protagonists and unforgettable characters. There are a bunch of secondary characters in Crescent City whom I adored more than the primary characters. There are characters I am emotionally connected with, to the extend where I could feel their pain, where their loss has become mine.

There’s nothing wrong with a party girl. I don’t get why the world thinks there is…Its easier for me—when people assume the worst about what I am. It lets me see who they really are — Bryce

Sarah J Maas, House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)

I love sassy badass female protagonists who are unapologetic for who they are and what they do. And Bryce is exactly that but beneath her party girl skin lays a caring person who would turn the world upside down for those she truly cares. I would say more than anything House of Earth and Blood is for and about friendship. Bryce and Danika’s is the most enviable friendship I have ever read. They will always remain as my favourite fictional characters forever.

Fictional brothers are becoming my favourites nowadays. Ruhn being an adorable overprotective mother hen actually made me long for a brother like him. I can’t wait to read more about him and what his father The Autumn King is upto in book two.

I am a descendant of Ranthia Drahl, Queen of Embers. She is with me now and I am not afraid. My friends are behind me, and I will protect them.

Sarah J Maas, House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)

Lehaba, my heart! I never thought that a death of a secondary character, who don’t even in the book that much, could be heartwrenching. I don’t remember the last time I cried this much for a fictional character that even recalling her scene or re-reading a quote brings back tears to my eyes.

I know a lot of people swooning over Hunt Athalar but I’m not head over heels for this fallen angel. But I’m still intrigued to know more about him and his birth secret that I believe would be the game changer in book two. All the relationships, be it the friendship between Danika and Bryce or the sibling bond between Bryce and Ruhn or the slow burn romance between Hunt and Bryce everything was so perfect and beautifully shown.

Crescent City is an emotional roller coaster ride of a book for me. I’m not a book crier and it happens in a rare case especially when it comes to fantasy fiction. But the last fifteen chapters made me cry and laugh and cry. I have no idea what to expect in book two but I wouldn’t except anything less. Because it’s SJM. In short, House of Earth and Blood is a book not to be missed especially if you are a fantasy freak like me.