Today’s the day: the first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, House of Earth and Blood, is officially here!
If you’re an avid Sarah J. Maas fan, we know you don’t need any convincing when it comes to this book. But if you haven’t yet got this book on your TBR list, we’ve come up with a couple of reasons why it’s worth your time.
Read on!
1. There’s a LOT of story
Clocking in at around 800 pages, House of Earth and Blood is certainly a hefty novel, but don’t be intimidated! Sarah J. Maas’ writing flows like a river, and this story is one to dive headfirst into.
House of Earth and Blood takes its sweet time getting you acquainted with its richly detailed and unique world (more on that later), before it rips the rug out from underneath your feet and takes you on a whirlwind ride, filled with myriad twists and turns.
It’s perfect for fans of truly immersive urban fantasy, and best of all, this is book one of a series, which means that there are more epic adventures to come.
2. This is Sarah J. Maas’ first book for adults
Sarah’s previous book series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, have always teetered right on the line that separates young adult fantasy from adult fantasy. House of Earth and Blood is her first venture into the world of strictly adult fantasy. The protagonist is around 25 years old, which means that the content is a little darker and more mature, and the target audience is a little bit older than it was for her young adult series.
(Keep in mind that plenty of adults make up the young adult readership, and vice versa, so all reading age guides should be taken with a grain of salt.)
This book does feel a lot more grown up and the story explores some exciting new territory that her previous books have only hinted at, so if you never quite got into her high-fantasy YA or you’ve never read a Sarah J. Maas book before, this might just be the book to get you hooked.
3. The worldbuilding is incredible
House of Earth and Blood is an urban fantasy set in a city called Lunathion (also known as Crescent City)–a world that’s closer to the gritty streets of New York City than it is to the Night Court.
This is an exciting first for Maas, who usually creates mystical lands like Erilea and Prythian. Crescent City is (literally) worlds away from them–it’s got 21st century technology, for a start–but it’s no less intricate. Reminiscent of ancient Rome, Crescent City is a place of exquisite pleasure and danger, with its own complex system of rules and social etiquette that serves as an effective backdrop to the drama of the story.
Sarah J. Maas finds a new strength in writing in such unfamiliar territory, letting her urban setting inform the story in a multitude of interesting ways. The effect is a novel that feels otherworldly, yet still fresh and contemporary–the natural progression of a proven literary talent.
4. It’s got another amazing female protagonist
Throne of Glass gave us Celaena Sardothien and A Court of Thorns and Roses gave us Feyre Archeron; now House of Earth and Blood is giving us yet another spirited heroine in Bryce Quinlan.
Bryce is half-Fae, half-human, and all-party. A fun-loving young woman who is fiercely loyal and down for anything, Bryce is not someone to be underestimated. Despite the frivolous persona she seems to adopt, she is smart, adaptable, and has a survivor’s determination. This serves her well, first when her life is turned upside down by a brutal tragedy and later when she must venture into the most unsavoury parts of her home city to investigate that same tragedy.
Which brings us to …
5. There’s a thrilling murder mystery at its core
If you think of a typical Sarah J. Maas novel, you immediately think of all-consuming power struggles and epic quests for love and freedom. You don’t immediately think of murder mysteries, right? Well, that’s exactly what you get in Sarah’s new book and she proves to be just as good at crafting these as she is high fantasy narratives.
The plot of House of Earth and Blood really kicks into gear when a demon goes rogue in Crescent City, resulting in the murder of some of of Bryce’s closest friends. This forces her to seek answers … and revenge! Think of this book as the love child of Jessica Jones and The Mortal Instruments, with a little bit of True Blood thrown in for good measure. And what’s a murder mystery without a compelling investigative duo at its centre? Enter Hunt Athalar …
6. It’s got a to-die-for romance
It wouldn’t be a Sarah J. Maas novel without a thrilling romance, and House of Earth and Blood definitely delivers on that front.
In the course of the book, Bryce Quinlan must team up with a Fallen angel named Hunt Athalar in order to infiltrate the underbelly of her home city and investigate the demon murders. Hunt has quite the dirty past of his own; having failed in an attempted rebellion against the Archangels, he is now enslaved as their personal assassin, working off his debt to earn his freedom. If he succeeds in apprehending the demon currently wreaking havoc on Crescent City, he could be freed. This makes for some interesting tension with Bryce, who is on a collision course with revenge, and the banter they exchange charges the story with sizzling tension.
Hunt Athalar is the brooding love interest of your dreams, and his romance with Bryce takes slow burn to the next level. Best of all, Bryce and Hunt’s romance is not the only one you’ll find here – a rich cast of characters serve up some refreshingly diverse relationships that strengthen the overall narrative.
7. There’s no one quite like Sarah J. Maas
Not many authors become international bestsellers in the way that Sarah J. Maas has.
She’s an author who’s reached stratospheric heights of fame, the kind many authors could only dream of, and her books have sold over eight million copies and been published in thirty-six languages. She’s also been a #1 New York Times bestselling author more times than you can count, with a passionate fan base that will hang onto every word she writes.
So, it’s high time you delve into the world as Sarah J. Maas sees it – House of Earth and Blood is out now in paperback and hardcover.
Find out more about Sarah J. Maas here
House of Earth and Blood
Crescent City: Book 1
Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savoring every pleasure Lunathion—otherwise known as Crescent City—has to offer.
But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city—and Bryce’s world...
REVIEW: House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas 
Check out the cover for House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas!
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