House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Series: Crescent City #1
Published by Audible Studios on 2020-03-03
Length: 27 hours and 50 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from Audible
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2024 Audiobook Challenge
Number one New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series 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' 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 pause-resisting suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by number one New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom - and the power of love.
Shhh….🤫 This is my third time reading House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas, and I have no shame in that. Since it’s been almost two years since my last read through of the book, I thought I’d give an updated review.
To see my original review with my blogging partner, click here. To see my original review of the audiobook, click here.
This book is just as good, if not better, than my first two read throughs. Maas puts so much detail and thought into the story that as a reader you don’t catch it all the first time. I’m truly blown away at the connections, easter eggs, and tiny details that point towards the overarching story. House of Earth and Blood introduces us to Crescent City, a modern-day world filled with every paranormal creature you can think of (vampires, shifters, mermaids, witches, angels, demons…just to name a few).
Bryce Quinlan is the quintessential party girl, hard worker by day and blowing off steam at night, until she loses her best friend in a horrific demon attack that changes her overnight. Fast forward two years and there are new murders that are similar to her friends. Bryce is asked by the governor of the city to help in solving the case with the Umbra Mortis as her guide/protector.
Hunt Athalar is a an angel with powers unlike any of his kin. He can control lightening, but his power is restrained by the crown inked into his brow making him a slave and traitor of the Asteri. His life is dark and lonely. He is the Governor’s private assassin and feared throughout the city. This assignment with Bryce has more on the line than just saving innocents. He has been offered a reduced sentence and freedom if it is solved. With it his life on the line, Hunt will do whatever is necessary to find the demon and the one summoning it.
I love the relationship between Hunt and Bryce. It builds slowly over the course of the story before it crescendos into something both beautiful and heartbreaking. The banter 100% makes the story move. Bryce is witty and snarky with just about everyone, which means I of course love her. Her determination to find the killer responsible for Danika and the entire Pack of Devils’ deaths drives the story. But there is SO much more to the story. I love all the side characters: Ruhn, Syrinx, Lele, Tharion, even Bryce’s mom and Randall.
I adore this story! If you are a fan of Maas’s other works, a fan of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, or epic fantasy adventures, I HIGHLY recommend it. I literally cannot recommend it enough.
About Sarah J Maas
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, as well as A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog.
I read a long excerpt of this and loved it. I own the audio and really do want to read it. Glad to see your high rating.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…🎧 FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven @MikeBockoven #AngelaDawe @luckylukeekul #LoveAudiobooks @AudiobookMel
I’ve only read the first books in each of her other two series. I need to finish those! And one of my students just finished the third book in this and said he had a big ah-ha moment for what is coming next. Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…E-galley Review: The Boy Next Door (If You Can Prequel Novella) by Cheryl Terra