Thursday, September 24, 2020

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Crescent City #1




Title: House of Earth and Blood
Series: Crescent City #1
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Release Date: March 3, 2020






Bound by blood.Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

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.










"Through love, all is possible."

 

This book is long. You have to be committed, find time during your busy day, or after hours to read it or listen to it. 

I'm not going to deny it. I was intimidated

Then, I started listening to it, and about 25% into it, I was solely preoccupied with who killed Danika Fendyr and what was going to happen to Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar.

Sarah J. Maas dumps a huge amount of world-building into the lap of the reader. It was enough to cause whiplash but I think I found it was easier to follow with the audio than with the printed book. 

Bryce Adelaide Quinlan is a half-fae, half-human young woman who resides in Lunathion, also known as the Crescent City. She works for Jesiba Roga who is the owner of Griffin Antiquities. At the beginning of the story, Bryce behaves like a regular party girl. She likes to have fun, dance, have superficial hookups, and to get high. She spends the majority of her free time with her best friend and roommate, Danika. Since the moment they met in college, they become inseparable. Danika is the Alpha of the Pack of Devils. She is respected and feared. Neither has gone through "the Drop", a time when they leave their mortality behind and their true power manifests. 

One night, needing to blow off some steam after breaking up with her human boyfriend, Bryce goes out partying. While Bryce is enjoying her time at the White Raven, Danika and her pack are being slaughtered. Connor who was part of the pack and whom Bryce has finally said yes to a date dies as well. 

"Look where it hurts the most."

Two years later, Bryce is not really living. She goes through the motions. But when Hunt Athalar and Micah Domitus appeared at her work and she learns the demon who attacked Danika is back to slaying people, she can't pass up the opportunity to help with the investigation. Grudgingly, Bryce will also have to accept the help of her cousin, the Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae, Ruhn Danaan, who has been told by the Autumn King to find Luna's horn. 


Things I loved: 
-The friendship between Danika and Bryce.
-The love Bryce had for Syrinx.
-The camaraderie between Declan Emmet, Tristan Flynn, and the Crown Prince, Ruhn Danaan.
-The sharpshooting skills Randal Silago taught her stepdaughter.
-Mail delivering otters.
-Fantastic character growth. Girl power all the way!
-Aidas as a cat when Bryce was 13.
-Tharion Ketos, the Mer.
-Hypaxia (and Ruhn?)
-Lele
-Phone call between Ember Quinlan and Bryce's daddy.
-Fury.


"Memento Mori"

Things that made me cry:
-Lele, The Sprite fire.
-Danika.


“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."

Things that shocked me:
-The boat scene.
-The secrets Bryce kept.


Things I want to learn more about:
-A.I.D.A.S (for sure).
-Jesiba.


I believe House of Earth and Blood is UF at its best! The audio was fantastic. Kudos to the narrator. She was superb. 
"Light it up."

BRING ON THE NEXT BOOK. I'M READY.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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