House of Earth and Blood

Crescent City, Book 1

By: Sarah J. Maas

Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans

Length: 27 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one global bestselling 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 global bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom - and the power of love.

©2020 Sarah J. Maas (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Multiple Listen

This book is worth hearing multiple times. Sarah’s new world is fascinating, terrifying, glorious, complicated, and a deliciously satisfying experience. The narrator (from the Throne of Glass series—THANK YOU!) is eloquent, has a lovely cadence, gives attention to emotions without melodrama, and knows how to use energy levels to lift and then gradually relax the listener before the adrenaline flows once more.
I’m re-starting the book immediately because I fell asleep last night while listening, but I woke up two or three times because my brain kept saying “What did I miss?!” [~Thomas Jefferson via Lin Manuel Miranda] and “how far back do I need to rewind?”
Please excuse my lack of ending to this review. I need to return to Crescent City immediately.

Troupes are an issue but it’s still solid.

Maas is one of my favorite authors. ACOTAR and the accompanying two books are my all time favorite series in this category. You know what you are getting with her. You expect the main heroine to be ultra powerful- and so it isn’t a shock when she is- but I kept wanting to be wrong. I wanted her to be just...normal. I wanted everyone to NOT be so beautiful. I kept waiting for the handicap character- the ugly one with the heart of gold, but alas, that’s not Maas’s way. So again we have what we always do. Fine. I like her style and MOST important I like how she does love. In a genre of Insta-Love, Mass often teachs is that love isn’t instant- it’s worked for, it’s about respect and friendship and bonds far passed lust and desire. And so I have to say it. I HATE Hunt. As a person, the main love interest is dark and brooding and everyone cliche. He lies and steals and we still have the strong heroine give into him. Love him instantly and without much depth. Sure, we pretend it’s build off something other than attraction but how can that be when the only personal thing she learns about him is that he’s still hung up on his ex and dead set on burning every relationship to further that cause. Something he does to her a few chapters later. I knew she would save him, because despite what these other reviews say, I really really liked the complexity of Bryce. I knew she would do whatever she could because Hunt was her FRIEND. So I was super disappointed that she wanted him as a partner after it all and didn’t just friend zone the lying alphahole. Which brings me to Bryce. In a world of perfect protagonist, Bryce shines. She’s vulgar and makes poor life choices. A party girl is no less a hero one than the brooding goodie goodie whose stunningly gorgeous and yet somehow has never been approached or touched by a man. Bryce is a believable beauty. She’s desired and wounded enough to think that desire will make her feel good. And it does, until it doesn’t. And when the whole world thinks she’s a no good slut, she still manages to wake up every day unapologetically. I love Bryce. I love her flaws and I love that she shows that being a head strong party girl is ok. I love that she can love clothing and unicorns and being a woman in her own way- because I’m tired of the bookish quiet beauty too high and mighty for things like pretty shoes.

I loved this book. Not as much as her previous work, but I think I could, is the series continues. Maas is notorious for being a better second or third book author and I’m hoping that is the same here. I’m hoping Bryce smartens up about broody boring Hunt. And I’m hoping I get to see more growth from her. Can’t wait.

Wait for it

This book is sooo good, but it took a while to get invested. I’m glad I kept with it!

Great read!

Sarah delivers again! She is a great writer! 💚 Narrator is also amazing and delivers all the emotions flawlessly!

Gorgeous, be ready to cry.

I loved this story, it’s funny, gritty, and heart-wrenching.
That said it doesn’t make much of an effort to have meaningful representation so be aware of that.
Final comment: if you cry easily don’t listen to this in the car at the beginning or end.

Loved it

Loved it so much!!! Never a dull moment. Kept me hooked til the very end. Can’t wait for the next book! Hurry it up!!!

This book…

Held my interest from beginning to end. There were quite literally moments where I was holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come next. The story is riveting, it took a while to get all of the character names straight, but once I did, I was hooked. I will be reading book 2!!

Must read

This book is absolutely fantastic. The twists and turns - sorrow and love. 10/10 recommend.

Spellbound

Sarah Maas really hooks you in and keeps the story interesting, with twists I wasn’t expecting. Became emotionally involved in the story, can’t wait to listen to book 2!

Epic World/Character Building

This is the second time I listened to this audio book. I vastly prefer actually reading, but most of the time I have to multitask.

I liked this a LOT more the second time. The first time I listened to it was right after I listened to another series by the same author and kind of felt like the main characters were the same person. I didn't feel like that AT ALL this time. I think it was just the same Narrator or she sounds similar. For whatever reason, I am loving this series right now.

This is a nice, long fantasy book with lots of attention to detail given to the world and its characters. If you are just looking for the typical paranormal smut, this is not the series for you. It