You could rattle the stars. You could do anything, if only you dared.
In this review of Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, we explore how Maas, known for writing a lot of YA books (young adult books), but this is an adult novel—specifically, it’s new adult, and it definitely has that explicit rating. I’m not here to tell you what you should read, but this book does contain a lot of violence, drug use, swearing, and other activity. If you’re unfamiliar, she wrote the Throne of Glass series, which is a seven or eight-book YA fantasy series. She also wrote the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Discover more about our literary journey on our homepage.
This is her new series, Crescent City, which is an adult fantasy series. She’s transitioning from YA fantasy to adult fantasy. If you’re wondering how different the writing is in her switch, honestly, there’s not much difference other than the language. The language is much more adult, so if you’re uncomfortable with swear words and similar content, be aware that it’s a significant factor in this book.
House of earth and blood summary
In this Crescent City synopsis, we follow a character named Bryce. Bryce is half-human, half-Fae, and she has a strained relationship with her biological father, which is a secret known to few. Her mother is human, and she lives in Crescent City, where she works at a place that resembles a gallery, almost like a library. She meets with clients, manages various tasks, and her boss is an incredibly powerful sorceress.
Bryce doesn’t like her job much but loves her life. She has a best friend named Danica, who is the leader of the wolves—a werewolf pack. Bryce and Danica are like best friends, practically sisters. Life is going well for Bryce; she works all day and parties all night. But then, one night when she comes home from partying, she discovers that Danica and her entire pack have been murdered. Naturally, Bryce is devastated.
The book begins with that traumatic event—no spoilers here, as it’s revealed very early on. A demon murders Danica, and then the story jumps forward about two years. We follow Bryce as she tries to move on, but when the case reopens, it turns out that the person they believed was responsible for the murders wasn’t actually guilty.
Now, Bryce has been tasked by the archangel (the big boss angel) to find Danica’s killer because he wants to discover what’s summoning this demon. Bryce is paired with Hunt, an archangel who rebelled against the hierarchy and is now a slave. He is forced to follow orders and is assigned to help Bryce find the murderer. They become reluctant partners, and the dynamic between them is tense at first. This Crescent City summary sets the stage for an epic tale of mystery, magic, and redemption in Sarah J. Maas’s new adult fantasy series.
House of Earth and Blood Book Review
Sarah J. Maas’ House of Earth and Blood starts with an ambitious approach, but the way the world-building is presented is incredibly info-dumpy. Many people say the first 200 or so pages are slower, but I don’t think it lasts quite that long. The first few chapters, in particular, are packed with info dumps. I generally prefer more organic world-building, especially in urban fantasy. Once we got past the info dumps, I ended up liking the world. I enjoy urban fantasy settings with a variety of magical creatures, and this book has it all—Fae, angels, demons, werewolves, shifters, chimera, sprites, mermaids, you name it.
The story takes a while to get going, and even later on, some parts drag with unnecessary fluff and day-in-the-life moments inserted during critical plot developments. The pacing in this book is off, with the last part being my favorite, as most people say. However, even the ending has its issues, with writing that sometimes distances the reader or pauses the action at odd points. There are some twists that I found cool and unexpected, though I did correctly predict some of them, which was fun.
I think House of Earth and Blood would have been much stronger if it had been edited down from 800 pages to around 500 or 600 pages. There was a lot of extra content that didn’t need to be there, and tightening up the writing and plot would have made for a stronger book.
Meet the main characters of ‘Crescent City’
Bryce Quinlan: Our protagonist is a 23-year-old half-human, half-Fae woman. Bryce initially leads a carefree life, working at a magical artifact gallery by day and partying by night.
Hunt Athalar: An angel known as the Umbra Mortis (Shadow of Death), Hunt is a fallen rebel now enslaved to the Archangels. He’s assigned to partner with Bryce in the murder investigation.
Danica: Bryce’s best friend and the leader of a werewolf pack. Though her appearance in the story is brief, her murder serves as the catalyst for the main plot, deeply affecting Bryce and driving her actions throughout the book.
Crescent City Series in Order
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
- House of Wind and Shadows (2024)
It’s worth noting that Sarah J. Maas often writes series with multiple books, so there may be more additions to the Crescent City book in the future. However, as of now, these three books constitute the complete published series.
Will There Be a Fourth Crescent City Book?
As of now, there is no official announcement regarding a fourth Crescent City book. Sarah J. Maas and her publisher, Bloomsbury, have not confirmed any plans to extend the series beyond the existing trilogy.
Books similar to House of Earth and Blood
- “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo: Features a dark academia setting with secret societies and magic.
- “The City of Brass” by S.A. Chakraborty: Rich world-building inspired by Middle Eastern mythology.
- “Serpent & Dove” by Shelby Mahurin: Enemies-to-lovers romance in a fantasy setting.
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Date Published: March 3, 2020
Crescent City Word Count: 200,000-250,000 Words.
Pages: 803 pages, Hardcover
Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5
Also Read: Book Review – Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Conclusion
I loved House of Earth and Blood—it’s my favorite book of the year so far. I don’t see many other books topping it. It’s a great transition from YA fantasy to adult fantasy, and I think Sarah J. Maas fans will find it easy to read and enjoy. The characters are well-developed, the world is immersive, and the relationships are beautifully crafted. This book gets an A+ from me. I highly recommend it. I read this 800-page book in six days, and I’m so glad I did.
Reader Reactions from Goodreads
I’m John Stauffer, a Harvard professor and book lover. Here at John Stauffer Books, I share my thoughts on the books I read through honest reviews and recommendations. I cover everything from well-known classics to lesser-known works that deserve more attention.
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