Cresent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas - Review

I discovered Sarah J. Maas through her A Court of Thorns and Roses series and fell in love with her writing style and this series. However, to be honest with you, I was kind of scared to pick up her newest novel Cresent City: House of Earth and Blood. I haven't read Maas' first series (Throne of Glass) yet. To me, ACOTAR is her best series and I was afraid that reading other books of her might change my opinion of her writing. I still bought her book but left it on my shelf for the longest time. Not too long ago, I started reading, but put it away after two chapters and left it on my shelf again. You see, this book is pretty thick, it has 803 pages so it scared me a bit too. Eventually, the day came when I picked up the book again and I truly gave myself over to her story. I finished the novel not too long after. It got me hooked. Maas got me hooked (again). 

In Cresent City: House of Earth and Blood Bryce is the main character, she is half-human, half-fae. In the early chapters of the book, her best friend Danika is killed. She has to deal with this and throughout the novel you get to know their friendship more and more. Together with the angel named Hunt, she tries to find out who is behind the murder of her best friend. Bryce is not someone that lets people in, she pretends to be the party girl that she used to be. During the story as a reader, you more and more discover the depts of her personality. 

Yes, I did notice similarities with ACOTAR. Most prominently: wings, this played a big role in this book too. But, to me it is not weird to see repeated themes, it is the same writer still, so it didn't bother me that much. 

I don't know if I like the set up of the story, I was really enjoying Bryce's bond with Danika and their friends when Maas just killed them all. Even though I had read the back of the book this was still some sort of surprise and I didn't like it. Not because it was badly done, but because I really liked the characters she killed. I understand that it had to be done, but it was still a shame. 

As the first book of a series, it was very good, it left me flabbergasted and I kind of need the second book now. However, I do understand some of the criticism it gets. Opinions are very divided and people seem to hate it or love it. Not everyone likes the way she describes sex or the build-up to sex, understandable but this is just the way in which she writes. 

I really like the big part the friendship between Bryce and Danika played in the book, it was something I haven't seen before. Maas created a world of fantasy, but in a modern setting and she does this really well. Like so, I find her way of describing more taboo subjects realistic and I enjoy that. 

If fantasy is your thing than I really recommend you to read (one of) Maas' series. As a said Throne of Glass is still on my to-read list, but I will get there eventually. 

Keep reading,

Julia

Interested in this book? Click this link to buy.

Interested in other books of Sarah J. Maas? Click here.

(note: these is an affiliate links, which allows me to earn a small commission on your purchase without extra costs for you).