SJM's world of Crescent City astounds and astonishes

     In honor of today being the release day for House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas, I thought it was only fitting to post my review of its predecessor, House of Earth and Blood! This high fantasy book, which came out nearly two years ago, kicks off Maas’ most recent series, Crescent City, which is set in a new fantasy world where fae aren’t the only magical creatures, both good and bad, lurking the streets.
     Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savoring every pleasure Lunathion—otherwise known as Crescent City— has to offer. But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city—and Bryce’s world. Two years later, her job has become a dead end, and she now seeks only blissful oblivion in the city’s most notorious nightclubs. But when the murderer attacks again, Bryce finds herself dragged into the investigation and paired with an infamous Fallen angel whose own brutal past haunts his every step. Hunt Athalar, personal assassin for the Archangels, wants nothing to do with Bryce Quinlan, despite being ordered to protect her. She stands for everything he once rebelled against and seems more interested in partying than solving the murder, no matter how close to home it might hit. But Hunt soon realizes there’s far more to Bryce than meets the eye—and that he’s going to have to find a way to work with her if they want to solve this case. As Bryce and Hunt race to untangle the mystery, they have no way of knowing the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents, and down to the darkest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir…
     I don’t even know where to start with this book…It was absolutely fantastic and might be one of the best books I’ve read in a while! It was engaging, exciting, funny, sad, and I think I felt every emotion while reading this book. I cried, I laughed, and physically had my hand over my mouth gasping in shock! This book is EVERYTHING that you’d want in a fantasy book.
     Not only was the plot so detailed and intricate, but the characters were so amazing and I felt such a connection with the trials and emotions felt by each character. I can’t say I’m too surprised since it’s a Sarah J. Maas book and everything she writes is phenomenal, but I was still taken aback by how comprehensive everything was. The world-building is so detailed and so nuanced that it makes me excited for how the plot and story is going to be built upon even further in the next book. I also really liked how modern technology was canon in this world. It made the story even more fun and fascinating.
     Despite its intimidating size, this book is 1000% worth reading and I cannot WAIT for my copy of HOSAB to come in the mail! And I’m very happy I didn’t have to wait two years for book number two…

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