Review of 'Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood', by Sarah J. Maas

What would you do to get justice for the person you love most?

'Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood', is the first in a new trilogy by Sarah J. Maas. Party girl, Bryce Quinlan's, world is turned upside-down by the murder of her friends. Two years later, the killer is in prison, but when crimes following the same pattern start to plague Crescent City, Bryce is asked to help investigate. With the help of fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, Bryce begins analysing the seemingly solved case and devastating new ones, leading to heart-breaking discoveries about her friends and herself. But can Bryce fight through her painful memories and will she be able to find out who the murderer is once and for all?

The Queen of fantasy has done it again! 'This book was UNREAL!' would be an understatement. Absolutely amazing, stupendous, unbelievable, astounding, phenomenal and every word in-between! If I had to describe it in four emojis, I would say: 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Maas is my favourite author, and this book clearly proves why. With a well-thought-out plot and an ending that was out of this world, Maas proves herself again to be an incredible writer, who is able to keep you on the edge of your seat on every page.

So going into this novel, I was a little apprehensive. After reading Mass' incredible YA fiction I wasn't sure whether she was going to be able to pull off crime writing, let alone adult crime writing. But boy, was I wrong! I was hooked from the start by the characters, plot and world that Mass has created. Now, it is quite complicated, and if you haven't got the head space to deal with the intricate social structure of magical and non-magical creatures and the complex murder plot, then this book really isn't for you. In other words, it's not an easy read and does require attention to detail. But fantasy, crime and Mass are basically heaven for me, and I think that the more detain in a book, the better. You can tell instantly that the whole series had already been carefully planned out, and if the next ones are anything like this, you can expect me to be first in line to buy!

Visually, the cover art is beautiful, and like all of Mass’s series’, there is a map (yay!). I've got the hardback and I know that the paperback comes out in March 2021 with a different cover. If you want an aesthetically pleasing book for your shelf and don't mind spending a few more pounds, I would recommend the hardcover simply because the cover art and the inside cover are so detailed and exquisite.

The setting is a mixture of modern and fantasy worlds. I was unsure about this because I love the fantasy world of Throne of Glass so much, but it actually works really well. The modernisation grants readers the better ability to relate to the characters and enables the step away from YA and into adult fiction, allowing for clubs, drugs, and a criminal world to exist and play their part in the novel. It is something really unique, as is the social hierarchy that Maas has clearly put much thought into. The people are divided into species and also houses, making this book all the more interesting as some characters are really only interested in themselves and their own. It made me think about modern day society and how a lot of people are more interested in what divides us rather than unites us. I don't know if this is what Maas intended, but it seems even more vital to think about now more than ever.

I read another review on this book recently that found the character of Bryce annoying. I really have to disagree. She took me a while to figure out, but Bryce puts on a facade of someone she really isn't, and is just a character who is struggling with an immense amount of grief, loneliness and abandonment, and expresses her feelings through anger and her smug attitude. Mass' portrayal of mental health and dealing with grief and trauma is admirable. A lot of books don't like to deal with emotions that have negative connotations, but Mass brings them to the forefront, rightly assuming that not everyone is unbreakable, even if we don't allow others to see it. Throughout the course of the novel, Bryce deals with her grief as she investigates, allowing for what she feels to come out in the open. Bryce also absolutely owns her sexuality as a woman and refuses to be put into a box by society. Despite constant comments about the way she looks, Bryce does not change, making her a real role model for women and letting them know, if someone doesn't like the way you look, it's their problem, not yours! In previous novels, Mass has been criticised for her portrayal of some male characters, especially Fae, who can be seen as possessive. In this novel though, her female protagonist is aware of dominating males and determined to stay as far away from them as possible. Bryce can stand on her own two feet and she knows it, which brings me to my next point, she is also an absolute badass! Bryce is absolutely capable of defending herself and doesn't appreciate anyone else doing it for her. She wards off overprotectiveness like a disease, but Bryce will go to the ends of the earth for those she loves, no matter the consequences and is not afraid to say what she thinks or feels to anyone. Overall, one of the most interesting characters I have ever come across.

Hunt and Bryce are similar in the fact that the world believes they are something that the're are not. Fallen angel, Hunt, similarly has to deal with his own past and what lead him into enslavement. Operating on conflicting morals and serving people who he doesn't believe in, Hunt's punishment seems eternal, even more so now that he has to deal with Bryce. But through Hunt, readers can see that first impressions aren't always right and the impact of staying silent on a cause you know is wrong. Hunt is definitely not just a supporting character, and the narrative is well split between Bryce, Hunt and Bryce's brother, Ruhn. As Hunt's loyalties shift and his morals change, will he achieve freedom as he truly desires, or are there more important fates?

All that I can say is: if you're looking for a crime/fantasy book that delves deep into its characters, you really aren't going to find a better one than this. I cried, I laughed, I gasped in shock, it's truly a wild ride, with unimaginable twists and turns and a show-stopping ending that might be the best I have ever read! Bryce is a constant surprise and her relationship with Hunt was amusing and cathartic. The relationships explored aren't just romantic though. Friendship is the key relationship here that drives Bryce and her determination. Her all-powerful love for Danika, her best friend, is really the relationship that this novel rests on as Maas explores that through love, is really all possible? The novel also delves into family love, especially between Bryce and her estranged brother. Not a lot of fantasy novels dedicate much time to siblings, and I enjoyed watching their relationship play out and evolve. In my opinion, a truly brilliant novel and a definite must-read!