House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) Book Review

Title: House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Book 1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2020
Date of Publication: March 3, 2020
Pages: 816
ISBN‑10: 1635574048
ISBN‑13: 978‑1635574043

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of House of Earth and Blood

House of Earth and Blood (HOEAB) is the first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas.

The story follows a half-human and half-fae girl named Bryce Quinlan. Bryce lives in Crescent City, which is a bustling metropolis where humans, Fae, shifters, angels, demons, and ancient beings coexist.

At the start of the book, Bryce is pretty much living a carefree life, where she works hard but parties even harder with her friends, and is all about having a good time. She is in a relationship but breaks up from her partner, not without good reason. But everything changes for Bryce, when one night, a demon brutally murders her closest friends, including her best friend, Danika.

Two years later, a similar killing stirs suspicion that the true perpetrator remains free. When the official investigation stalls, Bryce teams up with Hunt Athalar. Hunt is a fallen angel and is enslaved to the Archangels. He has a reputation for annihilation and is used to do their dirty work in hopes of his freedom. Hunt is given a proposition where if he can work with Bryce and find the real killer, he would be even closer to gaining his freedom. Archangels are immortal rulers who govern territories across the world.

“Through love, all is possible.”— Danika Fendyr

Together, Bryce and Hunt work together to pursue justice and revenge. They both confront the grief they are individually dealing with, and a powerful bond forms between them.

Main Plot & Characters

Bryce Quinlan: Bryce is the main protagonist. She works for Griffin Antiquities and is grieving the loss of her best friend, Danika, at the start of the book.
Hunt Athalar: He is a fallen angel enslaved to the Archangels as an assassin. He is nicknamed the Umbra Mortis (“Shadow of Death”). He becomes Bryce’s reluctant ally and protector.
Danika Fendyr: She is Bryce’s best friend. Danika was the Alpha of the Pack of Devils (a wolf shifter pack). Her murder sets the main story in motion.
Ruhn Danaan: Bryce’s Fae half-brother and heir to the Autumn King.
Jesiba Roga: She is Bryce’s employer. She is a powerful witch and the owner of Griffin Antiquities, where Bryce catalogues magical objects. She’s always threatening to turn people into pets and other different animals.
Lehabah: A small fire sprite who lives in Griffin Antiquities. She guards the gallery and becomes one of Bryce’s dear friends.
Syrinx: Bryce’s pet chimera.
The Autumn King (Rhydian Danaan): Ruhn’s father and a High Fae ruler. He also has a connection to Bryce.
Micah Domitus: Governor of the territory and Hunt’s master. He is an Archangel with hidden agendas. He answers only to the Asteri.
Isaiah: He’s an angel and one of Micah’s trusted lieutenants. He works very closely with Hunt. He is also part of the triarii.
Sabine: Danika’s mother and the ruthless Alpha of all wolf shifters.
Connor Holstrom: Danika’s second-in-command in the Pack of Devils, and Bryce’s friend.
Ithan Holstrom: A wolf shifter, younger brother to Connor Holstrom (Danika’s second-in-command and Bryce’s friend).
Declan Emmet: Member of Ruhn’s inner circle. A skilled tech expert and hacker.
Flynn (Tristan Flynn): Another of Ruhn’s closest friends. A Fae noble and fighter.
Aidas: A powerful demon Prince of the Chasm (one of the seven demon princes). Takes an interest in Bryce.
Hypaxia Enador: A witch queen with a mysterious role in the story.
Tharion Ketos: A mer male operative from the River Queen’s court who works as an informant. He nicknamed Bryce “Legs.”
Philip Briggs: He’s a human rebel turned terrorist, originally arrested by Danika’s Pack of Devils for planning a bombing—specifically a nightclub bombing meant to incite war between humans and the Vanir.
Ember Quinlan: She is a human and Bryce Quinlan’s biological mother. She fled the Autumn King when she found out she was pregnant.
Randall Silago: He is human. He is Ember’s husband and Bryce’s stepfather since she was three years old although most people think he is her biological father. He is an expert sharpshooter.
The 33rd Imperial Legion: They are the Governor’s personal army.
The Asteri: They rule the planet Midgard from Pangera.
Sandriel: She is an Archangel and Governor of the northwestern quadrant of Pangera. Her twin sister, Shahar was in a relationship with Hunt. Shahar was killed during a rebellion. She blames hunt for luring her twin into the rebellion. She was Hunt’s former owner before Micah.
The triarii: The most elite of all the Imperial Legion units and the most powerful members of an Archangel’s personal army. Both Sandriel and Micah have their triarii members.
Naomi Boreas: She is part of the triarii and the only one who is not enslaved.
Justinian: She is the youngest of the triarii.

Back of the book House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)

Writing Style

Sarah J. Maas puts a lot of care into world-building in HOEAB and it’s not a small task with a book that is over 800 pages. She mixes both magic and technology to create this world and once you get a sense of understanding of the world, the book gets easier and more enjoyable.

We learn about places like Midgard, which is the planet where this story takes place. Midgard is home to a mix of different creatures including humans, Vanir (immortal or magical beings), and other creatures (shifters, angels, Fae, mer, demons).

We also learn about Crescent City (Lunathion) which is the main setting of the series. Crescent City has five districts: Old Square, Five Roses, The Bone Quarter, Asphodel Meadows, and Blue Court. Lunathion is located on the continent of Valbara, which is one of seven continents under Asteri control. The territory is governed by Micah. There is also Pangera, which is a neighboring continent east of Valbara, and the Istros River, which is ruled by The River Queen.

Maas tells the story using a narrator but from the perspectives of both Bryce and Hunt. One thing that immediately stands out is that the characters in this book, including Bryce, Hunt, Lehabah, Tharion, and even Jesiba are memorable. You really get invested in their stories.

It was also good to see Bryce’s character evolve because at the start she was a bit unlikeable but with that said, she does feel like a real person. Above everything else, the romance in the book is also fire!

Memorable Quotes

“Light it up.”— Bryce Quinlan
“I see you, Quinlan.”— Hunt Athalar
“Let the world know that my first act of freedom was to help my friend.”— Lehabah
“I am a descendent of Ranthia Drahl, Queen of Embers. She is with me now and I am not afraid. My friends are behind me and I will defend them.”— Bryce Quinlan
“A true wolf.”— Danika’s grandfather, the Prime of the Valbaran Wolves

Impact of House of Earth and Blood

The novel launched the Crescent City series. The book like many other Maas books has a dedicated fan base. The book is followed by House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow.

**Have you read House of Earth and Blood or any of the other books in the series?**

Authors

Nathaniel Adebayo

Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.
Ufuoma Akpotaire

Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.