House of Flame and Shadows
by Sarah J Maas
Published by Sarah J Maas
Book 3 in the Crescent City Series
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back.
Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.
Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.
Genre
Triggers
Violence, Death, Graphic Torture
Well, this is new for me.
My regular readers will know I don't normally post reviews for new releases this soon after release for big books like this, because for a Sarah J Maas book, I like to talk about my theories, which involves the dreaded spoilers.
But as someone who, frankly, avoided social media while I read this book over the last two days to avoid spoilers, I totally understand the fear of being online. That fear led to me reading this meaty book in 48 hours.
My eyes hurt, and I'm very tired. My house is a mess. But I now feel safe exploring #booktok and #bookstagram once again.
But it wasn't just my fear of spoilers that kept my face in my book.
House of Flame and Shadows was just so good, that I couldn't put it down.
When I had to, I thought about it.
Hell, I should be catching up on housework, but I need to at least get my thoughts and feelings out there, even if its spoiler-free at the moment.
Don't worry, my spoiler, theory-filled rambling, along with all my favorite quotes and easter eggs, will be up in a week or two.
Story-wise, House of Flame and Shadow was amazing. It felt on a whole other level compared to House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath. Whereas House of Earth and Blood was very much about healing, and mystery, with some action, and House of Sky and Breath had action, but felt a little slow at times, House of Flame and Shadow is ... action. There isn't a page wasted in the 848 pages in this book. The story moved along quickly, but packed a hell of a punch world(s), and character wise.
If I was to highlight every new bit information we get in this book, almost every page would have something. YET, it didn't feel like too much. You know, when it feels like info-dumping. It didn't feel like that. At all. It felt very organic, and came about in the story when it needed to.
Ultimately, I'm thrilled with the overall arc of the book.
Another thing I loved?
The characters.
I know some people don't love the Crescent City books because there is so many characters, and different points of view, but I actually like that. It works with this series. All these characters are so important to the overall story, they all have so much to do, that if Sarah didn't give them their page time, it just wouldn't be so magical to read.
And these characters, are an absolute joy.
Do they piss you off sometimes? Absolutely. Every. Single. One.
None of them are perfect. Sarah adds this humanity to all her characters, so that even when they disappoint you, you can't help but continue to read, and root for them.
I'm not just saying this because I love Sarah's work.
And I love her work.
But there wasn't a single character POV that I came across and wanted to skip. I was invested in each and every character.
Even the ones that disappointed me at times.
House of Flame and Shadow had a great, climatic ending. My eyes were puffy, my head hurt, but I couldn't put it down until the very last page. It was intense. It was emotional. Hell, it was even funny at times. It hit everything I want in a fantasy - but especially in a Sarah J Maas book. And while House of Flame and Shadow is the end of Bryce and Hunt's arc, it won't be the last we get of them, as Sarah announced a while back that she has another Crescent City book planned. It won't be for a few years, but I know I know I won't be the only one eagerly awaiting. While many questions were answered, many theories put to rest and/or confirmed, there is still so much I want to know.
Stay tuned! My spoiler filled review, along with favorite quotes, and theories, will be posted soon!
Will be posted with my spoiler-filled review, along with theories and thoughts!
