Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Series: Crescent City #1
on March 3, 2020
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 816
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.
I wanted to get House of Earth and Blood but it turned out to be an excerpt. The start of a new adult fantasy series, it’s the first in the Crescent City series. While this excerpt is only a few chapters, the entire book is 816 pages or 27+ hours on audio.
This is only a very brief introduction to the world and its characters. Our main character Bryce is the one we learn the most about her history and attitudes. She has friends from her university days. One of them, Danika, is her roommate and there are two others, Fury and Juniper. Fury is an assassin; Juniper is a dancer which is something Bryce loves.
The world and its groups, politics and types of creatures are barely started here. Danika and her wolf pack are having a night together. Bryce goes out on a date. The action hits fast and hard, with the excerpt ending in a cliffhanger.
I do hope to read this series but my preference with longer fantasy books is to read them on audio. The narrator is Elizabeth Evans, who also narrates the author’s Throne of Glass series.
- Sunday Post – 16 February 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - February 16, 2025
- 🎧 Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis @stephanieburgis @stephanieburgis.bsky.social #AmandaLeighCobb@torbooks @torbooks.bsky.social @BrambleRomance @MacmillanAudio @macmillanaudio.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks - February 15, 2025
- 🎧 Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett #HeatherFawcett @Pottell @DoddsAndEnds @DelReyBooks @penguinaudio.bsky.social @PRHAudio #LOVEAudiobooks - February 13, 2025
yeah, i grabbed this too quickly and realized it was an excerpt after the fact. now i really want it. lol
Yes I really liked what I got but it is a very small portion of the book. I do think audio will work better for me so I will try to go that route.
Like you, I prefer to listen to this genre. I absorb it so much better!
I don’t know why it is either. Maybe I just don’t have to worry about the pronunciations or something.
Same thing happened to me! I want to read the whole thing SO badly! The excerpt was just enough to hook me! 🙂
Yes. It looks like they don’t have the audio version at the library so I may buy it.
I happened to notice it was just an excerpt and grabbed it anyways. LOL
It was interesting to read since it let me know I would definitely want to read the whole book.
I still need to finish that last 2 books in the Throne of Glass series sitting on my kindle.
I don’t think it’s related to that at all. I have only managed the first in Throne of Glass even though I own them all. I want to get to them this year.
I nabbed this excerpt too but I knew it was an excerpt going in. I needed it to make my mind up on whether to buy the book as I was firmly on the fence with this one. I did buy it though… And it’s HUGE! I’m regretting buying the hardback, lol. An ebook would be kinder on my wrists!
I’m pretty much all digital because I moved this summer and even though I hope not to move again for many years I’m trying to get out of organizing more stuff as much as possible.
I am probably going to buy the audio book.
This does sound like an exciting new series, Anne, and I like your suggestion of the audio. I hope you enjoy it when you get to read the full thing.
I’m excited to try it.