Book Review: Crescent City House of Earth & Blood

I finally read Crescent City: House of Earth & Blood, the first in the Crescent City series and oh my god, it did not disappoint. I had been putting it off because it is a big, chunky book. Seriously, I think I got carpal tunnel from reading it because the day after I finished reading my wrist and forearm hurt so bad.

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I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but basically the book follows Bryce Quinlan. Bryce is half fae and half human. She lives in Crescent City, which is a modern day city (totally different from Sarah J. Maas’ other books) with cell phones, cars etc. but all the people are beings like fae, angels, shifters, vampyrs, etc. Bryce is an assistant for an antiquities dealer who happens to be a powerful witch. One night while Bryce is out partying with friends a gruesome murder takes place that blows up Bryce’s whole world. No one knows who or what did the killing. Bryce had chased after the murderer and was attacked in the process but couldn’t tell what kind of creature it was. Two years later, another murder takes place with the same m.o. The angels who are in charge of the investigation decide to enlist the help of Bryce because she may be able to find out more than she realizes.

Hunt Athalar is a fallen angel who is tasked to not only help with the investigation of the murders, but to watch over Bryce. Hunt is a fallen angel because 200 years ago he joined and helped lead a rebellion against the archangels and when his lover and leader, Shahar, was killed by her own sister he was captured and enslaved. Now he has to work for the archangel Micah and serve as his personal assassin.

Bryce and Hunt don’t get along much at first. She doesn’t want to be babysat and he thinks she’s a party girl. But with how much time they have to spend together they quickly learn there’s more to each other than meets the eye. They begin to trust each other and of course, feelings develop.

And that’s all I can tell you!

But, the book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I had been warned that this first book is a lot of world building and there is, but I wasn’t bored by it in the slightest. I was really interested in it and I felt like all the information kept the story going and moving forward. I didn’t feel like I was just being fed facts and information.

I am absolutely obsessed with Bryce and Hunt and if SJM doesn’t make them end game, I will flip out. I love their banter and their slow burn relationship. It is just so good. I’m going to start the second book, House of Sky and Breath, soon. I hope SJM makes some sort of announcement about the next book or another ACOTAR book or something soon because I don’t know what I’ll do when I’m done with HOSAB and there’s no news of what’s next.

I expect when I give my review of the next book there will be some slight spoilers just because it’s the second book and I won’t be able to talk about the synopsis without giving things away that happened in the first book. Just a heads up!

Anyway, I give this book more than 5 stars – all the stars!

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