Title: House of Earth and Blood
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 3 March 2020
Pages: 803
Gosh, Sarah J. Maas blows me away again with the amazing story and world she has created. Bryce Quinlan is a half-fae, half-human who works at an antiquities shop, trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Her best friend, Danika Fendyr, is an alpha werewolf and head of the Pack of Devils. One night everything changes. Danika and her whole pack are killed. Philip Briggs is charged for the crime, a criminal and rebel against the current society and governmental structure. Bryce tries to go on with her life with little success.
Two years pass, murders like Danika’s pop up again. Briggs is apparently not guilty of this crime. So, Bryce and Hunt Athalar, an angel from the rebellion, are charged with trying to figure out who is the real criminal.
The relationship between Hunt and Bryce is really adorable. I love a good enemies to friends to lovers, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Each of them have their own issues and scars, they’re broken, but that doesn’t mean they are worthless.
Crescent City is a place with fae, witches, vampires, angels, and all manner of creatures. Humans are treated as second-class citizens, if even that. There is currently a war going on in Pangera due to humans not wanting to be part of this new structure (can’t say I blame them). It took a bit to truly understand what was going on in this world and by the end, I still am not sure I understand. I hope this is cleared up in the coming books, but for those who haven’t read, I suggest don’t think about it too much. Just let the story unfold around you.
Okay, there’s a reason I didn’t give this 5 stars. I would’ve, if there was more diversity. I’m really tired of author’s not including BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ characters. Yes, there is Fury and Juniper. However, they are at most secondary characters, I would even go as far to call Fury a minor character. I do hope they have more scenes in future books. Yet, it still bothers me that this whole story is about how humans are treated as second-class citizens, as worthless, and yet, there are no BIPOC or LGBTQ characters who have been treated as second-class citizens throughout the United States (and other parts of the world) for most of its existence. It’s also annoying when fantasy or science fiction books don’t include diversity in their books. They’ve created a wondrous, imaginative world and yet can’t imagine BIPOC or LGBTQ people in this world. For Maas, this is her third series so I’m a bit disappointed this hasn’t changed from her Throne of Glass series.
It is a wonderful story with an amazing twist at the end, and I’m excited to see what happens next, especially with that last scene between Jesiba Roga and Aidas. I’m excited to see how this story evolves and how Bryce and Co. deal with the oncoming forces.
Happy Reading Darlings!
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