YA author turns to new adult fantasy House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City 1)

Author: Sarah J Maas Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

RRP: $29.99 Reviewer: Jessica Kramer

IN THE world of young adult fiction, Sarah J Maas is famous for her Throne of Glass and A

Court of Thorns and Roses fantasy series.

Now, the renowned author is turning her hand at adult urban fantasy and – let me tell you – it’s a great success. While House of Earth and

Blood may be called a brick of a tome, sitting at about 600 to 800 pages depending on the edition, it’s easy to get lost in the story and fly through the book while barely noticing.

The first in a three-part series called Crescent City, this first instalment follows halfhuman, half-fae Bryce and angel Hunt in alternating, third-person point-of-view.

Bryce used to be a life-loving party girl until her friends were brutally murdered by a demon. With the supposed perpetrator behind bars, it’s a shock when similar murders start cropping up throughout the city a few years later.

To her surprise, Bryce is recruited as an investigator into the crimes – but her recruiter assigns fallen angel assassin Hunt Athalar to be her bodyguard while they’re working.

Hunt is known for helping lead the attempt to overthrow the archangels about 100 years ago and is now enslaved to one of the males he was trying to kill, who offers him a chance at freedom if Hunt helps Bryce find this murderer.

Hunt views Bryce as an airheaded party girl; Bryce views Hunt as arrogant jerk – but they’ll have to work together to solve the murders as they dig deep into the underbelly of the city and discover dark secrets about the past.

Bryce is a strong and complex character, carrying deep wounds but still fighting.

Hunt is also living with wounds from his past, struggling to match who he is now with who he used to be.

Most of the side characters are also wonderfully complex, from the opinionated fire sprite to more-than-meetsthe-eye Fae prince Ruhn.

While dark and gritty at its heart, there are also many chuckles throughout the book: the snarky comments traded between Bryce and Hunt are hilarious.

The mystery is incredibly twisted; every time you think you’ve worked it out, Maas throws another element into the mix.

Politics and balance in this world are also intriguing, and there’s enough teased information to make you think these elements will be important in the remainder of the series.

Overall, between fantastic character arcs, a slowly unravelling mystery, danger, and smouldering romance, House of Earth and Blood lends itself to being devoured.