House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1)

by Sarah J. Maas

[Ashley]

My thoughts on this book are so polarizing. I both loved it and was "meh" about it at the same time. But I guess when a book is 800 pages long you have plenty of time for both feelings. *shrug*

Things I liked:

The last 10% of the book. That was fucking on point. You can't not love it.

I'm a fan of Sarah Maas's writing style. It just clicks with me. It's easy and "comfortable" to read. Even if I don't adore what I'm reading, it just syncs with me perfectly.

I loved Bryce for the last 50% of the book. I did not love her in the first half.

The friendships in the book were beautiful.

Things I was meh about:

I never fucking ever want to hear the word "alphahole" again. My god. It's like Maas heard that tons of people ragged on her for all the alpha male stuff in A Court of Thorns and Roses and needed to not only do a total 180, but also have a MC who despised alpha males and made sure to remind everyone of that every 3 pages with her repetitive use of "FUCKING ALPHAHOLES!" I hate that word more than I hate the whole concept of an asshole alpha male.

Bryce was annoying in the first half. I hated how she got partnered with Hunt on the whole murder thing and just toyed with him. "Haha I'm going to be one step ahead of you and not tell you what I'm doing and lead you to think I'm doing fuck all because it'll be so fun when you find out otherwise!" I felt for Hunt because that kind of attitude is just fucking annoying. Imagine doing a group project with someone like that. Never mind trying to solve a murder where a whole lot of shit is on the line.

This book so did not need to be 800 pages. Good lord. There was a huuuuge chunk in the middle there that did not need to exist. I will forget about it all and not be any worse off.

Urban fantasy is not my thing. I don't know how I missed the fact that this book is urban fantasy, but I did. Completely did not realize. I assumed high fantasy. I think that was one of my biggest struggles with this book. I was trying to really enjoy a genre that ultimately is not one I'd ever (or super rarely) choose to read. And in the end I guess it did turn out okay, but I can't help but mourn a little because I wonder how much I would have 5 billion star-ed this book if it had been high fantasy. *sigh*

I was really pissed with what Hunt did... I never forgave him for it. Kind of ruined all my feelings about the romance. Also in general I wasn't head over heels with the romance anyway, I expected more from it.

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When I was at like the 80% or 85% mark I was thinking I wouldn't continue this series. But then the last 10% happened and, shit, I might have to keep going now. That was just too damn great.