February 2024 brought a huge fantasy romance publishing moment with the release of Sarah J Maas’s third instalment in the Crescent City series, House of Flame and Shadow. I love reading Sarah’s work. It is pure escapism, fun and danger all rolled into one, and I was very fortunate to read this in August last year when I was still working for her publisher, Bloomsbury. Being one of the first to read it globally was such a thrill as a long time fan of hers, but it also meant I had to hold onto so many secrets and spoilers and thoughts about this novel from my friends, who are also huge SJM fans. But, now that it’s been a few weeks since the release, I’m finally sharing my thoughts online that have been sitting in my physical reading journal for the better part of 6 months.
Now there will be spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t read House of Flame and Shadow yet, now is your time to save this review to read at a later date.
View this post on Instagram
BLURB:
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.
Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.
Alright, this is your last warning, spoilers ahead!!!
View this post on Instagram
REVIEW:
I’ll start off with my first thought and that was I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, it was action packed, pacy and full of tension. It may be the third book in the series, but House of Flame and Shadow reads like the finale to Bryce’s current story arc. Are there doors left open to explore down the track, of course, as Sarah herself has said she has ideas to write more in this world. This book is also chunky. She’s thicc. And for readers new to the series you’ll be pleased to know it picks up the story immediately after the events of House of Sky and Breath, racing straight into the drama and danger.
Bryce is in Prythian, getting questioned and doesn’t know who to trust. In her escape Nesta and Azriel show up in the tunnels Bryce is exploring, searching for a way out. During their time spent together, they begin to learn more about each other, while the reader learns a lot of world building and history of the universes and forces within it effective both of their worlds. The Asteri, the Raglan, Helena, the Dusk Court. So much history and answers to easter eggs and seeded ideas from previous books do finally get answered. Most of the time we spend in the ACOTAR world is with Nesta and Azriel, which I enjoyed. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I found myself feeling like I understood Nesta more than I had when I read A Court of Silver Flames. Then, Bryce manages to get back to Midgard.
Meanwhile in Midgard, Hunt, Ruhn and Baxian are trapped in the dungeons, suffering immense trauma and pain at the hands of the Hammer and the Hind. This was at times hard to read, particularly when you are in Lydia’s point of view, her battle between what she must do verse what she wants to do in that situation is heartbreaking. Thankfully she is able to eventually help them escape with the assistance of Ruhn’s friends. Lydia’s relationship with Ruhn is all over the place here but you can tell the connection between them is something Ruhun can’t quite walk away from even if he wants to at times. I was so drawn to Lydia in this book, her story, her history as she learn more about her. It increasingly paints her complicated position and character in interesting and surprising ways. I think she might be one of Sarah’s more interesting complex female characters. I found myself rooting for her in the end, hoping she might find a path to move forward from the life she has to lead to the one she wishes could live.
Now Tharion and Ithan’s storylines in the novel did annoy me somewhat, but I get that every character can’t be likeable to a reader, otherwise they might all just read the same. But Tharion was whiney, and mostly useless for the book. Both make bad decisions and how they let it affect them is a primary point of their arcs in this book.
View this post on Instagram
So much happens in the book I’ll do a quick summary of the rest. Bryce, back in Lunathion, goes to her father’s study in an information gathering exercise. From there, with her newly gathered information, she meets the Ocean Queen on her boat, and we finally find out why Lydia has been acting the way she has for the three books, her motivations for aligning with the Asteri for so long (when I say I was surprised, I was truly surprised by the answer to this one). Underwater scenes complete, Bryce and the gang journey to Avallen, where they visit the Starlight Caves, the scene for an epic showdown between Bryce and her father.
Finally we get to the epic battle scene, the finale. It was full of tension and Bryce’s power was a sight. The Prince’s of Tel and their army arrived, various characters finally had their moments of victory or breakthrough. And then we got Bryce’s self-sacrificing moment. When Bryce died at the end I began to think Sarah J Maas might actually do something controversial and kill off the main character, but no, she was revived through another great sacrifice (I mean it had to have a happy ending for Bryce and Hunt). With the Asteri defeated naturally all that is left is to rebuild their world and Bryce certainly has some opinions on changes to be made.
The pacing of this book was in my opinion a lot better than book two in the series, though still could’ve been improved in some sections. However I can appreciate how hard it can be to try and keep a whopping 800+ page novel at a steady moving pace. After two books of a lot of world building it was also great to get so much action from the characters actively doing things or trying to achieve various tasks simultaneously wherever they happened to be in Midgard and Prythian.
There were also several times I had to put my laptop down (I read a early digital edition provided by my colleagues), just so I wouldn’t accidentally throw it or slam it as I audibly sat on my couch going “WHAT?!” or “OMG noooooo!”. I did that a lot. My partner was concerned at one point until I reassured him I was just reading a book.
“Live your life, Quinlan. And live it well.”p.807
“That’s what I want on my new business cards. Bryce Quinlan: Better that expected.” p.821
Now this is a romantasy series, but there is far less sex that some of Sarah’s other work, which you’ll either love and hate depending on your tastes. House of Flame and Shadow is much more focused on all its characters working towards the final battle with their various tasks and endeavours bestowed upon them.
Overall I really liked how House of Flame and Shadow neatly wrapped up Bryce and Hunt’s three book arc but left doors open to explore future stories and spinoffs with supporting characters. The ACOTAR crossover was fun as well, and I enjoyed spending time with Nesta and Azriel. It was handled well in how she brought the stories together to achieve certain goals, but then separated them again so each series could continue on their own in future. I’m certainly sensing more in Nesta’s storyline as a result. I found this a compulsive read, enjoying the various payoff’s set up by books one and two. It’s a big, unabashedly thicc, series. Loved it.
Until next time,
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publishing: January 30, 2024.
For more book reviews click here.
My website has affiliate links with retailers such as Booktopia which means I may receive a commission for a sale that I refer, at no extra cost to you. To purchase this book click here.
View this post on Instagram