House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Series: Cresent City #1
Published by Audible Studios on 2020-03-03
Length: 27 hours and 50 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from Audible
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 Audiobook Challenge
Number one New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas launches her brand-new CRESCENT CITY series with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night - until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose - to assassinate his boss' enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion - one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and pause-resisting suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by number one New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom - and the power of love.
Prior to diving into House of Sky and Breath, I thought I’d reread book one as I haven’t set eyes on it in two years. I decided to go the audiobook route for this reread, and I was not disappointed. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas blew me away…again. I love how Maas weaves a tale. I’m convinced there is no author like her. Her stories are full of details that you may think aren’t important but become key details later in the story. I honestly could write an entire blog on just her works because I could fangirl about them all day 
BUT I digress. Elizabeth Evans is a fantastic narrator. Her inflections and tones bring so much life to the story. I’ll be looking up audios she’s narrated from now on.
This was my second time reading House of Earth and Blood, and I enjoyed it more this time around than the first. During my first read, I struggled through the first 100 or so pages as Bryce comes off as a shallow party girl. However this time, I knew better. I knew there was more to her so I was able to focus more on the story instead of struggle with my dislike of her. In that, I was able to pick up on details I missed during my first read, and I truly loved it.
I also am still hesitant on her relationship with Hunt. I love both of them, and I adore them together. But Maas has a way of baiting and switching us during series so I’m scared to fully commit my love for them. I pieced together more about Hunt in this read. I love this fallen angel. He is struggling with his past crimes, the guilt haunts him. And it is this haunting that bounds him with Bryce. The two share that connection of guilt and loss.
The Asteri is a big bad that is still unknown, and I’m hoping that with how this one ends we will see more of them in book two. I loved the twisty plot and urban setting to this fantasy. It added so much to the story. There are a lot of parallels to this story and ACOTAR which I’m here for. I love all of Maas’s works so it was fun to see these little easter eggs hidden in plain sight.
Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook. I loved it as much, if not more, than my first read through. You can see my initial thoughts here: https://momwithareadingproblem.com/2020/05/weekend-reads-house-of-earth-and-blood-by-sarah-j-maas/
About Sarah J Maas
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, as well as A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury. A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog.
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