BOOK STATS
Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Title: House of Flame and Shadow
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Crescent City #3
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Audience: Adult
Format: ebook
Length: 835 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: January 30, 2024
Source: personal collection
Content Warnings: torture, violence, war, sexual content, slavery, suicidal thoughts
SYNOPSIS
The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.
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.
MY THOUGHTS
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I know it’s had a very mixed reception, and part of that is due to astronomical expectations, but it was just what I need during a tough semester of law school, with a fast pace and an emotional ending.
As much as I enjoyed it while I was reading it, looking back now, was it perfect? Of course not. Was it SJM’s best book? Definitely not. For a series that has her best first book, it probably has her worst “finale.” Did all of the character and world building choices add up? Not quite. Was my mind blown again and again by some mastermind twists? HELL YES!
At the end of the day, I was not disappointed and I had a great time reading it even though I didn’t love every single moment, and that’s what reading is all about.
Carolibrary 