House of Flame and Shadow (International Edition)

Similar to another review I just read, this is the first book I've reviewed in the series (shame on me). I'll try to not re-hash the story line but perhaps offer a few different perspectives and only a humble recommendation or two. Like many other fans out there, SJM is one of my absolute favorite authors for a variety of reasons. I really appreciate her plots (across all her series) and the twists and turns she sends me down. She is one of the few authors that actually surprises me with her plot twists, and I love it. Her heroines are true heroines...and she makes room for more than one in her novels, which is how it should be. I also appreciate just how brilliant her heroines are. They have sass and always something up their sleeve. She also knows how to write well, which is actually not that easy to find these days. She may have a fantastic set of editors that help, but I'm just going to ignore that possibility for now and give her 100% of the credit. I mention that because even though this novel is close to 1000 pages, each page serves a purpose, and there isn't a whole lot of "extra". I never once sat back and wondered why 3 pages of material was written to describe something that could have been handled with a paragraph. That has been a frustration with some other favorite authors of mine lately....rush jobs to pump out novels to appease fans that have not been edited well. Anyway, moving on... Something I wanted to point out that I loved with this novel was this technique of switching back and forth between the action among different storylines within the same chapter. I can't recall if she did this with her other novels, but I loved this technique in this one. For example, one moment we would be reading about Hunt and the torture he and the boys were experiencing in the dungeon (or whatever we want to call it), and then it would switch to Tharion's situation in the Viper Queen's nest. The way she'd switch mid-chapter really kept the story moving along and interesting. There were times I'd be reading about the action in one place and wondering what was happening with a different set of characters and then...bam!....I was reading about them without having to wait for the next chapter. Or, alternatively, I think I would have just skimmed over an entire chapter about Tharion staying doped up and feeling sorry for himself when he was living in the Viper Queen's nest, but reading the little snippets here and there as we moved through that story line were perfect. Ok, so...enough on the great writing itself. :) Next, the crossover with ACOTAR....that was a present unto itself. Thank you Sarah J. Mass....seriously....thank you for that extra bit of joy you just gifted all of us. We knew it was coming, but I personally refused to acknowledge it after HOSAB because I knew I'd have to wait for the next book, and I couldn't get myself excited about it at that time knowing it would be a while before we'd have it in hand. I would have liked to see a bit more Rhysand and perhaps a Feyre appearance, but beggars can't be choosers, and I still loved it. I'm also looking forward to how some of this plays into the next ACOTAR novel that comes out! Next, the spice. No, it doesn't have as much in it as some of the other books, but that was completely fine by me because in this book I just wanted answers! I wanted it to all come together, I wanted the characters to get rid of the Asteri and save the world. The book did all of this. I can't believe I'm stating this (because I love some spice...4 peppers please), but if there had been no spice in this one, I'd have still given it 5 stars. hahahaha. Let's face it, it is hard to find a moment when you are constantly with your friends in the middle of saving the world for some private time. That's fair. (But, a few of them still managed to do it....so....let's not be too critical about it). If there was anything I might have tweaked, it would have been the process of getting rid of the Asteri. Something about it felt a bit too quick after Polaris was killed. At this point I've read two other novels and hundreds and hundreds of pages leading up to this moment, and I just felt like it was over a bit too quickly. (Maybe because Bryce is just such a good planner? :)) I liked the struggle described for Polaris. I think I was expecting one more twist or something to happen between that and getting rid of the others (outside of the kill-switch revelation). But, it's all good. Maybe at this point, we just want them gone.

Anyway, I really did enjoy this novel, and this series. It met, if not exceeded, all of my expectations, and I'm looking forward to her next book release. I wish we could get 2 books a year from her, but the complex storylines, character development, and world-building are well worth the wait. For me, the TOG and ACOTAR series are still in the lead, but this is an outstanding series. Her books are all at a whole other level, and I think we are very fortunate she discovered her talent and passion early on and pursued them.

I have only one recommendation, which I'm sure will never been seen, but I'm making it anyway! I am more than happy to wait a year or more for SJM's next book in a series. I'm all about quality over quantity. The challenge (for me at least) is that when that next book in a series comes out, I have, unfortunately, forgotten important details of the previous book(s), and I end up putting in a lot of extra time scouring the internet for synopsis, etc. (Thank goodness there is plenty out there). I wish I had the time to re-read previous books before a new one comes out, but that is not always possible with my schedule, and I read so many books each year that storylines can get a bit fuzzy. (I know...I know...there are some die-hards out there that can't believe I don't remember every detail, but it is what it is.). Anyway, I am a fan of what an author whose work I have read recently (Eliza Raine) has done to address this in one of her series, and I thought I'd put it out there as an example for consideration. She has added a short refresher/summary to the beginning of her books, and it is fantastic because it summarizes the details she thinks are most important from the previous books in the series. After reading this, you are locked in and ready to start the new book with no need to seek out summaries and play catch up. Anyway, just a humble recommendation for consideration.

I've sat with my feelings for a bit, and I'm finally ready to share.

This gets all the stars! I hear what others say regarding it not being her usual book, but as a fantasy lover, this was it. This was the high fantasy book that I was craving from SJM. I LOVED that it was more plot & world-building-focused compared to her other books. I feel like we learned so much about this world, but there's still so much more to learn. Do you have to read Throne of Glass to read this? Technically, no. But if you don't, you're doing yourself a HUGE disfavor. Having that knowledge makes some of the little details and one big plot twist so much more impactful! * * Spoilers below! * LOVED LOVED LOVED all the TOG references!! As a TOG girly through and through, I'm obsessed. SO many easter eggs that I ate up! I personally thought the amount of time spent in Prythian was perfect. Any more and it would have felt like a cash grab.

As someone who liked Lidia from the VERY beginning of book 2, I'm obsessed with her character arc in this book! I loved the little glimpses we got of her true self in book 2, but LOVED the full reveal of her true personality in this book! I said from the beginning that Lidia would burn the world for those she loves, and I was freaking right!

Ruhn. Sweet baby Ruhn, no longer crown prince of the Valbaran fae but instead stepdad to teenage boys. Can you IMAGINE?? If I had ovaries still, this would definitely affect them.

TBH Bryce annoyed me a bit. She was not kind to Hunt, and that made me sad. I get what she needed from him, but he was TRAUMATIZED from everyone he lost in the first war. Let him work through that, bestie.

Speaking of Hunt... I can admit when I'm wrong about a character, and I'm fine with that 🤣 Fine. He isn't evil. He isn't valg. BUT he is a prince of Hel's son, so I feel like I was onto something lol

I completely get why people hate that it was wrapped up in a pretty bow, but this is the end of Bryce & Hunt's books, and she did the same thing in ACOWAR, so to me it makes sense. Besides, SO MUCH was left unanswered!

Things that were left unanswered that I think we'll see in book 4:

• WHAT IS FURY -Who owns Ari? -What's going on between Ithan & Perry -Follow up: why is Perry's smell off to Ithan? (mating bond smell 👀) -Tharion is going to end up loving Sathia, right? -How huge will Sathia's power be after she takes the vaccine?? -What does the Ocean Queen want with Lidia, a fire wielder? Like what. -WHO IS RUHN'S MOM?? -WHERE IS THE COMM STONE THAT RUHN GAVE BRYCE??

Edited to add: THE BONUS CHAPTERS. ARE YOU KIDDING?? Tbh I have the indie one & it’s my least favorite 😂 It felt off that we had one random flashback scene from before the books even took place. But the rest? Chefs kiss. Perfection. Bawled my eyes out. AND FINALLY A SJM WEDDING & it was the one I wanted 😭😭😭 Those looking for more Velaris content need to read the Ember & Randall one and obviously the Nesta, Az, & Bryce one so good!! & the Hunt and Bryce one was just super cute and a good extended epilogue for them. But THE WEDDING?? I didn’t think I could love Lidia more, but I was wrong. Emulating her great whatever grandma in the best way 😂 Okay, that’s all. Thanks for reading!

It hit me when I was reading this book that this will be the first SJM book I have reviewed!! I was not actively reviewing books when I read her other books but am debating going back and re-reading them so that I can do a review. They are also just all so amazing so it wouldn't be to my detriment LOL.

This is the third book in the Crescent City series and was ALMOST everything I had hoped it would. We got a LOT of history. We got mates reuniting and confirming what we thought would happen. We got action in the final battle scene with the Asteri, and we got more of the Princes of Hel. One of the things I didn't like was the massive lack of spice. This felt a lot like ACOWAR to me- more depth of history and battle then spice, but man did I want that from Ruhn and Lidia. I also want to point out that I feel like the reuniting of Bryce and Hunt was disappointing to me. They are separated by universes. Hunt has been tortured and when she sees him she holds it together- not the Bryce I know. Other than those things though, we got it all.

This book picks up right where we left off. Bryce is being questioned by the ACOTAR bat boys (minus Cassian) about where she came from. She doesn't think she can trust them and so she pulls a Bryce and escapes. Nesta shows up as a guide in this underground cavern that as far as she knows has never been explored. One thing I will point out is that as much as there is a crossover- I think I thought there would be more BUT I also think that SJM was purposeful in pointing out that the next ACOTAR book will be about Azriel (at least I hope). Him and Nesta were the main people that Bryce interacts with. We learn A LOT about the Asteri, the Daglan, Helena and the people that went missing from the Dusk court. And then Bryce is back in Lunathion and ends up in her father's study of all places.

Meanwhile, Hunt, Baxian and Ruhn are being tortured by none other than the Hammer and sort of the Hind. Ugh hearing Lidia's POV during these scenes was gut wrenching. She was trying to put on this BA front but slowly breaking apart inside because Ruhn was acting SOOO cold towards her (which I totally get). She is able to bring in Declan, Flynn and the gang to help coordinate an escape. Yall the escape scene with Lidia was soo intense. She was willing to sacrifice herself and that is when Ruhn realized he wasn't ready to walk away from her yet. He didn't want to identify what he was feeling but knew he didn't want it to go away.

On the other side of the city, Tharion was being whiny about making a bad decision. Ithan (be still my heart) has an encounter with the lost Sabine alpha that rocks his world and leaves him willing to do almost anything to make him right. After everything with them, I am very excited to see where their stories go. SJM left the door open enough to where I would think the next book focuses on rebuilding with them.

About the time of Ruhn, Bax and Hunt's release- Bryce ends up back at the Ocean Queen's boat after gathering some good info from her daddy-o. This is when the reuniting SHOULD be but no not yet. We find out why Lidia has been playing the literal devil for these past several years and OMG did not see that one coming. Now the roles are reversed and she is pissed at Ruhn for giving up on them so soon.

The next part of the journey takes them to Avallen which is where a TON of things happen. Bryce and co get to go to the Starlight caves. Ruhn and Lidia connect on a deeper level. Ithan is working around the clock to get answers and resolutions. This is where they make their plan for the final stand against the Asteri. There is also a showdown with Bryce's dad and the King of the Fae which I LOVED. Side note- not sure how I missed Lidia's ancestry but when it was revealed just wow. SJM is a freaking mastermind.

The final showdown was as epic as I thought it would be. The Fallen got their due. Bryce made her self sacrificing move. Ruhn did too as a matter of fact. The Princes of Hel and their army appeared. Hypaxia created a solution that has MASSIVE implications. We got answers on the connections between the worlds. Now all that is left is rebuilding and what not.

This book was just fabulous. I can't say it enough that if you haven't read any of her books please do. They legit changed my life by introducing me to romantasy. Let me know your thoughts and theories for what is next! I am thinking Ithan and Perry. Can't wait to hear more about Tharion and his wife (who we have met but don't know a ton about) and then of course Flynn and Ariadne (fingers crossed). I also want MORE Ruhn and Lidia- I need to see this world's Shadow Daddy at work :)

Right off the bat, no spoilers for this book, likely for previous books so proceed with caution.

As I’ve said before, crescent city is a series about a bunch of gold hearted idiots making questionable decisions in a bid to save the world. Now let me update that statement slightly. It’s a story of a bunch of Himbos trying to help save the world, and these adorable fools would get nowhere without the women in their life. Don’t get me wrong, I would throw myself on to oncoming traffic for each of them anyway. But it’s the women in this series that make the moves and get 💩 done. The big strong males help of course, but it’s the girls running the show and doing it right. Because it actually does take at least 500 years for a male to mature and most of these are wee baby bois (relatively), but that’s neither here nor there.

All jokes aside, it’s non stop action as soon as you hit the first page of the book, as it should be bcs after that last cliffhanger, we needed some answers real quick. And we get them for the most part (some questions for possible future books but that’s a discussion for another day). There is intergalactic dimension jumping, petty politics, espionage, t0rture, and life changing battles in the book. Tbh so much happens in the book sometimes it’s a lot to take (I probably should’ve taken more breaks but ehh). Imagine if the entire 8 book ToG plot line was squeezed into 3 crescent city books. So this one’s for the EoS and KoA girlies (incidentally my fave ToG books), as in for those who love things being it’s chaotic and intense and action packed and full to the brim with love and friendship and invisible strings that all point to our characters’ ultimate goals. If you love certain specific hallmarks of the author’s writing (bcs they all make an appearance), as I do, then this one’s for you.

As always what stands out in an SJM book are the characters and their relationships. Romantic, platonic, parental, the whole gamut. Through love, all is possible after all. It’s these soul connections between people and the invisible string running through the tapestry of their life that draws me in and keeps me hooked every time. It’s not just Bryce going on a journey for her character arc, her friends are too for their own.

This found family, this pack of once seemingly ordinary misfits and rebels without a cause (now with one) would do anything for each other and therein lies their real power. My heart hurt for them every time they went through some 💩 , but it cheered wild and loud when another came to rescue them, even if meant mortal danger for themselves. Don’t worry I yelled at them too when they were being idiots. This all sounds mundane but these bonds are the heart of any book to me, and they elevate this series from just another fantasy series to a series of my heart. The sassy humor even in the darkest times sure helps.

Yes, the thing that was teased in the last book happens, and no, it’s not a merging of the series in any way, so calibrate those expectations accordingly. I was just happy to be there, but I’m also glad the series aren’t all merged, but the worlds sure are entwined now. Honestly though, in this book, Midgard is where it’s at. Bryce is still our relatable Queen, but special in all the ways that count. Apart from her super powerful and magical star born princess crap (with Hunt being supportive and cheering her on every step of the way ofc), there’s a few other girls up for mvp of the book, and for me they stole the show, especially a certain shifter. I said I’d walk into traffic for all of them, and I’d do the same for Lidia, but I’d also throw people into traffic, and tattoo her name on my chest I love her that much. She’s THAT girl and her storyline makes me absolutely giddy and want to jump up and cheer and cry all at once. I keep making jokes about the boys, but you’ll never find a more loyal group of men who masculinity isn’t somehow damaged by the females taking the lead. For that alone, gold stars all around.

We get closure about a lot of things with just enough left open for future exploration of this world, and I would truly like to come back bcs they all feel like old friends now. And I definitely need more of a certain couple. This is not my favorite book of the series, CC1 still holds that title and probably will forever, but I laughed and cried and grieved and celebrated with these dummies and I will be staring at a wall and processing this one for a while yet. You know, while I start rereading immediately.

🎈 At a Glance: • Genre: Fantasy & Romance • Release Date: January 30th, 2024 • Key Themes: Love & sacrifice, destiny, resilience, and friendship. • Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ • Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

🌍 For the Adventurous Soul: “House of Flame and Shadow” would appeal to readers who are fans of fantasy and intricate worlds, full of magic, lore, and some political intrigue. This overall series is perfect for people who want to dip their toes into a new sub-genre of fantasy – Urban Fantasy. This book is a fantastic blend of suspense, romance, and power struggles that is perfect for readers who love character driven stories with significant emotional depth.

📚 Book Buddies: I suggest that you read the complete works of Sarah J. Maas before diving into this book. There are many different orders that you can read her series in, but I recommend beginning with the Throne of Glass series, A Court of Thornes and Roses series, and then Crescent City series. 💬 Memorable Quote: “You’re my home Hunt. Our love spans across stars and worlds, remember?” She smiled slightly. “I’ll always find you.”

🖌️ First Impressions: “House of Flame and Shadow” dances upon the edge of the imagination, bringing forth a whisper of mystery wrapped in fire and darkness. It is the name of the third house within this book’s world. The cover art ties well with the title and is a symphony of orange, gold, and black, creating an overture that promises a rich and compelling story. At the center, a figure that may be one of our heroines – or perhaps a goddess – commands your attention with her piercing gaze. She is enveloped by a serpent, a creature often associated with secrets. The gold foiling captures the light as if it is the embers from a long smoldering fire, flickering with energy, hinting at a story of power, passion, and beauty that is borne from the interplay of light and shadow.

📜 Brief Plot Overview: • Plot: “House of Flame and Shadow” is the long awaited third installment in the Crescent City series, continuing after the events of “House of Sky and Breath”. This novel again follows Bryce Quinlan as she navigates through Midgard, and now to realms beyond. Bryce is catapulted into a new environment, surrounded by individuals who she is unfamiliar with and unsure of in terms of alliances. She must work hard and use her innate skills to find her way back to all the things she holds dear: her family, her friends, and her mate. As Bryce is struggling to find her way home, Hunt Athalar finds himself ensnared in a perilous situation, once again finding himself in the Asteri Dungeons, marked with a black crown, and unaware of where Bryce has disappeared to. Despite these obstacles, both Hunt and Bryce remain strong in their resolve to be united again. This exciting addition to the Crescent City series is full of high stakes, pushing Bryce and Hunt’s relationship to the brink, with their world on the verge of destruction as they are tasked with pulling their realm back from ruin. •Characters: There is a long list of characters in this one, so buckle up! •Bryce Quinlan: Bryce is yet again the main character for this installment, and still brings her unique charm to the story, making it that much more entertaining. She is still the sassy, funny, and brash heroine that we have come to know and love. I did find some things she did and said to be grating at times, but I will go more in depth about this later in the review. •Hunt Athalar: Hunt is still our favorite brooding fallen angel with a heart of (slightly tarnished) gold. We get to see a lot of depth from his character in this book, though at times I wish we could have explored his trauma a little bit more. •Ruhn Danaan: Ruhn is still the cool tattooed fae prince who cares deeply for his family and his friends. He begins this novel locked in a dungeon, and experiences some pretty heavy stuff in the first 1/3 of the novel. He had so much opportunity for depth in this book, and there was so much potential for exploring who he is and how he navigates trauma. •Lidia Cervos (The Hind): Lidia, a.k.a The Hind, is not what she first appeared to us in previous books. She is not only the Asteri’s spymaster, she is found out to also be moonlighting as Agent Daybright. Her character development throughout this novel was wonderful, and we get to learn so much about her motivations. •Tharion Ketos: Tharion is our team’s resident merman and was previously the captain of intelligence for the River Queen. He clearly has had many hardships throughout his life, such as the loss of his sister a year prior to the events in this novel. He is charming and at times self-serving, but when it comes time to make tough choices, his resilience and adaptability really stand out. •Ithan Holstrom: Ithan is the epitome of true friend. He is more than willing to dive into the unknown for those that he loves, and he stands up for those who are weaker than he is. Ithan’s bravery stands out in this novel as he navigates making mistakes and attempting to rectify them.

•Setting: “House of Flame and Shadow” is set between two different realms, taking us into a world that many Sarah J. Maas fans are familiar with – Prythian. As readers, we are aware of who this new cast of characters are, but Bryce is not. She is dropped into what she thought was Hel, only to be greeted by a beautiful man in a world full of light, life, and magic. We get to see a few of our favorite characters from Maas’s other works, and our heroine gets to explore parts of Prythian for a short time. She spends the majority of her time exploring the depths of the prison, which had previously been unexplored by the current locals. Back in her home world, Midgard is on the brink of an all out war. Each faction is in turmoil in their own way, and the threat of conflict between and within each faction also looms as tensions rise. We bounce back and forth between Lunathion, under the sea, and The Eternal City.

•Pacing: This book starts off incredibly fast and maintains that pace for the vast majority of the novel. We get to see several POVs from various characters, often switching back and forth within the single chapters. There are some slower areas, that were not as full of action, but you can expect the majority of this book to move at lightning speed.

💭 My Reflections:

Highlights:
• Character Chemistry: The chemistry between characters in HOFAS remains outstanding, as with the previous Crescent City books. There was also a great amount of chemistry between the characters we seen in Prythian and Bryce. We can see that the Prythian gang would very likely get along with the gang from Midgard, as there are many similarities between both groups. Back in Midgard, we get to see deep and heartfelt interactions between our main characters, Bryce and Hunt. I felt that for most of the book, they meshed well together but there were some areas of conflict that kept the story line interesting. We also get to see a deepening in the relationship between Ruhn and Lidia, as well as the connection between Ithan and Tharion as friends. HOFAS is definitely a book that explores many complex relationship dynamics against the backdrop of the broader conflicts and personal journeys within the book.

• Memorable Moments: There are so many moments in HOFAS that are memorable, so choosing a few is difficult to do. One of the most memorable moments for me was when Ithan discovered that he had elemental magic after taking the anti-parasitic medication. We had already seen many hints previously about the Fae from Erilea being in Midgard, but this really solidified it for me. It was also very satisfying to see him use that power to absolutely body the Underking. Calling back to an earlier moment in the book, I also found it impactful and memorable to learn the true history of the fae who crossed over from Prythian to Midgard. The story was nothing like what I expected, and I could feel myself being disillusioned right along with Bryce.

• The Emotional Rollercoaster: Y’all, this book put me through it in so many areas. We started off on the lowest of the low, with Bryce missing and Hunt being tortured along with Ruhn, only to end on the highest of the highs. Everything in between was a series of soaring highs only to take an immediate nosedive a few pages later. I cannot put into words how good Maas is at conveying her character’s emotions in a way that makes readers feel them. The rollercoaster I experienced with the “will they, won’t they” between Ruhn and Lidia was intense. I also really felt for Bryce and Hunt as they tried to connect and struggled to do so because of all the horrible things they recently had experienced.

Areas for Improvement:

• Follow Through: Maas often does incredible work with maintaining consistency and the integrity of the story, and for the most part HOFAS was no different. In terms of follow through, there were some issues. There were many characters and past plot points that I felt we did not get any information on or closure for in this novel, some of which being Juniper and Fury. I felt that Fury’s story had really been built up in the past two novels, only for us to really get no information on her in this book. Who is she and what does she do? I have hope that in her follow up books we will get more information on many things I felt were skipped over in this book.

• Character Depth/ Consistency: Sometimes when writing a book that follows several different characters, things can get lost in translation or can be left out. I feel that in HOFAS, there were some inconsistencies in how characters acted at times, as well as a lack of depth in many of the characters actions, reactions, and motivations. There were entire chapters dedicated to the horrific torture experienced by Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian but we get almost nothing else about it or how the trauma affected them for the majority of the book. It is touched on some between Hunt and Bryce in arguments, but it seems like Ruhn quickly got over some pretty terrible stuff (i.e. the loss of a hand in a very traumatic way) and never really talks about it again. There was ample opportunity for this to be explored, but it felt rushed and unfinished.
We also see a stark change in the way the Autumn King acted in the first two books to this book. He went from being what might have been a morally grey character, to just a straight up evil person who sought the destruction of his children for no real purpose other than to destroy them. In the first two novels it seems that he does have feelings for his kids and regrets his actions from his past, but all of that flies out the window in HOFAS and really isn’t talked about in any meaningful way. It also seems that he is very interested in world-walking and learning the truth of the old fae, only for him to be incredibly antagonistic and awful to the one person who could help him do that. It made no sense to me for him to act this way.
There is also a lot of arguing done between Hunt and Bryce in a way that didn’t seem realistic to me for their characters. Bryce continuously handwaved away Hunt’s trauma as him “not being there with her” in this novel, which didn’t really feel authentic to her character for me. Her lack of care towards what he had just experienced again was grating.

• Low Stakes: Maas is not really known for writing books that have a lot of high stakes situations, and this book is no exception. There really was no true consequence to any of the characters’ actions, and everyone (including many minor characters) made it out in the end. It would be nice to see Maas step out of her comfort zone and create a situation in which not every character gets to have a happy ending. It would have been impactful to see the gang have to deal with serious consequences of some of their rash and, at times, stupid decisions.