Welcome back to Book Banter, a review I do of books I’ve read recently. I typically read fantasy books, but I take requests, so if you have one, talk to Mrs. Riggs or me to request a book!
Today, we are reviewing Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas. Sarah J. Maas is a fantasy writer who currently has three series out: ACOTAR(A Court of Thorns and Roses), A Throne of Glass, and the Crescent City series. Maas has become popular mainly through her works in ACOTAR, with her recent announcement that books six and seven will be released in October 2026 and January 2027, respectively. In time, I will review each series, but today I am just reviewing the first book in the Crescent City Series: House of Earth and Blood, which was intended to be a trilogy but was recently expanded into four books.
House of Earth and Blood is focused on Bryce Quinlan, who is a half-human, half-fae (fae are elf-like creatures who are incredibly powerful and live very long lives. Fae is an abbreviation for Faerie.) who lives in Crescent City. Bryce is known as being a party girl who only cares for her friend, Danika. Throughout the story, we learn more about Bryce and her upbringing, seeing her vulnerability in delicate moments that reveal her human side and who she really is behind closed doors. In the story, we follow Bryce as she tries to solve murders throughout the City, stop drug dealings, and track demon summonings. In her search, we see how intelligent Bryce is as a character and who she is as a person through her interactions with the world and its characters.
Sarah J. Maas is well known for writing a genre called “romantasy”, which is a mix between romance and fantasy. Maas’ books also tend to have a rather erotic side to them as well, so be warned, for those of you looking to read her books; they have quite a bit of adultery and “spiciness”. However, these scenes and relationships contribute to the story. They are executed incredibly well, with “spicy” scenes keeping readers intrigued, interested, and on the edge of their seats as they build character development and relationships. The story as a whole relies heavily on character relationships and their interactions. While Bryce is the main character, there are side characters who also play incredibly important roles, each with their own backstories and secrets that often relate to their impact on the story. Each character and their relationships with other characters are very interesting and detrimental not only to the story.
The story of House of Earth and Blood flows very smoothly and reads incredibly easily, which some authors struggle to maintain. The story structure of House of Earth and Blood revolves around characters and their relationships. The story also revolves around hidden details and sharp plot twists that shift characters’ relationships, dynamics, and the world itself. As Maas goes throughout the story, she tends to be very effective in every interaction and in every piece of information she reveals. She makes sure that every interaction has an impact and serves a point in the story, with everything coming together cohesively. A very interesting tactic Maas uses is opening pathways for characters to do something, assigning blame for an event to someone, or making it seem as if someone is responsible. Then Maas turns around and reveals that it was someone the reader hadn’t even thought about. It may be a tactic commonly used in cinema, shows, or culture. Still, it is relatively rare in literature, and Maas uses it very professionally, making it a revelation for the reader.
When it comes to world description and worldbuilding, Maas does a pretty good job, ensuring readers have a clear general idea of what characters should look like without entirely dictating their appearance, leaving them open to readers’ imagination. When Maas builds her world and characters, she uses vivid detail, descriptive language, and very powerful diction. Another thing Maas does well is maintain her descriptions and continuity, which many authors forget. Maas makes sure she brings her descriptions and character visages back into the story, with them sometimes even taking on importance, but it is a brief recollection rather than one of true substance.
Overall, I rate this book 8/10 and recommend it to mature readers and anyone looking for fantasy with a hint of romance. Remember to come back to CTHStoday.org for more reviews with Book Banter in the future!
