Crescent City Series: Book Reviews
*Spoiler Free
For the past year, I’ve been going through all the published books in the Maasverse. In 2024, I worked through A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) and Throne of Glass. I finished Crescent City this year, right around the time I started the first book of ACOTAR last year. Crazy!
I was worried going into Crescent City because the book community has a LOT of opinions about this series. Some people don’t read it. Some people DNF it. Some people say its Sarah J Maas’s best work. Others say the level of world building makes the story boring or difficult to understand. I didn’t know what I was in for.
Here are my book ratings and
spoiler-free thoughts:
#1 House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas ~ 4.5/5 stars
The first third of HOEAB contains world building more complex than ACOTAR or TOG-lots of different species of creatures and the houses they belong to, characters, government structure, history, details, details, details. But there’s a simultaneous intense plot line that will keep your interest. Don’t try to absorb every single world-building detail. Push through and you’ll be given reminders throughout the book where you’ll naturally grasp it. Whether or not you’re used to fantasy, you’ve got this!
We know how Sarah gets us in the last 100-200 pages. THIS DID NOT DISAPPOINT. When I finished, I was confident I LOVE CRESCENT CITY and I love our FMC, Bryce!
#2 House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas ~ 4.75/5 stars
This was definitely my FAV book of the three. I enjoyed the fast pace and never struggled to pick it up. This was almost a 5 star for me, but there was a surprise that just did not land for me and made me question some things. We definitely took a little detour in the reading experience. Again, the end sent me into a chokehold. Oh, and I found my book boyfriend of the series here.
#3 House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas ~ 3.75/5 stars
Oh HOFAS, you were a complicated one. Let me say first, the TOG references and ACOTAR connections did not disappoint. I LIVED for them. But that was my problem.
I lived only for them. In this book, I experienced frequent plot frustration and multiple characters gave me headaches, yes, including our FMC, Bryce.
It didn’t feel great for me as the reader to have better problem solving solutions than our book friends.
I could not read this quickly. Sometimes I didn’t feel like reading. That has never happened to me before with an SJM book.
But as my book bestie says, “In Sarah I trust.” A book that was going to be 3 stars, got bumped to a 3.75 after, you guessed it, the last 10-15 chapters.
Final thoughts:
Was Crescent City my favorite of SJM’s series? No. But I did enjoy it more than I thought I would. I’m just incredibly grateful for this last year spent in the Maasverse.
PSA: You WILL need to read this series in full if you plan on reading future ACOTAR book(s). So all of you who just cannot wait for ACOTAR 6, and think you don’t need to ever read Crescent City…err.. I think you need HOFAS.
Exciting news!!!! My book bestie and I are launching a podcast! Our first episode will cover a deep dive review and recap of House of Flame and Shadow. I can’t wait to share more about this VERY soon.