House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, 1)

The best book I have read all year. Why did I wait so long? I couldn’t book this down. Sure, the first 200 pages can be rough, but once you really dive into it, this world doesn’t let you go. I loved everything from the modern world to the mystery to the deception. I cannot wait to start the second book!

It felt like nothing was happening from pages 0 to around 650... then everything happened in the last 140 pages with like 5 ish pages leading you onto the next book.

Spice level is low... this book gets recommended with Quicksilver, but it's nowhere near as spicy, which isn't a bad thing as the story and world are interesting

I loved the friendship between Bryce and Danika. That is why it shocked me when the Pack of Devils gets murdered in like the first part in the book. I love Bryce in general as a character. She is just so funny and badass. “Bryce said to the lion, ‘Thanks for the ride.’ Whatever your name is. It took him a blink to realize she was serious about the business meeting. Red crept over his tanned cheeks. Then he blurted ‘I can’t pay you’” (pg 94). “Bryce gave him a wink, trying to pull the folio with the check toward her awaiting purse. ‘I think you’d be the one feeling sorry if a pretty thing like me left, Mr. Tertian.’ His hand remained on the folio. ‘For what I paid your boss, I’d think some perks came with this deal.’ Well, it had to be a record: being mistaken for a whore twice within ten minutes. She had no disdain for the world’s oldest profession, only respect and sometimes pity, but being mistaken for one of them had led to more unfortunate incidents than she liked… But Maximus surveyed her body with all the male, immortal entitlement in the world. ‘Some like their prey to play hard to get.’ He smiled up at her again. ‘I happen to be one of them. I’ll make it good for you, you know’” (pg 98-99).

I am also a huge fan of the constant bickering back and forth between Hunt and Bryce as they try to figure out who murdered the Pack of Devils. “Bryce gave Hunt Athalar a dazzling smile and slashed the heavy curtains shut. A moment later, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. Right as her show began. She didn’t know the number, but she wasn’t surprised when she picked up, plopping down onto the cushions, and Hunt growled, ‘Open the curtains. I want to watch the show.’ She propped both bare feet on the table. “I didn’t know angels deigned to watch trash TV.’ ‘I’d rather watch the sunball game that’s on right now, but I’ll take what I can get.’ The idea of the Umbra Mortis watching a dating competition was laughable enough that Bryce hit pause on the live show. … ‘Open the curtains.’ ‘No, thank you.’ … ‘We’ve been ordered to get to the bottom of these murders. So I hate to tell you this sweetheart, but we’re about to get real up close and personal.’ ‘I’m sure you get off on the whole protector-of-damsels thing.’ … His wings flared. ‘You have my number now. Call it if something goes wrong, or feels wrong, or if you need anything.’ ‘Like pizza?’ She clearly saw the middle finger Hunt lifted above his head. Shadow of Death, indeed. Bryce purred, ‘You would make a good delivery boy with those wings.’ Angles in Lunathion never stooped to such work, though. Ever. ‘Keep the damn curtains open, Quinlan.” He hung up. She just gave him a mocking wave. And shut the curtains entirely. … She could have sworn she tasted ether as he growled, ‘I am going to be straight with you.’ ‘Goody.’ His nostrils flared. ‘I will do whatever the Hel it takes to solve this case. Even if it means tying you to a fucking chair until you write those lists.’ She smirked. ‘Bondage. Nice.’ Hunt’s eyes darkened. ‘Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me.’ ‘Yeah, yeah, you’re the Umbra Mortis.’ … ‘Immortality is a long time to have a giant stick up your ass.’ … Hunt wondered how much trouble he’d get in if he chucked Bryce Quinlan into the Istros (pg 166-170).

I also love how they become fast friends and how their relationship eventually grows into romance. “‘You want to tell me something?’ She gulped, scanning him from head to toe. ‘About what?’ ‘About what the fuck this is?’ He extended his hand. Opened up his big fist. A purple glittery unicorn lay in it. She snatched the toy from his hand. His dark eyes lit with amusement as Bryce demanded, ‘Why are you snooping through my things?’ ‘Why do you have a body of unicorns in your linen closet?’ “This one is a unicorn-pegasus.’ She stroked the lilac mane. ‘Jelly Jubilee.’ … ‘The soap is right there,’ she said, pointing to the tack directly at his eye level. ‘And yet you took down a box from the highest self?’ She could have sworn color drained his cheeks. ‘I saw purple glitter.’ She blinked at him. ‘You thought it was a sex toy, didn’t you?’ He said nothing. ‘You think I keep my vibrator in my linen closet?’ He crossed his arms. ‘What I want to know is why you have a box of these things.’ … ‘Here. Next time you want to check out my vibrators, just ask, Athalar.’ She inclined her head toward her bedroom door and winked. ‘They’re in the left nightstand.’ Again, his cheeks reddened. ‘I wasn’t—you’re a pain in the ass, you know that?’ She shut the linen closet door with her hip and sauntered back to her bedroom. ‘I’d rather be a pain in the ass,’ she said slyly over her bare shoulder, ‘than a snooping pervert.’ His snarl followed her all the way back to the bathroom”(Pg 396-398).

One of my favorite parts in the book was when Hunt was helping Bryce get through her surgery. “A chair scraped, and then a warm, calloused hand wrapped around Bryce’s. Hunt’s eyes locked on hers. ‘Deep breath, Bryce.’ She sucked in one. The needle sank into her thigh, its prick drawing tears. She squeezed Hunt’s hand hard enough to feel bones grinding. He didn’t so much as flinch. The pain swiftly faded, numbness tingling over her leg. Deep inside it. ‘Do you feel this?’ the witch asked. ‘Feel what?’ ‘Good,’ the witch declared. ‘I’m starting now. I can put up a little curtain if you–’ ‘No,’ Bryce gritted out. ‘Just do it.’ No delays. No waiting. She saw the witch lift the scalpel, and then a slight, firm pressure pushed against her leg. Bryce shook again, blasting a breath through her clenched teeth. ‘Steady now,’ the witch said. ‘I’m cutting through the scar tissue.’ Hunt’s dark eyes held hers, and she forced herself to think of him instead of her leg. He had been there that night. In the alley. The memory surfaced, the fog of pain and terror and grief clearing slightly. Strong, warm hands gripping her. Just as he held her hand now. A voice speaking to her. Then utter stillness, as if his voice had been a bell. And then those strong, warm hands on her thigh, holding her as she sobbed and screamed. I’ve got you, he’d said over and over. I've got you. … Hunt’s hand clasped hers. Bryce took a steadying breath—... Hunt interlaced their fingers squeezing. It burned and burned and burned — ‘When I got to the alley that night,’ he said above the rush of her frantic breathing, ‘you were bleeding everywhere. Yet you tried to protect him first. You wouldn’t let us get near until we showed you our badges and proved we were from the legion.’ She whimpered, her breathing unable to outrun the razor-sharp digging, digging, digging— Hunt's fingers stroked over her bro. ‘I thought to myself, There’s someone I want guarding my back. There’s a friend I’d like to have. I think I gave you such a hard time when we met up again because…because some part of me knew that, and was afraid of what it’d mean.’ She couldn’t stop the tears sliding down her face. His eyes didn’t waver from hers. ‘I was there in the interrogation room, too.’ His fingers drifted through her hair, gentle and calming. ‘I was there for all of it.’ The pain struck deep, and she couldn’t help the scream that worked its way out of her. Hunt leaned forward, putting his cool brow against hers. ‘I’ve known who you were this whole time. I never forget you.’ … Bryce couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think beyond Hunt and his words and the pain in her leg, the scar across her very soul. Hunt whispered, ‘You've got this, You’ve got this Bryce.’ … Hunt’s grip never wavered. … She did it. To Hunt, to his hand, to that softness in his eyes, she held on. With all she had. ‘I’ve got you,’ he murmured. ‘Sweetheart, I got you.’ He’d never said it like that before—that word. It had always been mocking, teasing. She’d always found it just this side of annoying. Not this time. Not when he held her hand and her gaze and everything she was. Riding out the pain in her. ‘Breathe,’ he ordered her. ‘You can do it. We can get through this.’ Get through it–together. Get through this mess of a life together. Through this mess of a world. Bryce sobbed, not entirely from pain this time. And Hunt, as if he sensed it, too, leaned forward again. Brushed his mouth against hers. Just a hint of a kiss—a feather-soft glancing of his lips over hers. A star bloomed inside her at that kiss. A long-slumbering light began to fill her chest, her veins. … Hunt’s eyes were still on Bryce’s face. As they been the entire time. Had never left. … Bryce barely heard the woman as she nodded. Barely heard anything beyond Hunt’s lingering words. I’ve got you. Her fingers curled around his. She let her eyes tell him everything her ravaged through couldn’t. I got you too” (Pg 565-568). I was crying when I read this at how sweet and adorable they are together.
My heart broke when Bryce took the drop at the end of the book and Danika talked to Bryce from beyond the grave. I think I actually started to cry. It was so sweet for them to get a final goodbye and to hear one last piece of advice from her friend. I very much recommend this book. It was a great mystery and romance all rolled into one.

Favorite Characters (Order of Favorite to least Favorite)
1. Bryce Quinlin
2. Lehaba
3. Syrinx
4. Hunt Athalar
5. Naomi Boreas
6. Isaiah Tiberian
7. Conner Holstrum
8. Fury Axtar
9. Tharion Ketos
10. Declan Emmet
11. Danika Fendyr
12. Aidas
13. Hypaxia Enador
14. Ember Quinlin
15. Randall Silago
16. Ruhn Danaan
17. Ithan Holstrum
18. Jesiba Roga
19. Philip Briggs
20. Juniper Andromeda
21. The Oracle
22. Sabine Fendyr
23. Einar Danaan (Autumn King)
24. Sandriel
25. Pollux Antonius
26. Micha Domitus

Sarah. J. Maas. Never. Misses. It took me a good couple chapters to actually get into this but omg am I glad that I kept going I loved the character development in this too, and the writing, as always, was beautiful Yet ANOTHER one of her books has changed my life and I'm SO excited to still have the rest of the Crescent City series to go!!

Absolutely loved Bryce! She's so amazing and I love ballet so her hobbies spoke to me! Ruhn is also like THE brother, like come one! Love this book with all my heart!