House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City #1 by Sarah J. Maas

House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City #1 by Sarah J. Maas - 804 pages

In Sarah J. Maas's first "adult" series, Bryce Quinlan faces the challenges of figuring out who she is as a half-Fae, half-human in Lunathion when her life is completely flipped on its head. Her best friend and many of her other friends are brutally murdered while she parties on the town. Years later, while Bryce is still attempting (or not attempting) to cope with the tragedy, an incredibly horrifying lead changes the entire investigation. It's up to Bryce and her new "guardian angel" of sorts, Hunt, to find Danika's killer... but not everything is as it seems as romance blossoms and Bryce learns that nearly everyone is a suspect.

This was my very first Sarah J. Maas book after hearing from so many people to read from this legendary YA author. I finished House of Earth and Blood in September of this year after finally graduating from college and finding time to read for leisure again. This was the perfect transition, for me, back into leisurely reading. Granted, the first 400 pages were *dense* (hear me out) but the *last* 400 pages were absolutely immaculate. The first half of the book is a lot of world-building and minor character development, while the last half is pure action and drama. I was absolutely enraptured by Lunathion once I was able to fully grasp it. I can't say that it is often that a book makes me cry... but I sobbed through the last fourth of the book - several times - and I can't say I feel any shame about that. Maas definitely makes you feel emotionally attached to these characters and their wellbeing. Follow that up with some incredible plot twists, this book will melt your mind in the end. It's a beautifully crafted universe and, by the end, I could definitely count this book as one of my favorites of all time. 5/5 stars