House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City Series #2) by Sarah J. Maas
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Web ID: 15068162So much yes!
While the books in this series are more like 3 in 1, I want more! There is a great progression in the series that has you rooting for ALL the characters. Love it!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not as good a book one but still AMAZING!
I began this book straight from the ending of House of Earth and Blood so I had very high expectations in regards to the character growth, writing, plot, etc. And well. . . it did disappoint in some of those aspects. Let’s just get the nasty out of the way before getting into the good stuff... This entire review is SPOILER FILLED! I also do not hold back in this review. You were warned. . . *RANT START* First off, I was not happy that Bryce’s character almost seemed to regress. She’d made such tremendous progress in book one that I really expected her to feel a bit more grown. However, she was right back to being kind of a brat and constantly calling Hunt and other men alphaholes for no good reason (I’ll get into that soon). She did feel a lot less like Aelin in this one at least, and yet still there is that similarity. Speaking to the brat part, I hated that she’d taken advantage of her title to bump Juniper up in position when I feel like that wasn’t really something book one Bryce would have done. Especially because Bryce goes on and on and on and on about how girls don’t need anyones help. So why not trust June to do it herself? In book one, Hunt quickly became my all-time favorite love interest SJM has ever created. His character just holds so much depth that neither Rowan or Rhysand can compete with. I felt for his pain so deeply and I loved how real he felt which was a big complaint of mine with the entire ACOTAR cast. I feel like his character held pretty true moving forth into book two. However, he did become a doormat. I’ve seen some reviews say that he is possessive but I beg to differ. Bryce almost refused to communicate with him when it came to joining the rebels. She completely disregarded all of his trauma and decided to drag them all into it without really even discussing it with him. And Hunt let her. This man had gone through how many years of torture and yet he had little to no argument? Hunt expressing concern about Bryce’s decisions doesn’t make him an ‘alphahole’ but a human being with a working brain. I wish they both would have talked more about it instead of him just rolling over to do her bidding. I understand trying to make Bryce look independent, but let’s not forget that all relationships need to be equal or else they aren’t healthy. Hunt deserves to have his opinion heard without being insulted and ignored just as Bryce does. And I have no problems with the feminist ideals SJM puts into her books, I just wish it wouldn’t be so heavy-handed or hypocritical. Otherwise, my biggest pet peeve with this book was the lack of relationship development between Bryce and Hunt. I swear every five paragraphs one of them would be getting turned on by the other. I get it, they’re attracted to each other but can we tone it down a knotch? It got even more annoying than the amount of times someone dropped the F word in HOEAB. This is a personal preference, but I hated that they said ‘I love you’ during their intimate moment. It didn’t feel heart warming or romantic at all to me. However, the scene after with them on the couch absolutely was! Lastly, all of the purring, roaring, snarling, growling, and grunting! You know, I understood it with Fae. I got that they were meant to be very primal but why is a fish-human growling? And worse, why is an angel purring?! I really wish SJM could have been a bit more creative when it comes to this. They aren’t animals and don’t have predatory animal forms so why? *RANT OVER* Now for the good stuff… I absolutely loved that Hunt and Bryce are mates. I usually don’t care for that and I really didn’t in TOG or ACOTAR, but I loved how it was done between them. Especially because, as an angel, Hunt’s viewpoint of the term ‘mates’ is so different. I also really loved how Hunt fell into a ‘rage-daze’ as it was so lovingly referred to. Aside from all that I said above, Hunt and Bryce are a true power couple. The fact that his power fuels her is so awesome. I also loved all descriptions of just how powerful Hunt is since the halo held him back so much in book one. I also really do love Bryce as a character. She loves so deeply and is SO courageous. For the other characters, I definitely fell in love with most of them. In HOEAB we really only got close to Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn. However, in HOSAB we got deep into the POVs of Tharion, Ithan, and even more into Ruhn’s. I absolutely love Tharion and Ithan! Not only was their friendship so heart-warming, but their individual characters were so well-done and complex. Ithan’s just a goofy teen with a huge heart and Tharion’s a flirty and funny guy who is truly trapped in a sad situation. I was so unbelievably proud of him for finally telling the River Queen’s daughter that he didn’t want to be with her, even if it landed him in another bad situation (which I am very excited to learn more about). And Ithan’s final scene in the epilogue had me sobbing, he’s so incredibly sweet. One of my favorite characters in this book was the Hind. She was so bada**. The prologue was truly such a strong chapter and introduction into the plot. I felt for and loved Sophie and I am so sad she’s dead. But the Hind’s entrance in that chapter was amazing and her poker game with Ruhn? 10/10. Due to seeing fan art, I could piece together that the Hind was Daybright but I really enjoyed seeing who she was behind the mask as well as how different and cold she was in public. I do hate how Ruhn and everyone completely snubbed her at the end, despite her helping them. He knew she was a rebel and was helping them and yet, he judged her for having so much blood on her hands? She basically told him that she was a slave (even if not legally). They all were so quick to forgive Hunt and he’s killed many. It really didn’t make sense. There are so many other characters who were amazing in this. I really enjoyed Flynn and Declan (despite Flynn sometimes feeling like a charictature) and I loved how everyone under the sun seemed to be moving into Ruhn’s place. And them saving those sprites had me re-feeling Lehabah’s death. I can’t wait to learn more about Ariadne. *Finally, that ending* I’m not too surprised that the Asteri knew everything that was happening. I mean the group was not that good at hiding it. Why not come up with a code name for Emile when speaking about him? Not that it would have helped. But Bryce’s discovery about the Asteri treating all of these worlds like buffets was so horrid. They are truly terrifying. My heart absolutely shattered at the fact that they were all captured. I’m so glad that Bryce went into the portal looking for Aidas, even knowing that she was risking her friends. I love that she put the world first. It just shows how deeply caring and brave she is. But my heart shatters everytime I think of Hunt and even Ruhn and Baxtian. I just keep thinking that Hunt’s worst fears came true. He got the halo back, lost Bryce, and was (I assume) thrown back into the dungeons for torture. It is literally the same as what happened with Shahar. It crushes me. I’m very interested in how that will all play out. Will he grow to resent Bryce? Also there is the Hind who could get them freed. As much as I didn’t love ACOTAR, I do love a good crossover and I was jumping in my seat when Bryce met them. I’ve seen reviewers say that this felt forced or random but Amren is still a mystery. We still don’t know a lot about where she comes from. As well, we know from TOG that these worlds all cross-over somehow. Velaris seems to be a landing pad or something. So no, it doesn’t feel forced when there is still so much to be discovered in each world. If we know anything about SJM, it’s that she’s a wicked mastermind. I don’t take anything in her books lightly anymore because she truly has all of these plot threads wound in such epic ways. I hope we get an Aelin cameo soon. My theory is that, for the first third or more of book three (House of Flame and Shadow maybe?) Bryce will be in Velaris trying to get the crew to help. Maybe Rhysand is Ruhn’s ancestor? Hunt and Ruhn will get free with the Hind and meet up once more with Flynn, Declan, Ithan, and Tharion to re-group. I do think that Baxtian will die in some sort of noble sacrifice. I also wonder what part the wolf-mystic will play. She clearly will play a big role since she’s a Fendyr and due to that final scene. *Overall* I was rolling my eyes a lot in the first 60% of the book. But the plot was still amazing. I don’t believe this book was written as well as HOEAB. However, it still became one of my faves. I’m going to sob into my pillow until book three is out now.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Such a good story
This book was the best book I’ve ever read. The ending is like unlike anything you’ve seen.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Well worth the wait! Just a couple sm. complaints.
I feel like we waited forever to get our hands on the second Crescent City book, House of Sky and Breath, by Sarah J. Maas. I know it wasn't actually that long, but I'd become so attached to the characters and so much was left hanging in the balance that it was definitely my most eagerly awaited sequel this year. She certainly didn't disappoint in regards to content, the book is chock full of action and drama.. in fact, a lot happens within the scope of just one book.. and all my favorite characters make an appearance. Well, the surviving ones thus far. Plus, I got to know some really intriguing new ones.. and not all of them are pleasant. As I said, Maas really covered a lot of ground from a plot perspective. I don't feel like anything left from book one was really tied up, but this is a middle book and I'm fine with that. In fact, I almost feel like too much happened because there were scenes I think could have and should have played out in more detail. Scenes which could have really impacted me emotionally like the first book did, but instead.. I had one moment of dread toward the end and then it was over. It's important to remember that it's really difficult to balance such a huge cast of characters and a story with so many diverging plotlines. Honestly, I'm impressed Maas can keep it all straight. I feel like even with a pinboard of note cards looking like I was on an FBI taskforce, I'd still miss things. That being said, I think book two could have benefitted from maybe being spread into the next book. I know we all love Ruhn and wanted more of him, but I also feel like he got a bit short-changed by starting to get some focus in the middle of what's all happening here. Maas is still trying to give the fans a lot of Hunt and Bryce, which is fair.. while introducing us to Ruhn's life a bit more, but there are a lot of side stories going on at the same time.. a lot of seeds being planted for the next book. In fact, it feels like there's so much going on and so many things being set-up, that almost nothing gets proper focus EXCEPT Hunt and Bryce. It was great to get steamy with them, but I don't know that three scenes were really necessary when so many other things didn't play out in as much detail. There were scenes that could have been so impactful if given enough time and care. Highlights for me definitely included getting a better look at the familial structures and the ripple effect that Sandriel left behind. I loved the direction Maas went regarding the afterlife, it may have been my favorite aspect of HoSaB.. and the reveals about the Asteri, also fantastic. Baxian and Pollux are fascinating for different reasons, same with the rest of the 'newcomers.' I am hopeful that Maas will really let some of the characters out to play in the next book, as it felt like she was holding back a bit here. Lots of mention of their histories and reputations, but no real opportunity to see them at work. I feel like I would have a better chance to connect with them.. for better or worse.. if those characters were truly present in who they're painted as being, but even moments where they act out.. feel very half-hearted. The one problem that I felt was an issue in House of Earth and Blood, does rear its head here too. The big scene near the end is basically a complete download of information during a conversation.. and with all the other great writing.. it just ends up feeling very lazy. But, at least there's some very interesting implications in the final pages.. Regardless, I did love the book and I can't wait for the next one. Here we go again.. the countdown begins.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Amazing novel!
Well thought out and describes characters with plot twists one after another! The plot was well thought out and had no easy to see last minute changes, there were hints throughout the plot that she helps you connect later. I cannot describe in words how great a book this was and how great Sarah J Maas is as an author. I love the little details that are included and Sarah J Mass’s overall style of writing. Beginning was a little slow but helped to blow my mind in the end. That cliffhanger at the end was amazing, I need the next book ASAP!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
SJM I AM NOT OKAY
Um I am not at all okay after finishing this book SARAH J MAAS IS AN ACTUAL GENUIS. like how does she come up with all of this? I mean that plot twist!?!? She is brilliant and she owns my life. I will admit this was a 4 star book until that ending. I absolutely CANNOT wait to see where this series goes next!!!! Also, I love these characters. It’s defiantly hard to get used to the writing style of this book with the jumping around of viewpoints but I love what it adds to the story. And I LOVE multiple POVs!!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Love this book
I finished House of Sky and Breath yesterday and OH MY GOD Sarah J. Maas has done it again and made me fall even more in love with her stories. She took me on a roller coaster of emotions. So many good moments in HOSAB, ranging from funny to heartwarming to heartbreaking. This book broke me, and I am not ok. I’m still reeling over the events, and I have no idea what I’m feeling right now. After I finished the book, I went to my roommate and started non-spoiler venting to her because I needed to let it out (she doesn’t read until after all the books are out). I recommend reading the Crescent City series if you haven’t yet, and I can’t wait to hear more about the 3rd book because all we know so far is that it’s coming out in 2023. Is it 2023 yet? Because I need the 3rd book nooooooow and I need to know what will happen Rating: 5 stars Spice: 3 First things first. The biggest thing I want to say is to all the doubters of Quinlar or those who were saying Aidas was going to be her new love interest. I am sooooooo happy Bryce and Hunt are endgame. MATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRYCE AND HUNT ARE MATES‼! There was just a vibe between them in the first book and there were hints to them being mates that paralleled Feyre and Rhysand or Aelin and Rowan. Another thing, I have never annotated so many lines or phrases within a book until this one. So many moments that I love or that broke me emotionally. So much I want to say from the lines or phrases I’ve marked but I’m still processing what I read yesterday. All I know is that Bryce needs to rally her allies, get back to her world, and get back to save Hunt because him getting that slave crown again and losing his powers Also, we’ve gotten hints SJM book worlds were linked through Aelin falling through the worlds and sees Rhys and Feyre and Rhys slows her down BUT we actually have character conversations through Bryce landing in Prythian!!!!!! AHHHHHHH
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
My mind was blown by this book!
“Light it up, Bryce.” Oh, just cracking open the spine and seeing that gorgeous art—be still my heart, Hunt Athalar. The strong, loyal friendships I adored in HOEAB were just as wonderful in this book and the humor is even better. I cackled at the antics of this incredible cast of characters made up of different species with various skills, goals, and threats. The plot and new magical powers are amazing. I literally yelled out loud, “What? No way!” after some of the twists and reveals because they were unexpected and clever. Bryce and Hunt—oh my lord the slow burn at the beginning and then the serious steam. Ruhn’s love and respect for his sister endeared him to me early on in HOEAB, but he is also strong and honorable in every conflict. My love for him continues to grow. I especially enjoyed the scenes where he was “Night” with Agent Day. I cheered when we got Tharion’s POV because after the last book I really wanted to learn more about him and the mer. And Ithan… after such grief and upheaval, after that wolf stepped up and made me proud at the end of HOEAB, for him to be a big part of this book… my heart can’t take it. I want to live in Crescent City. I want to be friends with these people. And I read ch78 twice and still cannot believe the insane twist ending that I never saw coming. SJM has just dropped a bomb on her fans. Incredibly, masterfully crafted. I am going to be pining for the next book now.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com