🍷🍷🍷🍷.5 #Review of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

Title: House of Flame and Shadow
Series: Crescent City, #3
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Format: 835 pages, ebook
Published: January 30, 2024 by Bloomsbury Publishing
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Source: Purchased 
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating:  🍷🍷🍷🍷.5  / 🌶️

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

Crystal's Thoughts:

"You're my home, Hunt. Our love spans across stars and worlds..." ~ Bryce

Bryce has crossed worlds in the hopes of finding a way to take down the Asteri as those she loves are left in their brutal hands. Can Bryce find the answer in time? Or will the Asteri conquer Midgard for good, and destroy Bryce's friends and family with it? 

""Now I don't fucking care who you are, so long as you're mine." Her eyes shot to his again, full of surprise. "Because I'm yours, Day. I'm fucking yours." ~ Ruhn

I have so many thoughts about House of Flame and Shadow I don't even know how to write (type) them all out. First though, House of Many Waters will definitely fit the next book in this series if it goes where I think it will. With Sarah J Maas though, that is always a big "if"!  The way that everything came together in this book though... from the first two Crescent City books to the Throne of Glass series and yes, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Think of a huge web and every little tidbit from all of those follow a thread to connect at the center. Sarah J Maas is either a genius or bat shite crazy, and I mean that in the best possible way of course! 

""I see you, Ruhn," she said, gently. "All of  you." ~ Lidia

HOFAS is a massive book, and it took me a week to read. But it's worth it. I will say that the lack of transition between character POV's was jarring and it took a hot minute trying to figure out who's head I was in. 

Some highlights:
✨ Ruhn and Lidia are life
✨ Tharion and Ithan need to get their shite together
✨ Bryce and Hunt… were never my favorite, but now they're even less so. 

In the end, while there were SO many connections and questions answered, there are still SO many more left open. I am also on pins and needles waiting to find out what this all means for the ACOTAR world as well.... Simply put; I loved it, SJM can do no wrong, and I will continue to stalk her social media sites for news on the next book!