A review by amy_reads4
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

SPOILERS
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I do not know where to even begin with this book, apart from the fact that I absolutely loved it, and it felt like a real conclusion to the world of Crescent City, which I am so sad about as I’d really like to revisit these characters one day.

I did find it really disappointing that the crossover into Prythian wasn’t longer and more detailed, I really wish there had been more of a crossover and that we’d seen all the characters interacting, but it was also Crescent City 3 not an actual ACOTAR book so I know that the emphasis is on Midgard and the characters there. Saying that I did really enjoy the crossover and I hope that in further books this will be explored in more detail, and there were a couple of points made that made me think that will be the case. There were also multiple reference and nods to the Throne of Glass world which also makes me hopeful that that will be explored more going forward. I love the crossovers between the worlds and whilst I feel like this book answered so many questions I do feel like there are so many more different things to be explored, such as Lidia being a descendant ….

I really enjoyed all of the characters development within this book, the sacrifices made and the team work that leads them to being able to overcome so much. The running them of ‘through love all is possible’ is felt in such depth through each and every Crescent City book, and this one is no exception to that. We witness love in so many forms and the important part that plays into it, from the obvious love between Bryce and Hunt, Ithan’s love for his brother, Jesiba’s love for history, to Adias timeless love and dedication that has lead him to help save Midgard. It’s such a beautiful sentiment and I do love how it shows strong love between friendships and how they are just as important as romantic love, and can save you in so many different ways.

Im still unsure on who I think the worst villains are in the SJM universe, but I think it could well be the Asteri, poisoning the water, the second light and feeding from the people of Midgard, I think it’s such deep rooted evil and they test them as nothing but food, and they were herded there just for that, that to me is the worst level of evil.

O really enjoyed the discovery element to this, with the caves and sketching and how it helps Bryce in her journey and discovering the secrets of Midgard’s history, I did really think at one point it was going to be Aelin’s story it was explaining, and I think I will forever be waiting for that!

Whilst I am incredibly sad to see the end of Crescent City I did feel vindicated with most things that happened within this book and feel like it was a genuinely satisfactory ending, once I got past the sadness of Chapter 99!

also seeing Ember help Nesta heal was a beautiful moment and I really hope that we see that explored further.

all in all there were some shocking revelations that I didn’t see coming, Hunt’s ‘Dad’, and some that I did see coming and feel very satisfied.

Inwould really like to see more of these characters in their new world and new roles but I fear that may be forever stay a hope. So for now I have to say goodbye to Crescent City, and thank you. Through love all is possible.