I'd like to preface this post by saying: This is a review of Sarah J. Maas' new novel. These are my thoughts, and there will be spoilers of House of Flame and Shadow as well as her other series. Read at your own risk. That being said, this book was highly anticipated. However, I am not the only one who feels that House of Flame and Shadow missed the mark. The book was spoiled early on, as many of you know. I avoided them like the plague, and waited until the midnight release party I planned to go to. Last night, at midnight I had the book in my hands. Here's how it went.
The House of Flame and Shadow starts off strong by picking up where House of Breath and Sky left off. Bryce is in Prythian, meeting the inner circle for the first time. She begins to share her story of how she landed there, and finds herself in trouble when they notice that her tattoo contains words from the "Book of Breathings". They lock her away "for safety", but in true Bryce fashion, she finds a way out, and ends up getting more than she bargained for. Nesta and Azriel follow her down, where they spend time fighting another Middengard Wyrm, and Bryce discovers her true heritage and all of the secrets of the Fae when she accidentally stumbles into the Prison. They also discover an Asteri that Silene had locked away, and Bryce learns they can truly be killed. This is the most interesting part of the House of Flame and Shadow for the next 600 pages.
Meanwhile, we see Tharion pitying himself and complaining about his situation. It doesn't get better. That's all he does for 700 pages. He ends up with a small redemption arc, but it isn't significant or story-altering. His story just ends. Of course, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are in the Asteri dungeons being tortured in the worst ways imaginable. While vital to the story, I absolutely hated that Hunt ended up back there, and Ruhn and Baxian had to endure it for the first time. The Hind (Lidia), appears to have betrayed them, which makes Ruhn completely dismiss her. Ruhn finds out she has kids and suddenly, she's forgiven. That was a little irritating, but it worked with the story I suppose.
Hunt's storyline pissed me off. Legitimately. I can't believe Miss Maas did that to him. After everything our Umbra Mortis has been through, he goes to Hel with Bryce and finds out he was purely made to be her weapon. Not her weapon, but for whoever holds Theia's power. He is devastated, and rightly so. I'm devastated. Fortunately, she doesn't take away the mating bond, or say Hel interfered with it. She at least gave him that much dignity, although him saying that he hated Bryce at one point gave me the ick. His closure with everything he went through with the rebellion and Shahar was nice. I'm glad she gave him that redemption.
My biggest issue with House of Flame and Shadow is that we've read this before, authored by Sarah herself. This book feels like a repeat of "Throne of Glass". Bryce going off alone, making insane plans that she refuses to share with anyone. She was more annoying than Aelin was. She threw her parents into Prythian before the big fight to "keep them safe" and didn't tell anyone, including them. Bryce and Hunt fight about her inability to be a real team player. Who else was immature and planned things on her own? Miss Aelin Galathynius. The ending was all about love and the power of friendship can defeat all evil, which is the running theme in "Throne of Glass". At least Aelin came from two powerful bloodlines, so she can be cocky. Bryce's power was just handed to her, and she masters it right away, while Aelin, and even Feyre and Nesta, had to work for theirs. There was so much potential here.
Speaking of "crossovers", that was disappointing too. I, along with others, was expecting a little more than what we got. Granted, this is Crescent City 3, and not ACOTAR 6, but still. She sold us on the crossover and then didn't deliver. The obvious purpose was to sell the grand finale in the Crescent City series, but also to set up ACOTAR 6. At the end, Bryce gives Nesta the Starsword, and tells her to find out why she had a tattoo the same shape as Bryce's scar. I wonder what the next ACOTAR book will include (insert sarcasm here). I think the most interesting fact we learn is that Rhysand's line is connected to Ruhn and Bryce's. I do hope we learn more about that in the next ACOTAR book, especially about the secrets that were supposed to passed down, but weren't. Bryce using the Mask to save Midgard was badass. I loved that it crossed over the two worlds, and I wish the others had made a cameo too.
Lidia being part of Brannon's line was a cool addition. But, this confuses the timeline. Lidia was clearly in possession of Rowan's wedding ring, but she's only 37. When did Throne of Glass happen? Was it 15,000 years ago? A thousand? Who knows? I don't think even Sarah knows. The Under-King's connection to "Throne of Glass" was interesting. I had assumed there was a connection between "Urd" and "Wyrd", and the Under-King confirms it when he talks about coming from a different world.
A small issue that isn't necessarily related to "House of Flame and Shadow": how does Prythian have a magic bean that can give anyone the gift of language, but can't perform a c-section to save Feyre? Please, make it make sense. The technology in all of her books seems a little off at times (what time period is "Throne of Glass" really?), but this situation is ridiculous. Just another cop-out used to conveniently further the story without complications.
The sex scenes. Sarah. Why did you do that to us? This is the same author that brought us chapter 55 in "A Court of Mist and Fury"( If you know, you know). Hunt going commando because apparently he was "too large" to fit into the underwear was strange. Bryce finding unopened packages of underwear in Avallen was even stranger. The fact that both were mentioned in the same scene was horrific. Overall, the spice felt awkward, especially between Hunt and Bryce. Also, the "We're probably going to die, so let's make the most of today," sex scenes are familiar. They're in every finale she writes.
Lots of changes happen near the end. The Asteri are, of course, defeated. Hypaxia becomes the Queen of Flame and Shadow after killing the Under-King. Ruhn kills his father, the Autumn King, after he tried to kill Bryce. Jesiba gives her life, so Bryce can live after sacrificing herself to save Midgard (side note: this is the only time I got emotional). Tharion grows up, stops whining, and realizes he's been a child the entire series. Ithan becomes Prime of the wolves (my favorite change, though I didn't love the storyline with Sigrid. That felt like a pointless addition). Bryce decides to end the royal bloodline and go with democracy. But she also needs people to lead and figure out how to keep technology going. Again, make it make sense.
I'm glad everyone got their "happily ever-after's" (Except Declan, Flynn, Fury, Tharion-not that he deserves one, Baxian-though his main storyline was being Danika's mate, and Ariadne. So, basically everyone else.), but I wanted more. This series had so much potential, and I think it was wasted. To be honest, I almost DNF'd this one. The first 600 pages dragged on and on, and it was extremely slow. I have rated all of the books in the Maasaverse at least four stars, usually five. Unfortunately, "House of Flame and Shadow" received only three, and that was being generous. I do hope Sarah writes another Crescent City novel. Even a novella would be nice. One redeeming quality was the real-life Jelly Jubilee's at the end. I also love the multiple bonus chapters, though I wish you didn't have to buy several books to get them all. Here's a hint, though, if you're missing out: they're usually posted on Reddit. You're welcome.
Well, that's all I have to say about "House of Flame and Shadow" I know it was a bit chaotic, but so was the book itself. What did you guys think? Was it worth the hype? Do you wish some things were different? Did I miss anything? I'd love to chat with you in the comments.
-xx Alycia
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