Book Review: ‘Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath’ by Sarah J Maas

House of Sky and Breath is the second book in Sarah J Maas’ adult higher fantasy series: Crescent City. This epic fantasy novel takes place shortly after the events of the previous book: House of Earth and Blood.

Bryce and Hunt are cautiously enjoying their new life of freedom whilst still being aware of their many enemies who could end their happiness at any moment. When a deadly game of cat and mouse spills over into the boundaries of Crescent City, the pair and their friends decide that the time has come to upset the status quo themselves.

While that is a simplified version of the main plot, House of Sky and Breath is filled with an array of sub-plots that keeps the story progressing forward as well as adding to the lore of the world. Among these sub-plots are: an insight to the realm of the Bone Quarter, Bryce’s ongoing power-struggle with the Autumn King, merman-Tharion’s political games with the River Queen, elf-prince Ruhn’s unwilling role as a secret agent, and wolf-shifter Ithan’s personal journey from pack-member to lone wolf.

A common trope in many romance-infused novels is the ‘love triangle’. This typically involves: the main character, their childhood friend, and a mysterious stranger who the protagonist later gets to know. Having read so many books that use this set-up, I really appreciate that Crescent City has avoided this so far. While it’s true that nearly every male character in the series has tried flirting with Bryce at least twice by the end of Sky and Breath (seriously guys she has more positive attributes than just her looks)…Bryce only has eyes for Hunt. As a big fantasy reader its actually quite refreshing to encounter a romance storyline where the main character is in a genuine, happy relationship with their partner. Hopefully this continues into the series’ third instalment.

The extended and varied list of characters is one of the reasons why this series is so successful. While the story naturally spends a lot of time with Bryce and Hunt, Maas also devotes multiple chapters to developing her supporting characters. Some of my favourite moments in the book came from the antics of elven housemates Ruhn, Declan, and Tristan; especially when they where grouped with Ithan and Tharion. Despite being some of the best warriors in the city, at home the five were akin to semi-dysfunctional university students trying to survive on their own for the first time. Their dynamic was one of the most fun and endearing in the book.

Whilst Sky and Breath is a good book in its own right, for me it didn’t quite match up to its predecessor Earth and Blood. This may be because Earth and Blood’s extended climax was one of my favourites of any book I’ve read. Although Sky and Breath’s ending certainly brought the drama I don’t feel like it had the emotional impact as the first book.

Maas’ books are known for their plot twists and this instalment contains plenty. Some were good, such as the macabre secrets revealed about the Bone Quarter, however I felt the three ‘bad guy was actually a good guy all along’ revelations were a bit much. Stories with conflict-heavy plots need good three-dimensional villains for the heroes to face-off against. I also thought that, after the brilliant conclusion to Danika’s character in Earth and Blood (Bryce’s childhood friend), it did feel forced when some of the shock twists in Sky and Breath linked to her past…again.

House of Sky and Breath is truly an epic and fantasy-inspiring novel. It brought back everything I enjoyed about the first book however I do think the story’s over-reliance on plot twists let it down a little bit. The Crescent City series has great characters, relationships and a complex world and social structure – this is where the interest and enjoyment lies for me.

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