A to Z Book Review: House Of Flame & Shadow

1/2

My letter “H” pick for the 2024 A to Z Reading Challenge was HOUSE OF FLAME & SHADOW (Crescent City 3) by Sarah J. Maas.

I make no secret of my damn-near obsessive love of this author. I often tell people that Sarah J. Maas could write a grocery list and I would pay to read it. That is still true. I love her work. This book, however, was just a “like” for me.

In this third book of the Crescent City series, we see the much-awaited crossover between two Sarah J. Maas universes, watch Bryce, Hunt, and their merry band of rebels take on the all-powerful Asteri, and follow up on some tantalizing plot threads woven into book two.

(WARNING: SPOILERS) Will the Autumn King finally stop being a colossal jerk and show Bryce he cares for her as much as he’s outright stated (always after reminding her that he loved her mother very much)? Will we see how this Autumn King relates to the often ruthless and foul men of the Autumn Court in the ACOTAR series? NOPE. He’s a one-dimensional villain who bites the dust. And as for the ACOTAR crossover, Bryce is stuck in the cave where an inexplicably mean Rhys imprisons her despite giving her a warm and helpful welcome at the end of the last book. At least her parents got a nice Velaris vacation.

And don’t get me started about Rhys supposedly ready to rip Bryce a new one if he can get to her fast enough, even though we all know he can winnow anywhere in an instant. Or Tharion suddenly marrying a stranger out of nowhere. Or Danika’s cousin (rescued by the ever-gallant Ithan), turning into a zombie. Or Hypaxia suddenly finding herself as the new Under-Queen way too easily, and again – seemingly out of nowhere.

Yes, all the main characters had major stuff go down that altered their stories, but it all felt kind of random and disjointed in a lot of places. The door is still open for tying up more loose ends in the next book – maybe we’ll finally know what “Project Thur” is all about, and see if Tharion gets his happily-ever-after.

I won’t say I’m disappointed. It’s still a good book, just not a great book and definitely not measuring up to the rest of SJM’s magnificent work. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for book four, and giving this one 3 1/2 stars.