House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, 1)

The first book in the #1 bestselling Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, author of the Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive fantasy series by #1 bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom, and the power of love.

Other books in this series include:
House of Sky and Breath
House of Flame and Shadow

Sarah Janet Maas (born March 5, 1986) is a #1 New York Times bestselling American author who has fundamentally shaped the modern "romantasy" genre. Born and raised in Manhattan, Maas spent her childhood exploring museums and reading global fairy tales, though she often felt frustrated by the lack of fierce, compelling heroines in fantasy literature. Drawing inspiration from strong pop-culture figures like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon, she began writing the stories she wanted to read.

At sixteen, Maas started drafting a dark twist on the Cinderella fairy tale—imagining her not as a servant, but as a deadly assassin. She serialized the story, originally titled Queen of Glass, on the writing platform FictionPress, where it quickly became one of the site's most popular works. She continued developing her craft at Hamilton College, graduating magna cum laude in 2008 with a degree in creative writing and religious studies.

Her debut novel, retitled Throne of Glass, was published by Bloomsbury in 2012 and became a massive international hit, ultimately spanning an eight-book epic series. In 2015, Maas launched her second major series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Initially a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, the series transitioned her work into the "new adult" and adult fantasy spaces. The ACOTAR series became a viral sensation, largely driven by massive popularity on TikTok. In 2020, she introduced her third ongoing adult urban fantasy series, Crescent City.

With over 75 million copies sold worldwide and translations in nearly 40 languages, Maas stands as one of the most successful contemporary authors. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, whom she met in college, and their two children.

“The mystery element presents a stunning twist, and the emotional depth of Bryce's relationships with both Hunt and Danika is incredibly moving. Fans will eagerly await the next installment.” ―Booklist, starred review

“A dizzying, suspenseful whirl that surprises at every turn.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“A master class in world-building adventure. Don't miss it.” ―#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris

“A richly imagined tale spiced with snarky humor and smoldering romance.” ―Publishers Weekly

“House of Earth and Blood is a gamechanger! A must read. Sarah J. Maas has set the new standard with this book.” ―#1 NYT bestselling author J. R. Ward

“Tender, funny, frustrating, hot, and satisfying… Modern day paranormal mixed with good old-fashioned fantasy…of truly epic proportions.” ―#1 NYT bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton

Sarah J. Maas’s epic adult fantasy novel, House of Earth and Blood, introduces readers to the vibrant, dangerous world of Crescent City, a modern metropolis where magic, technology, and mythological creatures coexist under the oppressive rule of the god-like Asteri. The story centers on Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human young woman who spends her days working at a shady antiquities gallery and her nights partying intensely with her best friend, Danika Fendyr. Danika is a powerful wolf shifter and the Alpha of the Pack of Devils, the city’s elite military unit. Bryce and Danika share an unbreakable bond, living a life of carefree indulgence. However, this vibrant life is brutally shattered when a gruesome demon attack leaves Danika and her entire pack slaughtered in their own apartment. Bryce survives the encounter but is left deeply traumatized, entirely broken by the loss of her soulmate and best friend.

The narrative then jumps forward two years. Bryce is now a shell of her former self, functioning on autopilot, hiding her immense grief behind a facade of apathy, and completely estranged from the Fae community that looks down on her human heritage. The city’s fragile peace is suddenly disrupted when a series of new murders occur, perfectly mirroring the horrific, supposedly solved, demon attack that killed Danika. Micah Domitus, the powerful Archangel and Governor of Crescent City, realizes the original killer is still at large. Because Danika had secretly stolen a legendary, powerful artifact known as Luna’s Horn before she died, Micah forces Bryce to investigate the murders and track down the missing relic, hoping to prevent a city-wide panic.

To ensure Bryce complies and survives the dangerous investigation, Micah assigns her a bodyguard: Hunt Athalar. Hunt is a notoriously lethal Fallen angel, famously known as the Umbra Mortis. He was enslaved centuries ago for taking part in a failed rebellion and is now forced to work as Micah’s personal assassin. Micah offers Hunt an irresistible deal: if he can keep Bryce alive and help her solve the murders, his slavery will be significantly reduced, bringing him a step closer to freedom. Initially, Bryce and Hunt despise each other. Bryce views Hunt as a rigid, oppressive symbol of the city's brutal hierarchy, while Hunt sees Bryce as a frivolous, annoying party girl. However, as they delve into the dark, dangerous underbelly of Crescent City, their mutual animosity slowly transforms into deep respect, fierce loyalty, and a powerful, undeniable romance.

As they investigate, Bryce and Hunt discover a terrifying conspiracy involving a new, highly addictive synthetic drug called synth. They learn that synth is not just a narcotic, but a demonic substance that interacts disastrously with Vanir (magical beings) biology, turning them into mindless, ravenous monsters. They piece together that the murders are deeply connected to the distribution of synth and the missing Horn, an artifact capable of opening portals to other dimensions, including the demon realms. Amidst this dangerous investigation, the two characters help heal each other's profound emotional wounds. However, their bond is severely tested when Hunt, desperate for his freedom, makes a disastrous decision to try and buy synth to use as a weapon against his enslavers. His betrayal is discovered, and he is thrown back into a horrific dungeon, leaving Bryce completely alone to face the impending threat.

The climax of the novel delivers a massive, heart-stopping twist. Bryce figures out the devastating truth: the mastermind behind the murders, the synth distribution, and the theft of the Horn is none other than Archangel Micah himself. Micah wants the Horn to open a portal to Hell, intending to summon a demon army to overthrow the Asteri and claim ultimate power. In a deeply tragic revelation, Micah admits that he injected Danika with synth two years ago to test its effects. The drug turned Danika feral, causing her to unknowingly slaughter her own beloved pack before turning the violence on herself. Armed with this horrifying truth, Bryce confronts Micah in her gallery. A brutal, bloody battle ensues. Despite being vastly outmatched, Bryce uses her sharp intellect, a hidden vacuum system in the gallery, and her suppressed magical abilities to kill the Archangel.

However, before dying, Micah successfully shatters the city's protective wards and opens the gates, allowing a horde of demons to flood Crescent City. In a breathtaking act of self-sacrifice, Bryce reveals she is "Starborn," possessing an ancient, immense Fae light. To save the city, she must make the "Drop," a perilous magical ascension that usually requires a tether to pull the person back to life. With the city’s communication grid serving as her conductor and the lingering spirit of Danika acting as her anchor, Bryce makes the Drop. She uses her massive power to close the portals, purge the demons, and cure the infected citizens. She survives the ordeal, physically absorbing the magic of the Horn into her own body. The novel concludes with Hunt officially freed from slavery, Bryce recognized as a powerful, heroic Fae princess, and the two of them looking out over a saved city, ready to face whatever new threats the future holds together.