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Cover of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. MaasHouse of Earth and Blood
Modern · Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

House of Earth and Blood

by Sarah J. Maas
2020 · 803 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 20 hours to read · about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Bryce Quinlan, half human and half Fae, works by day at an antiquities shop and parties by night in Crescent City, a modern metropolis of angels, shifters, witches and mortals. Then a demon murders her closest friends. Two years later, when the killings start again, Bryce is ordered to help find the murderer, alongside Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel enslaved to the archangels who rule the city. The search leads to secrets that could bring down their world.

Why it's worth reading

It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Crescent City series, one of the most popular in modern fantasy. It's a big, addictive mix of urban fantasy, mystery and romance.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's nearly 800 pages, and the first part is slow. It's for adults, with explicit sex and violence.

By the numbers

87.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller84 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz22 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Won
Goodreads Choice (romantasy) winner (2024, for House of Flame and Shadow)Goodreads Choice (fantasy) winner (2022, for House of Sky and Breath)
Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)33 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2020

Reads as

Epic

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is House of Earth and Blood worth reading?

Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Crescent City series, one of the most popular in modern fantasy. It ranks #72 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 87.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is House of Earth and Blood about?

Bryce Quinlan, half human and half Fae, works by day at an antiquities shop and parties by night in Crescent City, a modern metropolis of angels, shifters, witches and mortals. Then a demon murders her closest friends. Two years later, when the killings start again, Bryce is ordered to help find the murderer, alongside Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel enslaved to the archangels who rule the city. The search leads to secrets that could bring down their world.

How long does it take to read House of Earth and Blood?

About 20 hours (803 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What awards has House of Earth and Blood won?

Goodreads Choice (romantasy) winner (2024, for House of Flame and Shadow); Goodreads Choice (fantasy) winner (2022, for House of Sky and Breath).

What should I read after House of Earth and Blood?

If you liked it, try A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas or Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.