Monroe Racer's Reviews > House of Flame and Shadow

4.25/5🌟🌟🌟🌟

* NON-SPOILER PART*

That was a crazy, exhausting, exciting and emotional marathon that is going to take me a very long time to recuperate from. This is going to be part review, part rant and definitely some spoilers. Let me start by saying, that, if you have made it this far in the series, you probably already love the series, Sarah J Maas' writing and know that there is so much to love about these books. Her writing/plots/characters are usually perfection and I am just going to leave it at that, I am not going to rehash the greatness that is these books. So I will be more critical in this review that I would usually be.

I REALLY REALLY WANTED TO LOVE, 5 STAR, ABSORB AND OBSESS OVER THIS BOOK. It kills me to say this, but this wasn't a total bullseye for me and that is devastating. In preparation for this release, I reread CC2 and ACoSS which just reminded me about how much I love this entire omega verse. I have always loved CC the best of all Sarah J Maas' books, followed closely by ACOTAR, so the was supposed to be the book to trump them all. But....

It was all just a little too much. There were so many moving parts to this book and a lot of it felt unnecessary. For example, there were characters that had random cameo's here and there. And while I know you can't just introduce people and then let them disappear, their addition to the plot felt like "I had to add these people in because I introduced them in CC2." Which was probably more of an unseen problem in CC2 that I never anticipated. She just left too many loose ends and too many extra characters from that series that she had to tie them up quickly ( and ungracefully) in this book. Also, there seemed to be a lot of unnecessary repetition in the text. Definitely should have been caught by an editor or the alpha/beta readers. It made the book seem to drag in several spots in ways that Ive never felt her books drag before. I'm not sure if it was just trying to get a word count, or what was happening. The dragging also happened several times when Bryce was discussing her plans with her friends but literally keep repeating what she needed to do over and over again, but in different ways. Also, the pacing was so bizarre. The book kept jumping from these action sequences with people getting attacked, dying and running etc and in the next chapter, it is more boring "exploring the history of places/people/the land. Chapters and chapters of discussing what happened 15,000 years ago. And while that was essential to the plot, this sometimes felt more like a history of Lunathian Book rather than anything else.

I should also explain that I am giving this book a 4/5 because compared to ACoSS that I just reread and CC2, I felt a little let down. This book is still a great read in a fantastic series.


*****SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*****
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I'm short pointing this because if you are reading this part, you have probably read the book and I don't have to explain more:

🔅 The fighting between Bryce and Hunt- I am so happy to see they are a normal couple but this fighting just felt cringe and awkward. The timing felt weird and wasn't really the place for it in the book. It felt more wrong than normal and this is coming from a person who has been in a relationship for over 2 decades.

🔅 Lidia and Ruhn- The best part of this book. Their relationship and chemistry and spice. Loved it all. I wish he wouldn't have shot her though, despite everything, I wouldn't be as forgiving if I were her over that.

🔅 Nesta/ Az/ Cas - Chef kiss perfection! I want more!! This book made me miss them so much.

🔅 Tharion- Needs a Gods damn break. I mean, come on!

🔅 The Astronomer/ The dragon shifter /The Fendyr turned Reaper - This ENTIRE thing felt completely UNNECESSARY. Anyone with half a brain could have guessed that Ithan would become prime. This seemed like filler. Maybe it's a set up for next book- who knows.

🔅 Theia, Pelias, Helena, Silene - I know this was plot essential but it was boring- there was just too much of this in the book Like 300 pages too much of this. Sorry, not sorry.

🔅 Baxian- For such an essential character in the book, he sure got ditched towards the end. I feel like his job could have been given to someone else at the end and I would have loved to see a better more fulfilling end for him.

🔅Ithan/Parry- Gods I hope this happens! Ithan deserves a home, a woman and a good life- he has earned it.

🔅Bryce's plans- I feel like her plan 1 through 7 scheming, feels more like Aelin than Bryce and Maybe this is character growth?

OKAY. I AM OFFICIALLY DONE RANTING.

Overall, I loved this book, and definitely think that this author and the book series that she writes are such a treat for readers today. Keep 'em coming!!!! ❤️