Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Crescent City [Dramatized Adaptation] #1, Part 1

House of Earth and Blood (Part 1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]

Rate this book
Sarah J. Maas's CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance.

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-to 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 new dramatized audiobook fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.

12 pages, Audiobook

Published February 29, 2024

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Sarah J. Maas

121 books561k followers
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,810 (58%)
4 stars
1,406 (29%)
3 stars
464 (9%)
2 stars
71 (1%)
1 star
27 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
Profile Image for Jeanette (semi-hiatus).
48 reviews112 followers
September 26, 2024
Honestly, it was much easier to understand the worldbuilding of the Crescent City series because it includes full cast of actors, narration, sound effect and cinematic music. GraphicAudio delivered just as I expected! 😉👌🌙✨

If you plan to read the book but find it intimidating, try listening to the GraphicAudio's House of Earth and Blood! I have definitely enjoyed it a lot, and am currently in part two!

For full review of House of Earth and Blood, you can read my review here.
Profile Image for Emma’s Bookshelf.
173 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2025
So I just can’t get enough of this series, as soon as I finished the book I started listening to the graphic audio 🙈😍
Profile Image for Mikky.
1,006 reviews294 followers
July 24, 2025
I had a rocky start with this series. It took picking this up twice for me to finish it. The first time it didn't go so well because I was under the impression (which turned out to be very, very wrong and it was solely on me) that this was ACOTAR 2.0. In the sense that it would be a paranormal romance, which (for me) means that the major focus of the story would be the romance. When that wasn't the case (this reads more like an urban fantasy - story driven, romance comes second to the plot), it soured the book for me. Again, totally my fault for assuming. I'm also a mood reader, so when the book I picked up turned out to not be what my brain decided it wanted to read, I had to jump ship or throw myself into a slump (which I wasn't about to do for a book).

The second time I picked this one up I knew what I was walking into. I made it a point to not read the synopsis or any reviews because I wanted to go in blind. People online have made a big deal of SJM series all being interconnected and whatnot so I didn't want to unknowingly read spoilers.

All that being said, I really liked this one! Honestly, it's lowkey better than ACOTAR. The chemistry and witty banter/sass between Bryce and Hunt was so fun to read. I liked that Bryce puts on this stereotypical airheaded personality for people to underestimate her. It pays to play the ditz when you're trying to solve a crime. I appreciated how Hunt also made that assumption and was later on confronted with how capable and smart she was, and had to check his ego and apologize. One thing that made me grit my teeth with this story was how every guy on the face of the planet wanted to get in Bryce's pants. Look, I get it, she's pretty. We don't need to portray that as every guy within a ten-mile radius wants her and won't accept no for an answer. When it gets to that point, it's just plain weird and it happened with every guy she spoke to throughout this series.

Ever been angry with an author for killing off a character that had like 5 minutes of screen time but ends up haunting the rest of the story?

The Graphic Audio Narration:

I have yet to find a Graphic Audio narration that I don't like. They outdo themselves with every release! What made this book even better? That it was produced by Graphic Audio. I probably would have never picked this book up if it weren't for Graphic Audio. I think all audiobooks should get the Graphic Audio treatment.
Profile Image for ✧desiree✧.
409 reviews70 followers
September 8, 2025
4.5☆ Review:

What a start. I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying the mix of a modern setting with supernatural creatures.

I love the banter between Bryce and everyone else.

I can’t wait to listen to part two.
Profile Image for Stefani Tomova.
170 reviews
April 5, 2026
Amazing production! Perfect for a reread. The audio is so well-donе
and I love catching all the little Easter eggs for the other series. It's just a bit weird hearing Tamlin's voice for Declan 🤭
Profile Image for Alieke .
387 reviews21 followers
August 13, 2024
This first part was way easier to follow than the first time I read it because I honestly had no idea what was happening then 🙏
Profile Image for Mandy.
156 reviews8 followers
April 8, 2024
I just couldn’t get used to the voice they gave Bryce, I don’t know why but it just didn’t fit with the voice I had in mind. Same with a bunch of other voices..
Profile Image for Jessica ❀.
628 reviews19 followers
April 6, 2024
I have already read the book and I love it, but omg, the graphicaudio was amazing. I felt like I was in the story and was able to picture everything so clearly. Even the world building, which is difficult in the book while reading, was so much easier to understand this way. I can’t wait until part 2 comes out. ❤️
Profile Image for Lianne.
125 reviews38 followers
December 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I’m gonna go ahead and just give it a four star because I don’t think I would reread it but I found it pretty easy to follow which I was nervous about because of other reviews saying it was really complicated to catch on to all the different species and names and everything but yeah, really excited to read this series.
Profile Image for B.
96 reviews10 followers
June 7, 2024
Rating: 4★

DISCLAIMER: This was a reread for me! I had read CC already but really wanted to listened to the dramatized adaptation of the audiobook.

Similarly to other dramatized adaptations, I didn't LOVE all of the audiobook readers. Hunt lowkey sounded like Ron Swanson and Ruhn's voice didn't quite fit (and they're probably the two characters I would care most about). Again, at times it's too dramatic and I can't hear anything! For example, they will put "tv shows" or "pop music (with lyrics)" playing in the background and for someone who struggles with attention, I could not focus on what the characters were saying when there were other words being spoken or sung. ALSO! I listen to audiobooks in the car and this audiobook had a lot of car honking noises or sirens that FREAKED ME OUT while I was driving. At times, there was music when there didn't need to be which just felt too cheesy or cliche. Other times, there were overly gore-y sound effects during more violent scenes... GROSS. But again, it was still fun. I know that's the whole point of the dramatized adaption so it's still 4 stars!
Profile Image for Samantha Murphy.
119 reviews4 followers
October 13, 2024
This audio destroyed me!😭😭😭

When I read this book it took foreverrrrrr for me to get into it! Like 400 pages!… the last like 200-300 were absolutely insane and made me appreciate all of the build up. So listening to it I was hooked instantly and loved every second of it!
Profile Image for Leah.
330 reviews5 followers
April 28, 2025
This was such a fun re-read! The graphic audio was awesome. Excited and ready for the emotional damage to hit me again in part 2.
Profile Image for Kirst.
197 reviews6 followers
September 16, 2025
Re reading for triviaaaaa!!!

I love graphic audio so much! It’s such a fun way to re read books.
Profile Image for Fahmida .
345 reviews55 followers
July 26, 2025
I can see why ppl hate this series.
(The narrators were so bad but the obsessive freak in me needs to see this atrocity to its end.)
Profile Image for Abby.
168 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2026
Really hope Bryce gets cooler bc right now her character is WAY too shallow for me to get behind!!!!! Def so many names and politics but truly I’m just bopping along with the plot and assuming if the character is important SJM will say the name and title again bc god damn does she repeat herself.

On to part 2!
Profile Image for caffeine reader.
261 reviews39 followers
March 1, 2024
So I love this book soooo much!!
The graphic audio was good, I loved the background sounds. I do enjoy a graphic audio.

Although I will say I love the standard audio better. Elizabeth Evans is so talented and I kept feeling like something was wrong because it wasn’t her narration.

I wasn’t 100% on hunts voice either felt like maybe he should of done a swap with isaiah.

But it’s still such a great story!
Profile Image for Sam0ny.
86 reviews
September 30, 2024
The slowest built up ever but I enjoyed the world building. I have to listen while having the CC WIKI handy.
Profile Image for Dar ♡.
53 reviews28 followers
April 27, 2025
find my full review in part 2 :)
Profile Image for Halina Hetman.
1,229 reviews19 followers
January 4, 2025
Перша частина першої книги з нової серії Сари Дж. Маас, в озвучці від GraphicAudio. Озвучка ця є скоріше радіоспектаклем, ніж прямою начиткою тексту, що мені подобається в рамках погано написаного роментезі.

Ця книга поки що йде мені краще, ніж Двір шипів та троянд, бо будь-що може бути краще за це, і краще за Трон зі скла, бо головна героїня не найкрутіша асасинка, яка має нуль асасинячих навичок.

Нажаль, перші 50% книги складаються виключно з довжелезних інфодампів. Таке враження, що авторка дуже близько до серця взяла всю критику щодо попередніх своїх серій, тож цього разу вирішила написати твір, де буде WORLDBUILDING. Але замість того, щоб всі свої напрацювання по WORLDBUILDINGу винести в окремий файлик в себе на компі й просто почати писати книжку з, власне, сюжетом, потихенечку вплітаючи туди неймовірний свій WORLDBUILDING, вона, пишаючись проробленим, вставила все що придумала прямо в перший том. Наскільки я помітила, редактори з цією авторкою не працюють з принципу, або ж видавці вважають Маас настільки геніальною, що готові надрукувати будь-що без будь-яких правок, тож читати це доволі складно. Поки що все, що я отримала, це нудні описи іерархій цього всесвіту, облаштування міста, історії планети, перелічення всіх персонажів та їхніх регалій, тощо.

Чекаю на початок сюжету.
Profile Image for Natasha Boudreau.
212 reviews8 followers
September 22, 2024
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love love love this series, and I love it even more as a Graphic Audio!
The casting for this is spot on. 100% perfect!
Bryce ✔✔
Hunt ✔✔✔
Ruhn ✔✔✔✔
I'm a firm believer in making these novels into an animated series. and just use the GA's because they are perfection. ( both CC and ACOTAR - I have high hopes for TOG )
Profile Image for Madyfay.
158 reviews53 followers
October 15, 2025
I’m so happy to be re listening to this. I can’t wait to put it all together again since I know the outcome and that Bryce has the horn in her back. I forgot how much a huge asshole Hunt is in this one but when he flirts and calls her sweetheart eeeee 🥵 I love Bryce so much she’s one of my fave FMC’s ever. I’m so not ready for the emotional devastation in the next part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christy.
890 reviews10 followers
March 18, 2024
Never realized how much narrating is in this book. It was a decent listen and just got to the good part. Can't wait for the next one to come out!
Profile Image for Christina.
184 reviews11 followers
April 27, 2024
As always the full cast was so fun. I wish this had been available when I first read the book. Would have made following along and grasping everything so much easier!
Profile Image for Amanda Pitt.
122 reviews33 followers
June 7, 2024
Controversial but Crescent City is my favorite series SJM has written
Profile Image for Andrea Mary.
197 reviews7 followers
May 24, 2025
If graphic audio has got a million fans, I'm one of them. If graphic audio has got one fan, it's me. If graphic audio has no fans, I'm dead
Profile Image for ✨ Sarah Mariee ✨.
144 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2025
5⭐️ is for the graphic audio (the book itself I only rated 4⭐️ i think - I don’t remember it’s been 5 years and I didn’t mark it in gr lol).

It’s a reread so the world building doesn’t seem as daunting and it didn’t take as long to get locked in which were my two main issues with the first read. Also obsessed with graphic audios. Highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews