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

Crescent City [Dramatized Adaptation] #1, Part 1

by Sarah J. Maas, Colleen Delany (Narrator), Kit Swann (Narrator)

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.

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fae, Magic, Urban Fantasy

12 pages, Audiobook

Published February 29, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Jeanette (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[SkywalkerSyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many different versions of the same book can I read/listen to in one year 😂

[Mikky · Rating 5 out of 5]

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? Well, that's me with SJM for what she did to Connor! He was SO sweet, he deserved better godammnit!

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.

[Emma C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I just can’t get enough of this series, as soon as I finished the book I started listening to the graphic audio 🙈😍

[✧desiree✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🙏

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’M SO EXCITED!!!!

[Raghad · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10!!!!!!!

[Jessica ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. ❤️

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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..

[Lianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Samantha Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kirst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re reading for triviaaaaa!!!

I love graphic audio so much! It’s such a fun way to re read books.

[Fahmida · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.)

[caffeine reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Dar ⟢ _littlebookishblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

find my full review in part 2 :)

[Halina Hetman · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 ��ипів 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.

[Natasha Boudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 )

[Madyfay · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[✨📖🐾Amanda Pitt 🐾📖✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Controversial but Crescent City is my favorite series SJM has written

[Andrea Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Sarah Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love following around Lunathion’s greatest detectives

[✨ Sarah Mariee ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban fantasy in the Maas-verse. The main characters took a little while to grow on me but the plot and world-building/lore grabbed me right away.

[Sam0ny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slowest built up ever but I enjoyed the world building. I have to listen while having the CC WIKI handy.

[lélé (taylor's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I would hate urban fantasy, I was wrong