Introduction:
Here it is!! My In-Depth Guide to the highly anticipated third book in the Crescent City Series, House of Flame and Shadow.
Just like other guides on this blog, this one is organised with the actual information about the release date and Reading Order first.Ā
There is a full review with no spoilers and after that..a spoiler fest !! With the ending, quotes, and spicy chapters..all with great detail ( you’ve been warned! hehe )
(All spoilers will be clearly marked and accompanied by warnings, similar to what you’ve seen in my Curse for True Love and Iron Flame Guides
Ā
I paid special attention to the reading order in the case of House of Flame and Shadow because of the decisive development in House of Sky and Breath that literally changed everything.
Ā
I hope you find this guide as enjoyable to read as I found it to write š
Table of Contents
Author: Sarah J Maas
Genre: Fantasy romance
Release date: January, 30
Pages: 848
Spice level: 2
Synopsis
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.
Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.
House of Flame and Shadow release date
JANUARY 30, 2024
House of Flame and Shadow ( Crescent City Book 3 ) Reading Order
House of Flame and Shadow is the third instalment in the Crescent City series.
Ā
Initially, there were speculations about Crescent City being a three-book series.However, in recent interviews, Sarah J. Maas has hinted at the possibility of a fourth book being in the works.
House of Flame and Shadow review ( no spoilers )
And it’s officially over.
Bryce and co. story concludes here.
Ā
I’m sure there are going to be more books in the Crescent City world, but I’m positive this story was a trilogy. And it ended on a very good note.
Ā
House of Flame and Shadow was as good as House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City 1), minus all the info dump Crescent City 1 had at the beginning.
Ā
With House of Flame and Shadow (HOSAF from now on), I had the same feeling as when reading Crescent City 1.It’s not easy for me to cry with a book, but HOSAF managed to pull it off. I cried and then cried some more.
Ā
Sarah J. Maas truly knows how to blend emotional scenes with action and fantasy.
She has conquered the fantasy genre with Crescent City and crowned herself with HOSAF as one of the best contemporary fantasy authors.
Ā
Some will argue that Throne of Glass already put her on that pedestal, and thatās partly true. However, Throne of Glass always targeted a younger audience.
Ā
With Crescent City, she stormed into the adult fantasy scene like a hurricane, cementing herself as an established author, not only in the romance genre but beyond as well.
Ā
The perfect blend of fantasy, action and a feminist touch
Crescent City isn’t your typical romantic fantasy; far from it. I’ve read Brandon Sanderson’s books with more romance than Crescent City.
Ā
Above all, Crescent City is a tale about friendships. It illustrates how love, in all its forms, can conquer worlds. As the series motto goes:
“Through love, all is possible.ā
But don’t be misled by the word “love.” This isn’t a romantic story like A Court of Thorn and Roses. Far from that.
Ā
It explores parental love, friendship, comradeship, and, lastly, the love between two individuals who support each other in the toughest moments.
Ā
Sarah J. Maas succeeded in portraying all these relationships in the series. Bryce is hands down one of my favorite female characters from all her series.
Ā
She feels the most authentic, and her relationship with Hunt is genuine and down-to-earth. No toxic traits, just two people who genuinely love each other.
Weakest Points in House of Flame and Shadow
There were instances where some of the POVs dragged a bit, especially from the middle of the book up to the third part (there are 5 POVs in total).
Ā
Some loose ends and minor plot holes could’ve been handled better, but my guess is a fourth book with different characters as protagonists will provide the answers we’re looking for.
Ā
Final Rating: 4 stars
I really wanted to give House of Flame and Shadow 5 stars. The last 50 pages alone are worth a million stars.
However, the drawbacks mentioned earlier force me to be objective and deduct at least 1 star from the overall rating.
Ā
Sarah J. Maas can handle multiple POVs to perfection, but as I mentioned in the weak points of the book, some stories didn’t need an entire POV to be told
House of Flame and Shadow Spoilers
A word of caution: House of Flame and Shadow is NOT a steamy book. There are some spicy scenes, but the romance is a subplot in this book. Hence, the scenes where something happens are scattered throughout the book and are very few (although at least one is a few pages long ;))
- Page 460: Bryce and Hunt have an intimate moment after Bryce returns from Prythian. But it all ends in nothing. Bryce wants only to ‘hold each other’ (Poor Hunt!!)
- Page 557: Ruhn and Lidia are alone in the dinning room in Avallen. Ruhn can smell Lidia’s arousal and starts playing a little with her š but Lidia pulls him away š
- Page 582: Ruhn invites Lidia to his bedroom in Avallen to ‘talk.’ They talk, and it almost ends with the two doing it. (another bait :/)
- Page 686: More teasing between Lidia and Ruhn that ends with an hilariousĀ comment from Flynn ” Please don’t fuck right next to us” Flynn muttered from a few feet away.
- Page 810: The first official sex scene of the book involves Bryce and Hunt. They are in one of Ophion’s safehouses near the Eternal City. This takes place the night before the big attack against the Asteri. The scene unfolds over several pages.
- Page 823: Ruhn and Lidia, also in a safehouse. This also occurs hours before the big attack. In my opinion, it’s the best steamy scene in the book. “I want youāall of you…”. A grin spreads across Ruhn’s face. ‘”Happy to oblige.”Ā
- Page 947 Not a complete spicy scene, but it is hands down the funniest and sweetest. Hunt and Bryce are in a townhouse that would soon become the new Griffin Antiquities. Hunt clearly wants to roleplay a little and puts Bryce on the desk. He wants to be his ‘sexy assistant.’ š
House of Flame and Shadow Ending explained:
I truly didn’t anticipate Bryce and Hunt’s story coming to a close in book 3.
However, given the conclusion of House of Flame and Shadow, it appears this might be the end, at least for their storyline. Other characters’ narratives are left open, as detailed in this article.
Ā
Bryce now possesses the Horn (tattooed on her back), Silene’s, Helena’s, and Queen Theia’s powers.
Queen Theia ādividedā her power between her two daughters and kept a part for herself.
Ā
Bryce, being a descendant of Helena, has the ability to reclaim these powers and she also is also in possession of the Starsword and āTruth-teller.ā
Ā
And why does she need all of this?
Ā
The dagger and the Starsword, in conjunction with Theia’s powers, are the key to open a portal to “nowhere”.
Ā
Everything is set. People who can’t fight are sent to Avallen. Baxian and Fury organize refugees and calm the waters with the Fae of Avallen, unhappy with Bryce becoming their new queen.
Ā
Bryce and company plan to attack the city and destroy the firslight core in the Asteri Palace. No easy task.
Bryce has more surprises; she opens a portal to Prythian in the Northrend Rift and asks Nesta for The Mask. Nesta gives it willingly, and Bryce sends her parents to Prythian in exchange (and to keep them safe; remember, they are humans, after all ).
Ā
With the Mask, Bryce resurrects the spirits of the Fallen and puts their souls in the new mecha-suits the Asteri developed. (They donāt need a pilot, so the resurrected souls are perfect for the task.)
Ā
But there is a missing piece: the armies of Hel!
Aidas and Apollion want to erase the Asteri from the universe, and theyāve been waiting for this moment for centuries. Bryce opens the portal to Hel, and thousands of demons pass through, ready to attack.
Ā
The Final Fight begins
All the pieces are in position, so the attack begins. First, they need a distraction, so with Declan’s help, the group broadcast the record of Bryce killing Micah and all the lies from the Asteri until now. This action gives Bryce and Hunt space to enter the Palace unnoticed.
Ā
A lot of things happen at the same time: the armies of Hel attack the city, another part waits at the Northrend Rift, the Fallen in the mecha suits attack the Asteri forces and the Asterian Guard is decimated…
Ā
Finally, the ultimate showdown between Bryce and Rigelus begins.
Ā
Rigelus and the other Asteris are cornered. Ithan arrives just in time to give Bryce the Godslayer Rifle, powered by the souls of the dead, the āsecond light.ā
Bryce fires the rifle into the firslight core.She knows the Asteri have put a ākill switchā into the firslight core. If destroyed, all of Midgard will be destroyed as well.
“The world began to cave in, sucking itself inward, obliterating everything…”
Bryce gathers all this power, essentially firslight, and transforms it into a source to fuel her own abilities.
Ā
She opens a portal to the deep space and dispatches āthat lifeless, growing dotā through the gateway. Bryce sends the Asteri to space as well.
Ā
But Rigelus is fighting to come back, so our Queen enters the portal to push Rigelus away from the exit and loses all hope of coming back.
Ā
Hunt sees all this and is devastated, but there is nothing he can do.
Entering the portal and going to space will serve for nothing because he canāt use his wings there.
With all hope lose, Hunt sees a mecha suit standing there, towering over him:
“He knew which of the Fallen controlled this suit, whose soul had come to offer a hand. To help him do the impossibleā
Note: Emotional moment I CRYED SO MUCH!!!
Ā
The Fallen who was in the mecha suit is Shahar, Hunt’s dead lover.
Hunt ventures into the portal in the mech suit and armed with the suit’s last brimstone missile.
Ā
With Shahar’s help, they successfully target Rigelus, hitting Rigelus right in his face.
Bryce is rescued from space, but she was without oxygen for a long time.
Ā
She is dead.
Ā
Hypaxia appears, and Jesiba offers a trade: her life for Bryceās. Jesiba says to Apollion:
“You cursed me to immortality. Now Iām making it a gift: the gift of a Vanirās long life. I give it freely to Bryce Quinlan if she wants it.”
Jesiba encounters Bryce in the afterlife. Bryce can decide to ālook for the exitā (back to life) or stay in the realm of the dead.
Ā
Bryce sees seven figures on the horizon, one of them being Danika (another emotional moment). She decides to go back and says her goodbyes to Danika and the pack who will be waiting for her when the time comes in the afterlife.Ā
Note: More crying… I just had to set the book down for a moment… SJM makes me SO emotional!!!
Ā
After the storm…: What everyone is doing nowĀ
Curious to know what everybody does after cleaning Midgard from the Asteris?
Ā
Isaiah
Hunt designs Isaiah as the leader of the angels. Hunt only wants to stay beside Bryce and thinks Isaiah would be the perfect leader in this transition.
Ā
Hypaxia
Hypaxia is now the Head of the House of Flame and Shadow, and things with Celestina seem to be going well again (they were lovers)
.
Declan
Declan begins to work on a substitute for the firslight (they donāt know electricity in Midgard; it was produced by the firslight power). They are gathering information from the Ocean Queen as well. She has been powering her ships without firslight and is willing to aid with her discoveries.
Ā
Nesta and Bryce parents
Bryce opens the portal again and recovers her parents. She gives back the mask to Nesta and gifts her the Starsword.
“You said you had an eight-pointed star tattooed on you,ā Bryce explained. āThe age of the Starborn is over in Midgard. I think that star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why.”
Ā
The Princes of Hel
Bryce opens the portal once more to say goodbye to the Princes of Hel.
Aidas ask Bryce if she wants to see them again but Bryce is not interested.Ā
Ā
Note: The final goodbye with the Princes was a little anticlimactic. I expected a bit more development; it was the only storyline that left me with a bittersweet taste.
Ā
Lidia and Ruhn
Lidia reunites with her two sons, who now seem to think better of her mother. They will be going to live with their foster parents, but the promise of meeting again is now a reality.
Ā
After that, she goes with Ruhn, and they rent an apartment to live together (with a spare room with two beds for her sons when they come to visit :)).
Ā
Tharion
Tharion is at the Meat Market looking for his wife. Sathia went there to search for Colin, who was under the spell of the Viper Queen. But to his surprise, he meets Ariadne there. His story ends here and foreshadows a continuation.
Ithan
Ithan is gathering the pack, and it seems something is going on with Perry. He suddenly is very possessive with her. His POV now is as funny as Tharion’s with his internal monologues and sarcastic jokes about how he doesnāt believe himself as the prime.
āIthan didnāt know if it was Amelieās order or if Perry had asked them, but everyone was returning. Perhaps just to see how shitty heād be at leading them as Prime.ā
Ā
Note: Ithan and Tharion’s storylines are the only ones that were left open. Iām assuming the next book of Crescent City could have them as more predominant protagonists.
Ā
Bryce and Hunt
Bryce ends the royal fae houses once and for all. She wants a democracy with a senate but doesn’t want to be involved in politics.
Ā
Bryce is now in charge of the Parthos collection (gifted by Jesiba), and with Hunt, they are remodeling an elegant townhouse that would soon be āGriffin Antiquities.ā They have three new employees to help her manage the collection: Sasa, Rithi, and Malana, sprites.
Ā
Final thoughts:
As per usual with Sarah J. Maas, the last 20% was an emotional trainwreck.
She excels at interlacing different POVs and bringing everything to a satisfying conclusion… she adores throwing several āemotional bombsā that literally leave you crying and screaming…
Ā
The last fight with the Asteri was well-handled. The action scenes were meticulously described, and I couldn’t find any āfloating head syndromeā (in literature, that is when a character āteleports to a place without a plausible explanation… that happens when locations or POVs arenāt well described).
I could always picture what was happening despite the multiple POVs.
Ā
Something I truly appreciated is that Sarah J. Maas dedicated almost three chapters to the āafter the fight scenes.ā The book doesn’t end straight away after Rigelus is dead and Hypaxia resurrects Bryce.
We have at least two whole chapters with descriptions of what the characters are doing now, what their plans for the future are, etc.
Ā
A perfect HEA (Happily Ever After) for a truly epic fantasy story.
House of Flame and Shadow tropes and main themes
Crescent City is not your typical romantic fantasy. Be prepared for a book full of action with extremely high stakes and a rollercoaster of action scenes. The frenetic pace and multiple POVs won’t let you take a break from all that is happening!!
Crescent City Series: Should I read ACOTAR first?
Initially, Sarah J. Maas, the author of ACOTAR ( A Court of Thorn and Roses Series ) and the Crescent City series, asserted that her new series was entirely independent of ACOTAR and could be read and enjoyed as a standalone series.
Ā
However, with the announcement of House of Flame and Shadow, she stated that is necessary to read ACOTAR to fully comprehend the Crescent City series.
Ā
This change in perspective was understandable at the time of her initial statement.
Before “House of Sky and Breath,” the second book in the Crescent City series, there was no knowledge that both worlds would be interconnected. ( The ACOTAR series and Crescent City )
Ā
After the significant revelation in Crescent City 2, it became evident that having at least a vague understanding of ACOTAR would be needed to better understand the series.
Crescent City Series Reading Order
Because I understand that new readers might be confused, I’ve created three guides with three Reading Order options.
Ā
For this purpose, I kept in mind that this reading order is for people who primarily want to read Crescent City and don’t know what ACOTAR is or haven’t read it yet.
If you’re up to date with the ACOTAR series, you can dive into Crescent City right now šĀ
You may like
Crescent City series Official Reading Order
The recommended reading order by the author of both series, Sarah J. Maas.
First, read the four books in the A Court of Thorn and Roses (ACOTAR) series. Then, continue with Crescent City.
Ā
IMPORTANT: This order doesn’t follow the original publishing order (Crescent City was published before A Court of Silver Flames).
Crescent City series Reading Order: The anxious reader
This suggested reading order is ideal for readers who aren’t heavily invested in or intrigued by the ACOTAR series.
Ā
Those who are more drawn to the New Adult (NA) atmosphere of Crescent City or have previously read the original ACOTAR trilogy will find it particularly suitable.
Ā
Feel free to read Crescent City before A Court of Silver Flames. There are interconnected breadcrumbs between the two books, and the order in which you read them won’t affect your ability to fully grasp the clues.
The " I don't like Acotar " Reading Order
You loathe ACOTAR with all your heart… you’re exhausted by the TikToks, fan arts, and the Rhysand and Tamlin drama… But Crescent City sounds interesting..where to begin then?
Ā
I’ve got you covered, my friend!!
Ā
Crescent City has a story of its own, with incredible world-building, and an abundance of informationāperfect for the avid and traditional fantasy reader.
Ā
I understand, ACOTAR might not be the series for you if you fall into that category…
so I made this reading order for readers who are not interested in ACOTAR but want to read Crescent City.
Ā
Most will insist that you absolutely must read ACOTAR before CC (Crescent City) because it’s IMPOSSIBLE
to enjoy House of Sky and Breath ( Crescent City 2 ) and the new release, House of Flame and Shadow, without having delved into the other series.
Ā
But I’m confident that with a solid recap of the key points and a bit of advanced knowledge about some of the characters, you’ll enjoy Crescent City nonetheless!
ACOTAR Series recap
Reading Blog: House of Flame and Shadow (MASSIVE SPOILERS !)
While you’re waiting for the summary ( Im working very hard on it it would be great you will see hehe ) I thought..why don’t make a reading blog with thoughts and updates about my reading journey with this book?
I love watchving or reading reactions so this may be fun for you as well!!Ā
A little reminder : Mild spoilers ahead!! For big spoilers I will warn you beforehand!!
Reading Blog House of Flame and Shadow Day 3
Wow, where do I even begin…!! First off, I’m pleasantly surprised by the overall pace of this book. I never felt bored, and the POV changes are easily recognizable.
Ā
You know how it can get a bit confusing in books with multiple POVs shifting within the same chapter?
Ā
Not the case with House of Flame and Shadow (HOFAS from now on), thanks to Sarah J. Maas. She makes it clear as day, and you never have to second-guess whose POV you’re in.
Ā
The story begins straight away after the events of House of Sky and Breath.
Ā
Up until chapter 16, we’ve get five POVs:
- Bryce’s POV with Nesta and Azriel.
- Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian with Hunt and Ruhn swapping POVs in various chapters.
- Lidia (The Hind) interacting with different characters.
- Ithan and the bros (Flynn, Declan, Sigrid, Ariadne, Marc).
- Tharion, who interacts first with the Viper Queen and Ariadne and then with Ithan and the gang.
Ā
As for who is my favorite until now… hard to say!! Because each one of them has their own strengths.
Ā
I’m loving Hunt and Ruhn’s POVs; they’ve built a real brotherhood. Even during captivity, there’s room for humor about their situations.
Ā
Their determination to sacrifice for each other is heartwarming..
Ā
Ithan may become my new favorite cinnamon roll. He is just cuteness overload!! And with the new Fenryr Heir being all bossy and alpha, their interactions are chef’s kiss!!
Ā
Tharion adds a fun element with his sarcasm, and when his POV intersects with Ithan’s, things get even more interesting.
Ā
However, the cherry on top goes to Bryce’s POV… because that’s what we were all waiting for, isn’t it? The crossover!! And it delivers.
Ā
We get to see Bryce’s POV interacting with Nesta and later with Azriel later on (at least until chapter 16).
Ā
And let me tell you, NESTA, YOU ARE SO BADASS, GIRL!!!
Ā
I wasn’t a fan of Nesta in A Court of Silver Flames (ACOSF from now on), but here… omg, so badass, LOVE HER. She and Bryce make the PERFECT TEAM.
Ā
And (spoiler alert!) we get to see a Middengard Wyrm again!!! Remember that giant worm Feyre fought in A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR from now on)? Well, our trio encounters one of the same species in this book as well!!
Ā
Another discovery: The promotional quote about Nesta, Azriel, and Bryce is from Chapter 15 as well, and don’t worry, nothing happens to our beloved shadow boy or the grumpy High Fae š
Ā
As for the story ( spoiler alert!! ), nothing major happens… Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are trying to escape the dungeons, Ithan and the bros are in the Bone quarters trying to rescue Tharion, Lidia is plotting to free Ruhn, and Bryce is figuring a way out of a cave and tunnels she stumbled into while attempting to escape.
Ā
I’ll be back tomorrow with more updates, hopefully reaching 40% of the book (a girl can dream haha), and keeping you all updated!!
Well, I don’t know if I can write a recap without spoiling anything because the AMOUNT OF INFO that we learned in these chapters was just MASSIVE.
Ā
In essence, all the plotlines reach a triggering point in these chapters, where an important and decisive event happens that will change everything in Part two of the book.
Ā
For Lidia, the game-changer is the revelation that the Harpy IS ALIVEEE. Yes, that’s a significant twist, especially since Lidia killed her in Crescent City 2.
Ā
Now, The Hind has about 2 days to free Ruhn and the crew before the Harpy wakes up.
Ā
The Queen of Sprites has agreed to assist her, and so the wheels are in motion.
Ā
Ruhn and the gang are in deep trouble, still stuck in the dungeon and in terrible shape.
Ā
Nothing major unfolds for them, and essentially, they’re biding their time, eagerly awaiting Lidia, Declan, and the bros to stage a rescue.
Ā
Ithan’s POV takes an unexpected turn. Remember how the Viper Queen forced him to fight in the Pit to secure his friend’s freedom?
Ā
Initially, everyone assumed he’d be facing off against Ariadne. However, in a surprising twist, the cunning Viper Queen decided it would be Sigrid, the Fenryr heir, as Ithan’s opponent.
Ā
Fighting an alpha and a HEIR goes against any wolf instinct, so Ithan was really conflicted about this.
Ā
The fight ends tragically, with Ithan unintentionally killing Sigrid, and he feels guilty af š
Ā
All the bros go into a car that heads towards the river where a boat awaits. Suddenly, Ithan shifts into his wolf form and heads the opposite way towards Crescent City.
Ā
He feels the need to “do things right” regarding Sigridās death.
Ā
It appears that killing an alpha is no joke for the shifters…
Ā
However, by far, the most intriguing POV is Bryce’s. OMG… just OMG.
Ā
The trioāNesta, Azriel, and Bryceāare navigating tunnels, guided by Bryce’s star.
Ā
They stumble upon a door adorned with an eight-pointed star, and upon opening it, voila! It’s the room where Nesta found the Harp in ACOSF.
Ā
A lot of stuff happens… we are told the complete story of Queen Theia, her connection with the Asteri, and her husband, the King (forgot his name.. but he is of no importance anyway xd..Theia kills him)
Ā
I will go into more detail in my summary, but in essence, Queen Theia was an arrogant Fae who, in the end, succumbed to the same vices as all Fae: enslaving humans, displaying arrogance and greed, and making mistakes that cost her people their lives (only to escape later like a coward)
Ā
We meet Selene, one of Theiaās daughters, a ghost-like figure narrating this story to the trio, and they continue to scrutinize the paintings on the walls.
Ā
After a while, Bryce discovers a hidden chamber with a crystal sarcophagus. Inside lies a dark-haired woman with pale skin who is… SLEEPING but suddenly awakes and is not exactly friendly (she calls Azriel and Bryce slaves??)
Ā
AAAND Bryce decides that the best course of action is to OPEN the containment to free the evil thing.
Ā
Applause, please….
Ā
Until now.. I LOVED Bryce. She was reckless, cunning, sarcastic, and she didn’t give a sh** about Nesta and the others.. but this action was… just out of character… for anyone with 2 functioning neurons.
Ā
Despite suspecting that this lady (Vesperus is her name) might be one of the ancient Asteris, Bryce opened the sarcophagus anyway.
Ā
Well.. of course, a massive fight happens and – due to plot reasons- Vesperus dies.
Ā
Bryce is determined to go back to her world, indifferent to the possibility that opening a portal back might bring the Asteri to Prythianāshe just wants to go back, period.
Ā
And so, she does. (rolls eyes) Bryce opens a portal back, and Part One concludes here.
Ā
Happy reading and see ya tomorrow with part two!
This second part of the book was HUGE.
So, let’s recap.
Hunt, Baxian, and Ruhn were still captive, but thanks to Lidia’s efforts and the help of the rebels and the Queen of Sprites they manage to get out from the dungeons.
There is a frenetic escape scene, and Lidia almost doesn’t make it.
Well… she actually DIES (and I was screaming when the chapter ended with her dead… like WHAT NOOOO).
But fear not! Tharion rescues her (she jumped into the sea to escape from Mordoc, who was following her), and they all head inside the Depth Charger where the healers save her.
So, the entire gang is well, and they finally reunite with the bros (Flynn, Declan, and Tharion).
They want to seek help from the Ocean Queen for the cause, but things aren’t going well. The queen prefers to stay away from trouble and live her life in peace. XD
And suddenly… Bryce teleports to the Depth Charger!!
Going back a bit… remember she ported back from Prythian? Well… she ended up purposely in the Autumn King’s study.
She needed more info about her powers and the sword and dagger.
Knowing her father researched these artifacts all her life, Bryce willingly let him capture her to seek the answer.
Ultimately, she finds out what she was looking for and teleports.
But… what did she discover?
Bryce now knows that the dagger and the starword together can open a portal to “nowhere,” a space where literally nothing exists.
With this info, Bryce now knows that this is the solution to lock the Asteri there once and for all.
However, Bryce doesn’t know how to use the weapons for this purpose and decides to go to the Archives and Caves in Avallen for more info.
Back into the Depth Charger!
Now all the group is reunited (minus Ithan… remember he went to Lunathion to try to resurrect the Fendyr heir), and they are all heading to Avallen.
Speaking of Ithan… He goes to the House of Flame and Shadow where he finds… Jesiba!
Yes, she is second in command here, and he asks her for a necromancer to resurrect Sigrid.
Jesiba agrees (a bit too quickly for my taste… maybe she is hiding something?), and they get Hypaxia for the task.
But all goes wrong, and she ends up becoming a… reaper!
So now they have to find a way to do the ritual again so Sigrid can have the option to become a reaper or resurrect. (More on this in the summary, but that was basically the idea.)
Poor Ithan, he really wants to make amends, but nothing seems to go the way he wants.. pat pat XD
Back to Bryce’s group…
We get the first steamy scene in the book (page 460), but in the end, NOTHING HAPPENS XD
Another revelation!! Lidia has TWINS!!
She was working for the Ocean Queen all this time so her kids could grow up with a foster family and be safe.
The twins’ father is someone of no importance… she got pregnant in a fertility ritual (?) I was so afraid the father was Pollux!!
After everyone is ready, they go to Avallen.
A lot of s**t happens here.
The King of Avallen is not happy having Bryce and co here.
They have a little chat, and the King has no option but to let Bryce and co inspect the Caves and the Archives.
Bryce finds a cave in Avallen very similar to the one in Prythian. But this one contains Helena’s power (she took Selene’s power from the cave in Prythian. Selene and Helena were Queen Theia’s daughters), so she now has Selene and Helena’s power.
Bryce discovers that Queen Theia’s power is in the earth of Avallen itself, so she “extracts” it from the mist and earth. By doing this, the earth beneath becomes green again.
She now has the power needed to use the dagger and starword combined to open a portal to “nowhere.”
Argh… this looks like a summary haha, but sorry, it’s a lot of info hehe.
We also got another BIG REVELATION: Hunt is MADE. He was a project from Apollion to be a battery in case a Starborn fae appeared with enough power to fight the Asteri (Bryce).
He is literally a pet project. : (
Bryce and Hunt have a little talk with Aidas and Apollion, and they plan the attack on the Asteri. They knew about the portal to nowhere and Bryce’s capacity for a long time but needed her to discover it by herself.
This is the end of part two, and all the pieces are now in place for the big fight.
Part two wasn’t as exciting as Part 1, in my opinion, and dragged a little in the middle. But we got these two big revelations to compensate (about Hunt and Lidia) and a little bit of info about Bryce and her powers.
I cannot wait to read part 3!! I don’t trust the Princes of Hel completely, and I think they’re hiding something big…
I hope to see Rhys in the Third part. : (
We only got a glimpse of him in chapter 1, and it was all Nesta and Azriel afterward.
See ya in Part 3
House of Flame and Shadow Prologue and First Chapter
As a treat for us readers, Sarah J. Maas released the prologue and the first chapter of “House of Flame and Shadow” on her website.
Read it here!!!
House of Flame and Shadow Prologue and First Chapter Opinion (no spoilers )
I want to SCREAM!!
Ā
First off, I can’t believe that out of nowhere, Sarah J. Maas dropped this bomb for us. It was a total surprise.
Ā
House of Flame and Shadow promises to be a hell of a ride. Right from the prologue, we dive into the action with Lidia and Pollux.
Ā
Chapter 1 doesn’t get behind, and we are now in Bryce’s POV just after she lands in Prythian. It’s one revelation after another… a non-stop thrill.
Ā
I believe we can already start to theorize with the info we got in this chapter because believe me… it’s A LOT.
Ā
I highly recommend reading the Prologue and First Chapter of “House of Flame and Shadow” to get a taste of what’s to come.
Ā
SJM uses these pages as a recap as well. In both the prologue and the first chapter, we receive explanations as a little reminder of what happened in House of Sky and Breath.
For readers who didn’t do a reread of “Crescent City 2,” these little reminders will be incredibly helpful to reacquaint yourself with the world of Midgard.
Ā
Happy reading!!
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas Summary
Happy release day!!
Ā
This summary can be particularly helpful for readers who are still on the fence about reading the book. It includes annotations and reminders of significant events from ‘House of Sky and Breath,’ allowing you to start reading without feeling a little lost
House of Flame and Shadow Prologue and Chapter 1 Summary
HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW BY SARAH J. MAAS
Ā
PrologueĀ
Ā
We get into The Hind’s POV right after the events in House of Sky and Breath (CC2 from now on)
Ā
Lydia thinks about her actions and what they mean for her. We discover at the end of CC2 that Lidia Cervos is Agent Daybright. She wants to kill the Asteri for their doings and has been actively helping the rebels while maintaining a facade at the same time.Ā
Ā
Two days have passed after the events in the Eternal Palace. Lidia is now with Pollux (whom we discovered was the person forcedc to have sex with her when she was mind-talking with Ruhn).Ā Ā
Ā
She is watching the two Fae Kings being interrogated about their sons: Morven, the King of Avallen Fae and father of Cormac, and the Autumn King, Ruhnās and Bryce’s father.Ā
Ā
Rigelus, the head of the Asteri, doesnāt believe a word from Morven, considering he was very close to his son Cormac.Ā
Ā
Hesperus, The Evening Star, another of the Asteri, doesnāt believe Morven, the King of Avallen, either, and he thinks that King Avallen’s House is rotten to the core and that the “decay must now be scourged.”Ā
Ā
Morven insists on denying any knowledge about his son’s activities. Polaris, the North Star (another Asteri), adds that Cormac immolated himself, so there would not be any kind of ceremony for him anyway.Ā
Ā
Einar, The Autumn King, blames Bryce’s bad influence on his son Ruhn for what he has done. But he ends up not recognizing any of them as his sons.Ā
Ā
The Autumn King knows that Ruhn is in the dungeons and he asks for Bryce’s whereabouts.Ā
Ā
Both Fae Kings now know that Bryce is ānot in this world anymore,ā so they assume she went to Hel through the Gates.Ā
Ā
Note: We learn in Crescent City 2 that only Bryce is capable of porting through the Northern Rift. The Asteri are locked in Midgard without being able to port to conquer more worlds. They were actively trying to lure Bryce to the Eternal Palace to convince her to open the Gates.Ā
Ā
The kings are dismissed, and now Rigelus talks directly to Pollux and Lidia about the prisoners.Ā
Ā
Note: At the end of CC2, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian are captured by the Asteri and sent to the dungeons.Ā
Ā
Pollux and The Hind are ordered to keep interrogating the prisoners for more info.Ā
Ā
Lidia contemplates the army that Rigelus has stationed atop Mount Hermonās barren peak.Ā
All the efforts made by the rebels were in vain. Rigelus already knew about the rebels’ plans and was experimenting with a new kind of suits that do not require pilots.Ā
Ā
Lidia sees that a lot of mystics are actively looking for Bryce, questioning herself whether the Northern Rift and the other gates only open to Hel or, on the contrary, if there is a possibility that the gates can transport a person to other worlds.Ā
Ā
Pollux and Lidia reach the dungeons where Baxian (The Hammer), Hunt, and Ruhn are hanged and in bad conditions.Ā
Ā
Lidia tries to communicate with Ruhn through their mind connection, but he has been silent since he discovered who she truly was.Ā
Ā
Note: Lidia, The Hind, was keeping a secret identity. She was Agent Daybright and had “mental conversations” with Ruhn all through book 2. She was actively working for the rebels. At the end of CC2, Ruhn discovers Daybright’s true identity and blocks her from his mind.Ā
Ā
Pollux takes The Harpyās death as a personal matter and is leading an investigation to find Bryce.Ā
Ā
Note: Hunt and Ruhn let everyone believe that Bryce killed The Harpy to cover the real responsible (The Hind) as a favor for having been working undercover for the cause.Ā
Ā
Lidia tries once more to mind-talk to Ruhn when Pollux is distracted with his phone with no response.Ā
Ā
Ā
Ā
Ā
Part 1: The DropĀ
Ā
Chapter 1Ā
Ā
Note: At the end of CC2, Bryce ports to Prythian. When she arrives, Bryce thinks she is in Hel and meets a winged male who escorts her for further interrogation. There she meets another male who is no other than Rhysand from ACOTAR.Ā
Ā
Bryce is now in an interrogation cell surrounded by Rhysand, Amren, and Azriel. Her intent by leaping through the Gate was to finally accept Apollion and Aidasā help to send their armies to Midgard and stop the Asteri once and for all.Ā
Ā
Note: We learn throughout Crescent City and CC2 that the Princes of Hel can stop the Asteri and that Apollion, the prince of Pit, and Aidas, thePprince of Chasm, were always by Bryceās side.Ā
Ā
Bryce is being interrogated by Amren, the only one who can understand her. She thinks Rhysand looks remarkably similar to Ruhn to the extent of calling him āRuhnās body double.āĀ
Ā
Bryce can’t believe she is not in Hel; she is worried for her mate and her brother. They helped her go through the gates and are now in Rigelusās hands.Ā
Amren is curious about Bryce’s sword, and Bryce realizes that in this world the sword is known as āGwellion.āĀ
Ā
Bryce realizes she must give some info to her captors to learn more about this world and starts explaining about the Gates and how she got here, thinking she was porting to Hel. Bryce omits information about her powers because she senses she could be used as a tool.Ā
Ā
Rhysand calls the bluff and exposes her lies.Ā
Ā
Bryce does not want to tell the truth to these people and is thinking of a way to get through this when she discovers that āRuhn’s doubleā can read her mind.Ā
Ā
Rhysand assures Bryce that he won’t pry into her memories unless she lets him.Ā
Ā
Amren and Bryce begin to talk about Prince Pelias and Queen Theia, and Bryce discovers that they inhabited this world a long time ago.Ā
Ā
It seems that all Midgard Fae were originated here, and they went ā or have been brought ā to Midgard.Ā
Ā
Amren is more interested in knowing how Bryce got here and why. Bryce is hesitant in telling any more info to these people. If they are Fae, they cannot be trusted freely.Ā
Ā
āRhysand and Azriel look pretty, but Urd knows the Fae of Midgard have used their beauty for millennia to get what they wanted.āĀ
Ā
Bryce tries to play along and gives Rhysand and the inner circle bits of info (but always omitting details about her power and friends).Ā
Ā
She explains what she knows about the Asteri or “intergalactic parasites,” as Bryce calls them.Ā
Ā
Bryce tells them the āofficial storyā that puts the Asteri as heroes and saviors from the devil Princes of Hel.Ā
Ā
Then she goes on to explain the āunofficial story,ā the one the Asteri wanted to burn so much.Ā
She tells them about the Firstlight and how the Asteri feed from it, harvesting the power when the drop happens and after death as well.Ā
Ā
Only three planets were able to kick the Asteri out, and Bryce tells them that she strongly suspects this world ā Prythian ā is one of them.Ā
Ā
Bryce asks Rhysand and his friends if there is any record of how her ancestors repelled the Asteri in this planet, and Amren answers that the Asteri were indeed in Prythian, but here theyāre called The Daglan.Ā
Ā
Rhysand starts to ask the right questions and realizes that the Asteri may be looking to go back to Prythian for revenge.Ā Ā
He asks about what resources they have (such as weapons and powers) and brings the Veritas Orb so Bryce can āshow themā through images in her memories what kind of military and magical power they have.Ā
Ā
Rhysand tries not to look surprised by the images but realizes that there is a strong chance that the Asteri may come back and bring all that technology to conquer Prythian .Ā
Ā
Bryce believes there was not a coincidence for her to be ported here, this being one of the 3 worlds that expelled the Asteri.Ā
Ā
Amren gives Bryce a silver pill and says it will automatically translate her language to theirs so they can communicate.Ā
Ā
Bryce is debating whether to take it or not and decides to take the risk. In order to get out of this world, she considers that ālanguage skills would be useful… considering the extent of the bullshit still to be spunā (note: this quote is so Bryce!!)Ā
Ā
After taking the pill, she realizes that something in the spell made her begin to glow, and the letters in her tattoo are becoming visible with the light radiating from her body.Ā
Ā
She hopes that the glowing emanating from her is visible only to her, but that turns out not to be the case, as Azriel, Amren, and Rhysand assess her.Ā
Ā
The letters inked in Bryce’s back are the same as those in the Book of Breathings.Ā
Ā
End of Chapter One.Ā
Ā
Note: The Book of Breathings first appeared in the ACOTAR series. It is a powerful artifact that contains spells to negate the Cauldron’s power.Ā
The whereabouts of the Book of Breathings were unknown after the events in A Court of Wings and Fury. Feyre threw the book through the void that was formed when the Cauldron broke into three parts.Ā
Ā
In CC1, the book is revealed to be now under the ownership of Jesiba.Ā
Ā
Thank you for reading this summary!!!
Download it for later!!
House of Flame and Shadow Prologue and Chapter 1 Summary
Enjoyed this content? Download the PDF for better resolution and to access exclusive updates and content by subscribing to our newsletter. Happy reading!
Unsubscribe at any time
House of Flame and Shadow Promotional Quotes
These are promotional quotes from a House of Flame and Shadow uploaded to Instagram by Sarah J. Maas and her publisher Bloomsbury Books US.Ā
Ā
I will upload my favorite quotes and what I consider to be THE ‘House of Flame and Shadow’ quote when the book comes out.
Ā
Stay tuned!
Page 177, House of Flame and Shadow
Page 641 Huse of Flame and Shadow
House of Flame and Shadow Best Quotes
Bryce Quinlan Best quote
āI am Bryce Quinlan. Heir to the Starborn Fae, Queen of the Fae in Avallen and Valbara, but most importantly ā¦ the half-human daughter of Ember Quinlan and Randall Silago.ā
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) (English Edition) (p. 808).
This quote is EPIC. Sarah J Maas has used this type of ” introductions” before a big event in her books since Throne of Glass.
Bryce + Hunt Best quote
āYouāre my home, Hunt. Our love spans across stars and worlds, remember?ā She smiled slightly. āIāll always find you.ā
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) (English Edition) (pp. 429-430).
Bryce and Hunt’s relationship, despite not being among my favorites, was always pure and full of trust. Although they went through betrayals at the beginning and some questionable decisions by Bryce regarding how Hunt dealt with his trauma to being captive in “House of Flame and Shadow,” nobody can deny the love they feel for each other.
Lidia Cervos
“It confirmed what Lidia had long guessed. Why she had named Brannon after the oldest legends from her familyās bloodline: of a Fae King from another world, fire in his veins, who had created stags with the power of flame to be his sacred guards.”
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) (English Edition) (p. 876).
This quote confirms that Lidia is a direct descendant of Brannon Galathynius, the founder of Terrasen and ancestor to Aelin Galathynius and Dorian Havilliard.
The three of them are important characters from Sarah J. Maas’s first series, Throne of Glass, and I cannot wait to see what this means for future Crescent City books! (Although I’m sure Bryce and Hunt’s story ended with this book.)
Ruhn Danaan
āNow I donāt fucking care who you are, so long as youāre mine.ā Her eyes shot to his, again full of surprise. āBecause Iām yours, Day. Iām fucking yours.ā
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) (English Edition) (p. 582).
Lidia and Ruhn’s relationship..hands down, the best of Crescent City 3. My favorite characters by far.
Nesta Acheron
āSo Rhysand is Illyrian, too?ā Bryce pried. āHeās got the wings.ā āHalf,ā Nesta corrected. āHalf High Fae, half Illyrian.ā Azriel cleared his throat as if to warn her to stop talking so much, and Nesta added sharply, āAnd with the combined arrogance of both.ā
I found this quote interesting because it gives us insight into what Nesta thinks of Rhysand. With “A Court of Silver Flames,” we know that Nesta isn’t very fond of Rhysand, but with this quote, we definitely confirm that she doesn’t hold him in very high esteem.
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) (English Edition) (p. 154).
House of Flame and Shadow Special Editions
Crescent City 3 doesn’t feature any special cover or sprayed edges for exclusive editions. While there are indeed exclusive editions, they all share the same cover.
Ā
The exclusivity of this edition lies in the additional bonus scenes included in each one of them (a total of five).
In essence, we will have 5 exclusive editions with no cover variation but featuring 5 bonus scenes involving different characters in each.
Ā
Bonus Scenes involving characters from ACOTAR andĀ the Crescent City Series
1- Bryce & Hunt
2- Bryce & Danika
3- Ruhn & Lidia
4- Bryce, Nesta & Azriel
Infographic: House of Flame and Shadow Bonus Scenes
To know where to buy each of this 5 special editions click here in this exclusive Infographic I’ve made with all the Info!!
PLUS: Get a brief summary of each bonus chapter and reading order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the awaited third book in the Crescent City series, House of Flame and Shadow, is due to release on January 30, 2024.
We will have 5 exclusive editions with no cover variation but featuring 5 bonus scenes involving different characters in each.
Bonus Scenes involving characters from ACOTAR andĀ the Crescent City Series
1- Bryce & Hunt
2- Bryce & Danika
3- Ruhn & Lidia
4- Bryce, Nesta & Azriel
Crescent City is an Adult Fantasy novel. It has spicy scenes and strong vocabulary (mostly swearing).
SPOILERS! In House of Flame and Shadow Bryce and her friends engage in the ultimate battle against the Asteris. They successfully banish the “intergalactic parasites” from Midgard, sending them into the deep space.
YES. In House of Sky and Breath, the second book in the Crescent City series, it is confirmed at the very end of the book that both worlds are interconnected.
Bryce portals herself to Prythian (the world of ACOTAR – A Court of Thorn and Roses Series-) at the end of the book and meets Rhysand and the Inner Circle there.
Sarah J. Maas, the author of the Crescent City and ACOTAR series, confirmed in a “Live Talks” session that Bryce and Hunt are indeed mates.
However, she didn’t specify if being mates in Crescent City carries the same significance as mates in ACOTAR.
Sarah J. Maas confirmed that both Danika Fendyr and Connor Holstrom are dead.
They were murdered in the beginning of House of Earth and Blood, Crescent City Book 1.
“House of Sky and Breath”, the second book in the Crescent City series, should be read before beginning with House of Flame and Shadow
Without giving out any spoilers: Yes, it will better prepare you for the events in Crescent City, especially in Book 2.
The author of both series (Sarah J. Maas) confirmed that ACOTAR should be read before Crescent City.
In my opinion, the best reading order (if you want to get to Crescent City asap) is this:
Ā
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Crescent City 1
A Court of Frost and Starlight
A Court of Silver Flames
House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City book 2)
House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City book 3)
Final Thoughts: House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas in-depth Guide
The Crescent City Series is slowly becoming a behemoth in the fantasy romance genre and gradually transforming the fantasy genre as well.
Ā
With crossovers with other series and a strong emphasis not only on romance but also on the deep bonds between the characters, I can’t help but draw compariso between Sarah J. Maas’s Universe and Brandon Sanderson Cosmere
Ā
I cannot wait to read House of Flame and Shadow and begin theorizing about the new developments and the endless possibilities now that both worlds are interlaced.
Ā
You might have noticed I didn’t mention Throne of Glass, -Sarah J. Maas’s first series- in this blog post.
Ā
I intentionally left it out to avoid overwhelming new readers,, and because Sarah J. Maas, despite confirming it happens in the same universe, the hints in the last Throne of Glass Book are very subtle and were more like trials to test the possibility of assembling everything into one unique world.
Ā
Lastly, make sure to subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed about updates to this post, including the summary, theories, and my thoughts about the ending and the book in general.
Ā
Through love, all is possible.
See you in the next post!
