Sarah J. Maas’s latest novel, Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood, is an action-packed story charged with strong characters and intriguing plots. The 800-page first installment of the new Crescent City series follows 19-year-old Bryce Quinlan as she embarks on a mission to solve her best friend, Danika Fendyr’s, murder. Although the answer seems obvious at first, Quinlan is thrown off guard when new evidence circulates.

    Throughout the investigation, readers are introduced to a plethora of other characters such as Quinlan’s intimidating boss, Jesiba Roga, as well as her investigation partner, Hunt Athalar. Although some characters aid Quinlan in her search, others only hinder her efforts.

   After reading and loving both of Maas’s other series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, I set high expectations for this novel, and it did not disappoint. Although it was somewhat difficult to keep up with the substantial amount of new information about the fantasy setting at the beginning of the novel, I soon grew accustomed to the world and its rules/customs, and I found myself loving the complexity of the setting.

   In addition to the incredible world building, I loved all the dynamic characters. Maas touched on every facet of the characters’ personalities, from their overall attitude and appearance down to their favorite food and genre of music, making each character extremely lifelike. Furthermore, each character underwent remarkable character development, especially Quinlan and Athalar.

   Although I typically enjoy books for the characterization, I was also intrigued by the complex plot, which took many unexpected and unpredictable turns throughout the story. In addition to the overarching plot of solving the murder, there were also many subplots that kept my attention.

   I would recommend Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood to anyone who enjoys fantasy or fiction novels, or anyone who enjoyed Maas’s other novels. However, it does contain some mature content, so it’s not suitable for some readers. Due to its lifelike characters, grand worldbuilding and engaging plot, Crescent City has quickly become a favorite of mine, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes when the next installment is published.