Author: Emily A. Duncan
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 532
Source: Amazon Canada
Buy: Amazon | Indigo Canada | Book Depository
Rating:3.7/5
"Darkness never works alone... Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who--and what--he’s become. As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer." -Goodreads

Emily A. Duncan has an amazing talent for laying out a gothic world. It is easy, as a reader, to quickly visualize Tranavia and Kalyazin. The horrors, that these characters face throughout Ruthless Gods, also come alive before the readers' eyes. I applaud Duncan for her world-building. I can easily imagine these war-torn places and sympathize with their struggles. All the characters feel a sense of loyalty to their homeland. They do not want their country to fall but, they also all want the war to end. 

Author:Sarah J. Maas
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages:799
Source:Indigo/Chapters
Buy:Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository
Rating:5/5
"Bound by blood. Tempted by desire. Unleashed by destiny. 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 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."-Goodreads

House of Earth and Blood is definitely one of my top picks of 2020. Sarah J. Maas has a special talent in making readers fall in love, and get invested, in her characters. Within 100 pages I was emotionally invested in these characters. I was also emotionally destroyed within the first hundred pages (read the book and you will understand). Sarah J. Maas excels at writing strong, kick-ass female characters (Feyre, Celaena, and now Bryce). She is also a master at writing about characters who are survivors. In A Court of Thorn and Roses, she created a character who dealt with PTSD and an abusive partner. In House of Earth and Blood, she wrote about a character dealing with loss, grief and depression. Throughout this novel, I watched Bryce go through various levels of grief. Normally, I would automatically think that 800 pages is too long for a book. However, in this case, with the plot and character development, it was perfectly paced in my opinion. This 800-page book did not feel like it was eight hundred pages. Throughout reading House of Earth and Blood, I was excited to start another chapter. I also was trying to figure out why, after 500 pages, I was not getting bored with the book. When I read books, I normally start to look forward to the conclusion. Whereas while reading House of Earth and Blood, I wanted the book to never end. I didn't care that a murder plot may or may not take 800 pages to solve. This, I credit, to Sarah J. Maas's ability to create and develop characters. I, as a reader, found myself emotionally invested in Bryce's, Hunt's, and even Ruhn's storyline. I also could not help but fall in love with the side characters (ex; Lehabah, Tharion, Declan, Flynn, Juniper, Jesiba, Aidas, etc.) and the furry sidekicks (Syrinx, Otters).

 I found the plot and the character development flowed, and wrapped, nicely in the first book. My guess of who was the prime antagonist, in the first book, was correct. There were some twists and turns towards the end of the book that I did not predict. I also found the book ended at a good spot in the storyline. The ending answers some questions while, leaving readers with more questions. I am excited for the sequel to the House of Earth and Blood. The last two hundred pages of this book were very good. The last two hundred pages were very fast-paced and kept you on your toes.

 I enjoyed reading about Bryce's and Ruhn's relationship. I loved Hunt's and Bryce's relationship and how it developed throughout the book. Bryce is so strong-willed, stubborn and full of sass. This book is a slow burn romance.

 Lehabah is so cute!!

 The world-building is also very well done in my opinion. I did not have a hard time understanding how Bryce's and Hunt's world work. The atmosphere of Lunathion and its surroundings were well developed in the book. I did not have a hard time picturing Bryce's world. The political system and its prejudices were also clearly explained in the novel. The cover is gorgeous. I also enjoyed the city's map of Lunathion inside of the book.

 My hope for book #2 is to see more of Tharion, Aidas, and the Autumn King.