Crescent City

by Sarah J. Maas

A murdered best friend. A fallen angel seeking freedom. A city on the brink. Maas's #1 bestselling adult fantasy blends urban setting, complex magic, and searing romance as half-fae Bryce Quinlan hunts demons and fights tyrannical gods.

Crescent City is a fantasy book series by Sarah J. Maas, author of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Crescent City follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae, half-human girl and her life on Midgard. Set in a vibrant urban fantasy world where humans coexist with demons, shifters, angels, and countless magical creatures, this adult fantasy series marks Maas's bold evolution into contemporary fantasy storytelling.

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 delve deep into the dark underbelly of Crescent City, they uncover a sinister power that threatens everything and everyone they love. Amidst the danger and suspense, a blazing passion ignites between them. The series spans three books - House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, and House of Flame and Shadow - with a fourth book confirmed, exploring themes of grief, freedom, rebellion, and the cost of fighting oppressive power.

Unlike Maas's previous series, Crescent City features a modern urban setting complete with texting, nightclubs, and reality television, while maintaining intricate worldbuilding and complex magic systems. The series includes diverse representation and developed side characters including wolf-shifters and mer-people who enrich the narrative. House of Sky and Breath won the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy, cementing the series' place among Maas's most acclaimed work.

Perfect for readers seeking adult fantasy with mystery elements, urban settings, political intrigue, steamy romance, and characters fighting against tyrannical gods while discovering love and freedom.