This book had every one of the strengths SJM has shown in her other series: richly imaginative fantasy world, fantastic friendships, swoony romance, characters that you simply can’t get out of your head, and reveals that have your heart pounding, throat sore from gasping, and cheeks wet from crying. House of Earth and Blood combines the character development and relationships and everything else that we loved about Heir of Fire, A Court of Mist and Fury, and Tower of Dawn with the twists and turns, schemes, and action of A Court of Wings and Ruin, Queen of Shadows, and Kingdom of Ash. Not to mention, no one represents mental health in fantasy like Maas (as shown in both of her other series), and House of Earth and Blood is no exception.