Crescent City 2: House of Sky and Breath Review + My Theories

⚠️ Spoiler Warning! If you haven’t read Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath (or the Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series), proceed with caution. This post will dive deep into major plot points, connections, and wild theories that could change the way we view the SJM universe.

Initial Thoughts

Sarah J. Maas has once again delivered a book that is equal parts thrilling, emotional, and completely unhinged in the best way possible. House of Sky and Breath takes everything we thought we knew from House of Earth and Blood and multiplies it by ten. More politics, more secrets, more romance, and more shocking reveals that make you rethink every breadcrumb from her other series.

From Bryce’s journey and hidden truths to the expansion of the Asteri’s history, this book felt like a key piece in connecting the puzzle of all three SJM worlds. And that ending? Absolutely game-changing.

World-Building & Character Arcs

• Bryce: shines as a heroine torn between family duty and her own sense of justice.

• Hunt: his protective yet conflicted arc makes his bond with Bryce even more powerful.

• Ruhn: arguably the standout POV in this installment—his vulnerability and growth anchor so much of the story.

• Tharion: adds a fascinating new perspective, with connections that raise big questions about lineage, loyalty, and power.

What Makes This Book Special

This sequel doesn’t just continue a story, it feels like a bridge between all of Sarah J. Maas’s series. The Easter eggs, overlapping myths, and subtle hints that these worlds might not be as separate as we once thought had me flipping back through TOG and ACOTAR for comparisons.

Fan Theories & Connections Explained

Sarah J. Maas is famous for weaving hidden threads between her series, and House of Sky and Breath is packed with details that feel too intentional to ignore. Here’s a breakdown of the major theories swirling in my mind:

🌊 The Marshland & the “Beach” in

Throne of Glass

Could the marshland in Crescent City be the same liminal “beach” from TOG? Both feel like in-between spaces that act as portals. If true, it suggests SJM built one universal “crossing point” across her realms.

🐉 Tharion & Tarquin: Bloodlines of the Sea

Tharion’s role in the River Queen’s court feels eerily similar to Tarquin’s Summer Court in ACOTAR. Both tied to water, both loyal but trapped in court politics—could they share ancestry, split across realms?

🏰 Kavalla Prison = Celaena’s Jail?

The brutal conditions of Kavalla mirror Celaena’s time in Endovier. Is this a shared prison across realms, or a repeated design from the same ancient powers?

🔒 Asteri’s Dungeons = Amarantha’s Court

The despair-filled dungeons of the Asteri bring to mind Amarantha’s underground chambers. Could they both stem from the same ancient structure of torture and control?

⚔️ The Endless War: One Conflict, Many Names

The “Endless War” in Midgard feels suspiciously like the same battles Celaena fought in TOG and the Illyrians referenced in ACOTAR. What if it’s one universe-spanning conflict, remembered differently across realms?

👑 Pelias & Helena: Ancestors of Celaena or Feyre?

SJM loves legacy. Pelias and Helena could be early ancestors, their bloodlines splitting to eventually produce both Celaena (Aelin) and Feyre. Two heroines, one origin.

🌙 Ianthe & the Asteri

Here’s a chilling theory: Ianthe wasn’t destroyed, but transformed—or even became tied to the Asteri. Her obsession with worship and control feels like a precursor to their rule.

⭐ The Starsword Cave & Rowan’s Beginning

When Ruhn finds the Starsword, the description of the cave is so close to Rowan’s first encounter with Celaena. Could it literally be the same cave across realms and timelines?

🏯 Crystal Palaces: Asteri vs. Dorian’s Castle

The glittering, fragile Asteri crystal palace sounds eerily like Dorian’s glass castle in Erilea. Coincidence? Or two reflections of the same power?

🌌 The Northern Rift & ACOTAR’s Beasts

The Rift unleashes horrors that feel identical to the monsters from ACOTAR’s war. Another shared gateway between realms, perhaps?

⚔️ The Starsword = Rowan’s Blade?

The Starsword may not just be a “legendary weapon”—it could literally be Rowan’s sword, reforged. If true, Rowan’s legacy still actively shapes Midgard’s fate.

🩸 The Viper Queen & Maeve: Linked by Blood Magic

Blood-binding magic is rare and terrifying. Both Maeve and the Viper Queen wield it—suggesting the Viper Queen could be Maeve’s descendant, carrying her influence into Midgard.

Why These Theories Matter

These connections suggest that Crescent City, ACOTAR, and Throne of Glass are not just lightly linked—they may be branches of the same story. Different characters, different timelines, but one cosmic war threading it all together.

Final Thoughts

House of Sky and Breath doesn’t just tell its own story, it cracks open the door to a shared SJM multiverse. Whether these theories pan out or not, the parallels are too strong to dismiss. One thing is certain: Sarah J. Maas is building toward something massive, and House of Flame and Shadow will be the book that decides how these worlds collide.

✨ What do you think? Are these connections deliberate foreshadowing, or just SJM playing with our hearts? Drop your thoughts below! I’d love to compare theories!