Warning: This article contains spoilers for Crescent City, as well as minor spoilers for A Court of Thorns & Roses and Throne of Glass.
Summary
- Bryce Quinlan's journey in Crescent City starts out strong, but she becomes a divisive character as the series continues.
- Bryce's snarky attitude evolves into arrogance, and her secretive nature makes it hard for readers to relate to her.
- Sarah J. Maas' previous fantasy heroines are tough acts to follow, and Bryce's behavior makes the situation worse.
Sarah J. Maas' other fantasy series, but its main character has been harder to sell — and there are several reasons Bryce Quinlan is so divisive among readers. Bryce's journey begins after her friend is killed in House of Earth and Blood, and this death pushes her to find who murdered Danika. Bryce's narrative has a compelling start in the Crescent City books, and the first installment makes it seem as though she'll be a complex heroine on par with Feyre Archeron or Celaena Sardothien.
Unfortunately, Bryce becomes less likable as Crescent City continues, and her character has gotten a lot of backlash on the heels of House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow. With the initial story seemingly over, it's unclear if Bryce will play a large role in Crescent City 4. The next book could change readers' minds about Bryce. However, it may take a lot of change and growth to do so. And even then, it could feel like too little, too late. The series gives a lot of reasons to criticize Bryce without enough redeeming moments to balance them.
What Order To Read Sarah J. Maas' Books In
Sarah J. Maas has written three beloved fantasy series, and they all share connections with one another — so which order should they be read in?
Crescent City's Heroine Becomes Increasingly Rude & Arrogant As The Series Continues
Sarah J. Maas Takes Bryce's Snarky Attitude Too Far
House of Earth and Blood establishes Bryce as a heroine with a snarky attitude, and this is par for the course when it comes to Maas' main characters. Many of the women the author writes have fiery personalities, and that's part of the reason Maas' heroines are so beloved. Unfortunately, the later Crescent City books turn Bryce's snark into full-blown arrogance. Crescent City's lead is often criticized for being too egotistic, especially for someone who doesn't always prove that the over-confidence is warranted.
When it comes to Bryce, it's difficult to understand the way she acts.
Bryce is also rude to the other characters in the Crescent City books, often without provocation or good reason. Nesta from A Court of Thorns & Roses is divisive for this reason, but the eldest Archeron sister has an upbringing that makes sense of her behavior, even if it doesn't justify it. When it comes to Bryce, it's difficult to understand the way she acts. It's especially perplexing when readers realize that she's even ill-mannered to the people she cares about most. This makes it difficult to relate to or root for her throughout Crescent City.
Bryce Is Very Secretive In The Crescent City Books For No Reason
Her Methods Don't Make Much Sense
In addition to being overconfident and prickly in Crescent City, Bryce also has another noteworthy flaw: her secretive approach to everything she does. This is another major criticism of her character, with readers noting that Bryce has no real reason to be so tight-lipped and uncommunicative throughout Maas' series (via Reddit). Bryce regularly makes plans and decisions — many of which involve other people — without telling anyone else. She doesn't confide in her friends when she should, and she also doesn't keep the people her choices might impact in the loop.
This Bryce quality feels reminiscent of Celaena's actions in the Throne of Glass books, but there is a major difference. Celaena is raised to be distrustful and on high-alert, and considering what could happen if she's ever found out, her secretive nature makes sense. By contrast, it feels like Bryce could benefit from sharing her plans with people, while the efforts she takes to hide things from her loved ones are perplexing. This is especially frustrating when it comes to Hunt, who Bryce should probably trust more as the Crescent City books continue.
Bryce Could Treat Hunt Much Better In The Crescent City Books
Their Relationship Is 1 Of Sarah J. Maas' Weakest
Bryces actions in Crescent City are annoying in numerous circumstances, but they're especially aggravating when it comes to Hunt. Bryce and Hunt work together in House of Earth and Blood, and they're the primary romance in Maas' Crescent City series. Hunt gives Bryce plenty of reasons to place her trust in him, yet she appears to do the opposite as they grow closer to one another. She also overlooks and minimizes the real trauma he experiences, making their relationship one of the weakest to come from Maas' books. Bryce's treatment of Hunt is often difficult to read.
To Bryce's credit, her relationship with her mother does push her to be independent, sometimes to the point of it becoming a character flaw. This is likely why she pushes Hunt away throughout Crescent City, and it could explain her desire to do everything on her own. Unfortunately, that connection isn't driven home enough in Maas' books. Bryce also doesn't make the effort to address the problem, which keeps readers empathizing with those on the receiving end of her ire rather than with the protagonist herself.
Bryce Had Big Shoes To Fill After Sarah J. Maas' Other Fantasy Heroines
Celaena & Feyre Are Difficult Main Characters To Follow
Bryce has numerous qualities that explain the divisive response to her character, but there's no denying that Crescent City's lead also had big shoes to fill. Feyre from ACOTAR and Celaena from Throne of Glass are both beloved among fans of Maas' work, and following them was never going to be an easy task. It's also unclear if Bryce's story is even over yet, so it's not completely fair to compare Bryce to Feyre or Celaena. Both of them have the opportunity to grow beyond their flaws in their respective series, while Bryce's arc might be ongoing.
Feyre from ACOTAR and Celaena from Throne of Glass are both beloved among fans of Maas' work, and following them was never going to be an easy task.
Of course, the fact that Bryce's behavior resembles Celaena's and Nesta's in many ways also makes her feel like a less unique protagonist. This is another element of her character that might hold her back from winning over fans of Maas' previous work. Even if readers appreciate the author's other heroines, they could feel like Bryce doesn't stand out enough by comparison. Combined with her less irable qualities, this makes her one of the weakest leads in Maas' fantasy series. It's unfortunate, as Bryce seems to have potential when Crescent City opens.
Perhaps that potential will be met when Maas returns with Crescent City 4. Although the narrative of the first three books seems to be resolved, the next chapter could throw new challenges Bryce's way. Whether she remains the main character or becomes a peripheral one, it's possible Bryce will grow later in Crescent City. And if she doesn't, Maas fans will at least have several other beloved heroines to root for. Unfortunately, Crescent City will remain associated with the divisiveness of its main character.
Source: Reddit