Blood & Honey
“Blood & Honey” by Shelby Mahurin is the second installment in the “Serpent & Dove” trilogy, a young adult fantasy-romance series. Following a near-fatal encounter with the Dames Blanches, protagonists Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel become fugitives, fleeing from coven, kingdom, and church. The narrative revolves around their journey to secure allies while navigating escalating dangers, including deadly witches and internal conflicts. The book shifts tone from the first installment, focusing more on tension and survival than romance. Key themes include loyalty, sacrifice, and the struggle between destiny and choice. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, setting up the trilogy’s conclusion. With 528 pages, it expands the dark, magical world of Belterra while deepening character arcs and conflicts.
Blood and Honey: Reid
byMahurin, Shelby
The chapter opens with Reid regaining consciousness amid intense pain and chaos, finding himself in the middle of a violent battlefield. Coco urgently tries to help him, revealing that her blood magic is keeping his wound closed but requires honey for full healing. The scene is one of utter disorder, with allies like Deveraux, Toulouse, Zenna, Ansel, and Seraphine engaged in fierce combat against thieves. Reid notices the lifeless body of the thieves’ leader nearby, his eye gouged out, and his disorientation slowly clears as he takes in the grim reality of their situation.
Reid’s focus shifts to Lou, who is locked in a desperate struggle with Bas. Despite her attempts to reason with him, Bas appears to have no memory of her, insisting he doesn’t know her. Lou’s frustration grows as she recalls their shared past, accusing him of pretending. The tension escalates when Bas nearly stabs her, forcing Lou to physically restrain him. Coco prevents Reid from intervening, insisting Lou can handle the situation, but the confrontation takes a darker turn as Lou realizes Bas’s memory loss is genuine.
Lou’s desperation leads her to use magic to restore Bas’s memories, despite the obvious strain it places on her. As she recounts their history, Bas experiences intense pain, begging her to stop. Madame Labelle intervenes, warning Lou that she risks killing herself, but Lou persists. The chapter reaches a climax as both Lou and Bas collapse, their connection through magic leaving them unconscious. Reid, ignoring his own injuries, rushes to Lou’s side, overwhelmed by the scent of incense and his own physical agony.
The chapter concludes with Reid’s painful realization that Lou lied about rescuing Bas from the Tower, a deception that cuts deeper than any physical wound. As Lou and Bas regain consciousness, Reid grapples with feelings of betrayal and raw emotional exposure. The revelation that Lou risked everything for Bas leaves Reid questioning her motives and his own place in her life, ending the chapter on a note of unresolved tension and heartache.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Coco’s blood magic in this chapter, and how does it relate to Reid’s condition?
Answer:
Coco’s blood magic serves as a temporary healing measure for Reid’s severe stomach wound, though it requires honey to fully stabilize. The text states, “My blood won’t hold it closed without honey,” indicating the limitations of her magic. This highlights the witches’ reliance on specific magical components (blood + honey) and Reid’s vulnerable state. The charred, bitter scent of her magic also contrasts with later descriptions of Lou’s “sharp and sweet” incense-like magic, creating a sensory distinction between their powers.2. Analyze the confrontation between Lou and Bas. What does this reveal about memory manipulation and its consequences?
Answer:
The violent confrontation reveals Lou’s prior memory theft from Bas in the Tower—likely to protect Tremblay’s witches—and the trauma of forced memory restoration. Bas’s initial hostility (“I’ve never met you”) shifts to recognition after Lou reverses her magic, but the process causes them both to collapse, showing the physical toll. Madame Labelle’s warning (“You’ll kill yourself!”) underscores the dangers of such powerful magic. This scene explores ethical dilemmas around consent and the psychological violence inherent in memory manipulation.3. How does Reid’s perspective shape the reader’s understanding of the battle scene?
Answer:
Reid’s disoriented, pain-filtered narration creates a fragmented but visceral depiction of the chaos. His limited mobility forces observations of others’ actions: Ansel’s biting, Seraphine’s kicks, Toulouse’s rapid hand movements. This selective focus emphasizes key character traits (e.g., Ansel’s ferocity) while maintaining tension. His discovery of the dead leader (“a bloody hole where his eye should’ve been”) arrives abruptly, mirroring battlefield randomness. The perspective also foreshadows his emotional betrayal upon realizing Lou lied about rescuing Bas.4. What thematic contrasts emerge between the witches’ and thieves’ combat styles?
Answer:
The witches employ coordinated, magical efficiency (Toulouse’s instant takedowns, Labelle’s incapacitation paired with Beau’s throat-slitting), while the thieves rely on brutal improvisation (Ansel’s teeth, Seraphine’s kicks). This dichotomy reflects their societal roles: witches as systematized outcasts versus thieves as scrappy survivors. Lou and Bas’s duel blends both—her technical swordwork versus his raw aggression—mirroring their cross-faction relationship. The contrast culminates in Lou’s non-combative magic to restore memories, prioritizing connection over violence.5. Evaluate how Reid’s discovery of Lou’s deception contributes to his character arc.
Answer:
Reid’s realization that Lou rescued Bas (“the deception still cut deep… to my very soul”) marks a crisis of trust. His physical wound parallels the emotional one, with “raw, exposed” suggesting vulnerability beyond pride. The phrasing “shouldn’t have mattered” implies conflicting priorities—his duty as a Chasseur versus personal feelings for Lou. This moment complicates his loyalty, as past betrayals (like his brother’s) likely resurface. The unresolved ending positions this as a turning point toward either greater bitterness or reluctant understanding of Lou’s motives.
Quotes
1. “I slammed back into my body with excruciating pain. Gasping for breath, I clung to the first thing I touched—brown hands, scarred. Distantly, the sounds of men shouting and swords clashing met my ears.”
This opening quote immediately immerses the reader in the protagonist’s disoriented and painful return to consciousness, setting the tone for the chaotic battle scene that follows. The visceral description grounds the supernatural elements in physical reality.
2. “‘I don’t want to hurt you, Bas,’ she hissed, deflecting yet another of his attacks with my Balisarda. ‘But you need to stop being an idiot. It’s me. It’s Lou—’ ‘I’ve never met you before in my life, madame.’”
This exchange captures the heartbreaking core conflict between Lou and Bas, where one remembers their deep connection while the other has no recollection. The juxtaposition of Lou’s desperate familiarity with Bas’s cold formality is particularly poignant.
3. “‘I stole your memories from you. I’m simply returning them.’”
This revelation is a pivotal moment that explains Bas’s memory loss and Lou’s determination to fix what she broke. The simple, matter-of-fact delivery belies the profound ethical and emotional implications of memory manipulation in their relationship.
4. “Lou had lied. Again. She had rescued her lover from the Tower. Right under my nose. It shouldn’t have surprised me—shouldn’t have mattered—but the deception still cut deep.”
This concluding realization shows the protagonist’s raw emotional reaction to Lou’s deception, revealing deeper personal stakes than just the physical battle. The metaphor of being cut “past muscle and bone to my very soul” powerfully conveys the betrayal’s impact.
5. “‘You’ll kill yourself!’ But Lou didn’t listen. Her and Bas’s eyes rolled back simultaneously, and together, they collapsed.”
This dramatic moment shows Lou’s reckless determination to restore Bas’s memories, even at great personal risk. The simultaneous collapse visually represents their profound connection and the dangerous consequences of magic in this world.