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.
Madame Sauvage’s Cabinet of Curiosities: Lou
byMahurin, Shelby
Lou and Reid, fleeing from Manon’s warning, take refuge in Madame Sauvage’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a bizarre shop filled with oddities like stuffed rats, animal skulls, and butterfly wings. The atmosphere is eerie, and Reid is visibly unsettled by the strangeness of their surroundings. Lou, focused on evading capture, insists Reid disguise himself with a wig, but he resists, sparking tension between them. Their argument escalates as Lou accuses Reid of hypocrisy for using magic when it suits him while condemning her for doing the same.
The confrontation deepens when Reid demands answers about a mysterious man Lou prevented him from saving. Lou struggles to respond, torn between truth and deception, as the weight of their unresolved conflicts surfaces. Their heated exchange is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Madame Sauvage, an enigmatic elderly woman who seems to know their names and assures them they’re safe from Manon. Her cryptic demeanor and abrupt disappearance leave Lou and Reid stunned, adding to the chapter’s sense of mystery and unease.
Reid’s suspicion intensifies as he questions Lou about Madame Sauvage, accusing her of withholding information. Lou, frustrated by his distrust, reflects on the lies she’s told to survive and his persistent judgment of her magic. The tension between them reaches a boiling point as Reid insists on the truth, while Lou retorts that he’s incapable of accepting it. Their dynamic is fraught with unresolved anger and betrayal, highlighting the emotional stakes of their relationship.
The chapter ends with Lou attempting to leave, but Reid stops her, demanding honesty. Lou’s resentment spills over as she recalls his past insults and rejection of her magic. The unresolved conflict leaves their future uncertain, with both characters trapped in a cycle of mistrust and unspoken truths. The eerie setting of the curiosity shop mirrors the unsettling nature of their relationship, setting the stage for further confrontation or revelation in the story.
FAQs
1. How does the setting of Madame Sauvage’s Cabinet of Curiosities contribute to the atmosphere of the chapter?
Answer:
The shop’s eerie and cluttered environment creates a tense, mysterious atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ emotional state. The description of “stuffed rats dancing in the window,” “glass beetles,” “animal skulls,” and “cerulean-blue butterfly wings” establishes a surreal, almost macabre tone. This setting amplifies the sense of danger and uncertainty Lou and Reid feel while hiding from Manon. The shop’s strangeness also foreshadows Madame Sauvage’s supernatural nature, as she appears and disappears unnaturally. The claustrophobic, chaotic space reflects the characters’ internal conflicts, particularly their unresolved argument about truth and magic.2. Analyze the significance of the calla lilies in this scene. What do they reveal about the characters’ relationship?
Answer:
The calla lilies symbolize the duality of Lou and Reid’s relationship—both devotion and impending rupture. Madame Sauvage offers them as a peace offering for their “lovers’ quarrel,” highlighting their emotional tension. Lou’s rejection of the flower (“They also mean death”) underscores her anger and pessimism about their bond, while Reid’s polite acceptance shows his lingering care despite their conflict. The lilies’ dual meaning mirrors their struggle: Reid still seeks connection, but Lou sees their differences as irreconcilable. This moment encapsulates their fundamental clash—Reid’s desire for honesty versus Lou’s belief that he can’t handle her truth.3. How does Reid’s attitude toward magic create conflict in this chapter?
Answer:
Reid displays hypocrisy in his stance on magic, which fuels Lou’s anger. He criticizes her for using disguises (“Your disguises don’t work”) and implies her magic is irresponsible, yet he used magic himself earlier to escape Chasseurs. Lou calls out this double standard: “You’re allowed to use it when you deem necessary, but I’m not?” His justification—”I used it responsibly”—reveals his biased view that his actions are valid while hers are dangerous. This conflict stems from his internalized Chasseur ideology, which Lou challenges, forcing him to confront his contradictions. Their argument reflects deeper tensions about trust and identity.4. What does Madame Sauvage’s sudden appearance and disappearance suggest about her role in the story?
Answer:
Madame Sauvage’s supernatural behavior marks her as a figure of significance, possibly an ally or guide. Her knowledge of Manon, Reid, and Lou (“Manon won’t find you here”) implies she’s more than a shopkeeper—she’s aware of their larger struggle. Her cheerful demeanor amid the tension (“winked cheerily”) and her cryptic advice (“do lock the door”) suggest she operates by her own rules, perhaps aiding them indirectly. Her vanishing act confirms her magical nature, positioning her as a potential mentor or trickster figure who may reappear later to influence events. Her ambiguity adds to the chapter’s mystery.5. Evaluate Lou’s statement: “You can’t handle the truth, Reid.” How does this reflect their relationship’s core issue?
Answer:
Lou’s accusation captures their central conflict: Reid’s refusal to fully accept her magic and past. She believes he’s unwilling to face uncomfortable truths, referencing his earlier rejection of her nature (“Aberrant… Like a sickness”). Her bitterness stems from his pattern of denial—both of her identity and his own complicity in Chasseur ideology. By contrast, Reid demands honesty (“Let me decide that”), but Lou sees this as another attempt to control the narrative. This clash highlights their broken trust; Lou won’t risk vulnerability, and Reid hasn’t proven he can reconcile his beliefs with her reality.
Quotes
1. “I used it responsibly.”
This quote captures the central tension between Reid and Lou regarding their differing standards for using magic. Reid’s self-righteous justification highlights his hypocrisy and double standards, which fuels Lou’s growing resentment.
2. “Don’t lie to me. Just as sanctimonious and arrogant as he’d always been. As if I were the problem.”
This explosive moment reveals Lou’s pent-up frustration with Reid’s moral superiority complex. It encapsulates their relationship’s core conflict—Reid’s inability to accept her truth while demanding honesty on his terms.
3. “You can’t handle the truth, Reid. You couldn’t handle it then, and you can’t handle it now.”
A devastating indictment of Reid’s character, this quote shows Lou’s realization that his prejudice runs deeper than circumstance. It marks a turning point where she stops making excuses for his limitations.
4. “Aberrant, he’d called me. Like a sickness. A poison.”
This recalled insult demonstrates the lasting damage of Reid’s past words. The visceral metaphor underscores how deeply his rejection of her nature has wounded Lou, informing her current defensiveness.
5. “Let me decide that.”
Reid’s demand for agency contrasts sharply with his history of making decisions for Lou. This paradoxical command perfectly encapsulates their power struggle—he insists on controlling the narrative while accusing her of deception.