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.
One Step Forward: Reid
byMahurin, Shelby
Reid Diggory grapples with the weight of his past actions and the resentment directed at him by others, symbolized by the knife he holds—a weapon purchased from a smith who later conspired against him. The chapter opens with Reid reflecting on how his uniform and beliefs have alienated him from those around him, including farmers in Saint-Loire. His internal conflict is palpable as he acknowledges his role in the hostility he faces, setting the tone for his emotional turmoil throughout the chapter.
The scene shifts to Reid practicing his knife-throwing skills, which draws exaggerated praise from Deveraux, a flamboyant character who insists on crafting a theatrical stage name for him. Despite Reid’s reluctance, Deveraux proposes grandiose titles like “The Red Death,” much to the amusement of Beau, Reid’s companion. The banter highlights Reid’s discomfort with the attention and his resistance to embracing a new identity, underscoring his struggle with self-acceptance and the expectations of others.
Deveraux’s insistence on outfitting Reid and Beau for their roles in the traveling company further emphasizes the tension between Reid’s desire for solitude and the demands of his new circumstances. Beau’s reluctance to participate and Deveraux’s wine-scented enthusiasm add a layer of dark humor to the exchange. The discussion of sleeping arrangements introduces new characters, Toulouse and Thierry, hinting at potential future connections while reinforcing Reid’s suspicion and isolation.
The chapter culminates in a poignant moment as Deveraux confronts Reid about his emotional state, bluntly addressing his trauma, self-loathing, and the rift in his marriage. Reid’s anger flares at the intrusion, but Deveraux’s words strike a chord, suggesting that Reid must reconcile with himself before he can connect with others. This confrontation serves as a turning point, foreshadowing Reid’s potential growth and the challenges he must overcome to heal.
FAQs
1. What internal conflict does Reid grapple with in this chapter, and how does it manifest in his interactions with others?
Answer:
Reid struggles with profound self-loathing and identity crisis following traumatic events, including his wife’s murder and rejection by his former brotherhood. This internal conflict manifests in his prickly demeanor and emotional distance from others. The chapter reveals his awareness that people despise him for both his uniform (symbolizing his past affiliations) and his personal beliefs (“All because of me”). Deveraux directly calls out this self-hatred, noting how it has created emotional distance between Reid and his wife, as well as within himself. Reid’s short temper and reluctance to engage with the troupe’s camaraderie further demonstrate this internal struggle.2. Analyze the significance of Deveraux’s proposed stage name “The Red Death” for Reid. Why might this name be particularly resonant or troubling?
Answer:
“The Red Death” carries heavy symbolic weight for Reid. The name evokes imagery of violence and mortality, directly connecting to Reid’s recent traumatic experiences (his wife’s murder) and his skill with blades. More importantly, it mirrors his internal state - he feels like an agent of death, haunted by his past actions and losses. The name’s ominous quality contrasts sharply with Reid’s apparent desire for normalcy, as seen in his preference for the mundane name “Raoul.” Deveraux’s theatrical flair ignores Reid’s psychological wounds, making the name suggestion particularly insensitive, which explains Reid’s visceral reaction (“My heartbeat faltered”).3. How does Deveraux’s character serve as both a comic relief and a truth-teller in this chapter?
Answer:
Deveraux provides comic relief through his flamboyant personality, excessive theatrics (like suggesting ridiculous stage names), and drunken demeanor (“engulfing me in the scent of wine”). However, he simultaneously serves as an unexpected truth-teller, delivering astute psychological observations about Reid’s state of mind. Despite his comedic presentation, Deveraux accurately diagnoses Reid’s self-loathing, emotional isolation, and identity crisis (“You cannot know another until you know yourself”). This duality makes him an effective character - his humor makes the difficult truths he delivers more palatable, while his insights lend depth to what might otherwise be pure comic relief.4. What does the chapter reveal about Reid’s relationship with violence, and how has this relationship evolved?
Answer:
The chapter shows Reid’s complex relationship with violence through his knife skills - while he demonstrates mastery (“the blade balanced and sharp”), this skill is now divorced from its original context (likely law enforcement) and placed in a performance setting. His casual precision (“threw my knife. It lodged dead center”) suggests violence has become second nature, yet the weight he feels (“heavy in my palm”) implies new ambivalence. The smith’s betrayal (“who had later consorted to kill my wife”) has likely altered his perspective, making violence now associated with personal loss rather than professional duty. His reluctance to embrace the “Red Death” persona suggests discomfort with being defined by violent capabilities.5. How does the chapter use physical spaces and arrangements (like the sleeping assignments) to reflect character dynamics?
Answer:
Deveraux’s sleeping arrangements symbolically reflect his attempt to reshape the characters’ relationships. Assigning Reid to bunk with the twins suggests an effort to force new friendships and break his isolation, while Beau’s assignment to the “scarlet wagon” plays on his romantic interests, only to subvert them (revealing the female occupants are already partnered). The spinning board with its leather restraints and blood stains creates a physical manifestation of the dangerous performance world Reid is entering. These spatial arrangements highlight the troupe’s attempt to assimilate the newcomers while respecting existing bonds, mirroring the chapter’s broader themes of connection and identity.
Quotes
1. “The weight of the knife was heavy in my palm. Solid. The blade balanced and sharp. I’d purchased it from one of the finest smiths in Cesarine—a smith who had later consorted to kill my wife with a couple of criminals. Blue pig, he’d spat after I’d given him to the authorities. In all our years of business, I hadn’t known he despised me. Just like the farmers in Saint-Loire. All because of my uniform.”
This opening quote sets the tone for Reid’s internal conflict and the theme of betrayal. It reveals his growing awareness of how his identity as a Chasseur has made him a target, while also hinting at his guilt and self-reflection.
2. “No. That wasn’t true. All because of me. My beliefs.”
A pivotal moment of self-realization where Reid acknowledges that the hatred directed at him stems from his own actions and ideology, not just his uniform. This marks a key step in his character development.
3. “You have recently suffered a rather traumatic event and are in desperate need of platonic companionship. Your forefather is gone. Your brotherhood has abandoned you. Your self-loathing has cleaved a physical and emotional cleft between you and your wife. More important, it has cleaved a cleft within yourself.”
Deveraux’s blunt assessment cuts to the core of Reid’s psychological state. This quote encapsulates the chapter’s central conflict - Reid’s isolation, loss of identity, and the internal divide caused by his changing beliefs.
4. “I do know you don’t know yourself. I know you cannot know another until you do.”
A profound statement about self-awareness and relationships that serves as both advice and challenge to Reid. This philosophical insight represents a turning point where Reid must confront his identity crisis.
5. “The Red Death, he said with relish. My heartbeat faltered.”
This moment foreshadows Reid’s potential new identity within the circus troupe. The visceral reaction (“my heartbeat faltered”) suggests this name carries deeper significance, possibly representing both his past violence and future transformation.