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.
Pride Goeth Before the Fall: Lou
byMahurin, Shelby
Lou, the protagonist, is consumed by anger and isolation after being abandoned by a significant figure (likely Reid) without explanation. She drowns her frustration in whiskey while observing others in the tavern—Ansel, Coco, and their companions—laughing together, which only deepens her sense of alienation. The group watches her warily, as if she’s a ticking time bomb. Lou reflects on their fractured relationship, convinced she only gave him the truth he demanded, yet he left anyway. Her worry for his safety clashes with her resentment, leaving her torn between concern and defiance.
Her solitude is interrupted by Nicholina, a eerie and unsettling presence with blood-stained teeth and unnerving mannerisms. Nicholina taunts Lou, suggesting they are alike—both outcasts feared by others. She provokes Lou by revealing Blaise’s hostile thoughts, hinting at his desire for revenge. Lou’s defiance flares, but Nicholina’s words linger, emphasizing their shared marginalization. The conversation takes a darker turn as Nicholina implies she harbors multiple identities, adding to her mystique. Lou’s thoughts briefly drift to Gabrielle, a fallen comrade, before Nicholina redirects her attention, insisting it’s not their responsibility to make others comfortable.
Lou’s tension escalates when she overhears Blaise and Terrance speculating about Reid’s possible death and their desire to abandon the group. Enraged, she confronts them, accusing them of disloyalty and threatening Terrance with magical retribution. Blaise responds with equal hostility, while Claud attempts to mediate. Lou’s outburst reveals her volatile emotions and protective instincts, even as her actions risk further alienating her from the group. Nicholina watches with delight, reinforcing Lou’s isolation and the growing divide between her and the others.
The chapter culminates in Lou’s explosive confrontation, highlighting her internal struggle between vulnerability and rage. Her interactions with Nicholina and Blaise underscore her precarious position—both feared and rejected by those around her. The unresolved tension around Reid’s fate and Lou’s volatile magic leave the reader anticipating further conflict. The chapter paints a vivid portrait of a protagonist teetering on the edge, grappling with betrayal, power, and the consequences of her choices.
FAQs
1. How does Lou’s emotional state manifest in her actions at the beginning of the chapter, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Lou’s emotional turmoil is evident through several physical manifestations: pouring out her whiskey, scowling at Nicholina, and glaring at Blaise. These actions reveal a deeply conflicted character struggling with anger, abandonment, and self-doubt. Her internal monologue (“I hadn’t said anything untrue”) shows she justifies her harshness as honesty, while her observation that others see her as “a cannon about to explode” suggests self-awareness of her volatile nature. This paints Lou as a complex character who uses aggression to mask vulnerability, particularly regarding Reid’s departure and the group’s perception of her.2. Analyze the significance of Nicholina’s statement: “It isn’t on us to make them comfortable… It’s on them.” How does this relate to Lou’s situation?
Answer:
Nicholina’s statement challenges societal expectations that marginalized individuals (like witches) must conform to others’ comfort. This directly parallels Lou’s struggle as both a powerful witch and an outcast within her own group. The chapter shows others whispering about Lou (“they all stared at me”) and Blaise’s hostility over past actions. Nicholina’s words offer a twisted justification for Lou’s defiance, suggesting her discomfort stems from others’ prejudice rather than her own flaws. This reflects the novel’s broader themes of otherness and the moral ambiguity of power.3. What does the tension between Lou and the werewolves reveal about the fragile alliances in their group?
Answer:
The werewolves’ conversation (overheard through Lou’s magic) exposes transactional loyalty - Terrance questions staying if Reid dies, while Blaise resents Lou for harming his son. This mirrors Lou’s own conditional loyalty to Reid. The confrontation escalates when Lou threatens Terrance’s life, exposing how past violence undermines trust. The scene reveals their alliance is held together by: 1) Reid’s leadership, 2) mutual enemies, and 3) life debts rather than genuine unity. Lou’s outburst (“you mangy dogs”) highlights how quickly these tensions surface when leadership is uncertain.4. How does the author use contrasting imagery to emphasize Lou’s isolation?
Answer:
The chapter employs stark contrasts: Lou alone at a filthy window versus the “one big, happy family” laughing together; her aggressive posture (“fists against the table”) versus Nicholina’s eerie floating; the warmth of whiskey versus its symbolic pouring out. Most striking is the visual of blood-stained Nicholina (“teeth yellow”) against Lou’s metaphorical “cannon” explosion - both threats, but one overt, one restrained. These contrasts heighten Lou’s emotional isolation while visually connecting her to the “monstrous” figures (Nicholina, werewolves) that others fear, reinforcing her outsider status.5. Evaluate Lou’s claim that she only speaks “the truth” to Reid. Is this defensible, given the chapter’s events?
Answer:
Lou’s self-justification (“I hadn’t lied”) is partially valid but ultimately flawed. While she may have been honest with Reid, the chapter reveals her truth-telling is weaponized - she uses harsh truths to push people away, as seen with her aggressive confrontation with the werewolves. Her internal conflict (“I don’t know what I’d expected”) suggests even she recognizes the destructiveness of her honesty. The comparison to her mother implies this behavior is cyclical. Thus, while factually correct, her approach lacks emotional truth - she avoids admitting her hurt over Reid’s departure, masking vulnerability with anger.
Quotes
1. “I don’t know what I’d expected—I’d practically doused him in whiskey and lit the match. But I hadn’t lied. I hadn’t said anything untrue. That’s what he’d wanted, right? He’d wanted the truth.”
This quote captures Lou’s internal conflict and bitterness after a confrontation. It highlights the tension between truth and consequences, showing how honesty can still ignite destruction in relationships.
2. “No. It makes you your mother.”
A pivotal moment where Lou’s identity and legacy are thrown back at her. This cutting remark reveals deep-seated fears about repeating her mother’s mistakes and the weight of familial expectations.
3. “We aren’t so very different… For years, our people have been persecuted, and we have been persecuted among even them.”
Nicholina’s eerie observation draws parallels between her outcast status and Lou’s growing isolation. This quote underscores themes of otherness and the shared experience of marginalization, even among supposed allies.
4. “It isn’t on us to make them comfortable. No, no, no it’s not. It’s not, it’s not, it’s not. It’s on them.”
Nicholina’s unsettling mantra challenges Lou’s people-pleasing tendencies. This repetitive, almost manic advice represents a turning point where Lou must decide whether to embrace her outsider status.
5. “You owe him a life debt, you mangy dogs. Or would you like me to reclaim Terrance’s?”
This explosive threat shows Lou’s protective rage toward Reid and her willingness to wield power against his disloyal companions. It marks a shift from passive anger to active confrontation in the chapter’s climax.