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    FantasyRomance Novel

    Blood & Honey

    by Mahurin, Shelby
    “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.
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    Blood & Honey

    Pride Goeth Before the Fall: Lou

    by Mahurin, 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.

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    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.

    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.

    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.

    Note