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.
She Loves Me Not: Lou
byMahurin, Shelby
The chapter opens with Lou and Reid celebrating their reunion with the villagers, sharing a quiet moment on the amber wagon’s steps while others dance and sing drunkenly around them. Their playful banter reveals their deep connection, as Reid teases Lou about her singing and she retaliates with mock outrage. The scene is filled with warmth and intimacy, underscored by their physical closeness and shared laughter. However, beneath the surface, Lou harbors a secret about Reid’s siblings’ deaths, which she chooses to keep from him to avoid shifting his focus from their ultimate goal of defeating Morgane.
Lou’s internal conflict is subtly woven into the lighthearted exchange, as she reflects on her decision to withhold the truth about Etienne and Gabrielle’s murders. She rationalizes her silence, believing it protects Reid from unnecessary guilt and distraction. Meanwhile, their flirtatious dynamic continues, with Lou provocatively singing a raunchy ballad to embarrass Reid, much to the amusement of their companions. The revelry is momentarily interrupted by Deveraux’s revelation that the song’s titular character, Big Titty Liddy, was a real person, adding a layer of absurdity to the scene.
The mood shifts as Lou notices Coco and Ansel slipping away together, their closeness sparking curiosity and concern. Beau’s reaction hints at underlying tensions, while Reid’s unreadable expression suggests his own unresolved feelings. Lou’s attention is divided between the festive atmosphere and her growing unease about Coco and Ansel’s relationship, which seems to be deepening in ways she hadn’t anticipated. This moment of observation underscores the complexities of the group’s dynamics, as personal relationships intertwine with larger conflicts.
The chapter closes with Lou’s lingering suspicion about Coco and Ansel, leaving the reader with a sense of impending drama. The juxtaposition of joy and secrecy highlights the characters’ struggles to balance personal happiness with their dangerous mission. Lou’s internal dilemma about Reid and her watchful eye on her friends create a tension that foreshadows future challenges, blending humor and emotional depth in a way that captures the chapter’s essence.
FAQs
1. How does Lou’s internal conflict about revealing information to Reid demonstrate her character development?
Answer:
Lou grapples with whether to tell Reid about his siblings’ murders by Morgane, showing her complex moral reasoning and protective instincts. While she acknowledges Reid would feel responsible for protecting them, she rationalizes that keeping this secret serves a greater purpose—keeping his focus on defeating Morgane. This internal struggle reveals Lou’s growth from a self-serving character to someone making difficult choices for what she perceives as Reid’s benefit, though it also shows her lingering tendency to control situations. The text states, “It wasn’t that I… didn’t want to tell Reid the whole truth, but what purpose would it serve?” illustrating her utilitarian justification (page 237).2. Analyze how the recurring motif of “Big Titty Liddy” serves as both comic relief and thematic reinforcement in this chapter.
Answer:
The ribald folk song “Big Titty Liddy” provides levity through the characters’ drunken butchering of lyrics and Lou’s exaggerated performance to embarrass Reid. However, Deveraux’s revelation that Liddy was real (“a lovelier creature I will never again meet”) adds unexpected depth, mirroring the chapter’s themes of fleeting relationships and passion’s consequences. The song’s crude humor about unplanned parenthood (“a nipper was born”) ironically foreshadows Lou and Reid’s tense glance when Deveraux mentions relationships based on “appetites of passion,” hinting at their own complicated romance (pages 235-238).3. What does the physical interplay between Lou and Reid reveal about their relationship dynamics in this chapter?
Answer:
Their playful physical interactions—from Lou poking Reid’s ribs to him kissing her to silence her singing—demonstrate an established intimacy and comfort. Reid’s actions (caging Lou against the wagon, brushing kisses on her temple) show protective dominance, while Lou’s teasing and loud singing display her need to provoke reactions and maintain emotional upper hand. Their body language speaks volumes: when they exchange a “glance” after Deveraux’s comment about passionate relationships then “both looked away quickly,” it reveals unspoken tension about their own connection (pages 236-239).4. How does the chapter use secondary characters’ actions to create narrative tension?
Answer:
Three subplots create suspense: 1) Beau’s visible discomfort when Coco and Ansel slip away hints at a love triangle; 2) Lou noticing Coco and Ansel’s “suspiciously close” interaction by the stream suggests brewing conflict; 3) The black fox Brigitte’s presence in their wagon remains an unresolved mystery. These elements distract from Lou and Reid’s moment of peace, foreshadowing future disruptions. Beau’s wordless reaction—”scoffing,” grabbing wine—and Lou’s alarmed observation of the “alarmingly close” pair show how secondary characters drive tension (page 239).
Quotes
1. “I hadn’t lied to him. This was just … a secret. Everyone had secrets.”
This quote captures Lou’s internal conflict about withholding information from Reid regarding his siblings’ deaths. It reveals her rationalization process and the chapter’s theme of secrecy in relationships.
2. “I love girls who can’t sing.”
A playful yet intimate exchange between Lou and Reid that showcases their developing relationship dynamic. The teasing banter contrasts with heavier themes in the chapter, representing a moment of levity.
3. “No, this wasn’t a lie. I hadn’t lied to him. This was just … a secret. Everyone had secrets.”
This repetition emphasizes Lou’s moral dilemma about what constitutes deception versus privacy. It’s a key moment that reveals her character’s internal conflict and justification for keeping information from Reid.
4. “BIG WILLY BILLY TALKED SORT OF SILLY… BUT HIS KNOB WAS AS LONG AS HIS ARM.”
This outrageous outburst demonstrates Lou’s uninhibited personality and her willingness to embarrass Reid publicly. It serves as comic relief while also showing their comfort with each other.
5. “They looked … close. Suspiciously close. Alarmingly close.”
The final observation about Coco and Ansel hints at developing subplots and creates narrative tension to carry into the next chapter, while maintaining Lou’s characteristic humorous perspective.