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.
The King’s Court: Reid
byMahurin, Shelby
The chapter opens with Reid navigating underground tunnels, distracted by a persistent rock in his boot. His irritation is compounded by Beau’s casual demeanor and reminiscences of past rendezvous in the tunnels. Madame Labelle, a former brothel owner, joins their banter, teasing Beau about exaggerated rumors of his exploits. The playful tension between the trio sets a lighthearted tone, though Reid remains visibly annoyed, both by the physical discomfort and Beau’s antics.
Madame Labelle escalates the teasing by revealing she knew Beau as a child, mentioning his childhood stutter. Beau’s flustered reaction hints at deeper embarrassment, leading him to confess a humiliating story about his first sexual encounter with a woman who had a fetish for stuttering. The anecdote, shared reluctantly, becomes a source of amusement for Madame Labelle and Reid, who laugh despite Beau’s protests. The interaction provides a rare moment of levity amid the group’s otherwise tense journey.
The mood shifts when Madame Labelle attempts to share another embarrassing story, this time involving Beau’s father and a feral cat in the tunnels. Both Reid and Beau are horrified, with Beau demanding she never repeat the tale. The mention of Beau’s father abruptly ends the lighthearted atmosphere, reminding the group of their grim circumstances. Madame Labelle’s attempt to lighten the mood backfires, and the trio falls into a somber silence as they near their destination.
As they approach the castle, Reid removes the rock from his boot, symbolically preparing for the challenges ahead. The muffled footsteps overhead heighten the tension, and Reid reflects on how much has changed since his last encounter with the king. The chapter ends on a note of apprehension, underscoring the gravity of their mission and the uncertain future they face. The brief respite of laughter is replaced by the weight of their reality.
FAQs
1. How does the physical discomfort of the rock in Reid’s boot serve as a metaphor for his emotional state in this chapter?
Answer:
The persistent rock in Reid’s boot symbolizes his underlying tension and discomfort throughout the journey. Just as the small but irritating rock distracts him with every step, Reid’s unresolved emotions—likely about their mission and the king—gnaw at him beneath the surface. The moment he removes the rock (“No more distractions”) mirrors his attempt to focus despite emotional turmoil. This physical nuisance parallels how minor irritations can amplify larger stresses, particularly in high-stakes situations like their covert approach to the castle (pages 386–390).2. Analyze how humor functions in this scene, particularly through Beau’s anecdote about his stutter. What does this reveal about the characters’ dynamics?
Answer:
Beau’s humiliating story about his stutter and mistaken sexual assumptions serves as comic relief, temporarily easing the group’s tension. Madame Labelle’s prodding and Reid’s rare laughter (his first in “a long time”) show how shared humor creates camaraderie, even amid danger. However, the abrupt return to seriousness when Labelle mentions “the situation we’re all [in]” underscores how their mission looms over them. This shift highlights the characters’ ability to balance levity with gravity, revealing their resilience and complex relationships (pages 387–389).3. What does Madame Labelle’s role as both a former brothel owner and confidante to Beau’s father suggest about her character and the story’s themes?
Answer:
Labelle’s dual identity as a brothel owner (a “hotbed of information”) and intimate of the royal family positions her as a bridge between societal margins and power centers. Her teasing about Beau’s past and the king’s embarrassing cat incident demonstrates her unique perspective: she holds privileged knowledge that humanizes authority figures. This reinforces themes of hidden truths and the subversion of hierarchy, as her stories undermine the king’s and Beau’s dignity while showcasing her influence (pages 387–389).4. How does the chapter use contrasting tones to build tension? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The chapter oscillates sharply between humor and gravity. For instance, Beau’s farcical stutter story (playful tone) contrasts with Reid’s internal monologue about the mission’s seriousness (“It hadn’t been the time or place in weeks”). Similarly, Labelle’s raucous laughter over the king’s cat mishap is abruptly silenced by Beau’s reminder of their proximity to danger (“Listen”). These shifts mirror the characters’ precarious situation—using laughter to cope while staying alert to threats, which heightens suspense for readers (pages 388–390).5. Why might the author have chosen to include the detail about Reid removing the rock just before they near the castle?
Answer:
This action marks a pivotal transition: Reid symbolically sheds a minor irritation to prepare for a major confrontation. The timing underscores his shift from distracted discomfort to focused resolve, mirroring the narrative’s turn from comic relief to impending danger. It also emphasizes his disciplined mindset—he tolerates the rock until it risks compromising his performance, much like he compartmentalizes emotions to face the king. This small act foreshadows the heightened stakes ahead (page 390).
Quotes
1. “I had a rock in my boot. It’d lodged there immediately upon entering the tunnels. Small enough for me to endure. Large enough for me to fixate.”
This opening line establishes Reid’s persistent irritation and distraction, serving as a metaphor for the larger tensions in the scene. The physical discomfort mirrors the emotional unease of their dangerous mission.
2. “I lost my virginity to a psellismophiliac… Someone who is aroused by stuttering… I thought her fetish normal. I thought everyone enjoyed stuttering in the bedchamber.”
Beau’s humorous yet revealing anecdote provides comic relief while showcasing the character dynamics. The quote demonstrates how his past humiliations contrast with his current royal persona.
3. “I laughed, sharp and clear, for the first time in a long time.”
This moment marks a rare break in Reid’s typically serious demeanor, showing how the camaraderie temporarily lifts the group’s spirits despite their grim circumstances. It’s a pivotal emotional release in the chapter.
4. “Never, ever tell that story again. Do you understand me? Ever. The psychological scars you’ve just inflicted, woman.”
Beau’s horrified reaction to Madame Labelle’s story about his father creates both comedy and tension. The quote highlights the chapter’s balance between humor and the underlying seriousness of their mission.
5. “We shouldn’t talk anymore… We’re nearing the castle. Listen.”
This abrupt shift in tone marks the chapter’s turning point from humorous banter back to their dangerous reality. The quote effectively transitions from comic relief to building tension as they approach their objective.