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 White Pattern: Lou
byMahurin, Shelby
Lou and her companions, including Ansel and Gabrielle, trek through La Fôret des Yeux, searching for Etienne under a tense deadline. Lou reflects on Gabrielle’s resemblance to Reid, her half-brother, while bantering with Ansel about her potential future as La Dame des Sorcières. Their playful exchange turns serious when Ansel questions whether Lou truly wants to inherit her mother Morgane’s divine power and if she can bring herself to kill her. Lou deflects, revealing her unresolved feelings about the inevitability of their confrontation.
The group’s mission grows increasingly urgent as Lou struggles to locate Etienne using her pattern magic, which is mysteriously tangled and ineffective. La Voisin suspects someone powerful is shielding Etienne’s location, and Lou fears it might be Morgane. The atmosphere grows eerie as Nicholina, a unsettling presence, taunts Lou with cryptic rhymes about the forest’s watchful eyes. Lou’s frustration mounts as time slips away, and the looming sunrise threatens their failure.
Tensions escalate when a sudden noise interrupts their search, putting everyone on edge. Nicholina’s bizarre behavior and ominous warnings unsettle the group, particularly Ismay, who is torn between protecting her daughter Gabrielle and investigating the sound. Lou, armed and wary, urges Ismay to go ahead while promising to safeguard Gabrielle. The chapter underscores the pervasive sense of danger and uncertainty, with Lou’s internal conflict mirroring the external threats surrounding them.
The chapter closes with Lou’s unease lingering, heightened by Nicholina’s haunting words and the unresolved mystery of Etienne’s disappearance. The forest itself feels alive and menacing, amplifying the group’s vulnerability. Lou’s determination to fulfill her bargain with La Voisin clashes with her growing doubts about their mission’s feasibility, leaving readers with a sense of impending confrontation and unanswered questions.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Lou’s realization about Gabrielle Gilly’s identity, and how does this affect her perspective during their journey?
Answer:
Lou’s realization that Gabrielle is Reid’s half-sister adds emotional complexity to their journey through La Fôret des Yeux. Observing Gabrielle’s resemblance to Reid—particularly in her smile and dimple—subtly connects Lou to her past relationships, possibly evoking unresolved feelings. This moment humanizes Lou, showing her capacity for reflection amid their dangerous mission. The detail also reinforces the theme of interconnectedness among characters, as Gabrielle’s presence becomes a reminder of both personal ties and the larger stakes of their quest against Morgane.2. How does Lou’s conversation with Ansel about becoming La Dame des Sorcières reveal her internal conflicts?
Answer:
When Ansel asks if Lou wants to inherit Morgane’s power as La Dame des Sorcières, her hesitation (“I don’t know”) exposes her lack of preparation for a future beyond survival. Lou admits she never expected to live long, let alone rule. This exchange highlights her ambivalence toward power and the moral weight of matricide. Her deflection with humor (“Goddess Divine”) contrasts with Ansel’s seriousness, underscoring her discomfort with confronting these questions. The scene reveals Lou’s deeper struggle: she is driven by necessity rather than ambition, and the prospect of inheriting her mother’s role forces her to grapple with identity and purpose.3. Analyze the symbolism of the “hopelessly knotted” patterns Lou tries to follow. What might this represent about her current situation?
Answer:
The tangled golden threads Lou attempts to follow symbolize both external obstruction and her own destabilized perception. The patterns’ confusion mirrors Lou’s mental state—she is navigating deception (lying to La Voisin), uncertainty about Etienne’s fate, and the looming threat of Morgane’s interference. The “blurred” third eye suggests a crisis of intuition or agency, as if her usual clarity is being manipulated. This imagery reinforces the chapter’s tension: Lou is physically and metaphysically lost, with time running out before sunrise, emphasizing her vulnerability despite her bravado.4. How does Nicholina’s erratic behavior contribute to the chapter’s atmosphere, and what might her cryptic warnings foreshadow?
Answer:
Nicholina’s manic taunts (“the trees have eyes”) and unsettling laughter injects paranoia into the forest setting, transforming it from merely ominous to actively predatory. Her chant-like threats (“she spies, little mouse”) imply surveillance, possibly hinting at Morgane’s influence or other hidden dangers. Nicholina’s claim that they’ll be “the best of friends” (excluding Ansel) suggests future alliances or betrayals, unsettling Lou further. This behavior amplifies the psychological horror of the scene, making the environment feel alive and hostile, which primes readers for impending conflict or revelation.5. Why does Lou’s lie to La Voisin about the patterns matter, and what does it reveal about her leadership under pressure?
Answer:
Lou’s decision to lie about her inability to track Etienne shows her instinct to maintain control, even when unprepared. Facing La Voisin’s expectations and the group’s reliance on her, she prioritizes appearances over admitting weakness—a survival tactic honed under Morgane’s tyranny. However, this lie forces her into a futile search, compounding stress as dawn approaches. It underscores a key flaw: Lou’s leadership is reactive rather than strategic. The moment also hints at her isolation; she withholds struggles instead of seeking help, which may escalate risks later.
Quotes
1. “‘Goddess Divine, of course thy beauty is a sacred gift from Heaven, and we mortals are blessed to even gaze upon thy face.’”
This sarcastic remark by Lou showcases her sharp wit and self-deprecating humor, revealing her complex relationship with power and identity. It contrasts her playful arrogance with the deeper existential questions about her destiny.
2. “‘Do you want to become La Dame des Sorcières?’”
Ansel’s probing question cuts to the heart of Lou’s internal conflict about inheriting her mother’s dark legacy. This moment marks a pivotal introspection about agency, power, and the weight of her choices.
3. “‘She hasn’t given me a choice.’”
Lou’s evasive response about killing her mother reveals the emotional turmoil beneath her hardened exterior. This quote encapsulates the chapter’s central tension: the collision of survival, duty, and unresolved familial trauma.
4. “‘The trees in this forest have eyes, little mouse. She spies, she spies, she spies, little mouse—’”
Nicholina’s eerie chant heightens the chapter’s gothic atmosphere while symbolizing Lou’s paranoia and the ever-present threat of Morgane’s influence. The repetition underscores the psychological warfare at play.
5. “‘It was like my third eye… had blurred, somehow. I’d never known such a thing was possible.’”
This metaphorical description of Lou’s failing magic illustrates her vulnerability and the destabilization of her worldview. It foreshadows larger threats while emphasizing her unreliable perception in this treacherous alliance.