The stakes are higher. The witches are deadlier. And the romance is red-hot. The eagerly anticipated sequel to the New York Times and Indiebound bestseller Serpent & Dove is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and is an instant New York Times bestseller!
Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.
To survive, they need allies. … with nowhere to hide.
To survive, they need allies. Strong ones. But as Lou becomes increasingly desperate to save those she loves, she turns to a darker side of magic that may cost Reid the one thing he can’t bear to lose. Bound to her always, his vows were clear: where Lou goes, he will go; and where she stays, he will stay.
Until death do they part.
Don’t miss Gods & Monsters, the spellbinding conclusion of this epic trilogy!
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A breathless, breathtaking continuation of the magical world Mahurin has created pits the strength of love against the need to protect those one loves…at any cost. Would you lose your soul to save someone else’s? Blood & Honey doesn’t just address this question; it slams the reader into the story — and that existential question — in a brilliant, unending roller-coaster ride.
Decadent and dangerous, Blood & Honey was exactly the book I needed at precisely the right time. The rich cast of characters captivated me, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for this merry band of miscreants.
I read Blood & Honey right after I finished Serpent and Dove and the first thing I have to say is WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HELL JUST FREAKING HAPPENED???
I’M NOT OKAY.
That ending… that freaking Cliffhanger! Holy shit! So many conflicted feelings!
BUT IT IS SO GOOD. I probably sound like a masochist person right now BUT I DON’T CARE. READ IT
Serpent & Dove was my favorite book of last year so I was pretty scared to dive into this follow up, to be honest! Yes, there were parts that had me mad, buttttttt I loved it!
Reid’s chapters were my favorite. He’s my boy! I think what was harder for me to connect with the most was Lou’s darkness which seemed to come out of no where since there wasn’t much mention of that in the last book. However, I still love her and I still loved her chapters and being in her head. And when she and Reid were on the pages together, they ignited them! Love them!
The world building was beautiful and the writing glorious! I just love Shelby’s dialogue so much! And Ansel is probably my favorite side character but there are so many good ones! Yes, there is a cliffhanger, and yes, I desperately need book 3. And also, my heart is a bit broken!
Not as good as the first book and the pacing was much slower with less excitement, but more action. I was happy to dive back into this world, the magic, and the characters. I think that’s one of the things I still love best about this series. The ending was very good and exciting and made everything that happened in between so worth it in the end. Lots of action and crazy stuff going on that had me devouring the last pages. I hope the next book really ramps things up as I felt this book served as a possible setup to what will happen next, especially since these characters grew a lot as people and with their magic.
Sophomore novels are a bitch, and I don’t envy Mahurin for having to follow up Serpent and Dove.
Yet she did it. There were scenes that were forced, there were moments that dragged, there was still writing that left something to be desired… but the relationships, the story, the characters were just as beautiful as before. I felt a swirl of emotion in every breath and my heart has effectively been damaged… and at the same time, it was so obviously coming that my heart couldn’t fully break because it was screaming at you the whole time (and completely avoidable….). Sigh.
There is one thing that remains, possibly to the day I die — Reid, you beautiful, cursing man – I still love you.
So are we not going to talk about that ending???????
HOLY SHIT ON A STICK!
I will say I enjoyed Serpent and dove more but Blood and Honey is still good in its own right.
The author does an amazing job writing and weaving this tale, however I did find myself getting pissed at Lou and Reid a lot in this installment. I had to keep reminding myself that they are in fact young.
In any case the new additions to this story were amazing….(hello warewolves)!!
I’m excited and stressed out for the next book lol.
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: Blood & Honey
: Serpent & Dove #2
: Shelby Mahurin
: 4/5
I have heard a lot of mixed things about this books, so I was hesitant to start it… but after Serpent & Dove I just had to know how the story continues. The writing was good, the pacing could have been a bit better, but it was still good enough and in the end I did enjoy it. I felt like there was a bigger focus on character and emotional developments not so much plot wise. If that is not your thing it might be a more difficult read. It was a bit predictable at times as well, but my love for these characters over shined everything. Overall, it was a good book and I am curious to see where how the story will end.
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Reid and Lou have a difficult path ahead of them. Wanted throughout the kingdom and hunted by both witches and chasseurs, they must find a way to bring down Morgane. But the witch is following their every move, leaving behind riddles and taunting them every step of the way. And as their time to act grows closer, they will find it difficult to convince anyone to rise against Morgane.
The focus of Blood & Honey made a dramatic shift from the relationship between Lou and Reid, to the events they were involved in. Gone was the witty banter back and forth, gone was the emotional tension. Instead, it was replaced by a wedge between them created by the use of magic. Anger and frustration took hold of both characters. And while this led to an almost complete halt on relationship development, it gave Reid’s character a push.
The small cracks in Reid’s belief present during Serpent & Dove have begun to make him question everything in Blood & Honey. And when Reid puts his foot down his stubbornness rivals Lou’s. The two are headstrong in their beliefs and neither wants to compromise, causing the couple to be at odds for most of the book. Reid is also processing his grief and guilt over his actions in the previous novel. This mixture of emotions made Reid hesitate and question his choices at every turn. The storyline progressed at a slow pace and was increasingly frustrating when Reid refused to do the one thing that would make things easier. But of course, on the other hand, he wouldn’t be Reid if he took the easy path.
Even though this book takes a step back from the young adult romance, it is still a good story. Shelby Mahurin introduces both the blood witches and the werewolves and all the tension that goes along when rivals meet. The barbed commentary and close calls resulting from their time on the page make all the difference. And don’t forget, Morgane’s presence hovers in the background, playing mind games and forcing the characters into precarious situations. I was also happy to see the use of magic ramp up and the teasing lore bits dropped into the plot.
I have no doubt Lou will take a larger part in Gods & Monsters. The path her character has been set on is not going to be easy, and after Reid’s rise and fall in Blood & Honey, I hope the two return to being a powerful team.
Blood and Honey is the second book in the Serpent and Dove serie by Shelby Mahurin.
The book continue not long after the conclusion of Serpent and Dove. Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run. Running from the Dames Blanches, the coven and the church. They are fugitives, witches and chasseurs at their heels. They will need to find allies, strong ones, if they want to stand a chance againts Morgane, Lou’s mother. The book have both PoV from Lou and Reid.
I have really loved it and can’t wait to read the next one in the serie.
My Rating: 1/2
Type: Series – Book 2
Genre: Fantasy, Witch World, Magic
Primary Characters: Reid Diggory, Louise, Coco, Ansel, Beau
Narration: Dual POV
I had slightly higher hopes after reading book 1. However, it was disappointing to me. I could see some character development, but Plot was completely underdeveloped. This book had lot of unnecessary drama and nothing happened in most of the book.
Plot starts exactly after the events from Chatteau. Lou, Reid, Coco, Ansel, Beau and Madame Labelle have barely made it out of Chatteau alive. Enemies are close and they are being hunted from all angles. La Dame des Sorceries have indulged them in the game of cat and mouse.
This book is more serious and also darker. To escape the clutches of her mother Morgane Le Blanc, Lou and Reid have to acquire acquaintance. It does come at high cost. Throughout the book they traverse through the kingdom in search of acquaintance. On the way they make some unexpected alliance.
Character development is good in this. Though Lou and Reid’s relationship issues did start to bother me after a while. Reid is trapped in his dark thoughts most of the time, he hates himself for killing the archbishop. Reid’s inner monologue and hardship to accept his true nature is described wonderfully. Lou is also trying to remain herself, but acts more reckless and falling into the powerful pit of magic.
Magic System showed a promising entry; however, it wasn’t explored well even in this book. It was lot vague and too many unanswered questions.
Secondary characters – Coco and Beau sort of faded away and new interesting characters came into play. Deveraux, Zenna, Seraphina, and the twins—Thierry & Toulouse were very intriguing. Deveraux role is climax was so unexpected. Too much of unnecessary drama got added for Ansel.
Writing style was ok. Narration lagged in holding interest for a long while. Flow of the book changed several times from slow to fast and vice versa. I missed Lou and Reid’s banter too much to rate this book higher! It’s one of the things I loved the most in Serpent & Dove. “Big Titty Liddy”- song was still a killer even in this book.
Towards the end things started to pick up and get even more interesting. The beginning is slow, and some parts were a little long, but the book as a whole is one time read, just to see what happens in their world. The ending was surprising even though I expected it a little due to the hint being dropped several times. There is also a kind of cliffhanger and I want to read the next book just to see how this all ends.
Overall, this book doesn’t add too much, but you can pick it up to see what’s happening in their world and how they are planning to outplay Morgane Le Blanc.
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This is the second instalment to the Serpent and Dove trilogy and continues where the last book ends. To be honest with you, I not sure whether I enjoyed it as much as I did the first book.
The main charm of the first book… Lou and Reid’s forbidden love… hits a massive roadblock from the get go, and we find our lovebirds at constant strife with each other… and with themselves… and with everyone around them. Emotions within the gang are at an all time high and everyone is all up in their feelings. After a lot of to-and-fro, they eventually decide that the best course of action for all of them is to find allies who will side with them against their fight with Morgane, so they all agree to approach Coco’s coven, the Blood Witches and then the Werewolves.
As the stage is being set for their confrontation with Morgane, the gang cross paths with a traveling troupe of performers managed by a very interesting character, Claude Devereux. He, and his travelling troupe bringing along some unique and stirring dynamics to the storyline which will certainly capture your attention… as well as the unexpected appearance of the three matagots that have attached themselves to Lou, adding another layer of interest to the storyline.
The book really picks up towards the 80% mark, where some unexpected life changing events take place, with an enormous twist in the storyline that left me numb and completely stunned . The book ends on a massive cliffhanger which left me begging for more. Bring on book three!!!
This has so far been my favorite read this year!
10 stars given!
I’m obsessed now
The story continues where Serpent and Dove left off, we have Lou, Reid, Coco, Ansel, and Beau. They are still trying to figure out a way and that kept me rooted in my seat, I couldn’t stop reading and hearing the audiobook, which by the way is stellar, definitely give it a go. The story itself had me on a roller-coaster, all twists and turns, I can’t wait for the next book. 5-Stars!
Blood & Honey really put me through the wringer. There was so much angst and emotion and it had my stomach in knots. And man does Shelby know how to end a book! My heart broke clean in two and now I’m dying to get my hands on the final book. I adore Lou and Reid so much and their chemistry is insane and I love their dynamic. They both go through so much over the course of this book and it stressed me out so much. And I just absolutely love the secondary cast. Coco is wonderful as is Beau and Ansel just has my heart forever and always. I just… I can’t recommend this series enough.
A bit of a deus ex machina at the end, but still enjoyable.
All in all this was a great read. Congrats to Ms. Mahurin for pinning an even better tale than the first in the series. As a writer I know how agonizing it is to write a series especially one that holds pain and darkness for the characters. I loved the addition of Claud and his troupe. The world building continues to be fantastic, familiar enough to anyone interested in history, but different enough to raise many questions.
The underlying social and moral issues are well-developed and well woven together: the dangers of prejudice in all its forms, the thin line between good and evil, love and hate, loyalties and betrayals.
There were a couple things that didn’t sit well with me though, one of which was right at the end. **possible spoiler**
It seemed as totally out of character for Lou to be alone in the room with la Dame Blanche and Nicholina. Even Claud mentions that and he’s a wise creature. I also didn’t buy that Lou, being a powerful as she was would so easily fall in their trap.
Be prepared to get your heart wrenched out of your chest and stumped on. Wonderful story.
Really my rating is a 3.5, but I don’t have that option. I did not hate this book, but I did not love it either. I was loved the first book Serpent & Dove so much that I guess I expected more from book number two. The characters are still there, but the first 3/4 of the book kind of dragged. You can feel the chemistry between Lou and Reid, but they never really get time together where they are not in conflict. I feel like the quest was just slow to get to the ending and finally ramp up the reader to want to know what is next. The book left me wanting book three, but it took me most of the book to get there. I hope the author comes back with the energy they had in book 1 for the next book.
Blood&Honey is the second instalment in the Serpent&Dove series, and I thought it was going to be the last book, but surprise… it’s not, it’s going to be a trilogy and after the way this one ended it’s going to be a torturous wait for the next book.
The story continues from where Serpent&Dove left off. Lou, Reid and their group are now trying to rally allies to defeat Morgane. And while they do this they must remain covert, to avoid the chasseurs, who have orders from the king to capture them at any cost but also to stay hidden from Morgane herself, who is still after Lou. But keeping a low profile isn’t easy when the enemy has eyes everywhere and using magic only seems to create a rift between Lou and Reid. Loyalties are being tested and their relationship will either fall apart or become even stronger by the end.
I have conflicted feelings about this book. The story is told from dual POV, with Reid taking the spotlight more often than Lou, and I enjoyed it because we get to establish a deeper connection with him, but I felt like some conversations were dragged out, and there was not enough interaction between the two of them. The atmosphere is darker than in the previous instalment and the writing style is still enthralling, but the pace of the story is slow and the romantic aspect of Lou and Reid’s relationship went downhill. Reid was so lost in his thoughts and his disdain for magic that without realising it he kept pushing Lou away, and Lou, in her desire to help him see he was wrong in his convictions and to help the people she loves, ended up making rash decisions that took a toll on her soul. There are also many new characters introduced and while I love the diversity, I felt like most of them offered nothing important to the story and it was hard to remember who was who.
What I like most about this book are the magic system and Lou’s flamboyant personality. Even though her character goes through some changes during their journey, she never loses her sense of humour and tenacity. Her antics are adorable and seeing her embrace her darker side was definitely interesting. I can’t help but love her even more.
In terms of plot, there is action, there are secrets, mystery and suspense, but I feel like the story is more character-driven than anything else. This book ends with yet another cliffhanger that left me hungry for more. There are still questions left unanswered and a twist that brings new enemies into the light. I’m so curious to see what will happen next.
I was provided a copy from the publisher for an honest review.
I think the length of time it has taken me to read this book speaks for itself.
I wanted to love it and I tried – I really did. I even took a break to come back afresh.
Blood and Honey just didn’t fill me with the same excitement as Serpent and Dove.
Shelby writes so fluidly it is extremely easy to fall back into Lou’s world, but I fell into a whole lot of nothing until the last 20%.
It felt like all the character arcs had been reset from the start. New characters were brought into play, that I honestly don’t care for.
I will say the ending was absolutely amazing, the adrenaline and heartbreak hit me like a train wreck. It was perfectly played especially for that ‘wtf’ factor.
There were glimmers of the wonderful story telling of S and D throughout and I can’t help but wonder, since this has now been extended to a trilogy – that we didn’t get the book we would have had originally. I feel like B and H has been spread so thinly plot wise to accommodate the third and final book.
I will be reading the third and I hope it has the same magical feel as the first, because sadly B and H has left me feeling guilty for not enjoying it.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy.