REVIEW: Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Dark side but make it ✨ #witchy ✨

BOOK OVERVIEW

Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Series: Serpent & Dove Trilogy #2

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Witches, Magic

Content Warnings: Blood & Gore Depictions, Self-harm, Murder, Torture, Death, Kidnapping/Abduction

Suggested Age Rating: 16+

Published: September 1, 2020, by HarperTeen

Page Count: 536

Synopsis:

The second installment of this trilogy continues right from the thrilling conclusion of the first novel. Blood & Honey follows Lou and Reid as they attempt to gather allies throughout Belterra in order to defeat Morgane, a task proving as difficult as she entices them into a lethal game of cat and mouse. However, alliances will come at a cost, even greater than the widening rift between the witch and witch hunter. Darker magic and mysterious beings come into play as they push against time to stop Morgane from carrying out her sinister plans of destroying something worth more than any coven.

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“Ask me no questions, mon amour, and I shall tell you no lies.”

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed Serpent & Dove and I picked the sequel up immediately after that ending! Can't say too much with spoiling so let's dive right in:

MY REVIEW

The sequel finally has a map! I was very happy to see this and it really helped with visualizing where everything is. The French-inspired world and magic system also expands and brings some new characters into the mix! The moral conflict goes a lot deeper, too. Now it's not just the Church vs. the witches, but internal battles between the characters that have them questioning just how far they will go.

"I have the power to protect the ones I love, and I will sacrifice anything for them. If that makes me a monster—if that makes me aberrant—I'll don the teeth and claws to make it easier for you."

This book is definitely more character-driven than the first, however, I still enjoyed it! There's significant character development and heart-warming friendships that really help you connect with everyone so much more.

Lou definitely goes through a LOT in this book and really shows her morally grey side. I'm talking villain behaviour. Like major Darth Vader and his dark side vibes LOL. And I LOVED it. I like seeing characters that are intrigued by their power and let it...get out of hand if you will. Super interesting! Also, Reid deals with his own internal struggles but don't let this stop you from reading! The writing is just as addictive as the first book and is very enjoyable.

Coco? Amazing. Beau? Hilarious! Ansel? Sweet as ever! Madame Labelle? The only reason this group is somewhat functioning 😂. But seriously. If you liked the characters in Serpent & Dove, you'll love them in this one. There's so much banter and it's awesome!

"When a person brings you more hurt than happiness, you're allowed to let them go. You do not have to follow them into the dark"

So, why only 3.5 stars? Well, it's mainly because there's not much happening in this book. Yet, at the same time, things do? It's hard to explain but I'm writing this after I've read the finale, Gods & Monsters, and it just seems like this one was a bit of a filler. Though it does have a lot of the elements I liked from Serpent & Dove, I feel like this trilogy could have easily been a duology instead. However, I do understand why Shelby added this extra book and it will make sense once you do read it.

Now, I don't want to dissuade you from reading it but just bear with it. More things happen plot-wise in the next book, but that doesn't mean that Blood & Honey isn't good! I still recommend reading the series, especially if you like witch-themed books and enemies-to-lovers!

"And in that moment when we fell apart....we came together again as something new"

Pros: great character development, heart-warming friendships, interesting moral conflicts

Cons: not too much plot-wise, series could have been a duology

Do you prefer duologies or trilogies?

Let me know in the comments down below!

Happy reading!

- Jasleen ♡

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If you liked Blood & Honey, you might like...

• Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo

• Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Mass

• From Blood and Ash (From Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (My Review)