Review - Blood & Honey

Blood & Honey with Coco print

Title: Blood & Honey
Series: Serpent & Dove (Goodreads)
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Age Group: YA
Source: Waterstones (purchased)

Review

I absolutely love reading trilogies and series but I hate the wait of a long awaited sequel. Thankfully, I managed to wait long enough for Blood & Honey without too much torture because I just adore this motley crew and antagonistic romance! Shelby Mahurin did not disappoint with the sequel to Serpent & Dove which unfortunately can occur to any great writer. Instead Mahurin pushed the boundaries and gave us even more darkness and romance but of course all comes at a price when you love a witch.

I could talk for hours about how much I love the relationship between Lou and Reid but instead what stood out as a strength for me in this book was the development of the secondary characters. This was a concern that I had after I finished Serpent & Dove because it was heavily focused on Lou and Reid with very little balance for developing Coco, Beau, Ansel and even Madame Labelle. Thank goodness I was not disappointed when I read Blood & Honey as my hopes to see these supporting characters developed was given to me and many readers.

At the moment there is a real focus on the writing and portrayal of black and ethnic minority characters. For many years, these individuals and communities have gone underrepresented in literature, they have existed to be sure, but they were not the protagonist nor were they developed beyond a one dimensional representation. Now, even though Coco is not the protagonist and remains a supporting character there is still a need to create a two dimensional individual and not a flat character. Mahurin succeeds exceptionally with Coco’s personal development in Blood & Honey! Other readers of the trilogy and this sequel may not agree that this is the case and I respect that feeling, though for me personally, I felt that Coco became more of an individual with her own struggles and personality rather than just a supporting side character to help be Lou’s friend and conscious moral guide. For this reason I leave you with this extract that occurs between Coco, Ansel, and Lou, which personally to me exhibits the individual strength and development of Coco as a person in her own right in Blood & Honey, than just as a secondary character who exists to move the action onwards for the main protagonists Lou and Reid.

“Coco, no. None of this is your fault. Your people—they would never blame you for what happened here.” “That’s exactly the point, isn’t it?” She wiped her eyes furiously. “They should. I abandoned them. Twice. They’re freezing and starving and so afraid, yet their own princesse couldn’t be bothered to care. I should’ve been here, Lou. I should’ve—I don’t know—” “Controlled the weather?” My hands joined hers, wiping at her tears. Though they burned my skin, I didn’t pull away, blinking rapidly against the moisture in my own eyes. […] She wrenched the crown from her head, glaring at the glittering rubies. “How can I lead them? How can I even look at them? I knew their suffering, and I fled anyway, while their conditions only worsened.” She tossed the crown into the snow. “I am no princesse.” To my surprise—perhaps because I’d forgotten he still stood with us—Ansel bent to retrieve it. With impossibly gentle hands, he placed it back on her head. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Synopsis (Goodreads)

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.

To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.

Key Quotes 

‘Her voice was small, however, as she continued. “I am sorry, Reid. You’ve led a tumultuous life, and the blame in part is mine. I know this. I understand my role in your suffering.” Catching my hand, she rose to her feet. I told myself to pull away. I didn’t. “Now you must understand that, if given the choice, I never would’ve left you. I would’ve forsaken everything—my home, my sisters, my life—to keep you, but I cannot change the past. I cannot protect you from its pain. I can protect you here and now, however, if you let me.” If you let me. The words were living things in my ears. Though I tried to bury them, they took root, suffocating my anger.'

‘Perhaps it’d be peaceful, to drown. I’d never given it thought. When I’d imagined my own death, it’d been at the end of a sword. Perhaps twisted and broken by a witch’s hand. Violent, painful endings. Drowning would be better. Easier.’

‘Beau paused in rummaging through Coco’s rucksack. “Side effects?” “Death, mostly. Nothing to fret about.” Madame Labelle shrugged, unamused, and sarcasm dripped from her words.’

‘I wiped a tear from my eye before it could fall, before he could see. Never once in my eighteen years had I allowed myself to feel small, to feel ashamed, and I refused to start now.'

Similar Reads

From Blood and Ash, Kingdom of the Wicked, The Shadows Between Us, A ​Court of Silver Flames

Afterthoughts 

There were so many moments when I found myself hysterically laughing at the antics of so many of the characters, these characters just have so much life to them and these moments of joy helped balance against the darker themes.

Have you read Blood & Honey, what did you think? Would you recommend this trilogy to others?

How far would you go if you had magic to protect the ones you love?

Review - Serpent & Dove

Serpent & Dove, with art prints

Title: Serpent & Dove
Series: Serpent & Dove (Goodreads)
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Age Group: YA
Source: Book depository (purchased)

Review

If you are looking for a new must read debut then I would totally recommend Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. Furthermore, this book is definitely one to read if you are a fan of enemies to lovers, character driven plot and romance. Also not to forget, there’s witchcraft! I couldn’t put this book down and I read it within two days of starting it because I became so invested in the story, especially the development of the individual characters, as well as the relationships between them.

What really stood out for me in this book was the relationship between Lou and Reid, it is literally the biggest driving plot of this book, and it was developed superbly. However, I can never resist a strong independent women in a novel and Lou is no exception. I honestly found myself laughing at her antics so many times throughout reading Serpent & Dove that I felt super happy when I did finally finish it. For example, without giving too much away there’s an absolutely fantastic scene between Lou and Ansel that had me laughing uncontrollably that I have to share it. Lou is definitely one determined woman, she’ll take no prisoners when it comes to achieving what she wants, but she won’t abuse their friendship as seen between her and Ansel. Below is the scene where Lou refuses to stop singing a bawdy song to hopefully get Ansel to take her around the castle out of her small confined room (though you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens next, the song only gets better the more Lou sings of it 😉):

“I told you to stop talking.” I fell back on the bed in resignation. […] To Ansel’s annoyance, I began to hum. “No humming either.” I ignored him. “‘Big Titty Liddy was not very pretty, but her bosom was big as a barn,’” I sang. “‘Her creamery knockers drove men off their rockers, but she was blind to their charms—’” “Stop!” His face burned so vivid a scarlet it rivaled my husband’s. “What are you doing? That—that’s indecent!” “Of course it is. It’s a pub song!”

I genuinely think that the friendship that began to develop between Lou and Ansel throughout the book was also another enjoyable aspect of Serpent & Dove and proved that this wasn’t just a book centred on the enemies to lovers plot that in my opinion mainly drives the books story forward.

What I also really enjoyed was the friendships Lou has especially between her and Coco. Both women are witches and strong independent women but what really stood out for me was their trust and protection for one another, they would do anything for each other. Also the element of friendship helped balance out the romantic relationship between Lou and Reid. Below is a scene between Coco and Lou that I just couldn’t resist sharing because not only does is it show that they have each other’s backs but that only with each other can they truly be themselves throughout the majority of the book. Fair warning, there is some language that some may consider inappropriate:

‘…Coco sighed and shook her head. “Married to a Chasseur . . . When I heard the news, I didn’t believe it.” A small grin touched her lips. “You’ve got balls the size of boulders.” I laughed louder this time. “You are so depraved, Coco—” “And what of your husband’s balls?” She waggled her eyebrows fiendishly. […] My cheeks hurt from smiling. I knew it was wrong—what with the cursed, dying Monsieur Bernard lying next to me—but the heaviness in my chest gradually eased as Coco and I fell back into our easy banter. It felt good to see a friendly face after wading through a sea of hostile ones for two straight days—and to know she was safe. For now.’

The last few things I will mention is that I personally felt the magic was lacking in this book. For a book heavily advertised about witchcraft I did feel there was very little of this throughout the book, though there are some scenes that do rely heavily on magic, but these happened very rarely in my opinion, and I was left a little disappointed by this. Hopefully, the sequel will have more. Also, although I enjoyed the relationship between Lou and Coco I felt that Coco’s individual development lacked something. As the only black character so far to be seen in this book with a major role this was slightly disappointing and I truly hope that in the sequel she is developed more as an individual outside of her friendship with Lou.

Synopsis (Goodreads)

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn. 

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. 

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony. 

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. 

And love makes fools of us all.

Key Quotes 

‘His daughter’s death had been a warning: one did not exploit the witches without consequence.’

‘All manner of pastries perched there on glorious display: iced cakes and sugar loaves and chocolat tartlets, as well as macarons and fruit danishes of every color. Raspberry eclairs and an apple tarte tatin completed the display. Out of all this decadence, however, the enormous sticky buns—with their cinnamon and sweet cream—made my mouth truly water.’

“Why are you dressed like a man?” “Have you ever worn a corset?” I spun around to face him, reattaching my mustache with as much dignity as I could muster. “I doubt you’d ask such a question if you had. Trousers are infinitely more freeing.”

‘Marriage. To a Chasseur. There had to be another way, any other way— Bile rose in my throat, and before I could stop it, I heaved a spectacular arc of vomit onto the Archbishop’s feet. He leapt away from me with a disgusted cry. “How dare you—!” He raised a fist to strike me once more, but the Chasseur moved with lightning swiftness. His hand caught the Archbishop’s wrist. “If this woman is to be my wife,” he said, swallowing hard, “you will not touch her again.”

‘My purpose since birth had been to die.’ 

Similar Reads 

The Shadows Between Us, From Blood and Ash, House of Earth and Blood, The Beautiful, House of Salt and Sorrows, Bone Crier's Moon, The Bridge Kingdom, The Cruel Prince, A Court of Mist and Fury

Afterthoughts 

Have you read Serpent & Dove, what did you think?

What similar book would you recommend to someone who enjoyed this book?

Besides the heavy elements of enemies to lovers trope I really enjoyed the personal developments of Lou and Reid regarding their own personal challenges to their long held prejudices.