Status
Call number
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
Description
Fantasy. Romance. Folklore. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: 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. 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!… (more)
User reviews
I loved the humor of the first book, Serpent and Dove, laughing at the last word of the book. I like that some of that humor moves to this second book. This book is darker. As with many
Lou, Ansel, and Coco go to Coco's aunt asking for an alliance. Coco discovers that her witch family have fallen on hard times. People have gone missing. If Lou can help, they may join Lou against Morgane. Meanwhile, Reid and Beau go to the werewolves. This alliance may be trickier because Reid has a history with them and it's not good. The last hope is the king--can Beau and Reid convince the King to join them as well? If these groups will join them, can they all defeat Morgane? There is an added bonus--a new character who seems to know a lot and appears just when necessary.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Lou's struggle to control her humanity against the magic and Reid's need to come to terms with being a witch himself pull me into the story. Often, we prefer the main characters and the side characters are fine. I usually enjoy novels where the side characters have a valuable presence--where you want that character to be your friend as well. I like Beau, Coco, Ansel, and our new guy, Devereaux. I listened to the book, so I am sorry if I misspelled any names. Unfortunately, the final book will be out in a year. I'll be re-listening next year and excited to see how it all ends--if it ends......
On Instagram, Ms. Mahurin mentioned how she loves characters, and it shows in Blood & Honey. With little action to move the overarching story significantly forward, she chooses instead to focus on the characters. We meet other magical beings as part of the attempt to gain allies and learn more about their current allies. More importantly, we see Lou and Reid grow as individuals as well as a couple. Every new encounter forces them to learn more about themselves and determine what they most value. The issues they work to overcome simply endear them even more to you. Theirs is a natural maturation, albeit one occurring within a condensed timeline.
Ms. Mahurin understands human emotion, and she pulls no punches in getting you to feel everything Lou and Reid do. From Reid’s conflict to Lou’s fear to their overwhelming love for each other, you feel all of it. Honestly, the intensity of those emotions took my breath away as I did not expect such a visceral response to the story. For me, though, to have such a strong emotional reaction is an indication of a well-written novel, and it is something I seek with every novel I read. In this regard, Blood & Honey does not disappoint.
I adore Lou in her own right and LOVE her interactions with Reid and other persons in authority. I appreciate her snark and practically squeal whenever she is able to put it to good use. Plus, there is nothing remotely pretentious about her. Not one to shy away from harsh realities, she sees the world as it is and not as she wishes it would be. This makes her the perfect counter for Reid’s idealistic worldview. Together, they make the right kind of sparks – the kind that requires you to fan your cheeks after certain scenes.
At the end of Blood & Honey, I honestly have no idea where Ms. Mahurin is taking us. Nor do I have any idea of what our heroes will face in the finale. I like that I cannot predict anything because it means I have no ideas that might lead to disappointment. As long as she gives us plenty of Lou and Reid and maybe one or two sexy scenes, I will be happy. I just have to get through the wait.
Overall, as I said, it is a good middle story, but truly with no beginning or end. I'll certainly keep an eye out for the next (hopefully end book) of this series.
I loved her.
And if I had to run, hide, and fight for that love, I would. For the rest of my life, I would."
Angsty, angry Reid is my favorite.
And that ENDING?!? Can someone give my babies a break, please.