queer_bookwyrm's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, descriptions of blood and gore, blood magic, ingesting of blood, cannablism, self harm, suicide mention, burning alive, descriptions of corpses, torture, sex
"What you are now is not what you've always been, nor is it what you'll always be. You are a snake. She'd your skin if it no longer serves you. Transform into something different. Something better."
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin is the second book in the Serpent and Dove series. I liked this one just as much as Serpent and Dove. I thought there was a nice blend of character moments and plot, but a lot did happen.
We follow up with Lou, Tied, Ansel, Coco, and Madame LaBelle hiding after the Modraniht debacle. We find Lou struggling with the fact that she is losing a little bit if herself every time sacrifices something to magic. She's become reckless and heedless of anyone's concerns. Reid is wallowing in self hatred for most of the book, since he found out he was a witch.
Reid's struggle to accept the magic inside him almost reminds me of a lot closeted Christan gay men who went to conversion therapy. He believes he's not really a witch if he doesn't practice. Sound familiar? It does get a bet annoying how stubborn they both are in this, but they also have some really great moments.
We get to see enemies come together against a common enemy here. We get the Blood witches, (gay) werewolves, and some other supernatural people from a group of traveling players. Claud's character is my favorite in this! He's charming, funny, and weird as all get out. They try to stop Morgan's together, but Murphy's Law was at work (anything that can go wrong will go wrong).
That ending gutted me. I mean, I knew it was going to happen, but it still hurt. And that cliffhanger was just rude. Guess I'll have to get Gods and Monsters soon!
"What you are now is not what you've always been, nor is it what you'll always be. You are a snake. She'd your skin if it no longer serves you. Transform into something different. Something better."
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin is the second book in the Serpent and Dove series. I liked this one just as much as Serpent and Dove. I thought there was a nice blend of character moments and plot, but a lot did happen.
We follow up with Lou, Tied, Ansel, Coco, and Madame LaBelle hiding after the Modraniht debacle. We find Lou struggling with the fact that she is losing a little bit if herself every time sacrifices something to magic. She's become reckless and heedless of anyone's concerns. Reid is wallowing in self hatred for most of the book, since he found out he was a witch.
Reid's struggle to accept the magic inside him almost reminds me of a lot closeted Christan gay men who went to conversion therapy. He believes he's not really a witch if he doesn't practice. Sound familiar? It does get a bet annoying how stubborn they both are in this, but they also have some really great moments.
We get to see enemies come together against a common enemy here. We get the Blood witches, (gay) werewolves, and some other supernatural people from a group of traveling players. Claud's character is my favorite in this! He's charming, funny, and weird as all get out. They try to stop Morgan's together, but Murphy's Law was at work (anything that can go wrong will go wrong).
That ending gutted me. I mean, I knew it was going to happen, but it still hurt. And that cliffhanger was just rude. Guess I'll have to get Gods and Monsters soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death, Torture, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Suicide
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