Review – Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Eeeeeeeepppp!

I seriously missed this blog and everyone here sooooo freaking much! A lot has happened! I officially moved house, I may have started a new job, and I have been eating my feelings – there is a whole other post on this coming soon – buuuttt… I am back and ready to blog my heart out!!

This post has been long overdue. I am so so excited to write this review because the first book I ever reviewed on this blog is Serpent & Dove by the wonderful Shelby Mauhrin, the first book in this series!!!

I don’t know where to begin with talking about this book, so I’ll just put the synopsis down there and then compose myself to give a semi-intellectual review and not completely obsess over Reid 😍

This is a non-spoilery review!

Summary:

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.

I apologize for how all over the place this post will be but I have so many feels for this book!

Can we just start with freaking REID!!! Is it possible to really fall for a fictional character they way I am falling for Reid?

He is broody and beautiful and oh so righteous (which I found hilarious the way it bothered Lou)! His development, without spoiling anything, has been so exponential and really rounded him out more than book 1 did. I think his banter got pretty good as well. But I think what really made my heart melt is how Reid was there for Lou in all the ways and times that mattered. It showed a lovely and positive relationship…

Although on the other hand, they had A LOT of problems. Which I loved as well… weird, I know but hear me out!!

Part of why we love YA is because of the sexy, can’t wait to get to the next page and watch this relationship blossom, heart beating so loud, kind of romance.. but this showed the realistic view of how two different people (and Reid and Lou ARE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE) have issues. It showcase a reality of a relationship in YA that was honestly so refreshing.

I couldn’t help but root for them more, if anything, to work it out. Like everyone else, I am sure I groaned and yelled into my book with my face smushed against the pages, hoping they can get their shit together. It was different for me to see this kind of drift between two characters that have so much underlying passion for one another. Not to mention, both need to work out things within themselves which can then lead to better communication. Some real life lessons here.

Lou’s development was great too, not like Reid’s but it’s because her story took a crazy turn and how she behaved throughout the book did not feel like her. I don’t know if we are seeing more of her or not enough into her mind to piece together the actions she’s taken. It could just be me… but I wasn’t all too invested in her this time around, at least not as much as book 1. But then again, first books are always more alluring.

Speaking of, the plot!! My goodness the plot! Soo capturing, so riveting, so unique that for some things I didn’t expect to happen and felt dumb about it LOL! The magic system we learn more about was pivotal for plot but also such an interesting system that had me wanting to learn more and more about this world! And the ending…. it’s intense. I’m still not ok.

The amazing write told the story in such a way that I hope one day to do the same with my own writing.

OMG the blood witches… that’s all say. Seriously read this book!

Honestly if I keep going I fear I will spoil it or just continue rambling on that you’ll wish you never clicked on this!

I would highly recommend reading if you enjoy gut wrenching, cute banter, intricate magic worlds, friendship bonds so cute you’d wish you had an inner circle just like that, and overall incredible storytelling!

Have you read Blood & Honey? What do you think of it? What book are you currently reading now??!

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!