This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I am so happy that I was given an e-arc from Netgalley to read and review it!

So, where to start?

Blood & Honey picks up a few days after Serpent & Dove ended. The “planning” stage on what the group is going to do seems to be drawn out a bit, especially because they still hadn’t heard from Coco’s aunt.

Once they eventually do hear from her, they learn that Reid isn’t welcome, and thus the plan to split up is born.

And of course, how could they split up without meeting a new group of people? Right before splitting up, we meet the Troupe de Fortune! I loved getting to know these characters on their trip to Cesarine! We also learn that there are more male witches who are part of this Troupe! I thought this was especially great because it put Reid is a position to be exposed to witches in a non-hostile environment.

One thing I especially enjoyed is that there is more Coco in this book! We meet some of her family and learn more about her people/where she comes from!

There is a lot of tension between Lou and Reid throughout the book. Reid is of course struggling very heavily with the fact that he is a witch, and struggles even more with the cost of Lou using magic. It’s a constant unspoken thing between them, as is the fact that they aren’t legally married. Everything eventually comes to a head and... it does not go well. The secrets and hidden feelings building up all come out at once and I actually cried like a baby. Don’t worry, Reid and Lou are on the mend and working things out.

This book is MUCH darker than book one. Like book one isn’t even on the map of dark in comparison to this and I am here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it! 👏🏻 Blood & Honey broke my heart a million times and put it back together. And here I am again, with a huge cliffhanger that is going to drive me crazy and have me ranting about it for months.

There is nothing like having the highest anticipation for a book ever and it falling short of your expectations. It wasn't bad guys, it just was meh. I felt like there was so much more potential for me.

You still have all of the drama and angst as Serpent & Dove and plenty of action, it just was mediocre in my opinion.

I still love LOU and Shelby Mahurin does a great job of her character development and relationships.
Lou & Reid still are some of my favs and the magic is amazing in this book.

Be warned, once things get going in this book - they don't stop. It is non-stop action.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review*

What the actual heck happened in the last 10% of this book?! I am shook. I am shaking. I can't believe I have to wait for the third book.

I definitely felt less urgency in this one than Serpent & Dove which I stayed up all night reading. This one was definitely more of an exploration of Lou and Reids relationship and the actual plot felt a bit slower. I also felt like there were a lot of new characters thrown in that weren't exactly expanded upon and seemed just to be filler.

However even with those issues, I'm a sucker for this series. I love Lou and Reid, I love the setting, and I love the tension that author creates within the story. I honestly cannot wait until the next book to find out what happens because that cliffhanger was insane.

I'd fallen so deeply for Serpent & Dove, so deeply that I ordered custom made signs with my favorite quotes, merchandise, signed copies, and so much more. Serpent & Dove was easily my favorite read when it came up and I would do anything for Lou & Reid's relationship. The world was invigorating, the plot refreshing, and the characters dynamic.

Enter Blood & Honey. An ARC I was so interested in receiving that I just about cried when the email came through that I had been accepted. I started it immediately, excited to be back in the world of Serpent & Dove once again. It was an honor to get it so early and I knew I'd binge read it quickly. Then, I got to 15% of the book and realized I'd read the same series of events no less than three times, that nothing had really happened at all, and that the cast of characters had expanded to be a bit larger than manageable. I ached for something interesting to happen and, while there was a bit of sexy lap sitting that made me happy, it wasn't nearly enough to make me stay interested. I will definitely have to come back and revisit it at a time where I can handle a slow beginning. Truth be told, I'd rather have a 400 page book full of action than a drawn out 500+ page book where nothing happens for a large chunk of it. I dearly hope my mind will change, but I will wait until it is fully released to read it, hopefully when times are slower and I can have the patience for it.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and it did NOT disappoint. I felt like I held my breath for the hours it took me to read this book. It was action packed from start to finish, but still found moments of happiness and connection with the characters. I loved the continued world building and learning to understand the magic system even more than in the first book. At times it did feel a bit rushed, but the pacing was overall really good and never lets up. This series is an essential fantasy series that I recommend to all lovers of YA fantasy, witches, magic, and romance. I also appreciate that while there are some steamy scenes, they don't take over the book and make it still approachable for young adults, although I would say keep it to high school and above!

Thank you Net Galley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book!

Wow, what a book and what an ending. Blood and Honey certainly lives up to all the hype surrounding it. This was my most anticipated read for 2020 and I tried not to rush through it and savor every moment. Expect to be shocked, filled with emotion, and, dare I say it, heartbroken.

Trouble in paradise, sweet Ansel, sassy Beau, new and mysterious characters - Shelby Mahurin once again creates an enthralling novel that is so hard to put down. All I can say after those final chapters : is it 2021 yet???