Blood & Honey

I'm free!!! Worst experience of my life!!!

this got hit hard by the second book syndrome and it was so bad that I don't think i'll ever look at the 3rd book

it would be one star but some things in the story did shock me and it deserves a star for making me gasp like once

This was a pretty big letdown. I really loved Serpent & Dove but this book suffered from second book syndrome. There was a lot of it that just dragged along and was filler. And everything would lead up to an event and then be anti-climatic. The ending is crazy as always and I will definitley read the next book but this one was just not at the same level as the first book.

CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 8
Atmosphere: 5
Writing: 7
Plot: 3
Intrigue: 4
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 5

3.5 stars.

The sequel was just as fun and well-paced as the first one. Mahurin has made a lasting impression!

Ha estat bé, pero es primer va ser millor. Hi ha moltes errades, falten punts, guions, hi ha paraules repetides...

3.5 ⭐️
Well that was something.

I started this book almost a year ago and just now finishing it. Well more like reading the last 55% of the book in a day...

This book was great all in all.
I was finding it really hard to see my two lovers from the first book slowly destroying each other and so I got scared then a little bit bored and got lost in the plot so I stoped reading.
I've picked it back up last night saying to myself that I needed that book out of my reading shelf and didn't expect the turn it took. I'm now finding myself wanting to pick up the next book immediately.

I'm debating the rating still.. since it was so hard for me to get through it, the ratings of 3.5 is probably right but I'm debating giving it a 4... I don't know

My attachment to the characters from the first book is what kept me going with this one. Honestly spent most of the book frustrated with the characters' actions. It was a frustrating read, but only because I like the characters and want the best for them and they just kept making awful decisions. 

Was quite long winded and the first book was definitely more exciting and kept you wanting to read it. This book felt like more of a chore to read. The author also revealed what was happening a lot of the time instead of using the element of surprise. Still good though as the characters are great

3.5/5

definitivamente mucho más oscuro que el primer libro en muchos aspectos. se ve la decadencia de la sanidad de Lou y los traumas de Reid. también se exploran los trasfondos de varios personajes secundarios.
la atmósfera de tensión está siempre presente, llevada a cabo por la autora de una manera especial dado que los protagonistas no dejan de ser jóvenes envueltos en una guerra que no quieren. me parece que está muy bien escrito y plasmado.
en general, un libro buenísimo. me dejaba pasmada cada vez que lo leía, siempre supo sorprenderme y, a veces, clavarme un puñal en la espalda (metafóricamente).
5/5, librazo

Not enjoying the direction of the story. but I still adore Lou

I don't usually rate a book 2 stars, because I know a book is an author's hardwork, and I want to appreciate it. But many things didn't make sense in this installment, so I guess I'll pass the third. This series isn't my taste after all.

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Blood & Honey

Reid and Lou have a difficult path ahead of them. Wanted throughout the kingdom and hunted by both witches and chasseurs, they must find a way to bring down Morgane. But the witch is following their every move, leaving behind riddles and taunting them every step of the way. And as their time to act grows closer, they will find it difficult to convince anyone to rise against Morgane.

The focus of Blood & Honey makes a dramatic shift from the relationship between Lou and Reid, to the events they were involved in. Gone was the witty banter back and forth, gone was the emotional tension. Instead, it was replaced by a wedge between them created by the use of magic. Anger and frustration took hold of both characters. And while this led to an almost complete halt on relationship development, it gave Reid's character a push.

The small cracks in Reid's belief present during Serpent & Dove have begun to make him question everything in Blood & Honey. And when Reid puts his foot down his stubbornness rivals Lou's. The two are headstrong in their beliefs and neither wants to compromise, causing the couple to be at odds for most of the book. Reid is also processing his grief and guilt over his actions in the previous novel. This mixture of emotions made Reid hesitate and question his choices at every turn. The storyline progressed at a slow pace and was increasingly frustrating when Reid refused to do the one thing that would make things easier. But of course, on the other hand, he wouldn't be Reid if he took the easy path.

Even though this book takes a step back from the young adult romance, it is still a good story. Shelby Mahurin introduces both the blood witches and the werewolves and all the tension that goes along when rivals meet. The barbed commentary and close calls resulting from their time on the page make all the difference. And don't forget, Morgane's presence hovers in the background, playing mind games and forcing the characters into precarious situations. I was also happy to see the use of magic ramp up and the teasing lore bits dropped into the plot.

I have no doubt Lou will take a larger part in Gods & Monsters. The path her character has been set on is not going to be easy, and after Reid's rise and fall in Blood & Honey, I hope the two return to being a powerful team.

Mi bello y hermoso Ansel...

This book's ending saved itself from a one-star with that ending cuz otherwise holy SHIT this was a drag.

All of the things that annoyed me about the last book were amplified here. About the only consistency in this story was/were inconsistent characters.

This was not good. Its just a long filler book where very little happens. I tried reading physically and listening to the audibook, which was also not good (why would their be a Cockney accent in ye olden days France?!

Darker, and in some ways deeper, than the first. That comes with positives and negatives. I missed the playfulness, while the losses kept mounting. There's emotional payoff to counteract some of that, but at times that didn't feel enough. That said - it's an amazing story, the protagonists have become more three dimensional, while there's good understanding of how the villains may have become who they are. I'm pumped and feel we're VERY set up for a cataclysmic? apocalyptic? conclusion.....

Solid sequel. I gradually realized I forgot more of the first book than I thought, but I still enjoyed the ongoing witchy tempest of Lou, Reid, & co.

Wow...now that's a sequel and a cliffhanger. How long until the next one?

I absolutely loved this book! It was really good and I liked it more than the first one. It was good to rediscover this world and to see what Lou and Reid are up to.
The ending was cruel and unexpected, ugH!