Publishers Weekly
07/17/2023
Set in the same world as Mahurin’s Serpent & Dove series, this rollicking fantasy duology starter follows 18-year-old Célie Tremblay’s pursuit to be taken seriously as an ancient paranormal society’s only female hunter. Célie worries that her PTSD and lack of strength, necessitating that she use lightweight weapons, make her seem less capable than her male counterparts. This feeling is worsened by her continual exclusion from missions by commanding officer Jean Luc, who is also her fiancé. Célie is further infuriated when Jean Luc sidelines her from the hunt for a serial killer who exsanguinates his victims, most of whom aren’t human. Determined to launch her own investigation, she visits one of the crime scenes, where a case of mistaken identity results in her abduction to Requiem, a hidden isle home to an array of mystical beings that’s ruled by a ruthless vampire king. The worldbuilding’s reliance on details from the original trilogy is likely to confuse newcomers. Still, horror-inflected action, puckish humor, and heady romance enliven both the twisty central mystery and Célie’s journey of self-discovery. Main characters cue as white; the supporting cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"[A] rollicking fantasy duology starter . . . horror-inflected action, puckish humor, and heady romance enliven both the twisty central mystery and Célie’s journey of self-discovery." — Publishers Weekly
". . . A story to sink one’s teeth into." — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Blood & Honey: “In Lou’s world she not only finds her voice, but makes men take notice and change their views of women. With so many twists and turns, this book is a must for fans of the first.” — School Library Journal
“Seductive, steamy, and satisfying. Mahurin has delivered a fearless and captivating sequel that has me hooked. This is officially one of my favorite series ever.” — Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth
“Decadent and dangerous, Blood & Honey was exactly the book I needed at precisely the right time. The rich cast of characters captivated me, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for this merry band of miscreants.” — Reneé Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn series
"Blood & Honey grabbed me by the throat. Shining with irreverent humor and brutal heartache, every magical word is rendered beautifully throughout the many twists and harrowing turns. Mahurin delivers a triumphant return to Belterra. — Isabel Ibañez, author of Woven In Moonlight
“A breathless, breathtaking continuation of the magical world Mahurin has created pits the strength of love against the need to protect those one loves…at any cost. Would you lose your soul to save someone else’s? Blood & Honey doesn’t just address this question; it slams the reader into the story - and that existential question - in a brilliant, unending roller-coaster ride.” — Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light
Praise for Serpent & Dove: “Drips with intrigue and shadow.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A brilliant debut, full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully-realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept me reading long into the night. Serpent & Dove is an absolute gem of a book.” — Sarah J Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses series
“Will cast a spell on romance fans.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Mahurin has taken the witch and witch hunter trope and made it new again. The world-building will draw in readers and Lou’s strong but wistful nature will keep them turning pages.” — School Library Journal
New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace
This is officially one of my favorite series ever.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for Serpent & Dove: “Drips with intrigue and shadow.
Sarah J Maas
A brilliant debut, full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully-realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept me reading long into the night. Serpent & Dove is an absolute gem of a book.”
Adalyn Grace
Seductive, steamy, and satisfying. Mahurin has delivered a fearless and captivating sequel that has me hooked. This is officially one of my favorite series ever.
Isabel Ibañez
"Blood & Honey grabbed me by the throat. Shining with irreverent humor and brutal heartache, every magical word is rendered beautifully throughout the many twists and harrowing turns. Mahurin delivers a triumphant return to Belterra.
Reneé Ahdieh
Decadent and dangerous, Blood & Honey was exactly the book I needed at precisely the right time. The rich cast of characters captivated me, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for this merry band of miscreants.
Jodi Picoult
A breathless, breathtaking continuation of the magical world Mahurin has created pits the strength of love against the need to protect those one loves…at any cost. Would you lose your soul to save someone else’s? Blood & Honey doesn’t just address this question; it slams the reader into the story - and that existential question - in a brilliant, unending roller-coaster ride.”
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-26
In this vampire thriller set in Mahurin’s Serpent and Dove series, the darkness a young woman fears most is hungry for her blood.
Six months ago, Célie Tremblay helped kill a terrorizing sorceress after enduring unspeakable horrors at her hands. Scarred but not broken, she took the Chasseurs’ sacred vow to protect her world from evil magic. She is hell-bent on proving herself, but even bronze-skinned Jean Luc, her captain and fiance, acts like she’s fragile, and she cannot abide being treated like a doll. Striking off on her own, pale, green-eyed Célie is plunged into a world she thought only existed in fairy tales and nightmares. With unlikely allies by her side, she must confront an evil so strong that it’s sickening even the realms beyond life. Mahurin crafts a heady, convoluted tale that could have been several hundred pages shorter. The story walks a thin line between serious gothic horror and spoof. Though the plot leans heavily into its clichés, it delivers some genuinely shocking twists, and it’s all too easy to become invested in Célie’s plight. She is a willful, headstrong, and eminently relatable narrator whose emotional outbursts, impulsivity, and keen wit frustrate and delight in equal measure. The romance elements feel neither forced nor entirely natural, but regardless, they make for compelling drama. A colorful cast of supporting characters does much to enliven the richly vivid setting.
A story to sink one’s teeth into. (Paranormal. 14-18)
