Book Summary – Blood & Honey – Serpent & Dove – Book 2
- Jason Montero
- Sep 5, 2025
- 31 min read
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Book summary by chapter of Blood & Honey. Includes spoilers from the first escape to the end of the book. Lou wasn’t merely heir to darkness—she was its shattered mirror. Every choice, spell, and death reflected the fracture within her, until the walls between loyalty and betrayal collapsed in ice, blood, and one final promise whispered between broken hearts.
Introduction – Blood & Honey
The spark that began in Serpent & Dove blazes into an inferno in Blood & Honey. Shelby Mahurin turns flight into confrontation, love into a weapon, and magic into a cost paid in blood. Here, Lou and Reid are no longer just fugitives—they’re pawns in an ancient game, hunted by a legacy they never chose and caught between uncertain allies and inevitable enemies.
Each chapter becomes a crossroads between loyalty and sacrifice. From icy swamps to a masked traveling troupe, the second book in the Serpent & Dove series becomes a whirlwind of alliances, betrayals, secrets, and shattered promises. Lou’s past rises like a shadow with a name: Morgane. And Reid must decide if the magic he hates might be the only way to protect the one he loves.
Because surviving is not enough when destiny demands fire, honey, and memory. If you want to follow this cursed journey from the very beginning, don’t miss the main entry: Reading order of Serpent & Dove ➤
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Chapter Navigation
Chapter 1 Summary – Blood & Honey – Morning
In a hidden corner of La Fôret des Yeux, Lou and her companions endure the harsh winter and the constant threat of being found. While they try to maintain a sense of normalcy in their hideout—the Hollow—Lou prepares a coarse bark bread that sparks Beau’s disgust, everyone’s sarcasm, and a few intimate moments with Reid. Amid games, laughter, and arguments, an underlying tension is palpable: they are trapped and hunted. Madame Labelle enforces strict rules, reminding them of the “Wanted” posters exposing them. Lou attempts to bring some joy back to the group with a birthday gift for Ansel, triggering memories of her childhood and her mother Morgane’s dark gestures. But the warmth quickly fades as the Hollow’s illusion of safety begins to crumble, revealing that the threat is much closer than they’d like to admit—like the calm before the storm.
Chapter 2 Summary – Blood & Honey – Stolen Moments
While Lou sleeps peacefully, Reid wrestles with guilt, wakefulness, and dark memories of Modraniht. In his introspection, he finds the unexpected company of Absalon, a matagot that seems to symbolize his inner torment. Upon waking, Lou tries to bridge the gap between them by talking about Morgane, questioning whether evil is born or learned, and explaining the intimate connection her people have with magic. Reid, burdened by the weight of his actions, avoids confessing that he was the one who killed Lou’s father. The emotional tension rises when Lou gently and sensually tries to ease his pain with affection and teasing. However, Reid pulls away, overwhelmed by guilt. Beau’s untimely arrival interrupts the moment, but it’s clear their love runs deep. As magic marks their bodies with traces of blood, Lou struggles to hold onto hope in the face of growing despair.
Chapter 3 Summary – Blood & Honey – Alarm Bell
In the peacefulness of a stream, Lou and Reid enjoy a rare moment of respite, floating in warm waters thanks to magic. Lou tries to teach Reid to accept his power, but a whisper in the trees sparks terror. Lou confesses that the forest distorts reality, showing nightmare visions like those she endured while escaping Morgane. Suddenly, their magical protection weakens: the blood concealment spell is fading, and hunters are closing in. With no time to spare, Lou pushes Reid underwater. He slowly begins to drown until, against all odds, he starts to breathe. Beneath the surface, he hears the chasseurs debating whether anyone could have survived. Lou, weakening, keeps the spell going at great personal cost. Reid desperately tries to summon his own magic, but fails. When Lou loses consciousness, he clutches her and propels them upward, new fear taking root in his chest.
Chapter 4 Summary – Blood & Honey – Pretty Porcelain
Lou wakes up shivering on the shore, confused, and finds Reid unconscious and surrounded by dead chasseurs. She revives him with magic, drawing warmth from a distorted memory of her mother. Reid revives, but is shaken by having killed his former brothers. Lou tries to comfort him, but guilt lingers between them. Back at camp, a heated argument erupts over their reckless escape. Lou confesses she altered Reid’s memory to save him, sparking concern about the consequences. Reid distances himself, hurt by the sacrifices Lou is willing to make. Madame Labelle insists they need allies, and Lou suggests recruiting chasseurs, melusines, and werewolves. The discovery of a threatening poem in her boot reveals Morgane is watching them, spreading fear. Lou refuses to give in to panic. Despite growing tension with Reid, they both know their bond is vital to withstand what lies ahead.
Chapter 5 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Wisest Course of Action
After discovering Morgane’s chilling message, the camp falls into ominous tension. Lou realizes the note is a threat disguised as poetry: Morgane plans to strike during the archbishop’s funeral. Though some are skeptical, Reid—guided by his experience with the Dames Blanches—sees a chance to stop her. Division rises: Lou fears it’s a trap, but Reid insists inaction will cost innocent lives. Madame Labelle rejects the idea due to lack of time and resources. Tension intensifies until Lou, realizing her role as a future leader, makes a decision. She asks Absalon for help contacting Josephine Monvoisin, knowing it means separating from Reid. Despite the danger, she accepts they need allies from all factions. Embracing her new responsibility, Lou lets go of doubt and steps into the role destiny has given her.
Chapter 6 Summary – Blood & Honey – Dyed Hair
To avoid being recognized, Lou must change her appearance. Madame Labelle suggests a ridiculous mix of alchemical ingredients and grotesque remedies like leeches, lead oxide, and gray paste. Determined not to use magic, Lou agrees to dye her hair traditionally with ash and vinegar, but Beau’s experiment goes awry, leaving her hair white and brittle. Furious and humiliated, Lou decides to cut it off. Meanwhile, Ansel confides his doubts about his past and the possibility of having magic, expressing a desire to learn self-defense. Lou agrees to train him, though she hesitates about teaching magic. At night, they practice together, and Ansel struggles, feeling useless. Yet his determination touches Lou. Though the results fall short, she encourages him and commits to helping him grow stronger, while tension with Reid over magic use remains unresolved.
Chapter 7 Summary – Blood & Honey – Claud Deveraux
Lou, Reid, and their allies head to a tavern in Saint-Loire to gather intel about the archbishop’s funeral. While trying to stay unnoticed, Reid wrestles with anxiety over the group’s impending separation. “Wanted” posters reveal Lou is accused of witchcraft and Reid of conspiracy, heightening the tension. They overhear farmers discussing the funeral, King Auguste’s curfew, and an upcoming tournament. Posing as a peasant, Lou tries to extract information, but a mysterious violinist named Claud Deveraux joins them with unsettling familiarity toward her. His presence unnerves Reid. When Lou’s hood falls, revealing her white hair and scar, villagers recognize her as Louise le Blanc. Reid and Ansel shield her as men attempt to capture her. The atmosphere turns dangerous, and the tavern becomes a death trap as their carefully maintained anonymity shatters.
Chapter 8 Summary – Blood & Honey – Puppet
Lou and Reid fight together for the first time as the villagers-turned-bounty-hunters try to capture them in the tavern. Lou uses her agility and lethal magic but begins to show signs of exhaustion. Reid urges Coco and the others to flee, while Lou takes on multiple enemies alone. During the battle, she tries to teach Reid how to connect with magical patterns, but he resists. Amid the chaos, Lou uses powerful magic, diverting a knife aimed at her heart by manipulating air, leaving her drained. Reid watches in horror as she channels magic through her body and starts to question her stability. When they are cornered, Lou magically controls Reid’s movements like a puppet in combat. Claud Deveraux appears at the last moment and tosses a matchstick, causing an explosion that allows them to escape.
Chapter 9 Summary – Blood & Honey – White Shadows
Lou shields Reid with a magical barrier as the tavern explodes around them, barely surviving. Though they escape, she is gravely wounded from extreme magic use, having used air from her blood to cast a pattern. They collapse outside the burning building, surrounded by a hostile mob, but manage to break through. Lou collapses in Reid’s arms, murmuring her wish to be his wife before losing consciousness, leaving Reid shattered. When she wakes, she overhears Coco and Reid arguing: he accuses Lou of acting erratically and fears she’s becoming like her mother. Coco defends her, reminding Reid that Lou sacrificed herself for everyone. Lou pretends to be asleep, deeply affected by Reid’s words. The scene reveals her internal pain and silent sacrifice for those she loves, despite the criticism.
Chapter 10 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Crosses We Bear
Lou wakes up injured but alert, listening as Reid, Coco, and Beau debate their next move. Reid insists on protecting her and staying together, while Lou argues they must stick to the original plan: splitting up to find allies. It’s revealed that Reid refuses to use magic, even if it endangers their lives. His distrust of magic wounds Lou, who confronts him, reminding him that magic is a part of him too. Reid tries to apologize, saying he loves her completely, but fails to mend the hurt. Lou, hurt but resolute, holds firm. She maps out the route to meet with the blood witches and loups garous before the funeral. As they part ways, Lou and Reid face a growing emotional distance. Though love still binds them, Reid’s rejection of magic threatens to drive a deeper wedge between them than any outside enemy could.
Chapter 11 Summary – Blood & Honey – Troupe de Fortune
Lou insists they must join Claud Deveraux, leader of a troupe of traveling actors, to avoid hunters and travel unnoticed. Though Reid is wary, he agrees to the plan. Claud imposes one condition: they can only travel with the troupe if they perform in their shows. Reid is cast as a knife-thrower, and Lou as a musician. Tension arises when one of the actors accuses them of having killed the archbishop. However, Claud welcomes them with enthusiasm. Lou decides to separate from the group with Coco and Ansel to head toward her aunt’s camp. Nicholina, a terrifying, emaciated figure, appears and seems to know more about Reid than she should. Her sinister behavior sparks an argument with Lou, and Coco forces her to leave. Lou says goodbye to Reid with a kiss, leaving a vague promise to reunite. Reid, unsettled by the unnatural coldness of her hands, is left with a dark premonition.
Chapter 12 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Missing Prince
Lou, Coco, and Ansel reach the forest where La Voisin’s camp is hidden. They are met with suspicion by the Dames Rouges, many of whom are exhausted and weakened. Nicholina guides them through hostile stares. It is revealed that Etienne, the king’s illegitimate son and Reid’s relative, has gone missing, and the presence of vultures suggests a grim fate. Coco reunites with Babette, a close friend who miraculously survived. Babette tells them Etienne never returned from a hunt, plunging his mother Ismay into despair. La Voisin, cold and powerful, rejects an alliance with Lou, deeming her cause a futile crusade. However, she agrees to hear Lou’s proposal if they find Etienne before dawn. Lou, Ansel, and Coco face hostile conditions—both environmental and emotional—and must prove their worth in a tense setting where blood and loyalty dictate all.
Chapter 13 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Knife Thrower
Now part of the troupe, Reid practices his knife-throwing for the performance in Domaine-les-Roses. Claud Deveraux tries to give him a ridiculous stage name, irritating Reid. Beau, sarcastic as ever, attempts to lighten the mood. Deveraux suggests Reid get closer to the twins, Toulouse and Thierry, hinting they may have more in common than expected. Reid suspects they also use magic and fears he was recruited for that reason. Internally, he battles guilt over his past and the uncertainty of his identity as a witch. In the wagon, he reflects on his new family, especially his sisters Violette and Victoire, and the possibility of a connection. However, Beau confronts him, reminding Reid that blood doesn’t define family. Their tension culminates in a verbal fight. Alone and disheartened, Reid begins to slowly open up to the idea of accepting his new reality.
Chapter 14 Summary – Blood & Honey – The White Pattern
Lou, Ansel, and Nicholina search the forest for Etienne. Gabrielle, Ismay’s daughter, joins them and, with her exuberance, reveals dark camp secrets, including that Nicholina eats hearts to stay young. Gabrielle shares her knowledge of blood magic, explaining that its power resides within, especially in the heart. Ansel is intrigued, and the conversation turns deep as Lou recalls her childhood with Coco. As dawn nears with no sign of Etienne, Lou, on the brink of despair, finally detects a white pattern among the magical threads and follows it back to camp. The pattern leads her to her own tent, where she finds Etienne’s lifeless body propped against a post, confirming her worst fears. The chapter ends with Ismay’s anguished scream and mounting tension over what this discovery means for their alliance.
Chapter 15 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Fool
The next morning, Reid tries to befriend twins Toulouse and Thierry, members of the troupe. Awkward and socially clumsy, he manages to start a conversation by asking about a tattoo on Toulouse’s face, which he explains represents “The Fool,” the first tarot card he ever drew. The mood turns tense when Reid mentions magic, and Toulouse cryptically confirms they practice divination. Reid struggles to hide his mistrust while confronting his own rejection of magic and everything it represents. Although he’s there to form alliances, he finds it hard to let go of his past as a chasseur. His mother, Madame Labelle, urges him to learn to tolerate magic if he wants to defeat Morgane. Reid, full of contradictions, wrestles with anger, pain, and the need to protect Lou. The chapter ends with a key decision: he will pretend to befriend them if it helps them win—even if the cost is his own identity.
Chapter 16 Summary – Blood & Honey – Drops of Blood
Lou stares in horror at Etienne Gilly’s charred, decapitated body, his head rolling to her boots. Gabrielle and her mother Ismay cry beside the pyre, united in grief. The blood witches murmur that he’s not the first victim—and all the mothers had ties to the king. Lou suspects Morgane, believing she sent this cruel message. Gaby mimics La Voisin to console herself, while Ansel silently observes Coco and Babette, torn between longing and sorrow. Lou encourages him to speak his feelings, though he fears rejection. During the funeral ritual, the blood witches wear scarlet and perform an ancient rite with daggers and vessels, sealing the ashes with spells. Suddenly, Gabrielle vanishes into the trees. They find her bloodied ribbon, and panic erupts. Morgane has struck again, and La Voisin vows to join the fight against her.
Chapter 17 Summary – Blood & Honey – The First Performance
Reid, masked and lined in kohl, reluctantly performs in a street show with the Troupe de Fortune, under Madame Labelle’s watchful gaze. Embarrassed, he remembers his past as a chasseur while the crowd cheers. Toulouse and Thierry, generous-hearted mages, help villagers, even giving coins to a child who can’t pay. Reid learns Thierry lost his tongue and communicates through magic. When Zenna recites a poem about a dragon and a maiden, Reid is deeply moved, questioning his past as a witch hunter. Madame Labelle warns him about the danger of loving Lou and advises him to consider leaving before darkness consumes them both. But Reid won’t turn away: he loves her unconditionally, even knowing their life together will be one of running, fighting, and inevitable pain.
Chapter 18 Summary – Blood & Honey – Red Death and Her Bride, Eternal Sleep
Reid prepares to perform as Mort Rouge, unaware that Lou will appear as his onstage partner. Bound to the wheel in a nearly sheer dress, Lou dares him to throw knives. Nervous, Reid accepts the challenge. Tension builds to the final act, when he throws a sword blindfolded. He barely misses, grazing Lou’s cheek and slicing a moth-shaped mark on her face. Lou reveals she secured La Voisin’s alliance but speaks evasively, raising Reid’s suspicions. Though she claims Coco persuaded her, Reid senses she’s hiding something serious. The distance between them grows, and Lou builds walls to protect her secret. Mistrust sets in as the crowd applauds, unaware of the looming danger. Reid feels his aim wasn’t the only thing that missed its mark. Lou is once again hiding a truth that could change everything.
Chapter 19 Summary – Blood & Honey – She Doesn’t Love Me
After the show, Lou and Reid share a lighthearted moment while the rest of the group celebrates. But they soon find Coco and Ansel kissing by the stream. At first, Lou is happy, but she quickly realizes something’s wrong. Hidden nearby, they overhear Coco confessing she kissed Ansel to see if she could feel something. He, hurt and confused, walks away heartbroken. Later, Lou finds Coco crying, and they talk by the river. Coco feels guilty and lost, believing she’s doomed not to love good men. She painfully recalls her mother, who never visited, and confesses that La Voisin despises her for resembling her. The conversation turns emotional, and Lou tries to comfort her. Just then, Claud interrupts with news that Reid is consoling Ansel. Furious, Coco storms off in search of Beau, who caused the mess.
Chapter 20 Summary – Blood & Honey – An Unexpected Encounter
A band of bandits storms the camp, led by Bas, Lou’s old friend. Claud protects Lou with an illusion spell, making them invisible. Reid, Coco, Beau, and the others are captured. Bas pretends not to know Lou or Coco, causing confusion. Reid refuses to give up his knife, and Bas stabs him in the gut. Lou breaks the illusion and rushes to his side, while Coco frees herself using Lou’s dagger. Madame Labelle and the troupe fight back with magic, but Reid bleeds heavily. Lou, desperate, faces the choice of saving him through a life exchange. As her husband fades, Blanco Hueso, a cruel bandit, discovers their identity. Coco stabs him in the eye, wounding him severely. Amid the chaos, blood, fury, and love, Lou clings to Reid, ready to do anything to save him.
Chapter 21 Summary – Blood & Honey – Blood and Honey
Reid regains consciousness amid the chaos following the bandit attack. Coco tries to help him move, as his magically healed wound still needs honey to close completely. On the battlefield, actors and thieves fight fiercely. Lou confronts Bas, who claims not to recognize her. Despite her pleas and shared memories, he lunges at her, putting a knife to her throat. Desperate, Lou returns the memories he lost using magic, causing them both to collapse. When they awaken, Bas calls her “Louey,” revealing he remembers. However, Reid realizes Lou lied—she did rescue him from the Tower. Feeling betrayed, he collapses beside her. At that moment, the bandit leader attempts to kill Coco, but Lou throws the Balisarda. The knife hits a tree, which mysteriously absorbs it, transforming into a magical tree. Tension erupts between Lou, Reid, and Madame Labelle, leaving deep wounds behind.
Chapter 22 Summary – Blood & Honey – Bone Dagger
Lou travels with Deveraux toward Cesarine, still reeling from the emotional distance with Reid. Along the way, she tries to learn more about Deveraux, who cryptically reveals little more than that he has loved twice in his long life. Near the city, they part ways, and Lou suspects his intentions but thanks him for his help. Later, she finds Reid, who remains cold and distant. Coco joins them and treats Reid’s wound with blood and honey. Though Lou tries to reconnect with her husband, she cannot break the emotional barrier between them. She discovers a drawing of herself in Reid’s journal, triggering painful memories of his time as a chasseur. Finally, Reid reveals he killed Blaise’s son to become captain and carries a knife with a bone handle made from his remains. Horrified, Lou realizes how dangerous their plan is: to challenge Blaise on his own ground.
Chapter 23 Summary – Blood & Honey – Until One of Us Dies
While marching through the forest to Le Ventre, tension between Reid and Lou escalates, affecting Ansel and Coco as well. Lou challenges Reid to a duel to prove her more instinctive, ruthless combat method. Reid hesitates but agrees on one condition: if he wins, Lou must stop using magic; if he loses, he’ll agree to learn it. The fight begins with Lou mocking Reid and easily pinning him. In the second round, Reid counters with force, pinning her against a tree. But Lou uses magic to throw him across the clearing. Furious, Reid demands another chance and the fight turns brutal. Instinctively, Reid wounds Lou with a knife, believing he’s seriously hurt her, but she fakes the fall and attacks him with an explosion. She ends the fight with a cruel lesson: the fight doesn’t end until someone dies. Their tension reaches a dangerously high point.
Chapter 24 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Blood Debt
The group enters the swamps of Le Ventre in search of Blaise’s pack but are soon surrounded by dozens of werewolves. Lou tries to negotiate an alliance, but Liana, Blaise’s daughter, mocks them and accuses them of bringing enemies into their territory. When Lou proves her skill by throwing a knife with precision, the wolves pause. Coco and Beau support the request for an alliance, but tension lingers. Blaise eventually appears and reveals that Morgane also sought his help, offering them freedom in exchange for Lou. Facing imminent danger, Reid challenges Blaise to a duel. If he wins, the pack must join them against Morgane. Blaise rejects the duel but proposes a hunt: if Reid reaches Gévaudan alive, he will be allowed to live. Otherwise, he will be their prey. Lou begs him not to accept, but Reid realizes it’s their only chance and decides to run for his life.
Chapter 25 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Wolves Attack
Reid flees through the swamp with the werewolves in pursuit. Familiar with the terrain, he plans to use the river to mask his scent, only to discover with horror that it has dried up. With no water, he covers himself in mud and climbs trees to confuse his trackers. However, a branch breaks and he falls violently. Blaise catches up and attacks with fury. Reid tries to reason with him, revealing Morgane’s plan to kill all the king’s children, including the innocent. Blaise hesitates, and Reid urges him to consider an alliance. Despite this, Blaise transforms and bites Reid, tearing his arm. Determined not to use magic, Reid fights back with all his strength, subduing Blaise with a dagger. Injured and vulnerable, Reid bandages himself as Blaise reverts to human form and faces him again in renewed rage.
Chapter 26 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Frozen Heart
Lou paces in circles, consumed by helplessness as Reid faces the Beast of Gévaudan alone. Three young wolves, including Blaise’s son Terrance, watch eagerly, hoping to join the hunt. Coco tries to calm her, but Lou can’t stop thinking about ending the wait. Suddenly, distant howls signal they’ve found Reid. Desperate, Lou unleashes a freezing spell that turns the swamp into ice, releasing magic so powerful it nearly kills her. Coco revives her just before the frost consumes her. The transformed landscape reveals the extent of her power. Attacked by wolves, Lou uses ice to defend herself with terrifying coldness. She nearly loses control until Coco confronts her. Lou hesitates but remembers who she is and dissolves the spell. Then, chasseurs led by Jean Luc arrive. Tension rises and ends in a direct clash.
Chapter 27 Summary – Blood & Honey – Asylum
Blaise confronts Reid in an inevitable duel, filled with pain over the loss of his adopted son Adrien. Just as Blaise is about to strike, ice spreads like a magical wave, halting the fight. Reid recognizes Lou’s signature in the spell. Together, they run to the edge of loup garou territory, finding Lou possessed by icy power that traps chasseurs and wolves alike. Wearing a vacant smile, she manipulates the ice with cruelty. Coco pleads with her to stop, but only Reid reaches her inner self. By embracing her and reminding her who she is, Lou melts the ice. Coco, injured, struggles to stand. Blaise arrives carrying the wounded Terrance. Reid uses blood and honey to heal him. Grateful, Blaise promises not to hunt them. Jean Luc tries to arrest them, but the wolves block him. Lou proposes a pact: unite forces to capture Morgane. Despite his hatred, Blaise agrees to the mission.
Chapter 28 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Promise
Arriving at the outskirts of Cesarine, the group hides among the trees as Blaise, Liana, and Terrance scout the area. They confirm that chasseurs are guarding the entrance, searching for Lou, Reid, and their allies. Jean Luc has arrived ahead of them. Lou seeks help from the matagots, sending Claud a message for a safe route. Reid and Lou, tense after the events in the swamp, try to rebuild trust. Lou gives Reid Jean Luc’s Balisarda as a replacement for the one he lost. Though she promises to control her magic, Reid doubts her words. Toulouse and Thierry arrive with disguises from Claud to help bypass the guards. Reid still refuses to use magic, but Thierry warns that Morgane will attack during the archbishop’s funeral, where the king will be exposed. The rookie chasseurs are vulnerable. The group must move soon. Reid realizes the gravity of what lies ahead. There’s no more room for mistakes.
Chapter 29 Summary – Blood & Honey – Trial by Fire
The plan to infiltrate Cesarine falls apart from the start. Lou disguises herself as a young aristocrat, while Reid sneaks into a farmer’s cart. Rejected by the farmer’s wife, Reid convinces her using biblical passages, appealing to her faith. When a chasseur, Philippe, approaches, Reid feels everything unraveling. He tries to use magic, but the internal struggle with the ancestral power overwhelms him. Golden patterns engulf him, taking control of his mind and body. Unable to resist, he knocks Philippe unconscious. As chasseurs surround the cart, Reid escapes on the farmer’s horse. The crowd screams his name, calling him a murderer. Chasseurs chase him through the city streets. With his last strength, Reid climbs to a rooftop, where Lou helps him escape. They flee across the rooftops. There’s no doubt—their return to Cesarine has been a disaster.
Chapter 30 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Drowning
Lou manages to lose the chasseurs and reunites with Reid in an East End alley. Exhausted, they plan to meet their allies at the Léviathan inn. On the way, Reid tries to convince her to speak with the king, but Lou insists they can’t trust Auguste. Passing the cathedral, they find three burned corpses on stakes. The horror chills them. The king has executed women without proof to reinforce his rule. Among the crowd, Lou spots Manon fleeing into an alley with a man, Gilles. Reid and Lou follow and discover that Manon was ordered by Morgane to kill him. Though Gilles begs her to run away with him, Manon, consumed by fear and despair, kills him with a knife. Reid wants to intervene, but Lou stops him. The scene leaves them stunned, trapped in Manon’s suffering. Lou realizes that even the truest love cannot survive under Morgane’s shadow.
Chapter 31 Summary – Blood & Honey – Madame Sauvage’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Still shaken by Manon’s confession, Lou and Reid hide in a strange shop filled with macabre objects. Surrounded by an oppressive atmosphere and eerie artifacts, they argue bitterly. Lou confronts Reid about his hypocrisy regarding magic, while he accuses her of withholding crucial information. The confrontation hits an emotional low: Lou painfully reveals that Gilles—the man killed by Manon—was her brother, and that she let him die to protect Reid. This confession shatters the fragile harmony between them. Devastated, Reid compares her to Morgane. The shop’s mysterious and wise owner, Madame Sauvage, briefly appears to offer them shelter. After the fight, Reid leaves, abandoning Lou. When she gathers herself, she finds a cryptic note pinned to the door—an ominous message that reveals they’re still being watched. Lou is left overwhelmed by pain, guilt, and restrained fury.
Chapter 32 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Change of Plans
Emotionally shaken by the fight with Lou, Reid tries to refocus on their mission. He enters the Léviathan, determined to confront his father and end Morgane’s threat. Ignoring Lou, though aware of her presence, he joins Madame Labelle and Beau, who plan to infiltrate the castle via secret tunnels. Their goal is to meet the king before the archbishop’s funeral. With help from the Mascarade des Crânes passages, they attempt to reach the throne unnoticed. Despite the tension, Beau lightens the mood by telling an embarrassing childhood story that makes everyone laugh. The seriousness returns as they agree that if the meeting fails, Reid must flee. At the castle, Beau enters first while Reid and Madame Labelle wait. But the king had anticipated their arrival. A traitor revealed their route. As they try to escape, Reid is struck and loses consciousness—betrayed and captured.
Chapter 33 Summary – Blood & Honey – The King’s Court
Reid wakes imprisoned, drugged and bound next to Madame Labelle, while a cold, ruthless King Auguste interrogates him. He demands Lou’s location, using hemlock and threats to break Reid. Reid endures physical and emotional torture, refusing to talk. Auguste, cruel, threatens inhumane torture methods like rats. Meanwhile, Madame Labelle holds her ground, revealing she has built an immunity to hemlock over time. The king’s hatred for witches is clear. Interrupted by an aide summoning him to the funeral, Auguste leaves, confident Lou will come for Reid. In the dungeons, Reid, Beau, and Madame Labelle argue without clear solutions. Suddenly, Violette and Victoire heroically burst in, tricking the chasseurs with lamb’s blood and freeing the prisoners. The escape is chaotic, and though Madame Labelle stays behind to buy them time, Reid, heartbroken, accepts he must live now to rescue her later.
Chapter 34 Summary – Blood & Honey – Pride Comes Before the Fall
Lou waits anxiously at the Léviathan while the group remains distant. Nicholina approaches, implying Lou is a pariah like herself. The conversation is disturbing but filled with uncomfortable truths. When Lou overhears the loups garous doubting Reid’s return and planning to leave, she erupts in fury. She confronts Blaise and Terrance, demanding they honor their promise. The tension escalates until threats turn into a real fight. In the chaos, Lou tries to use magic to intervene but accidentally sets Coco on fire. The scene is heartbreaking: Coco suffers, and the group, horrified, steps between them. La Voisin strangles Lou to stop her. Devastated, Lou tries to approach, but even Ansel stops her. Coco weakly forgives her, but the damage is done. Ashamed and paralyzed, Lou collapses in tears. The fear and rejection from the others are palpable. She has crossed a line.
Chapter 35 Summary – Blood & Honey – True Knights
Reid wakes drugged, still a prisoner of the king, alongside Madame Labelle. Auguste interrogates him with calculated cruelty, using hemlock injections and sadistic threats. He tries to break Reid with violence and humiliation, but Reid resists. Madame Labelle is also tortured, but she remains composed. Just as all seems lost, Violette and Victoire storm the dungeon, having fooled the chasseurs. They use lamb’s blood and lies to free Beau, Reid, and Madame Labelle. The girls demand an apology for being abandoned and scold Reid for underestimating them. Amid laughter, teasing, and grudging forgiveness, Reid realizes they’re all broken—not just Lou. As they escape, they’re ambushed by chasseurs, and Madame Labelle sacrifices herself so the others can flee. Reid, weak but determined, is dragged away by Beau through the tunnels. Though he hears his mother’s screams, he accepts that he must survive—to fight for her and for Lou. Hope is reborn.
Chapter 36 Summary – Blood & Honey – When a Serpent Sheds Its Skin
Lou sits alone on the rooftop, isolated in her grief, reflecting on her situation and the conflicts around her. As she watches the cloudy sky, she prays to a divine figure, asking for guidance and feeling abandoned. She thinks of Reid, Coco, and Ansel, all caught in their own dilemmas, and admits she has lost control, feeling broken and unable to fix what’s been damaged. Claud’s unexpected arrival brings news: Reid is alive, though wounded, and asked for her. Lou is moved. In a surprising twist, Claud reveals he once loved her mother and, sensing Lou’s darkness, urges her to transform—like a serpent shedding its skin. Finally, Reid appears, devastated, and tearfully confesses that his mother has been taken. Lou embraces him tightly, feeling her world crumble once again.
Chapter 37 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Funeral
Reid silently watches the archbishop’s funeral procession from his window as heavy rain falls and sorrow fills his heart. Lou stands beside him, offering comfort. Reid reflects on his complex relationship with the man who raised him and the choices that led to this tragedy. Painful memories return: his childhood in the church, his training, his bond with Jean Luc, and the constant demands of the archbishop who shaped him as a hunter. Though anger and resentment mix with guilt, Reid can’t deny the love he once felt. The passing coffin seals the final goodbye, unleashing a flood of memories that culminate in accepting his grief. Through tears, Lou holds him, and he finally surrenders to mourning. Reid acknowledges he killed his father but also realizes that love—imperfect and cruel—left a lasting mark. Letting him go, he feels free.
Chapter 38 Summary – Blood & Honey – Something New
Lou and Reid remain together after the funeral, embraced in the intimacy of their room. Reid mourns the archbishop, confessing he feels unworthy and fears he earned his hatred. Lou reassures him that he was loved and that love made him stronger. With new awareness, Reid embraces his magic as part of himself and, using it gently, fills the room with fireflies and flowers, showing Lou he can wield it with beauty. Deeply moved, Lou admits her mistakes and fears, confessing that she hurt Coco by accident. Reid assures her he doesn’t judge her, and they reaffirm their bond. Through affection and desire, they open up to each other, sharing not just their bodies but also their secrets, guilt, and hopes. In that intimate moment, they rediscover and transform one another, sealing a new stage in their relationship: they are more than lovers now—they are each other’s refuge.
Chapter 39 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Last Note
The night after the funeral brings a false calm, but a new threat emerges. Lou and Reid descend to the tavern in uneasy peace, disrupted by rising tension between witches and werewolves demanding answers about Morgane’s absence. A third note, delivered by an unknown girl, reveals Morgane’s true target: a porcelain doll, trapped and in danger. The clues lead Lou to a horrifying realization—the victim is Célie. The revelation stuns everyone, especially Reid, whose face shows disbelief and fury. Blaise, Jean Luc, and others spring into action, but time is short: Morgane plans to rip the girl’s heart out at midnight. As chaos erupts, Claud tries to maintain order. The meaning of the previous notes had been misunderstood, and now, with the clock ticking, they must launch a desperate tunnel search to rescue her before it’s too late.
Chapter 40 Summary – Blood & Honey – Coco’s Vision
The news of Célie’s abduction stuns the group. Reid freezes, and tension escalates. Jean Luc demands immediate action as threats between witches and chasseurs intensify. To get answers, Coco drinks a drop of Lou’s blood, unleashing a prophetic vision. Eyes rolled back, Coco proclaims that a man close to Lou’s heart will die at midnight. Panic sets in, with many believing Reid is the one fated to die. Determined to stop it, Lou insists he must stay behind—she can’t risk him. Yet Reid is resolute about joining them. La Voisin and Nicholina watch with interest as Claud organizes the search into teams. While Reid is distracted by Nicholina’s unsettling presence, Lou slips away into the storeroom, finds the tunnel entrance, and seals it with her dagger. She knows Reid would follow her—and that’s why she decides to go alone. Calling on her magic once more, she steps into the darkness, determined to save Célie.
Chapter 41 Summary – Blood & Honey – Nous Tombons Tous
Reid panics when he discovers that Lou has magically sealed the tunnel hatch, preventing him and his allies from entering. Coco refuses to break the enchantment, and Deveraux suggests heading to a secondary entrance in the cemetery. The group splits up; Reid leaves Ansel to guard the tunnel, despite the boy’s resistance. At the old cemetery, they find the entrance beneath a statue marked with the inscription “Nous Tombons Tous.” They choose to stay together and proceed through the dark tunnels. Suddenly, strange magic envelops the group. The torch goes out, and several members vanish mysteriously: Nicholina, Thierry, La Voisin, and the blood witches. Only Beau, Coco, Jean Luc, Blaise, and Reid remain. Reid manages to create fire with his magic, lighting up a blood-streaked tunnel. In the face of uncertainty, Jean Luc takes command and leads them eastward, convinced they must continue toward Lou and Célie.
Chapter 42 Summary – Blood & Honey – Paradise Lost
Lou walks alone through the tunnels, following clues left by Morgane. She encounters a masked man who unsettles her, but scares him off with a veiled threat. Feeling a presence, she ventures into a network of dark corridors and enters a chamber filled with the coffins of ancient clergymen. The silence is alive and oppressive. Morgane’s cryptic notes lead her to search for Célie in a “mirror tomb,” a term that confuses her until she finds the ornate coffin of Cardinal Florin Clément. Seeing his name, Lou imagines a life as Louise Clément—daughter of Florin and Morgane. That fantasy of home and happiness dissolves in the grim reality. She then understands that the “mirror tomb” may have a literal meaning, reflecting her nature as a child of both worlds. With renewed clarity, she senses exactly where Célie might be hidden and prepares to find her.
Chapter 43 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Necessary Evil
Reid’s group proceeds cautiously through the tunnels, tense over the disappearances. Coco insists that Morgane’s trail will lead them to Célie and Lou. Reid tries to ease the tension by returning Jean Luc’s Balisarda, declaring he is no longer a hunter but a witch. Jean Luc confronts him, pained by the truth about the archbishop, but Reid offers no excuses. In a moment of honesty, he tells Jean Luc he didn’t know about Célie and apologizes for the shared pain. The gesture fosters a fragile reconciliation. Soon after, Blaise senses Lou nearby, but also detects other presences. Just then, chasseurs led by Philippe appear. Jean Luc steps in and declares they have new orders: find and kill Morgane. Though confused, Philippe accepts. The tension eases slightly as the chasseurs, Reid’s group, and others unite—realizing that only by working together can they defeat the real enemy.
Chapter 44 Summary – Blood & Honey – A Mirror Tomb
Lou finds Filippa Tremblay’s tomb, convinced Célie is inside. She tries to open it without success until Ansel arrives—having followed her after breaking the tunnel’s enchantment. Lou doubts his presence, fearing the prophecy of his death, but relents. Together they open the coffin and find Célie alive, trapped among her sister’s remains. Lou comforts her while Ansel vomits from the horror. Célie has been enchanted and cannot leave unless she leads Lou to Morgane. Despite her fear, Célie agrees when Lou says Reid will die otherwise. Amid emotional chaos, Ansel demands to prove himself. Lou, fearing for him, cruelly urges him to leave—but he refuses. Together, they help Célie, and when she reveals she’s been conditioned to guide them to Morgane, Lou realizes the final confrontation is near.
Chapter 45 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Mask of Des Crânes
Guided by Célie, Lou and Ansel move through tunnels that lead to the Mascarade des Crânes—a subterranean festival of masks, music, and extravagance. Despite the festive appearance, the atmosphere grows ominous. They finally enter a cavern where Morgane awaits, radiant and surrounded by floating corpses with slit throats, her sinister crown. The room is filled with people paralyzed by magic. Lou confronts her mother, trying to protect Célie and Ansel. Morgane presents a wounded Gabrielle and, not seeing Reid, decides to kill them. But Ansel throws a knife, wounding Morgane and saving Gaby. Lou, brimming with magical patterns, retaliates. She duels Morgane, injuring her with Ansel’s help. The bodies collapse as the spell breaks. Just as Lou prepares to end it, Reid appears. The distraction allows Morgane to wound her, break her arm, and threaten to destroy everything unless Lou proves she can kill her.
Chapter 46 Summary – Blood & Honey – The Wild Man
Reid searches frantically for Lou through the battle’s smoke and finds Claud Deveraux holding the fireball that caused the confusion. Around them, chaos reigns as witches and chasseurs clash and the crowd flees. Deveraux reveals his true identity: he is the Wild Man—a legendary figure with antlers, hooves, and earth’s power. Morgane recognizes him in fear, exposing their past love affair. He demands she stop, warning her that his sister, a goddess, disapproves of her actions. Despite his rage, Deveraux refuses to harm her, reminding her Lou could have been his daughter. Frustrated and cornered, Morgane tries to flee. Blaise, Ansel, and the chasseurs struggle to contain the escaping witches. Morgane seizes a moment of weakness and launches a surprise attack, stabbing Ansel with Reid’s knife—unleashing a tragedy that changes everything.
Chapter 47 Summary – Blood & Honey – The End of the World
Lou witnesses the most heartbreaking moment of her life: Ansel, her loyal friend, exhales one last breath and collapses lifeless. No screams, no explosions—only a deafening silence that signals the end of her world. It happens in an instant, with a faint gasp, leaving behind an immense void. Lou can’t move or breathe. Ansel’s blood spreads like a dark crown around him, and the surrounding faces blur. Coco’s prophecy comes true with brutal precision: a man close to Lou’s heart dies at midnight. The devastation paralyzes her. Nothing will ever be the same—no magic can restore what’s lost. The world, as she knew it, ends with Ansel’s death, and Lou, shattered, is trapped in absolute grief, unsure she’ll ever emerge from the darkness.
Chapter 48 Summary – Blood & Honey – Something Dark and Ancient
Ansel’s lifeless body lies on the ground, face pressed to the stones. Silence breaks with Lou’s scream as Coco tries in vain to revive him using blood and magic. Not even Claud Deveraux can intervene. Ansel is gone. Coco collapses in tears while Lou, engulfed in fire and fury, unleashes her magic uncontrollably. The tunnel trembles and collapses. Hearing Morgane’s laughter, she charges at her like a wounded beast. Patterns shine as she threatens to destroy everything—including her loved ones. Morgane watches with glee, encouraging her. Just in time, Reid stops Lou, clutching her, covered in blood, pleading for her not to lose herself. Lou collapses in his arms. They know Ansel is gone forever. And something dark and ancient has awakened in her… something that might consume her.
Chapter 49 Summary – Blood & Honey – Ancient Magic
Lou sits in the Léviathan dining hall with La Voisin and Nicholina, expressing her desire to destroy Chateau le Blanc without mercy. The women seem pleased by her change but warn that Morgane remains a powerful, elusive threat. They soon reveal a terrifying secret: they led Morgane to her in Cesarine, using Coco as bait without her knowledge. Lou tries to flee, but Nicholina restrains her with inhuman strength. La Voisin prepares a ritual with dark ingredients for a spiritual projection. They want to deliver Lou to Morgane alive, forcing her to sacrifice herself. Though Lou pleads, they deceive her with a potion and force her to drink. Contact with the tainted blood knocks her out. Everything fades to darkness. The betrayal of her supposed allies is complete. They plan to use the growing darkness inside her for their own ends. Now, Lou is at their mercy.
Chapter 50 Summary – Blood & Honey – Evil Seeks a Foothold
Reid, Claud, and Jean Luc talk in the tavern about recent events. Jean Luc, preparing to return to the king, admits they can no longer trust him. Yet he acknowledges that Lou risked her life for Célie. Reid watches Célie, broken and silent, while Coco remains buried in grief. When they mention Lou is with La Voisin and Nicholina, Claud is alarmed. Coco reveals Lou wants to attack Chateau le Blanc to kill Morgane. Claud warns of the danger in her obsession, fearing something dark is growing inside her. Coco blames him for letting Morgane escape, opening the door to more suffering. Just then, Lou appears. Something about her is different—her smile, her confident stride. Without a word, she walks up to Reid and kisses him passionately. Something has changed. Whatever has returned… is no longer the Lou they once knew.
Conclusion – Blood & Honey
As the curtain falls on Blood & Honey, the scars left on Lou and Reid aren’t just physical. In this second act, the Serpent & Dove series reveals that loving someone doesn’t mean saving them from darkness—it means learning to walk alongside it. Pain, betrayal, and ancient magic have changed them forever… and the worst is still to come.
Every choice has led them closer to the edge: fragile alliances, blood pacts, Morgane’s silent threat. But there’s still a flame that refuses to die out. Lou cannot escape her lineage. Reid cannot deny who he is. And when masks fall and kingdoms tremble, the only path left is to fight—even if it means losing oneself.
Because sometimes, the only way to defeat monsters… is to become one. You can continue this story in the next chapter summary: Gods & Monsters – Book Summary by Chapter ➤
FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – Blood & Honey
What is the deeper meaning behind the title “Blood & Honey”?
The title reflects the duality Lou and Reid face throughout the book: love and violence, sweetness and pain. “Blood” stands for sacrifice, magic, and death, while “Honey” symbolizes fleeting comfort and desire. As Lou becomes more reckless with her power and Reid clings to his old beliefs, the contrast sharpens. The title captures the idea that survival comes at a cost—and sometimes, love can taste like both salvation and poison.
Why does Lou start losing control of her magic in Blood & Honey?
Lou’s loss of control isn’t just magical—it’s emotional. Her desperation to protect those she loves leads her to push past her limits, even when it endangers herself or others. Moments like freezing the swamp or accidentally burning Coco show how her trauma, fear, and guilt fuel increasingly unstable magic. The story suggests that power without emotional grounding becomes destructive, turning even a heroine into a threat.
How does the troupe of traveling performers affect Lou and Reid’s relationship?
Joining Claud Deveraux’s troupe forces Lou and Reid into roles they didn’t choose, both literally and emotionally. As performers, they hide in plain sight—but their internal conflicts are laid bare. The troupe becomes a crucible for tension, jealousy, and secrets. Through acts and masks, Reid confronts his identity crisis, and Lou hides her sacrifices. These chapters deepen their divide, making clear that love alone isn’t enough when trust starts to crack.
What is the role of Claud Deveraux in the story?
Claud is more than a quirky musician—he’s a wildcard whose presence disrupts both the plot and Lou’s emotional stability. With cryptic remarks and hints of a past with Morgane, Claud serves as a bridge between old magic and current chaos. He protects Lou with illusions, pushes Reid to reflect, and ultimately reveals emotional truths neither wants to face. His character challenges the idea that anyone is just what they seem.
How does Reid’s resistance to magic shape the story’s conflict?
Reid’s rejection of magic isn’t just stubbornness—it’s a clash of identity, legacy, and fear. Raised to hunt witches, he now carries magic inside him. His refusal to accept that truth creates a rift with Lou, fuels key arguments, and nearly costs lives. His moral code becomes a burden, and only through loss, injury, and near-death does he begin to question what “strength” really means. Reid’s internal war is just as dangerous as any spell.
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