Best Reads of 2020

Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there’s Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn’t know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.

Expect a review of the series soon.

2. A Dark Queen Rises

🌟🌟🌟

Returning to Ashok K. Banker’s brilliant #OwnVoices, epic fantasy world of the Burnt Empire, first introduced in Upon a Burning Throne, A Dark Queen Rises features Krushita and Karni, two women on quests to protect the innocent and bring down tyrants.

Checkout my review

https://ahthebookfeels.home.blog/2020/11/17/a-dark-queen-rises-retelling-of-the-great-epic-mahabharata/

3. Ferryman

All I’m saying is that a rant review is coming soon.

🌟🌟

Dylan has escaped a horrific train crash unscathed.

Except she hasn’t.

The bleak landscape around her isn’t Scotland. It’s a wasteland haunted by wraiths searching for human souls.

And the stranger waiting for her isn’t an ordinary boy. Tristan is a Ferryman, tasked with transporting her soul safely to the afterlife, a journey he’s made a thousand times before.

Except this time, something’s different.

Torn between love and destiny, Dylan realises she can’t let Tristan go, nor can she stay with him. Eventually, inevitably, the wraiths would capture her soul and she would be lost forever.

Can true love overcome the boundaries of death?

4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

This was my most anticipated reads for this month. It turned out to be an average read.

🌟🌟🌟.5

I really enjoyed the concept but the book was very slow. Way too slow for my taste.

Addie LaRue trades her life for immortality. The catch is no one will remember her. The story just became too repetitive too soon.

It takes so much time for the plot to start. Omg so so slow. The writing is very quotable though.

The ending was amazinggg.

Unfortunately, it was just an average read on the whole.

5. To Kill a Kingdom

This book was amazing. One of the best reads of the year.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

The audiobook made it so much better. It was amazing. It’s so hard to review a good book. If you are looking for enemies to lovers, you have to pick up this book up!

How many books did you read in November? Which was your favorite?

Making It Big – The Inspiring Story of Nepal’s First Billionare in his own words

The man behind the immensely popular Wai Wai noodles (Wai Wai has sold more than a billion packets in India alone), Binod Chaudhary is one of Asia’s most prominent businessmen. President of the Chaudhary Group which deals in banking, insurane, finance and housing, he has invested in hotels and real estate and collaborates among others with India’s Taj Group. IN 2013, he became the first Nepali entrepreneur to be listed as a dollar billionaire by Forbes.

Mr Chaudhary’s story offers lessons on turning dreams into reality, and is a must-read for all upcoming entrepreneurs. His passion for growing his business, in the face of stiff challenges, is legendary. This memoir, already a massive bestseller in Nepal, tells Binod Chaudhary’s inspiring success story in his own words.

“Business is the most important thing to a businessman. I did what the regime politics of that hour compelled me to do. Everybody dominated me when I wanted to mind my own business. My investments and my determination came to naught. I became slightly shrewd for survival’s sake. They tried to do politics. We, as entrepreneurs, have to do this to survive in the ruthless realm of politics. “

– Binod Chaudhary, Making It Big

I rarely read non fiction especially autobiographies. This was a really inspiring read. The book covers the entire story of Binod Chaudhary in his own words.

The book provided a great insigt into the culture of Nepal. I badly want to visit Nepal one day. It was also interesting to learn about the wealthy of Nepal.

The politics of Nepal did get boring. I just didn’t know much about the politics or parties to enjoy it. Overall, the book could have been shorter. There were many things that seemed unnecessary. It is a 411 page and it could have been maybe 300 pages. The pictures in the book were definitely an added bonus.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading the book.

“A person feels moat dejected when, after a long journey, he falls flat on his face only a few steps short of his destination. I was like a student who could not pass an exam despite studying for an entire year. “

– Binod Chaudhary, Making It Big

I want to succeed as an entrepreneur one day and this book opened my eyes to many things. If you are looking to be a entrepreneur, look at this success story.

If you enjoy autobiographies, this is definitely for you.

Thanks to the author for the review copy.

Which was your latest inspiring read?

One Arranged Murder – Latest Chetan Bhagat novel is bad as you’d expect (Spoiler free review)

One Arranged Murder – the latest Chetan Bhagat novel is as bad as you would expect.

I have read most of Chetan Bhagat’s novels mostly becuase of its popularity and peer pressure. I did enjoy his first book, Five point Someone. Chetan Bhagat has now ventured into murder mystery novels.

The first murder mystery novel – Girl in room 105 was mediocre in terms of the mystery but the protagonist was a total asshole who kept harrasing his ex long after thier breakup and we were meant to sympathize with him. This book is like a sequel to that featuring the same characters but the protagonist has a taken a total turn and is now a playboy and women love him. There was so much fat shaming in this book. The hero constantly fat shames his bestfriend and his dead fiance.
It was painful to read.

The book was clearly written keeping a movie in mind. Bhagat could have directly written a movie script. He utterly failed to express the emotions of characters since the book is in first person perspective. It feels like watching a badly acted movie.

Let’s start from the beginning. Here is the blurb of this book:

Keshav has set up an investigation agency with his best friend, Saurabh. Can the two amateur detectives successfully solve another murder case that affects them personally? And where will it leave their friendship?

‘Ever since you found Prerna, I lost my best friend’ is what I told Saurabh. Hi, this is Keshav, and Saurabh, my best friend, flatmate, colleague and business partner, won’t talk to me. Because I made fun of him and his fiancée. Saurabh and Prerna will be getting married soon. It is an arranged marriage. However, there is more cheesy romance between them than any love-marriage couple. On Karva Chauth, she fasted for him. She didn’t eat all day. In the evening, she called him and waited on the terrace for the moon and for Saurabh to break her fast. Excited, Saurabh ran up the steps of her three-storey house. But when he reached…

This book is a sequel to the thriller, Girl in room 105. I also find it weird that both Keshav’s ex girlfriend and Saurabh’s fiancé end up dead. They are the bad luck if you ask me.

Keshav and Saurabh have changed so much since the last book. They were struggling to find a job last time and now they have an amazing corporate job and have set up an investigation agency. Saurabh’s whole character has been reduced to being fat and eating sweets.

There is so much fat shaming in this book, so god damn much. Keshav won’t shut up about how Saurabh is fat and likes to eat even for a single minute. He literally calls his bestfriend’s fiancé a ‘fat cow’ and thinks Saurabh’s the bad guy. He even calls Prerna fat after she dies. Dude, atleast respect the dead?? I can understand if Saurabh’s fat and he likes to eat but why make him a caricature?? He does nothing but throughout the book even when the love of his life dies. It is mentioned in every single page.

There are so many ‘Punjabi’ stereotypes in this book. He goes on and on about being the perfect Punjabi family. I know it is set up so that the big reveal later on debunks it but it still feels so much.

I know I already mentioned this but this was clearly written to be a movie. The way scenes are structured and the way people act, it’s a perfect Bollywood movie. He could have directly written a movie script. I think it has been lile that for the for the last 3 to 4 Chetan Bhagat’s novels. I get it. His books have made some incredible movies and has had a huge impact on the youth’s reading interests. I just wish he improved his writing and storytelling skills.

The writing is so bad. I even found some grammatical mistakes. It feels like the book is written by an amateur writer and not a bestselling author. He especially failed to express the emotions of the characters. Saurabh finds his fiance dead and his reaction is so tame. It feels like Saurabh is watching Saurabh being sad. The book is written in first perspective, so it has to have more depth than merely describing actions.

I also found one or two minor loopholes but I cannot discuss it because of spoilers. I’ll tell you this, the book somehow has a teen pregnancy, fifty shades of grey, anti Trump rally and a weird try at social commentary.

What Keshav did at the end to solve the mystery was actually disturbing. Why is the manipulative asshole the protagonist of the story??

1.5/5

I’ve given it 1.5 mainly because I couldn’t figure out the killer this time.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Have you read other Chetan Bhagat novels?

Also, let me know if you would like a detailed review with spoilers of this book.

October Wrapup (Six of Crows duology, Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, One Arranged Murder and more)

How are we already at the end of October??? 2020 has been really long and really short at the same time.

Anyway, I read only 5 books this month (excluding review copies and ARCs). I wanted to read more but I was busy in binge watching 👀.

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I would definitely give it ten stars if I could.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

I love this world and this book so so so much.

Oh my, oh my why didn’t I read this book before!? It is the perfect read for me. A heist with six outcasts, sign me the hell up! I love morally grey characters and especially theieves and survivors in a fantasy setting.

Checkout my review of it https://ahthebookfeels.home.blog/2020/10/26/finally-reading-six-of-crows/

2. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Six of Crows was an amazing book on its own but Crooked Kingdom was a blessing I didn’t know I needed. It left me heartbroken and hopeful in the end. The book was just so so so so good. Expect the detailed review soon.

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

3. Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2)

🌟🌟 This book was unfortunately very disappointing. It messed up everything that was built in Serpent & Dove.

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.

Nothing happens for 80% of the book. The group decides they need allies if they’re going to fight this and go to meet different people for it. That’s it, that’s the story. It’d have been so much better if the author could cut that part short.

Most importantly, I felt like Reid and Lou were different poeple from the last book. Character growth is good but completely changing characters? Lou did magic in the last book too but there was no point where her magic was hsrmful or destructive. But this time around everyone is worried about Lou’s magic. I also thought the growth in Reid’s character is supposed to be the realization that magic is not inherently evil but it could be used to serve evil purposes. Now if we say that Lou becomes evil the more she uses her magic , won’t that make magic evil???

If you’d like a rant review, here it is.

https://ahthebookfeels.home.blog/2020/10/09/what-the-fuk-even-happened-in-blood-honey-serpent-dove-2/

4. One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

🌟🌟 This book was as bad as you would expect. It had so much fat shaming and that much more bad writing. It was clearly written keeping a movie in mind, Chetan Bhagat could have skipped the book and directly written a movie script. I’m in the process of writing a rant review. Expect it soon.

Welcome to One Arranged Murder, an unputdownable thriller from India’s highest-selling author. A story about love, friendship, family and crime, it will keep you entertained and hooked right till the end.

5. Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

I love V.E Schwab’s writing so much. I became a fan when I read A Darker Shade of Magic series but this book took it another love. Her writing is poetic but it’s not too much. This book was just perfect.

This was my October. How was yours? How many books did you read? Which was favorite?

We Beat The Gods by Saad Quadri

A man sits on a bench by a picturesque river view side waiting to meet someone. Waiting in the hopes that she will come. As he sits there, he is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Memories of happiness intertwined with those of sadness, despair, remorse and regret. Far away, the woman in question is a bundle of anxiety. Thinking about the possibilities to come and the impossibilities that come with them. She is unsure of the path that she wants to take. After all, what we want to do and what we should do are rarely the same. Meanwhile death looms over the city lying in wait for its next victim. Does she have a reason to come? Will they meet? Time can only tell. And time is running out.

Review:

“Aakhen raaton mein sone he kahan deti hain,
Teri yaadon se muh dho deti hain,
Subah ko es baat ki kaafi shikayat rahti hai,
Ye raatein to saari yaadein loot leti hain”

The book is written in two POV’s – HIS and HER. It is the story of two people who are haunted by the ghosts of their past and they take a look back at their lives. The writing is poetic and also includes shaayaris (poems). I struggled with some of them because my Hindi is bad. The book talks about love, life, regrets, sadness and more.

The book also has the issue of “love jihaad” and inter religion marriage which is now relevant more than ever (if you are following the controversy, you know)

“You looked into my eyes sadly and said, “If only you were Muslim” and I replied, “If only you were Hindu.”

The writing tugs at your heart. It is written with metaphors to convey the depths of what they’re feeling. It did become one too many metaphors at one point. The book is short and can be completed in one sitting. I was getting bored and about to give up reading when I was hit with an unexpected twist.

I enjoyed reading the book but another round of editing and proofreading would’ve made it better.

3.5

Thanks to the publisher for the book.

What are you currently reading?

Circe by Madeline Miller – Truly Spellbinding

Greek mythology is fascinating. Circe is one of my favorites. It is on the top of my rereads. I don’t how to describe the book except to say ‘Truly Spellbinding’.

Blurb: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

Review:

Circe felt out of place among the nymphs and gods from the moment she was born. She was fascinated by human beings. What did her life look like when she was exiled due to pure politics. What did she make of her life? The book covers the total of the immortal life of Circe. It is one of the best Greek mythology books out there.

The narration was a little confusing sometimes because so so much happens in this small book. We cover the 300+ years of Circe’s life. I loved the all the references to popular Greek mythologies. You get them only if you know about Greek mythologies but even if you don’t it is a great read.

It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.

Madeline Miller, Circe

The writing is so good. These quotes should give you an example. It is also renowned as a feminist retelling of Circe’s story. I wished there were more women characters and more interactions of Circe and other nymphs or goddesses or just other women to completely call it a feminist retelling. Other than that, I’ve no complaints.

I thought once that gods are the opposite of death, but I see now they are more dead than anything, for they are unchanging, and can hold nothing in their hands.

Madeline Miller, Circe

You cannot know how frightened gods are of pain. There is nothing more foreign to them, and so nothing they ache more deeply to see.

Madeline Miller, Circe

But gods are born of ichor and nectar, their excellences already bursting from their fingertips. So they find their fame by proving what they can mar: destroying cities, starting wars, breeding plagues and monsters. All that smoke and savor rising so delicately from our altars. It leaves only ash behind.

Madeline Miller, Circe

This is such a bad review but I really don’t know how to review. I hope you pick this up and help me review it!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I would give it 10 stars if I could. I’m soon picking up the book ‘Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller. I’ve heard so much about it and I already love her writing from Circe. I hope it as good as this.

What are you currently reading? What was your last 5 start read?

Soul Spoken – A journey to break a million fallacies by unlinking the mind, heart and self to spark on inner revelation

Soul Spoken by Shrea Kukreja

Soul Spoken is a place where experiences have been characterized by living emotions. It is a book which has been brought together with 28 extracts and 2 poems. It is a perceptive interpretation of a young girl’s journey where aspects such as conflict, love, ego, selflessness, restlessness, inspiration, aspiration, contentment have been personified. A magical interplay between the mind, heart and soul, designed for young adults

Firstly, the book cover is beautiful. The book consists of journal entries of sorts of a girl and narrates her life experiences. The writing is beautiful, with metaphors to convey the depths of what she’s feeling.

“That’s the beauty of intensity, like a bouquet of different flowers, flagrantly smiling at her.”

I just felt sometimes that they became too much and maybe author could’ve tried conveying the emotions in a simpler way.

It is a short book of around 74 pages. It is captivating and I read it one go. It’s an intimate, personal and uncut revelation of a transformation, untangling bits and pieces of her life in the various levels of lenses she sees them in. It is as if the book has been written by looking in the depths of a soul. Hence, “Soul Spoken”.

“Freedom shouldn’t have a price to pay, And you cannot pre-plan what you have to say, Doubtful instances left at the end of the day, Downfall is never the reason to fade away. “

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. I’d recommend it to poetry lovers. If you enjoy a book that takes time to understand and enjoy (like poetry), this book is for you.

Take it as a diary or a personal narrative, bringing out true sentiment, naturally in rhyme.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Qotd: Do you like books with deeper meanings and metaphors?

100 bookish QOTD ideas (Bookstagram)

If you are a regular bookstagrammer, you know the struggles of posting consistently, especially coming up with the caption. Here are a 100 bookish QOTDs (question of the day) to help you a little.

1. What are you currently reading?

2. How was your weekend? What did you read?

3. Who is your favorite author?

4. Who are your top 3 favorite authors?

5. If you could spend a day with an author, who would you choose?

6. Which is your favorite genre?

7. If you can read books from only one genre for the rest of your lives, what genre would it be?

8. Do you DNF books or always read till the end?

9. What was your favorite story/book as a child?

10. What is something you don’t like about bookstagram?

11. What is your tbr for the month?

12. How many books did you read this month? Which was your favorite?

13. Would you rather read books you don’t like for the rest of your life or not read any book at all?

14. Which is your favorite book to movie/series adaptation?

15. Which trope do you prefer? Friends to lovers or Enemies to lovers

16. What is that one book that you want everyone in the world to read?

17. If you could read only the first chapter or the last chapter of your favorite book, which would you read?

18. What do you do to get out of a reading slump?

19. If you could read only one book for the rest of your life which would it be?

20. If you could read only one book from your favorite series, which would it be?

21. What is a book you badly want to read but haven’t read it yet?

22. What would be the title of the book based on your life?

23. What is your go to comfort read?

24. Which was your last 5 star read?

25. If you could rewrite your favorite book, what would you change?

26. What is your biggest pet peeve regarding books?

27. What books do you dislike or just don’t understand the popularity?

28. Do you hate read books? Do you have any guilty pleasure reads?

29. What is a book from your favorite series that was disappointing?

30. Which upcoming release are you excited to read?

31. Which fictional character would you like to date?

32. Paperback or hardcover? Audiobooks or ebooks?

33. Which book do you think is underrated?

34. Do you enjoy reading classics? Which is your favorite?

35. If you’re going to be stuck in an island, which three books would you want with you?

36. If you could spend a day with one fictional character, who would it be?

37. If you could be part of one fictional world, which would you choose?

38. Do you have a favourite audiobook narrator or favourite audiobook?

39. Which is your favorite last book of a series?

40. Do you enjoy reading books from villain’s POV? Who is your favorite villain?

41. Which is your favorite YA fantasy? Recommendations please

42. Which is your favorite mythological book? Recommendations please

43. Which is your favorite spooky read? Recommendations please

44. Which is your favorite mystery/thriller? Recommendations please

45. Do you read true crime stories? Recommendations please

46. Do you enjoy reading short stories? Any favorites? Recommendations please

47. Which is your favorite dystopian book/movie?

48. Do you enjoy reading scifi books? Any favorites?

49. What is a book that inspired you?

50. Which is your favorite series ever?

51. Do you prefer series or stand alones?

52. Which was your last 5 star read?

53. Which was your last disappointing read?

54. What’s a book based on a real life incident that you love?

55. Do you enjoy reading poetry? Recommendations please

56. Do you read self help books? Recommendations please

57. Which is your favorite non fiction book?

58. Which is a book you love with LGBTQ characters?

59. Which is your favorite fantasy book with LGBTQ+ characters?

60. Do you read middle grade books? Which is your favorite?

Some predictive text questions

61. I like books because ___________

62. I read because ____________

63. Books are awesome because ________

64. When I read I transform into _______

65. I want to be _______

from the book ______

66. Do you own signed copies? Which is your favorite?

67. Have you met an author? How was the experience?

68. Which is your most valued book?

69. Do you buy books based on book covers?

70. Which is your favorite book cover?

71. Who is your all time favorite protagonist?

72. Who are your favorite villains?

73. Who is your favorite book couple?

74. Do you prefer platonic relationships or romantic relationships between protagonists?

75. What is your favorite platonic relationship from a book?

76. Do you prefer reading indoors or outdoors?

77. Do you like to listen to music while reading?

78. Which is your favorite snack to eat while reading?

79. What is your favorite place to read?

80. What time of the day do you like best to read?

81. Do you have a favourite bookmark to use?

82. Paperbacks or hardcovers? Ebooks are audiobooks?

83. Do you like rereading books? Which is your favorite to reread?

84. Do you like books with different POVs?

85. Do you like reading multiple books at a time? How many books do you read at once?

86. How do you organize your bookshelf?

87. Do you own multiple copies of the same book? Which ones?

88. What’s the last book that kept you up at night?

89. Which is the last book that made you cry?

90. Do you buy book merch? Which is your favourite ?

91. How much time do you usually spend for reading in a day?

92. Do you prefer shopping online or in bookstores?

93. Which was your accidental favorite read?

94. Do you prefer reading long books or short books?

95. Do you like books with maps? Which is your favorite bookish map?

96. Who would you be if you could be a character from the book you’re currently reading?

97. Which genre do you rarely read and want to read more?

98. Describe the book you’re currently reading in three words and I’ll try to guess the book.

99. Describe the title of the book you’re currently reading in emojis and I’ll try to guess the book.

100. How many books do you carry while traveling?

Hope this helped, even a little bit. Do foolow my blog for more!

What the fu*k even happened in Blood & Honey!? (Serpent & Dove #2)

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.

This series should have clearly been a duology because literally nothing happened until the very end of this book. Also, what the fuck happened at the very end?? I’ve many questions and many more complaints.

First of all this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. Serpent and Dove was a surprisingly excellent read. All the things developed throughout that book fell flat in this book. Why did you do this Shelby???

Do checkout my review of book 1, Serpent and Dove https://ahthebookfeels.home.blog/2020/10/01/serpent-dove-big-titty-liddy/

SPOILERS AHEAD

Hello, Chass.”
Blood roared in my ears. “Hello, wife.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

The book picks up right where it left off in the last book. I definitely recommend rereading Serpent & Dove before this. I had forgotten names of side characters who make appearances in this one. Also, why did Lou forget that she took the memories of Bas? It was so pointless. Actually, most of the book was pointless.

I’m a witch , Reid. A witch . I have the power to protect the ones I love, and I will sacrifice anything for them. If that makes me a monster—if that makes me aberrant —I’ll don the teeth and claws to make it easier for you. I’ll get worse, if that justifies your twisted rhetoric. Much, much worse.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

Those who loved the book for it’s slow burn romance in the last book will be so dissappointed by this book. The dynamic was interesting in the first say 50 pages. The rest of the book is just unnecessary conflicts and fighting between the two. I can understand the fighting to some extent because of their beliefs but Lou says this at one point:

We’re natural enemies, Reid. You’ll always be a witch hunter. I’ll always be a witch. And we’ll always bring each other pain.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

Wasn’t this the conflict of the last book?? There are smut scenes in this book too but nothing leading upto it. I did enjoy reading the sex scene before the climax.

Reid is a witch now but it was handled very weirdly. I see that it would be very confusing to someone who have hated magic their whole life. Lou and Reid refuse to talk about it and Reid concludes that it’s best for Lou to not use magic. I hope to god there is better character growth in the next one. They did resolve the conflicts but I just didn’t get it. Reid comes to term with Lou’s magic and him being a witch.

You don’t get to leave me. Do you understand?” Cupping my face, he wrenched me backward and kissed me hard. His voice was fierce. His eyes were fiercer. They burned into mine, angry and anguished and afraid. “You don’t get to do this alone. If you retreat into your mind—into your magic—I’ll follow you, Lou.” He shook me slightly, tears glistening in those frightened eyes. “I’ll follow you into that darkness, and I’ll bring you back. Do you hear me? Where you go, I will go.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

I crept into his lap. “What am I, Reid? Say it again.”
“You’re a witch.”
“And what are you?” He didn’t hesitate, and my heart swelled. “I am too.”
“Only partly right, I’m afraid.” My smile—now genuine—grew at his confusion, and I leaned forward, rubbing my nose against his. He closed his eyes. “Allow me to fill in the gaps for you.” I kissed his nose. “You are a huntsman.” Though he recoiled slightly, I didn’t let him escape, kissing his cheek. “You are a son.” I kissed his other cheek. “You are a brother.” His forehead. “You are a husband.” His eyelids and his chin. “You are brave and strong and good .” And, finally, his lips. “But most important, you are loved.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

Also also God’s are involved in the plot now?? Please define the rules of the magic system and the universe you’ve created. Please. It gets very confusing. The moment Claud Deveraux was introduced, I knew he’d play a major role later on. But a God!? He did have the wild old man persona throughout the book. He said things like:

A snake,” I replied, breath hitching. “I suppose . . . I’m a snake. A liar. A deceiver. Cursed to crawl on my belly and eat dust all the days of my life.”
“Ah.” To my surprise, Claud’s face didn’t twist in disgust or revulsion. He nodded instead, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Yes, I would agree with that assessment.”
Humiliation hung my head. “Right. Thanks.”
“Louise.” A single finger lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. Those eyes, once warm, now blazed with intensity, with conviction. “What you are now is not what you’ve always been, nor is it what you always will be. You are a snake. Shed your skin if it no longer serves you. Transform into something different. Something better.

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

How old are you?” I asked again, louder this time.
“Very old.”
Odd, indeed. I stared at him. “ What are you?”
He chuckled, his eyes cutting to mine. “I simply . . . am.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Of course it is. Why must I bind myself to fit your expectations?

Shelby Mahurin, Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)

So he is a God but it still does not solve the problem. Why? I’ve no idea. It also feel like many characters were brought bacl from book 1 for no reason at all, especially the whole climax involving Reid’s old lover, Celie.

I can’t even begin to process Ansel’s death. He was the one character I had liked throughout the book. Why did you have to do this 😭

The book ends with a huge cliffhanger. I’m not going to mention what it is, but even it feels pointless. I was so excited to read this book ever since I read Serpent and Dove but this time I don’t really care. I’m going to read the next book when it comes out, sure but I’m only just mildly interested with what happens to Lou and Reid now.