Review: Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

 

I received an ARC of this book at Epic Reads Day 2019. All thoughts are my own.

Synopsis:

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

And love makes fools of us all.

 

My Review:

4/5 ⭐️

This review will contain spoilers for the book, read at your own peril.

I was seriously looking forward to this book and even requested an ARC, though I was denied I was overjoyed to find it in my goody bag at this years Epic Reads Day. It was a real treat!! I particularly liked Reid, even though he was bound by duty by the end of the book he grows a lot as a character. Though I raged at him in those last few chapters when the Big Event happens. Lou was also super cool, she’s a witty heroine who will find her place among the Badass Females like Aelin & Mia. It was sad to see that she was only born as a sacrifice though. The flow of the story was great, even at the end I was gripped and needed to finish it! I read it in one whole sitting, so roughly 2-3 hours. But you’re probably wondering why I only gave it 4 stars? Well, and call me childish all you like, I was extremely thrown off by the 2 page fart joke… Now I have read Nevernight so why wasn’t I thrown off by that? This book was very serious until then, and honestly it took a quick reread of those pages to double check that I caught onto the fart joke correctly as it’s explained in such flowery language. With Nevernight you know from page one what type of book you’re in for. With this? I was thrown. And honestly that fart joke still hasn’t left my mind, and not in a good way haha. Even when I heard Shelby talk I didn’t expect for something like that to be in her witchy fantasy debut. Though, the rest of the book was insanely enjoyable. One of the best witch books I’ve read in a while. And that end reveal was STELLAR.

 

~Me halting the presses at that fart joke, I’m sorry I can’t get over it~

~Me admiring the rest of this book like ‘hot damn a great witch book’~

About the Author:

Shelby Mahurin grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn’t fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches the Office and obsesses over her Twitter feed. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband, semi-feral toddlers, two dogs, and one cat.

Shelby’s favorite books include A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and, of course, Harry Potter.

Her debut novel, SERPENT & DOVE, will release from Harper Teen in Fall 2019, with a sequel to come the following year. She is represented by Sarah Landis of Sterling Lord Literistic.