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mariereads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was no one's sacrifice. Not then. Not now. Not ever.
Exhilirating. Gripping. Intense.
I've had a bit of a book slump for more than a year and it's only been this month that I've had the courage to start reading again.
Serpent and Dove was one of the best books that got me out of my reading slump.
I love the exquisite and detailed world-building that Shelby Mahurin has created. It transports the reader to 17th century France and you could actually feel and experience that you were witnessing magic and mystery unfold.
This enemies-to-lovers, off-page marriage, daggers-to-throat relationship between Reid and Lou was off the charts! The balance between their vulnerability both as a couple and as individuals, and the turmoil, secrecy, and fear that they both are dealing with speaks to me on so many levels!!
I cried my eyes out when
More than that, I loved how Lou built strength to face her mother and take a hold of her fate. It's such a fascinating and empowering thing that one can make a path and fate of their own and not succumb to what was "phropecised"
The side characters were also very lovable! Throughout the book, Coco and Ansel has claimed a soft spot in my heart for them. Even Jean Luc despite being a total jerk, I'm rooting for his character development, if there is any, in the next books.
Some of the plot twists are shocking and surprising while others were heavily foreshadowed that I knew when to anticipate them or just guessed it outright.
Suffice to say, this initial installment of the series has me hooked and eager to buy the second book so I can journey with Lou and Reid throughout the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Genocide, Murder, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Child abuse, and Child death
kazik's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, and Sexism
Minor: Child death, Self harm, and Torture
owlishly_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit, Infidelity, Genocide, and Death of parent
jasirepe's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
just kind of weird to have a fictional book but the real catholic church in it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
ehmannky's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I quite enjoyed this book of witches facing off against Definitely Not the Catholic Church in Fantasy France. I enjoyed it even more because neither the witches nor the Church are portrayed as uniformly good or bad, and there are scenes that draw a sharp parallel that the blind devotion to any religious ideology is dangerous and likely to get innocent people killed. It's also a fantasy world where people get to say fuck and the main female character sings bawdy songs and it's just a generally fun world to inhabit. The characters make the book, and I do hope that book 2 allows for more time with Coco, because she just ruled.
I also love a good "falling in love with my spouse and somehow this makes my wanting them more complicated" trope. And both Lou and Reid hit all of the best notes of the potential of this trope. Their angst in learning to trust each other and falling in love in spite of themselves was just delicious. Their relationship moves fast, especially since Reid is theoretically in love with someone else at the beginning, but it's not as fast as some romances I've read, and I forgive it because I just loved Reid and Lou so much.
God, I hope in the next book Ansel and Coco and Beau can find their way into the throuple of my dreams while.
I also love a good "falling in love with my spouse and somehow this makes my wanting them more complicated" trope. And both Lou and Reid hit all of the best notes of the potential of this trope. Their angst in learning to trust each other and falling in love in spite of themselves was just delicious. Their relationship moves fast, especially since Reid is theoretically in love with someone else at the beginning, but it's not as fast as some romances I've read, and I forgive it because I just loved Reid and Lou so much.
God, I hope in the next book Ansel and Coco and Beau can find their way into the throuple of my dreams while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Grief, Genocide, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture
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