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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a slow book for me to get into. I even put it down for a while because I found it dragged a bit. Maybe it's solely because I am used to adult novels and not PG Young Adult. Could be it. It is refreshing to read a story about building relationships and friendships. I am slightly annoyed with myself that I didn't realize it was only book 1 and the next doesn't come out until later on in 2025. Now I have to wait to find out ...
if she truly turned into a Vampire or not. I secretly hope that she is because I want her a Michael to be end game so so badly.
As soon as we found out that Babette wasn't dead and she was working with this mysterious Necromancer, I had a feeling he had to be close to Celie to know that she was the one he needed. I guessed it was Frederic and damn I am so pleased I was right. There was no else that was near her (that I didn't trust) when she bled in the training area.
I am thankful for her friendship with Lou and Coco. I loved when they basically told her they thought Michael was HOT at the Masquerade. This was all before the plot to overthrow him and all the killing happened, obviously. They were also telling her not to worry about her ex-fiance, making sure she knew that he would be okay. Honestly, Jean-Luc can suck it. He was so lame, even at the beginning of the book. I LOVED was Celie laid into him at the docks. Calling him out for everything he should want to do instead of always following the rules.
Other random thoughts:
- I'm really hoping that Dimitri gets the 'cure' he needs for his blood lust.
- I'm curious to know how Frederic (a blood witch) was able to become a Chasseur without anyone noticing that he was a witch? A little fishy, especially since Lou is the most powerful witch.
- I need more information about this Bride of Death business.
A new thing I wanted to try in 2025 is to pay closer attention to the dedications, so here it is.
Dedication - For Wren, me sweet little bird
Favourite Quotes:
"Would you have preferred I undress you?” “Excuse me—?” If possible, my cheeks flame hotter, but he only tilts his head, and that curl of his lips transforms into a fully-fledged smirk. “I— You are despicable, monsieur, to talk of such things. Of course I wouldn’t have preferred that you—you—” “Undress you?” he finishes salaciously. “You need only ask, you know. It would be no hardship. "
-the teasing Michael always did to Celie
"Because”—he presses it hard against my bottom lip—“I’ve been imagining how you taste since I met you"
-what would a book with vampires be without them telling the heroine that they was a little tasty taste of their blood
As soon as we found out that Babette wasn't dead and she was working with this mysterious Necromancer, I had a feeling he had to be close to Celie to know that she was the one he needed. I guessed it was Frederic and damn I am so pleased I was right. There was no else that was near her (that I didn't trust) when she bled in the training area.
I am thankful for her friendship with Lou and Coco. I loved when they basically told her they thought Michael was HOT at the Masquerade. This was all before the plot to overthrow him and all the killing happened, obviously. They were also telling her not to worry about her ex-fiance, making sure she knew that he would be okay. Honestly, Jean-Luc can suck it. He was so lame, even at the beginning of the book. I LOVED was Celie laid into him at the docks. Calling him out for everything he should want to do instead of always following the rules.
Other random thoughts:
- I'm really hoping that Dimitri gets the 'cure' he needs for his blood lust.
- I'm curious to know how Frederic (a blood witch) was able to become a Chasseur without anyone noticing that he was a witch? A little fishy, especially since Lou is the most powerful witch.
- I need more information about this Bride of Death business.
A new thing I wanted to try in 2025 is to pay closer attention to the dedications, so here it is.
Dedication - For Wren, me sweet little bird
Favourite Quotes:
"Would you have preferred I undress you?” “Excuse me—?” If possible, my cheeks flame hotter, but he only tilts his head, and that curl of his lips transforms into a fully-fledged smirk. “I— You are despicable, monsieur, to talk of such things. Of course I wouldn’t have preferred that you—you—” “Undress you?” he finishes salaciously. “You need only ask, you know. It would be no hardship. "
-the teasing Michael always did to Celie
"Because”—he presses it hard against my bottom lip—“I’ve been imagining how you taste since I met you"
-what would a book with vampires be without them telling the heroine that they was a little tasty taste of their blood
adventurous
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
I only docked it half a star due to the slow start, but once it picked up, it really picked up! I felt the slow burn was realistic, the difficulty the FMC had with guilt and shame for developing feelings was honest and heartbreaking. She is the kind of gentle that comes from knowing pain, and the saying "Do not mistake my kindness for weakness" comes to mind in regard to her.
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
Shelby Mahurin is back and better than ever! Definitively, this book is for the Klaus girlies, for the "mirrorball" girlies, for the girlies who won’t smile when asked, but will show you their teeth.
In “The Scarlet Veil”, we get to see the continuation of Célie Tremblay’s story after the events of the Serpent & Dove trilogy as she becomes a Chasseur and embarks upon an investigation in Cesarine where she crosses paths with vampires, ghosties, all sorts of creatures, and it’s one hell of an atmospheric ride with appearances from old, beloved characters, and with the addition of new favorites!
While the whimsy of the Requiem—where Célie’s journey takes her in this book—and the introduction of captivating new characters were exciting to read about, I have to say, my favorite part of this book was just getting to see more of Célie. She starts off in [b: Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324] as a character you want nothing more than to dismiss, but once [b: Gods & Monsters|13618440|Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)|Laini Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1461353810l/13618440._SY75_.jpg|19221595] rolls around, you really get to see how multi-dimensional she is. What “The Scarlet Veil” did, though, is expose her for the relatable heroine she is, the one you see yourself in and the one you want to root for. I just loved this journey for her.
Aside from that, I really liked seeing the mystery format this book takes, as it’s a bit different from the trajectory of Shelby’s previous books. It was fun, suspenseful, and I really truly did not at any point see where the mystery was going or where it would end up. The vibes are also immaculate, as they always are from Shelby. I feel like if you want a good vampire book for fall that taps into favorite aspects of older vampire media, this is the book for you. Throughout “The Scarlet Veil”, settings and, I don’t know, just the vibes were so reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Interview with the Vampire… and, yes, The Vampire Diaries. Everything you already love about vampires is here, but there’s also so much fresh life breathed into the genre (see what I did there?).
I will say, “The Scarlet Veil” has a slower start compared to Shelby’s other books, but the set-up of our new characters and world requires some groundwork to be laid out first. With that in mind, the romance is also very slow-burn in this book, but, I don’t know, I felt like the pacing worked, like it was a perfect fit for a more gothic fantasy sort of book!
I’m not going to delve into too much else because it’s really difficult without spoiling, but I just wanna say… that ending… lmao, y’all are gonna hate Shelby for the ending in this book because I know I do
In “The Scarlet Veil”, we get to see the continuation of Célie Tremblay’s story after the events of the Serpent & Dove trilogy as she becomes a Chasseur and embarks upon an investigation in Cesarine where she crosses paths with vampires, ghosties, all sorts of creatures, and it’s one hell of an atmospheric ride with appearances from old, beloved characters, and with the addition of new favorites!
While the whimsy of the Requiem—where Célie’s journey takes her in this book—and the introduction of captivating new characters were exciting to read about, I have to say, my favorite part of this book was just getting to see more of Célie. She starts off in [b: Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324] as a character you want nothing more than to dismiss, but once [b: Gods & Monsters|13618440|Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #3)|Laini Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1461353810l/13618440._SY75_.jpg|19221595] rolls around, you really get to see how multi-dimensional she is. What “The Scarlet Veil” did, though, is expose her for the relatable heroine she is, the one you see yourself in and the one you want to root for. I just loved this journey for her.
Aside from that, I really liked seeing the mystery format this book takes, as it’s a bit different from the trajectory of Shelby’s previous books. It was fun, suspenseful, and I really truly did not at any point see where the mystery was going or where it would end up. The vibes are also immaculate, as they always are from Shelby. I feel like if you want a good vampire book for fall that taps into favorite aspects of older vampire media, this is the book for you. Throughout “The Scarlet Veil”, settings and, I don’t know, just the vibes were so reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Interview with the Vampire… and, yes, The Vampire Diaries. Everything you already love about vampires is here, but there’s also so much fresh life breathed into the genre (see what I did there?).
I will say, “The Scarlet Veil” has a slower start compared to Shelby’s other books, but the set-up of our new characters and world requires some groundwork to be laid out first. With that in mind, the romance is also very slow-burn in this book, but, I don’t know, I felt like the pacing worked, like it was a perfect fit for a more gothic fantasy sort of book!
I’m not going to delve into too much else because it’s really difficult without spoiling, but I just wanna say… that ending… lmao, y’all are gonna hate Shelby for the ending in this book because I know I do
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Vampires
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced