You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, persecution, religious patriarchy, blood magic, self harm, forced marriage, burning alive, suicide, descriptions of blood and gore, grotesque descriptions/body horror, sex, child abandonment
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is the first book her trilogy. We follow Lou, a headstrong and spunky witch, who is living in hiding as a thief in a French inspired city, where witches are hunted by Chasseurs. We also follow Reid, the captain of the Chasseurs, and he is stoic, self-loathing, and has a stick up his ass.
While Lou is attempting to steal a magical ring that could protect her from her mother, she is caught and somehow gets entangled in a forced marriage to Reid, to both of their dismays. We get a really good slow burn enemies to lovers that doesn't make me want to scream about unhealthy relationships. I loved Reid and Lou's banter, and how she got him to open up a little.
We get great side characters too! Coco is a badass blood witch of color and is also bi! I love her so much, and I hope we get more of Coco next book. Ansel is my baby and must be protected! Even Beau started to grow on me in the end, especially when Coco gets under his skin.
The world building was great, and I appreciated the magic system for both types of witches. Dames de Blanc get their magic from nature, and nature demands balance. Dames Rouges use blood magic, so their magic comes from within. Excited to learn more about them next book!
Although there was one really steamy part (🌶️❤️🔥🥵) I expected there to be more the way people on here talk about this book. It seemed pretty tame to me. Mahurin has infused messages about how at its core, religious patriarchy is about power and control, and if you can't control a thing, you must destroy it. We also get themes on how life isn't black and white, but many shades of gray. I love me some morally gray characters, and Lou fits that. Excited for the next book!
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin is the first book her trilogy. We follow Lou, a headstrong and spunky witch, who is living in hiding as a thief in a French inspired city, where witches are hunted by Chasseurs. We also follow Reid, the captain of the Chasseurs, and he is stoic, self-loathing, and has a stick up his ass.
While Lou is attempting to steal a magical ring that could protect her from her mother, she is caught and somehow gets entangled in a forced marriage to Reid, to both of their dismays. We get a really good slow burn enemies to lovers that doesn't make me want to scream about unhealthy relationships. I loved Reid and Lou's banter, and how she got him to open up a little.
We get great side characters too! Coco is a badass blood witch of color and is also bi! I love her so much, and I hope we get more of Coco next book. Ansel is my baby and must be protected! Even Beau started to grow on me in the end, especially when Coco gets under his skin.
The world building was great, and I appreciated the magic system for both types of witches. Dames de Blanc get their magic from nature, and nature demands balance. Dames Rouges use blood magic, so their magic comes from within. Excited to learn more about them next book!
Although there was one really steamy part (🌶️❤️🔥🥵) I expected there to be more the way people on here talk about this book. It seemed pretty tame to me. Mahurin has infused messages about how at its core, religious patriarchy is about power and control, and if you can't control a thing, you must destroy it. We also get themes on how life isn't black and white, but many shades of gray. I love me some morally gray characters, and Lou fits that. Excited for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide
emmahe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Child death
anniemac's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content
kaitlynnnng's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Some of the dialogue at the beginning was cringey and awkward, but that went away.
The ending clearly sets up Blood & Honey, but is satisfying enough for Serpent & Dove to be a stand-alone book.
The ending clearly sets up Blood & Honey, but is satisfying enough for Serpent & Dove to be a stand-alone book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Vomit
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Never have I been so simultaneously delighted and frustrated to read the rest of a series. I love the characters in this book. I don’t think I fully understand the plot, but the characters are strong enough in any situation that knowing the storyline isn’t completely necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
tikbook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.5
I heard many things about this book from good to bad. And because of that I have no expectation to this book, I'm curious about this book because there are witches here and we got enemies to lovers trope in this book!
First of all, actually I like this book. Well actually the love story about the main character I love here. I love Lou and all of her joke, all of her attitude toward Reid and her kindness too. I believe she has great power hidden and I think I'll love it. I also love Lou and Reid relationship here, even tough I think it's a little bit weird how can they suddenly love each other because we can not really see the closeness they have. And I think there weren't too many moments that brought them really close. Except they often argue with each other. And the dynamic of their relationship is also great! I really hope they will become a strong couple at the end.
For the story about witches and the huntsmen, I think this first book open a great plot so I have hope for the future stories. But, for the world building I don't think I really like it. Actually it's hard for me to connect about the world, so when I read this book I really can imagine what kind of world they have.
First of all, actually I like this book. Well actually the love story about the main character I love here. I love Lou and all of her joke, all of her attitude toward Reid and her kindness too. I believe she has great power hidden and I think I'll love it. I also love Lou and Reid relationship here, even tough I think it's a little bit weird how can they suddenly love each other because we can not really see the closeness they have. And I think there weren't too many moments that brought them really close. Except they often argue with each other. And the dynamic of their relationship is also great! I really hope they will become a strong couple at the end.
For the story about witches and the huntsmen, I think this first book open a great plot so I have hope for the future stories. But, for the world building I don't think I really like it. Actually it's hard for me to connect about the world, so when I read this book I really can imagine what kind of world they have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
readbyjaimes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Between Lou and Coco’s friendship and Reid and Ansel, what’s not to love. And the love story is amazing. And I absolutely adore Lou.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
direraven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I did like the relationship that was developing between the two main characters, although it felt at some points uncomfortably toxic. I absolutely hated the ending and the storyline between Lou her mother and the other witches. I think I'm not going to continue reading the series's due to this. The POC representation was laughable. But I would recommend reading this book if the themes generally interested you, because you might actually enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Religious bigotry
khloereads86's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence