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author2223's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, Grief, Violence, and Blood
holliesatchell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
After reading the first two books in this series, I was unsure how to go into this one. The first one was amazing and I rated it 5/5, but the second one was more disappointing and got a lower rating from me. Because of this I started this book quite slowly, afraid that it wouldn't be good, but thankfully, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, I admit that the first half(ish) was kind of all over the place - which truthfully, is the reason I rating this book 3.57/5 - but I believe the last half made up for it. After a rocky start, I devoured the last 300 pages of this book and now I don't know what to do with myself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Cannibalism, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
leedolee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
This series has easily stolen a place in my heart and these characters will truly remain favorites of my mine.
The world, the magic, the action, the drama, the twists, the relationships, and the plot were outstanding! Yes, my least favorite trope was found in this book but I enjoyed the novel regardless.
Lou and Reid will be one of my favorite ships. Always.
The world, the magic, the action, the drama, the twists, the relationships, and the plot were outstanding! Yes, my least favorite trope was found in this book but I enjoyed the novel regardless.
Lou and Reid will be one of my favorite ships. Always.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
baexlee's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The previous installment to this series had me almost putting it down permanently. Blood & Honey had felt like such a divergence from the characterization of Lou and Reid as we had come to know them, coupled with an absolutely tragic and realistically avoidable character death in the end of the sequel of this trilogy I really thought nothing would bring me back. Ultimately I am glad that I returned for the final installment Gods & Monsters.
While the second installment had many issues that I struggled to overlook, the finale to the series does it's best to correct the mistakes that were made within that second attempt while still maintaining some truth to the story left behind. In all honesty, I had completely blocked out the events of the previous book from my mind because I truly didn't enjoy it, but as I dove back in to the world and was reintroduced to Lou and Reid I was pleased to find that they felt more themselves then they had as they bickered their way through Blood & Honey. The climax of the story arc still fell a bit flat overall, and ultimately there were some aspects of Lou's magic that felt... strangely pointless? It was interesting to see her utilize her magic so... poorly in the grand finale of the series. The ending just didn't pack the fantasy punch I like to see in these kinds of trilogies.
While the second installment had many issues that I struggled to overlook, the finale to the series does it's best to correct the mistakes that were made within that second attempt while still maintaining some truth to the story left behind. In all honesty, I had completely blocked out the events of the previous book from my mind because I truly didn't enjoy it, but as I dove back in to the world and was reintroduced to Lou and Reid I was pleased to find that they felt more themselves then they had as they bickered their way through Blood & Honey. The climax of the story arc still fell a bit flat overall, and ultimately there were some aspects of Lou's magic that felt... strangely pointless? It was interesting to see her utilize her magic so... poorly in the grand finale of the series. The ending just didn't pack the fantasy punch I like to see in these kinds of trilogies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Confinement, and Child death
ehmannky's review against another edition
4.0
An overall satisfying end to the Serpent & Dove trilogy. I felt a little frustrated with the fact that Mahurin apparently couldn't keep the romantic conflict going without either Lou or Reid being either possessed or having their mind erased for a hot second , but other than that I had a good time. I loved the fact that all of the characters really and truly got to deal with the grief of losing Ansel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism
jessannderson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Wow. My new favourite series. The character development was so natural and the ending was amazing. Can’t wait to read it all over again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This review does contain spoilers, but I won't be hiding them because they'll be throughout - hence this warning.
Oof. This was an interesting end to this series. If you've read my reviews for the previous two, then you already know that this is not even close to my favorite series. I had a tough time with Serpent & Dove, primarily because the narrator of the audiobook really ruined the experience. I thought Blood & Honey would redeem it and that could possibly be one of my least favorite books of all time. Gods & Monsters was the final chance and... well, you can see my rating.
I will state right now that this was leaps and bounds better than Blood & Honey. But there were just so many things I disliked about it as well. It was really, really slow for the first 2/3 of the book. There were exciting moments, to be sure, but nothing that really made my heart race or keep my attention plastered to the page. The entire time that Nicholina was possessing Lou, I thought that she would lose her memories. That's what it was leading to - especially when she forgot Ansel and Beau while talking to the crowd of lost souls in her mind. Instead, she comes to with The Maiden's power and all her memories and within moments of that occurring, Reid loses all of his memories?! It was at this moment that if I was any other reader, I probably would've DNF'd. However, I kept going because this had to get better, right?
We go right back to the vibes from the first book: severe enemies-to-lovers. Reid absolutely loathes Lou again and wants to kill her for being a witch. Eventually, it's his lust for her that begins to redeem his memories and helps him see the "gold threads" again. Let me repeat that: sex helps him get his witchy powers back. Excuse me? That was the most anticlimactic and frustrating way for him to have that breakthrough.
Also, there was hardly any final battle. Beau lights Lou on fire, Claud kind of took over with his tree god thing, and Coco's mom dies (that entire scene is so gruesome that I was actually nauseous). There are several holes in the story that bother me now and I'll forget about later because I just don't care that much.
The only redeeming parts of this book were when Ansel showed up. Yes, yes, I know he's dead. He should never have died in the first place though and his character is really the only one I ever liked, so his appearances helped a little bit. Finding out at the beginning that he was the spectral dog - and the way he helps Lou beat Nicholina - was really sweet. The final chapter being his perspective of Reid and Lou's official wedding was also sweet. If only he was ALIVE.
Big sigh. This series just isn't it for me. A grand total of 2-stars for the whole trilogy.
Oof. This was an interesting end to this series. If you've read my reviews for the previous two, then you already know that this is not even close to my favorite series. I had a tough time with Serpent & Dove, primarily because the narrator of the audiobook really ruined the experience. I thought Blood & Honey would redeem it and that could possibly be one of my least favorite books of all time. Gods & Monsters was the final chance and... well, you can see my rating.
I will state right now that this was leaps and bounds better than Blood & Honey. But there were just so many things I disliked about it as well. It was really, really slow for the first 2/3 of the book. There were exciting moments, to be sure, but nothing that really made my heart race or keep my attention plastered to the page. The entire time that Nicholina was possessing Lou, I thought that she would lose her memories. That's what it was leading to - especially when she forgot Ansel and Beau while talking to the crowd of lost souls in her mind. Instead, she comes to with The Maiden's power and all her memories and within moments of that occurring, Reid loses all of his memories?! It was at this moment that if I was any other reader, I probably would've DNF'd. However, I kept going because this had to get better, right?
We go right back to the vibes from the first book: severe enemies-to-lovers. Reid absolutely loathes Lou again and wants to kill her for being a witch. Eventually, it's his lust for her that begins to redeem his memories and helps him see the "gold threads" again. Let me repeat that: sex helps him get his witchy powers back. Excuse me? That was the most anticlimactic and frustrating way for him to have that breakthrough.
Also, there was hardly any final battle. Beau lights Lou on fire, Claud kind of took over with his tree god thing, and Coco's mom dies (that entire scene is so gruesome that I was actually nauseous). There are several holes in the story that bother me now and I'll forget about later because I just don't care that much.
The only redeeming parts of this book were when Ansel showed up. Yes, yes, I know he's dead. He should never have died in the first place though and his character is really the only one I ever liked, so his appearances helped a little bit. Finding out at the beginning that he was the spectral dog - and the way he helps Lou beat Nicholina - was really sweet. The final chapter being his perspective of Reid and Lou's official wedding was also sweet. If only he was ALIVE.
Big sigh. This series just isn't it for me. A grand total of 2-stars for the whole trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Grief
direraven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
khloereads86's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
Minor: Child death
fraanini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
Ansel my sweet precious baby only you could make me cry 😭, i thought it was an okay ending tho this trilogy kind of went downhill for me, better improvement from the second book which was a disappointment to say the least but still the first book; serpent and dove stand superior to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death and Sexual content