A review by rebeccazh
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

4.0

This was very fun to read. I went in with no expectations, having only read Emily May's review, but this is basically a book with alternative POV chapters starring Lou and Reid. Lou is running from her homicidal and fanatic mother who wants to sacrifice her in order to strike a blow at her enemies. Reid is just trying to live up to the Archbishop's expectations and to live up to his own standards. Lou is witty, mischievous, playful and irreverent. She turns everything into a joke, has no respect for authority and doesn't seem to take anything seriously. She's so funny and I loved reading her chapters! She was the sole reason why I enjoyed this book so much.

Reid is one of those very serious, loyal, bound to his moral code and law-abiding type of personality. He has anger issues, takes everything very seriously, has ideas about how everything should be and he is devoted to authority (also the Archbishop is pretty much like his foster father, boss and savior rolled into one). Sparks fly when he has to live with Lou and interact with her on a close basis. Their bickering and fighting is honestly pretty hilarious.

The worldbuilding is weird - the country is a country that's sort of like France, but not really. They also have different types of witches that's not really explained clearly.

I read the prologue and then after that devoured the entire book. Lou is so fun to read! Excited for the sequel.