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A review by solaceinprose
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
5.0
As with Serpent & Dove and Blood & Honey, I listened to the audiobook. I was a bit apprehensive about starting this book, especially how much of a disappointment Blood & Honey ended up being. Whereas Gods & Monsters was still long, it did not drag like the sequel. I remained riveted the entire time while listening to the book. I don't know if it was the reading/voice acting by Saskia Maarleveld and Holter Graham or if Shelby just managed to not write a bunch of filler in this book, but I felt that it was infinitely better than Blood & Honey. God, I could praise Holter Graham's Reid until I'm blue in the face, and he absolutely brought it home in the final audiobook. I want to HIS signature/autograph on this book.
The overall theme of this trilogy has always been more about found family than this epic love story between a witch and a witch hunter. Yes, Lou and Reid's story may be the foundation, but the building of their family of these two, Coco, Beau, Celie, and even Jean Luc, and all who they've embraced throughout the series has been the cornerstone. And it absolutely shone in this book. Coco and Lou's best friendship, nay, sisterhood is a thing of beauty, and I love how incredibly ride or die they are for each other. Even Reid's and Beau's friendship blossoms in this as they grow closer as siblings and friends. These four especially have been through hell fire (literally) and back, and at the end, their bonds are tighter than ever. This isn't just a romantic love story, but a lovely platonic love story as well.
Grief is also a huge point of this book. I don't want to give it away, but I really loved the analogy that Shelby used to show how grief can be all consuming, and that time is the only thing that can lessen it. My favorite line in the whole book just really brought home what grief really is. "Love and grief: two sides of the same wretched coin." I had to pause here while I collected myself because whew. If that is not the truest thing ever written.
The MVP of this book was hands down Celie. Like, GODDAMN, this woman showed up and said, "You will never underestimate me again." I LOVED her, and I'm so so glad that Shelby didn't make her some throw away character. Every time she put Jean Luc or even Reid in their places, I was pumping a fist in the air.
I'm woman enough to admit that the epilogue left me a weeping mess. I mean openly sobbing on my couch as I was listening. A few may find it a bit schmalzy, but I loved it. I loved that that's how she chose to end this series, with that specific point of view.
What a fantastic ending to a all around great series. Even though Blood & Honey was a bit meh, this may be by far my favorite trilogy in the last two years. I will miss our depraved witch and her straight laced witch hunter a lot.
The overall theme of this trilogy has always been more about found family than this epic love story between a witch and a witch hunter. Yes, Lou and Reid's story may be the foundation, but the building of their family of these two, Coco, Beau, Celie, and even Jean Luc, and all who they've embraced throughout the series has been the cornerstone. And it absolutely shone in this book. Coco and Lou's best friendship, nay, sisterhood is a thing of beauty, and I love how incredibly ride or die they are for each other. Even Reid's and Beau's friendship blossoms in this as they grow closer as siblings and friends. These four especially have been through hell fire (literally) and back, and at the end, their bonds are tighter than ever. This isn't just a romantic love story, but a lovely platonic love story as well.
Grief is also a huge point of this book. I don't want to give it away, but I really loved the analogy that Shelby used to show how grief can be all consuming, and that time is the only thing that can lessen it. My favorite line in the whole book just really brought home what grief really is. "Love and grief: two sides of the same wretched coin." I had to pause here while I collected myself because whew. If that is not the truest thing ever written.
The MVP of this book was hands down Celie. Like, GODDAMN, this woman showed up and said, "You will never underestimate me again." I LOVED her, and I'm so so glad that Shelby didn't make her some throw away character. Every time she put Jean Luc or even Reid in their places, I was pumping a fist in the air.
I'm woman enough to admit that the epilogue left me a weeping mess. I mean openly sobbing on my couch as I was listening. A few may find it a bit schmalzy, but I loved it. I loved that that's how she chose to end this series, with that specific point of view.
What a fantastic ending to a all around great series. Even though Blood & Honey was a bit meh, this may be by far my favorite trilogy in the last two years. I will miss our depraved witch and her straight laced witch hunter a lot.