Review: Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

If I had to name one book that has stalked me all over the internet, it’s Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. It literally popped up everywhere. For the longest time, I ignored it. I just wasn’t interest enough to pick up a copy. My Audible credits started piling up, and I decided to give it a try. And oh, my goodness. I’m so glad I did! I wasn’t planning on reviewing my audiobooks this year, but I’m bursting with excitement over gorgeous debut and I need to share!

“I was no one’s sacrifice. Not then. Not now. Not ever.”

My Review

It took me nearly a full month to get through Serpent & Dove and I genuinely don’t understand how. It’s incredible?! How did I not just fly through it from the start? I listened to the last 60% in like three days. I just needed to know how it continued! There’s this incredible enemies-to-lovers romance, intriguing witches, a wonderful magic system, and French influences that I’m basically obsessed with.

As you all know by now, I’m a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers romance. Like, literally obsessed. This one might actually be the best. Is there anything better than a witch and a witch hunter romance? Don’t think so! I genuinely didn’t think these two would actually fall in love. When they did, it was SO CUTE. I love Lou and Reid so much. I’d die for them, 100%! They’re forced into this marriage and it’s starts out so cold, but then they slowly warm up to each other. Lou turns this stoic Chasseur (witch hunter) into such a lovely human being. Their romance is so fragile but then obviously there’s this point where they finally realise their love for each other and I’m not going to tell you anything about it, ~~for obvious spoilery reasons~~, but it’s FANTASTIC.

Lou is such a sassy, fun, brave little witch. I absolutely love her narration and the way her story is told. We get little bits and pieces along the way, which makes her such an interesting character. Reid is her complete opposite. He’s what I consider to be a ‘typical’ witch hunter; badass, yet kind of asshole-ish and utterly oblivious to anything besides his own views. I sometimes even felt a little bad for him, honestly. Both of these characters grow so much as individuals, but together as well. They make a really great couple.

Serpent & Dove‘s has a French-inspired fantasy world and it’s probably one of my favourite fantasy settings ever. The audiobook definitely helped with that, as the narrator’s French was wonderful, but it gave the book such a romantic vibe as well! There’s yummy French food, Witches with very French-sounding names, the witch covens themselves have French names (excuse me for not typing them out, I have no clue how to spell them!) and just the overall French-ness has me obsessed.

I just have to mention the audiobook narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Holter Graham for a minute, because I absolutely loved their narration. I was familiar with both of them, but hadn’t finished listening to any of their books. They created such a magical experience, though! I loved Holter Graham in the little bit of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff I listened to, and he just makes the perfect Reid! I definitely loved his parts best, but Saskia Maarleveld’s a wonderful narrator as well!

My Rating

Serpent & Dove is such an incredible YA Fantasy with wonderful characters, a magical world and one of the best enemies-to-lovers romances out there. Defintely worth five stars!

About Serpent & Dove

Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn. Book one of a stunning fantasy duology, this tale of witchcraft and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Sara Holland.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.
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