For her sixteenth birthday, Louise le Blanc’s mother gave her three things: a sacrificial altar, a ritual knife, and a wicked scar.
SERPENT & DOVE by SHELBY MAHURIN
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 3, 2019
Genre: YA fantasy
SYNOPSIS
Lou’s death would have ended the ancient war between the Church and witches, but Lou refuses to become a martyr. Forsaking her coven, she escapes to the gloomy city of Cesarine and hides her magic as a thief in the criminal underworld. But life in Cesarine has its own dangers. Huntsmen roam the city revered as holy men. Witches burn without trial. And the Archbishop, the Church’s austere patriarch, revels in violence.
As a huntsman, Reid Diggory lives by one verse: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
He's devoted his entire life to eradicating the occult and making his surrogate father, the Archbishop, proud. Finally given the chance to capture a witch of his own, Reid is devastated when a foul-mouthed thief thwarts him—and doubly devastated when she too disappears. Hell-bent on bringing her to justice, Reid vows she won't escape again. But when Lou tricks him into public scandal trying to avoid capture, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Marriage to a huntsman could provide real protection from the witches—if Lou can convince Reid she isn’t one herself. The secret proves difficult to keep as Lou begins practicing magic in secret within the heart of the Church, determined to prepare for her mother’s inevitable return. As time passes, however, Lou discovers yet another danger lurking: her own growing feelings for her husband. But Reid is still dangerous. He’s just as likely to tie her to the stake as defend her if he learns her true identity. With enemies closing in—and more than her own life at stake—Lou must decide who she can trust before it's too late…and she's not the only one with a secret.
As a huntsman, Reid Diggory lives by one verse: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
He's devoted his entire life to eradicating the occult and making his surrogate father, the Archbishop, proud. Finally given the chance to capture a witch of his own, Reid is devastated when a foul-mouthed thief thwarts him—and doubly devastated when she too disappears. Hell-bent on bringing her to justice, Reid vows she won't escape again. But when Lou tricks him into public scandal trying to avoid capture, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.
Marriage to a huntsman could provide real protection from the witches—if Lou can convince Reid she isn’t one herself. The secret proves difficult to keep as Lou begins practicing magic in secret within the heart of the Church, determined to prepare for her mother’s inevitable return. As time passes, however, Lou discovers yet another danger lurking: her own growing feelings for her husband. But Reid is still dangerous. He’s just as likely to tie her to the stake as defend her if he learns her true identity. With enemies closing in—and more than her own life at stake—Lou must decide who she can trust before it's too late…and she's not the only one with a secret.
Praise for Serpent & Dove:
“A brilliant debut, full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully-realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept me reading long into the night. Serpent & Dove is an absolute gem of a book.”
- Sarah J Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses series
“Will cast a spell on romance fans.”
- Kirkus Reviews
- Sarah J Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses series
“Will cast a spell on romance fans.”
- Kirkus Reviews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelby Mahurin grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn't fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches the Office and obsesses over her Twitter feed. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband, semi-feral toddlers, two dogs, and one cat.
Shelby's favorite books include A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and, of course, Harry Potter.
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Shelby's favorite books include A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and, of course, Harry Potter.
Follow here:
REVIEW
Serpent & Dove by Shelby MahurinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Serpent & Dove was such a wonderfully witchy tale that really impressed me. After reading the synopsis, I knew I had to read this fantasy for the original plot alone. The idea of a witch and a witch hunter being forced into a marriage was what really hooked me. This is pretty much the ultimate enemies to lovers storyline with magic, mayhem, deceit, and a murderous "mother" (I use that term loosely) thrown in to boot.
I was no one’s sacrifice. Not then. Not now. Not ever.
Louise le Blanc is a thief living in Cesarine, hiding from the powerful witches who hunt her. Once only a target of the Chasseurs, she became the prey of the Dames Blanches as well when she refused to die for her people. Her mother birthed her with the sole intent of sacrificing her in order to end their persecution from King and Church. For generations, they've had to hide their identities or risk being arrested and burned at the stake for practicing magic. Seen as less than human, as demonic creatures in human form, the witch hunters fight to protect the innocent from their attacks. There are two factions of witches: the Dames Blanches and Dames Rouges. These two sides harness their magic in different ways, and do not have an alliance with one another. Louise's faction is ruthless and deadly, willing to use their magic for harm in order to reclaim the land and power that was taken from them.
With the help of her only friends Coco and Bas, she's managed to survive on the streets with little more than wits and sheer desperation. She has foresworn all use of magic and the home she grew up in so that she may avoid detection. However, she has a plan that could finally give her some safety and security: locating and stealing a ring that renders the wearer invisibility and immunity against magic. It would be the ultimate boon for Lou if she were to ever be found. Because she knows it's only a matter of time before her luck runs out, and she needs a back door when she has to run again.
Lou was a tenacious woman with the heart of a lion. The odds were outrageously stacked against her, and yet she leaped head first into danger without a second's hesitation. She was also seriously blunt, foul mouthed, and full of snark and I can't complain about any of it. She had such a strong spirit despite the hardship she's endured which was really admirable. When an unpredictable set of circumstances causes an impromptu wedding to the captain of the witch hunters, she isn't happy to say the least. But she's nothing if not resourceful and decides that she's going to find an advantage in the twisted mess of her life. All she has to do is keep her true identity a secret and never reveal a whiff of magic. Should be simple, right?
Reid Diggory is an orphan who gained favor with the archbishop. As the father of the Chasseurs, he's instilled a fear and hatred of witches in him, as well as a lot of misinformation. At first he seems unable to bend in his vendetta against them. He has personal reasons for wishing to eradicate them, and he truly feels that he's removing a scourge from the city with each one he captures. However, nothing is ever as black and white as it seems as he's about to find out. The war he's been fighting in isn't simply good verses evil. Many on both sides are not what they seem, and once secrets are unearthed, he isn't sure who or what he's fighting for anymore. I've got to say, I wasn't entirely sure how much I would like Reid at first. He's very rigid and blind to a lot of things, but you also see a softer side to him. He can be chivalrous and truly is a man of honor that wants to do the right thing. He always treats his unwanted wife with respect even when she's pushing his buttons and taunting him with everything she has.
Both Lou and Reid discover that people's hearts and intentions can't be judged at first glance. There's huge character growth in both of them by the end after their experiences in getting to know one another. She was once a vicious little heathen to him, nothing more than a heavy cross to bear. He was a priggish, cold, man who she enjoyed provoking every chance she got. Somewhere in the middle their antagonism melted away into affection. And that's where it really gets complicated.
“There are some things that can’t be changed with words. Some things have to be seen. They have to be felt.”
This was a solid debut for Shelby Mahurin, and after the twist at the end, I'm eager to continue on with the series in the follow up. It's not a hugely suspenseful cliffhanger, but there's a lot more of the story waiting to be told. I'm excited for more adventure, danger, and spellbinding magic next year!
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