Review:Serpent and Dove(Serpent and Dove #1)by Shelby Mahurin

 

   

    Title: Serpent and Dove

     Author: Shelly Mahurin

     Series: Serpent and Dove #1

     Genre: Romance,Fantasy fiction,Young Adult

     Release Date: 3rd September 2019

A witch and a witch hunter ,match made in -heaven or hell?

Overview:

The story starts with introducing us to one of the main characters Louise Le Blanc(Lou),a young witch who has left her cavern to stay alive.she is on the run and is living on streets in a strange city,is left to beg,borrow and steal in order to survive.She is trying to eradicate very trace of magic within her so that she can be untraceable .

 

Lou is a witty,smart-mouthed,sassy,brave character who just keeps on challenging the traditions .Even in difficult times she moves forward with such bravery and swag that you  can't help liking her.One one of her misadventures ,she meets Captain Reid Diggory,our second main character, who is a Chasseur- a church's huntsmen who is a witch hunter( leader of them too) and lives with the principle-"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live ".He is duty-bound man man ,fairly uptight and most importantly loyal to those he loves.

Due to wicked turn of events ,the unlikely pair is forced into matrimony.Will they be able to survive each other?This is a classic enemies to lovers' stuff .As expected even though they were polar opposites,affection grows between them and they are forced to choose where their devotions lie and what are they willing to sacrifice for love.

Review:

I have read this book two times and I'm still not over it.It has an addictive ,easy writing and the way Shelby portrays the story is amazing.

By my view a  constant theme in the book is challenging prejudices and notions of what is right and wrong.Through Reid and Lou's banter and roller-coaster romance we can see that all witches aren't bad.Well in general we can see that all around us.We think that an entire group of people or a community or maybe a whole family is bad but when we get to know someone personally ,we realize that every individual has his one personality ,dreams and hopes.It was amazing to see how this growing problem was addressed in fantastical world.

One of the main thing about the book is that I could connect with every character,feel their joy and turmoil.But my favorite ones are Reid and Lou.Lou is constantly stepping across the boundaries that Reid draws in sand like his aversion to cussing.A reoccurring reference in the book is of a pub song'Big Tiddy Liddy' which Lou sings to make Reid quite uncomfortable in some scenarios.

Their romance is full of sexual tension.There is no shortage of steamy,tension filled moments in the book.Besides the romance,the action ,the plot-twists it was brilliantly done and it was really hard for me to believe that it is a debut novel,because it is divine.The friendship between Lou and Coco is another thing that just leaves you wishing for such a friend.This book reminded me of Bonnie Bennett from  Vampire Diaries when Coco conducts the tracking spell and I hope that Book Two has some of her story too.

It is a book that end in hope not death.It teaches you that there is nothing as pure evil or pure good.I could go on and on about this and highly recommend this while I'm waiting for Blood and Honey(second book in the series).If you are a fan of witches,dark magic,enemies to lovers romance or are just wanting to read a beautiful story go for it,you won't be disappointed.

    Xoxo

    Aditi