Serpent & Dove
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4.4 • 1.2K Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
New York Times Bestseller * Indiebound Bestseller * An Amazon Best Book of 2019 * B&N's YA Book Club Pick
"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
Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn. Book one of a stunning fantasy trilogy, 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.
Don't miss Gods & Monsters, the spellbinding conclusion of this epic trilogy!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Tender romance and a rebellious, resilient heroine buoy this uneven tale, which counsels understanding and forgiveness in the face of zealotry and persecution. First in a planned duology, Mahurin's debut follows Louise an irreverent witch on the run from her coven, the Dames Blanches and Reid, a pious Chasseur, who kills witches for the Church of Belterra. Homeless, abstaining from magic, and stealing to survive, Lou conspires with two friends to pilfer an enchanted ring that will help hide her from the Dames Blanches' queen, La Dame des Sorci res. When the heist goes wrong, attracting Reid's attention, Lou places him in a compromising position to publicly discredit him. Her ploy backfires: Reid's boss, the Archbishop, orders them to marry, thus maintaining the Chasseurs' virtuous reputation. Lou acquiesces, provided that she can conceal her true nature; who better to protect her than a witch hunter? But matters become increasingly complicated as love blooms. Poorly established stakes, wobbly worldbuilding, and a shortage of action slow the start, but the bombshell-laden conclusion thrills while whetting readers' appetites for the sequel. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
A little cliché, but a very fun read
The romance is very fun to read. It’s not that drawn out, but there’s a few really fun chapters of flirting before they go for it. The plot is fun and there are exciting moments. There are bits that are a little too convenient, and the church stuff feels a little too cliché at times. Also, at least in book 1, the world building isn’t that well flushed out. It’s definitely worth the read, but it isn’t immaculate storytelling or anything.
Slow burn
If you know French, you’ll love this book. I struggled a tad with the French language but it didn’t deter me from reading. The story takes awhile to build. Took me a week to read the first half of the book and then it got really good, I was hooked, and I finished the last half in a day. There is some spice, a lot of tension! If you are a ACOTAR fan, you’ll enjoy this!
Good characters but too much violence for me
I had a hard time liking the characters as much as I could have because they killed people. The ending is just a set up for the sequel, which I am not sure I want to read. So if you are wanting a self contained read this is not it.