The best way to describe Serpent and Dove is a high-fantasy version of Romeo and Juliet with witches, witch hunters, and plenty of twists. It follows Lou, a witch disguised as a human who ends up becoming entangled in the world of the witch hunter, Reid. The two are important figures of opposing sides in a centuries-old war; witches vs holy men.
For those who have spent a lot of time avoiding stories that contain witches because it just does not hold that interest, this story will have them craving for more. Shelby Mahurin’s writing style is sure to draw the reader in. She strung together words beautifully yet the story was still easy to follow. The author did an amazing job at world-building and creating intriguing characters.
The characters were practically what made this book special. Lou’s sass and quick wit grab the reader’s attention. She is such a strong female protagonist and Mahurin ensures that Reid and her relationship with him do not steal the spotlight. Coco and Ansel are definitely characters fans would love to see explored further, and Reid, Beau, and Madame Labelle were also very interesting.
The only negative comment that could be said about this novel is that the storyline could have been a little more interesting. The plot twists were a little cliche and unsurprising.
Overall, Serpent and Dove deserved 4.5/5 stars. Next reading adventure: Blood and Honey.
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Written by Brooke Belli
