Series Name:
Serpent & Dove, #1
Review By Veronica
Get ready to be swept into the dark magical world of witches and witch hunters.
Favourite Quote:
He didn’t move. “You’re a woman.”
“Well spotted,” Again, I tried to shove past him—this time with a bit more force than necessary—but he caught my elbow.
“Why are you dressed like a man?”
“Have you ever worn a corset?” I spun around to face him, reattaching my mustache with as much dignity as I could muster. “I doubt you’d ask such a question if you had. Trousers are infinitely more freeing.”
He stared at me as if I’d sprouted an arm from my forehead. I glared back at him, and he shook his head slightly as if to clear it.
Goodreads Synopsis:
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.
Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.
And love makes fools of us all.
I had no idea what this book was about. The description on the back of the book is vague. It says there is a witch and a witch hunter who get married. That’s it, that’s all I knew. I decided to pick up this book and read it solely based on its hype on BookTok. In this case, Serpent & Dove is worth all the hype it has been receiving. I loved it! I think part of the reason I loved this book so much was that I had no idea what direction the story would go, and I loved the feeling of not knowing. I do want to say that it seems like people either love or hate this book. For me, it checks off all the boxes that make a fantastic fantasy novel.
Serpent & Dove is a dark tale that is set in a world where witches are seen as vengeful, evil demons that bring death and destruction to the world. They are hunted, tortured, and killed by Chasseur, which is under the control of the church. This book has a real Salem Witch Trials vibe, with a fantasy twist. There is plenty of action, mystery, and even a bit of romance. Serpent & Dove would fall in that new emerging genre called New Adult, a YA book with spice. For those who aren’t romance readers, spice is those sexy scenes between characters. Serpent & Dove does have more graphic intimate scenes. But romance and spice are not the main focus of this story.
The characters are gritty, fun, and oh so fierce. None of them are perfect, and it’s interesting watching as they form this sort of rag-tag team to take on their enemies (many people want them dead by the end of the book). Lousie or Lou is a fabulous character; she is complex, sarcastic, and kind-hearted behind that tough exterior. She is a witch, and there is a mystery surrounding her past and how she ended up living amongst humans. Reid is the complete opposite of Lou. He lives by a strict code and has a strong sense of duty to the Chasseur. I loved the interactions between Lou and Reid; it was rather comically watching Lou tease and tournament Reid.
If you are looking for a magical fantasy story that will have you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend Serpent & Dove.
