Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 528
Release Date: September 3, 2019
Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.
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.
Boy, am I glad I got Serpent & Dove from the library and did not buy a copy. I seen this book described as similar to Sarah J. Maas’ work. I usually do not read YA anymore, except for a handful of authors. Therefore, I figured I would give Mahurin a shot. Unfortunately, she did not hit the mark.
Serpent & Dove is romance heavy. I knew this before reading the novel, so I was expecting an all-encompassing romance that would sweep me off my feet as mortal enemies become lovers. Unfortunately, the romance is almost nonexistent and suffers from a severe case of instalove. However, I will commend Mahurin for making her heroine sexually experienced and her love interest a virgin.
The magic system is not clearly defined. Instead, the inner workings are confusing and lacks clarity. Mahurin relies heavily upon readers’ preconceived notions of witches without adding her own twist. In addition, I found myself more interested in the secondary character’s use of magic more than the main character.
There is not anything special about the main character, Lou. She is your typical YA heroine: bland and quick to fall in love. The male love interest, Reid, has little to no personality outside of his profession making his declaration of love laughable to say the least.
Overall, Serpent & Dove is just another YA fantasy with bland characters and a poorly defined magic system.
Welp. This doesn’t sound like a good use of my time. I fear YA for those kinds of romance too…
P.S. I’m glad however to know that the Gutter Prayer read has been going preeeettty goooood! 😀
I should have known really. But I fall prey to marketing that compares a book to another book 🙄.
So. Damn. Good! I’ve been holding off so I can jump into the sequel as soon as possible.
I love your reviews Nadine because they are always quick and concise. I don’t think you’re alone in the way you felt about this one so I will give it a pass! Especially with the instalove. Man is that tiring (also not at all how an enemies-to-lovers romance should ever work!).
Thank you! I really dislike reading long and drawn out reviews.
Enemies to lovers romance is so hard to get right in the first place without adding fantasy elements.