Book Review: Serpent & Dove

I have heard about Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin for a few years now and it’s been on my tbr for just as long. I bought the trilogy at Barnes & Noble earlier this year and read the first book (by the same name) last week and it was so good!

(I was trying to get the effect of the smoke from when the candles were blown. Can you see it? lol)

The book follows Louise le Blanc, “Lou”, and Reid Diggory. Lou has been living in the attic of a theater in Cesarine and basically living on the streets after fleeing her home and coven 2 years ago when she was nearly killed as a sacrifice. She has been in hiding ever since, forsaking all magic, in hopes that no one from her coven will find her. Together with her best friend and fellow witch (but a different kind of witch) they have survived thus far.

Reid Diggory is a chasseur or soldier of the church. Orphaned as a baby, Reid grew up in the church and has been taught and trained his whole life to find and kill witches. When he and Lou meet it does not go well and the result of him chasing after her for some possible illegal activities land them in what looks to be a compromising position in front of hundreds of people. The Archbishop tells them that the only way to save them both from scandal is for them to marry. Forced to marry, the two push each other’s buttons – Reid finds Lou unladylike with a foul mouth and Lou hates that Reid hunts witches. Not that he knows she’s a witch…

Will Lou be able to keep her secret from Reid? Will Lou’s coven find her? How long can these two, who are attracted to one another, stay enemies?

This book was so good and I was hooked from start to finish! I love Lou and Reid. Lou is actually really funny and I was waiting for the serious Reid to just given in to her charm already! The enemies to lovers trope here actually becomes very sweet and I just love how deep their feelings become for one another.

I can’t wait to get into the second book soon!

Read this if you want a steamy enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, forced proximity, fantasy romance.

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