Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove Series #1)

by Shelby Mahurin

Overview

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!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062878021
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Series:	Serpent & Dove Series , #1
Pages:	528
Sales rank:	46,798
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.70(h) x 1.80(d)
Lexile:	HL610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Shelby Mahurin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Serpent & Dove trilogy. She grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn’t fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches The Office and reads voraciously. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband and semiferal children. Visit her online at www.shelbymahurin.com.

Editorial Reviews

07/22/2019

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 Sorcières. 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. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

A detailed supporting cast and a rich, French-inspired world make for a strong backdrop, but the core of this fantasy is Lou and Reid's complicated, often steamy romance.” — Booklist

“Drips with intrigue and shadow.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“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

“Will cast a spell on romance fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Mahurin has taken the witch and witch hunter trope and made it new again. The world-building will draw in readers and Lou’s strong but wistful nature will keep them turning pages.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Drips with intrigue and shadow.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A detailed supporting cast and a rich, French-inspired world make for a strong backdrop, but the core of this fantasy is Lou and Reid's complicated, often steamy romance.

Booklist

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

Drips with intrigue and shadow.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A detailed supporting cast and a rich, French-inspired world make for a strong backdrop, but the core of this fantasy is Lou and Reid's complicated, often steamy romance.

Booklist

Drips with intrigue and shadow.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

08/02/2019

Gr 9 Up-As a witch, Louise le Blanc is hunted. Not just because she is a witch, but because she was born to die. Once Lou found out what was planned for her, she ran to the city of Cesarine—where witches are burned at the stake—and began a new life there without magic. Reid Diggory only knows life as a Chasseur, a witch hunter. He and his band of witch hunters are what keep Cesarine safe. At least that's what he thought. After an unfortunate collision, Lou and Reid are forced to marry. As strangers, they must figure out what this new life has in store for them and Lou must struggles to hide the witch inside of her. Mahurin has taken the witch and witch hunter trope and made it new again. The world-building will draw in readers and Lou's strong but wistful nature will keep them turning pages. Set in a mythical French backdrop, the story is rich with French culture and couture. VERDICT Teens who enjoy drama and a little romance will enjoy this novel. -Rena Gibson, Ralph Ellison Library, Oklahoma City

School Library Journal

2019-06-18
A stealth witch and a devout witch hunter are forced to marry.

In this French-flavored fantasy world, witches are hunted down by the Church's Chasseurs and burned at the stake; they retaliate against this genocidal crusade through vicious terrorist attacks. Thief Louise le Blanc wants none of that—she's left her witch life behind. But Lou ends up on Chasseur captain Reid Diggory's radar when a heist goes bad; his attempt to catch her lands them in a situation so compromising that the archbishop suggests marriage to save face. Lou's initial priority is self-protection—wanting to avoid both fallout from the heist and a dangerous figure from her past—and she's fine with using Reid. The slow-burn, opposites-attract romance between crass, irreverent Lou and prim and proper Reid gets very hot and sexy once it ignites. Lou sees firsthand the damages some witches do to innocents, has her presumptions about individual Chasseurs challenged, and also sees up close the horrors Chasseurs perpetrate. Despite occasional pacing hiccups and an easily guessed twist, the secondary characters will charm readers, and the story picks up when Lou's past dangerously catches up to her, revealing the true stakes. Though at heart a romance, rich second-tier characters round out the shades-of-gray, morality-and-empathy themes. Witches, Chasseurs, and some secondary characters come in all colors; the leads appear white. The ending screams sequel.

Will cast a spell on romance fans. (Fantasy. 15-adult)

Kirkus Reviews