Review: Serpent and Dove (Serpent and Dove #1)

Serpent and Dove (Serpent and Dove #1)
By Shelby Mahurin

Published By: Harper Teen
Publication Date: September 3, 2019
Date Read: September 19, 2023
Genre: YA – Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Audiobook
Pages: 513

From Goodreads:
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.

Serpent and Dove has been on my TBR for a good couple of years. As soon as I heard that this was an enemies to lovers including a witch and a witch hunter I was sold. I’m often very much on the fence with enemies to lovers, but in situations like this where it’s not the characters being an ass just for the sake of it, I tend to love it. I did in fact really enjoy this book, however… was it everything I was hoping for? No, unfortunately it was not.

Serpent and Dove follows the story of Lou, a witch in hiding in a world where the Church hunts down witches and kills them. As a half witch, half human she is able to hide herself better than others, but when she finds herself in a marriage of convenience with one of the Church, Lou finds her life being upended and who knows just who will survive.

I loved this premise! I loved this world of witches vs witch hunters. I loved the marriage of convenience… I loved Lou as a character as she is such a smart ass and just so funny! I honestly really enjoyed so much of this book. My issue comes in with the romance. It just wasn’t believable to me. Now, I often go into books blind (I don’t read the blurb) and so I had no idea there was going to be a marriage of convenience, however I really enjoyed that trope in this book. What I couldn’t get behind was the enemies to lovers romance. Usually in a fantasy I am fine with it because there’s a reason for them being enemies. And while, yes, there’s a reason here… Reid is just an ass! With a capital A! I hated him for 60% of this book… he got a little bit better for a chapter or two and then he was an ass again! I really disliked him and I felt like when they “fell” for each other I was being told this, rather than shown this. My reaction to their declarations of love was …”really? When did that happen?” Like when did this emotional connection begin because I felt nothing of it!

Luckily, I am a plot girl through and through so the romance didn’t affect my enjoyment all that much. I feel like this book has very strong world building, a very strong plot and strong characters (apart from Reid!). There was a lot of good in there, amongst the romance. The whole family dynamic with Lou and her coven/Mom was epic and I loved that! I will continue the series but honestly, if the romance is about a ramp up I need a whole 180 from Reid for me to get behind this… as I’m praying for the dreaded love interest switch right now! It was an enjoyable read, but there was definitely a little spark missing for me.

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