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Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

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Serpent & Dove is a bestselling young adult fantasy novel by Shelby Mahurin, featuring a forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance between a witch and a witch hunter who are forced into an arranged marriage ...

Serpent & Dove is a bestselling young adult fantasy novel by Shelby Mahurin, featuring a forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance between a witch and a witch hunter who are forced into an arranged marriage. It is the first book in a trilogy that also includes Blood & Honey and Gods & Monsters.

Plot Summary

The story is set in the French-inspired city of Cesarine, where the Church-ordained witch hunters, or Chasseurs, hunt and burn witches.

Louise le Blanc (Lou) is a witch who fled her coven two years prior to avoid a prophecy and her powerful mother, the leader of the Dames Blanches coven. She lives in hiding as a thief in the city, forsaking magic to survive.
Reid Diggory is a devout and principled Chasseur, sworn to the Church and living by the mantra "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live".
A series of events leads to Lou and Reid being forced into an impossible situation: marriage to save Reid's reputation.
Lou must then live with her mortal enemy, constantly on edge to hide her true identity from her new husband, while unexpected feelings and growing attraction complicate their arrangement.
The plot involves an ancient war between the witches and the Church, with various twists and a climactic confrontation where secrets about both characters' pasts are revealed, including the fact that Reid is a male witch. The book ends with Lou and Reid on the run from the Church and Lou's coven, seeking refuge with allies.

Key Themes and Reception

Serpent & Dove is a mix of fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.

Enemies-to-Lovers Romance: The relationship between the quick-witted, foul-mouthed Lou and the uptight, duty-bound Reid is central to the novel and a major highlight for readers, praised for its witty banter and strong sexual tension.
Moral Ambiguity and Prejudice: A significant theme is the grey area between good and evil, challenging the black-and-white worldview that all witches are evil or all Chasseurs are good. It explores the idea of overcoming deeply ingrained belief systems and prejudices.
Strong Characters and World-building: Reviewers often praise the well-developed main characters and the detailed, French-inspired world Mahurin created. The magic system, which involves a price for all magic (e.g., Dames Blanches magic requires balance from nature; Dames Rouges use blood magic), is also noted as being interesting and comprehensible.
Audience: The book is a Young Adult novel recommended for ages 14 and up due to mature themes, strong language, detailed sexual content, and violence.

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