Serpent & Dove

I didn't make it through the first chapter, so I'm not going to be rude and give it 1 star simply because it isn't to my taste. I don't trust reviewers who do that.However, seasoned readers should probably beware.I was immediately drawn to this book based on numerous targeted ads.The plot sounded fantastic. Great cover art. Character names that weren't otherworldly levels of obnoxious (I'm looking at you, Clary).So, I gave it a shot. Instantly purchased, even though I already have oh-so-many books sitting at home unread.I cracked this open less than an hour ago, and decided that I can't bring myself to continue.I don't consider myself an ABSOLUTE snob. I understand no book is perfect. I just want to be transported!Why did I stop reading this quickly, I hear all two of you asking?Simple:The editor on this book failed.FAILED.Seriously, worst editor EVER.Here are the references to a smile/mouth/laughter in the first few pages alone as a descriptor:Page 4 (the equivalent of the second page, as it begins on page 3):"I couldn't help but grin.""Smirked.""I cackled."Page 5:"She pouted.""Grinning."Page 6:"Chuckling.""Whose lips twitched in an effort not to grin.""Saccharine smile.""Forcing a grin.""Lips curling upward."(There was also a "winked conspiratorially" which implies a smile yet again.)Page 8:"A wide smile.""She grinned like a cat with cream."Page 9:"An alluring smile."Page 10:"An evil smile split his face.""Andre bared his teeth."(This is where I tapped out, but I'll continue through the first chapter just for your benefit.)Page 11:"Babette cast the two a small smile.""Their grins vanished."Page 12:"Licking his lips nervously.""With gleeful smirks."Page 13:"Her smile grew small and cruel.""Smothering a snort.""Shook with silent laughter."Page 14:"His mouth twisted."Page 16:"I could almost see her smile. It matched my own."Phew!Now, maybe I'm just too sensitive and that's really not that bad. But, keep in mind that 1) I probably missed some and 2) this is a fairly easy read, so the repetitiveness of descriptors feels fairly unrelenting.If this were the only issue, I probably wouldn't have said anything. But poor editing becomes even more clear through other examples.For instance:"Babette glared at us." And then, just a couple short sentences later on the same page: "He glared at her for several long seconds." I don't think it was intended repetition to mirror Babette, but rather, they didn't realize that "glared" was already used above. And if it was an intentional glare, it should have been more obvious like "he matched her glare" or something, to make the two pointedly linked.Similarly, the word "however" is used at least a few times within the first chapter.References to "stupid" or idiot/idiocy, also several times in the first chapter.It may very well be a book with a wonderful plot and full, developed characters - it certainly seemed like it had the potential to be interesting. However, I was so thoroughly taken out of it by the way certain phrasings and descriptors were overused that I decided it wasn't worth it. It felt rough, unpolished, and amateurish in this regard.If you are not sensitive to cliches in word choices and repetition, you may love this book! I'm not saying don't give it a try - it may just be a "me" issue.But, to the editor...and author, for that matter...please enter future novels into one of those "overused words" analysis websites online before beginning edits.No one needs to read the word "grin" six times in one chapter alone.

I bought this because Sarah J. Maas reviewed it so well. I now know to never buy a book based off of her recommendation alone. After I read her review, I gave it a try and forced myself to finish it, thinking it must get good at some point. No. It did not. It was awful. I read a lot of books, especially in this genre. It was staggeringly riddled plot holes and unanswered questions, a magic system that was under-explained and underwhelming, but the worst thing about it was the lack of character development. You learn almost nothing about anyone but the two main characters, and even those two were so lacking in personality that I found myself uncaring of their success or their romance.I hate to be so negative, especially of a new author, but I can't believe this was published in its current form. It isn't a bad overall storyline other than there being no resolution whatsoever in the end (even as an intended series, it was lacking in any conclusion that mattered), but it could have been so much better. It felt like she made a fan fiction version of Leigh Bardugo's Nina and Matthias storyline from "Six of Crows" and added unoriginal elements from other YA authors in this genre, including Sarah J. Maas (i.e. a witch named Manon, an irreverent princess who is full of herself, the main character is a thief, a love develops between two opposite people who are forced together- or even more cliche- one is tasked with killing the other, etc.). Even the romance wasn't exciting. It was one sex scene, and the lead up to it didn't offer much anticipation. From Maas's review, I was at least expecting some great sex scenes. Nope.Everything just felt so random. Nothing tied together in the way you expect. Oh, "I had sex with a prostitute once." Ok... I like to eat chocolate. What's the point? There was no point. The main character was trying to say she wasn't an innocent person, but her innocence didn't matter at all to the storyline. It didn't develop her character. Now, if she (the main character) told an interesting story about said sex with a prostitute that showed her character or humor or morals, or literally anything else, it would have been relevant to the plot. It was completely random.And the cursing. Let's just preface this with me saying I use the F word liberally. I have no issues with cursing or the F word in general, but it's not the only curse word I use. And I use it in more creative ways than just saying it nearly every time I open my mouth or speak passionately about anything. It was like the author thought the more she used that word, the more personality it gave her character. It didn't work.I think I'm going to ask for my money back. I bought both the Audible and the Kindle version (I do with nearly all the books I buy), and this is the first time I've considered returning either.Please. If you don't read the synopsis and think, "OMG, this book sounds amazing, and I can't live without reading it!" then don't waste your money on it. Pretend SJM didn't review it.I (generously) gave it two stars because she's a debut author, and it's a tough industry.

I read about 80 percent but could not finish. Characters behaved foolishly and annoyingly and out of character, rapidly changing their minds dramatically in just one line of writing. Also, (spoiler alert) some weird stuff like making passionate love while still wearing clothes that are sopping with the blood of your enemies? It seemed like that was just a gross oversite in the writing not a weird fettish, but either way, not enjoyable to read. Also I dislike romance that is so dramatically on again, off again. Also it seemed pretty unbelievable at so many points, like the blood witch hiding in plain site working in a convent by day and having publically obvious sexual trysts at night and threatening to exsanguinate people whenever she got riled, seriously, the people at the convent didn't notice??? And other stuff like that.

This books story line you can find in thousands of horrible fanfictions. This entire story revolves around 2 characters who are mortal enemies being forced to get married and then inevitably fall as love and the author inserts a porn scene. The problem is the entire reason they have to get married is one of the most stupidest reasons I have ever read outside of fanfiction. Its like she didn't even try and I feel bad for the main character being dumbed down so much that she never even attempted to run away. The entire book from then on just crumbles and falls apart. The porn scene doesn't even feel naughty because the two characters have absolutely zero chemistry.but to each their own.

I picked up this book for two reasons, one because it was about witches and who doesn't want to read books about witches in autumn and two the enemies to lovers romance and I can safely say it does not disappoint. I will say I was a little unsure for around the first 15% of this book but once I hit 20% I was in love.First off I have to talk about the characters who were all amazing. This book alternates between Lou and Reid's POVs which I loved as it really helped you to get a feel for each of their characters and connect better with them. Lou is sarcastic to the core, a thief and has a filthy mouth (so expect a lot of swearing in this). She reminds me a bit of Celaena Sardothian in the beginning books of the Throne of Glass series and I loved her. Reid on the other hand is the complete opposite. He is the Captain of the Chasseur, he is very serious, holds tightly to his principles and he kinda reminded me a little of Chaol Westfall and again I couldn't help but fall for him. To be honest this was the Chaol and Celaena relationship that I wanted at the beginning of the Throne of Glass books.The romance in this was everything. It's a slow burn enemies to lovers and I was living for every moment of it. After an event that takes place at the beginning of the book Reid and Lou are forced into a marriage contract in order to save his reputation and keep Lou form prison and possible hanging. Not only are these two sworn enemies due to the fact that if Reid ever found out Lou was a witch he'd have her burned at the stake but they are complete opposites and Lou takes great pleasure in rubbing him up the wrong way. Their banter throughout this was to die for and I loved watching as they slowly began to let their guard down around each other. This is definitely the enemies to lovers romance that we all deserve.I also loved the side characters in this first off there's Coco, Lou's best friend, who is also a witch and badass and we need more female friendships like this in YA books. And there's Ansel who is training to become a Chasseur and is absolutely adorable and I loved watching his and Lou's friendship grow throughout the book.One of the other things I really liked about this was the magic system because it demands a sacrifice. Instead of begin able to use magic whenever they want the witches must give up something of equal value to the amount of magic they are using for example giving up one of there senses or a memory. I just feel that magic systems like this, that require some sort of balance are far more interesting to read about.I really love the writing in this, it was fast paced and addictive and once I really got into this I did not want to put it down.I will mention that there is a slightly explicit sex scene in this.Trigger warnings: violence, self harm in regards to using blood magic, death, religious persecution and parental abuse.Overall, this was a great read and if you love enemies to lovers romances then I urge you to pick it. I gave this 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Há dois anos atrás, Louise precisou fugir do seu clã e procurar refúgio na sombria cidade de Cesarina. Mas a cidade esconde muitos perigos para uma mulher como ela. Bruxas são caçadas e queimadas, os caçadores são venerados pelos habitantes da cidade como homens santos.Louise tenta se manter discreta e sobreviver de pequenos furtos no submundo do crime. Até que um evento faz ela precisar de casar com Reid - o pupilo do cruel arcebispo da cidade, e também, um dos melhores caçadores de bruxas.Serpent & Dove foi uma das melhores surpresas que tive nessas últimas semanas.Eu estava torcendo para gostar do livro, mas não imaginei que fosse me prender tanto ao ponto de ler em um dia.Ele tem muitos pontos positivos que eu gostaria de destacar aqui nessa resenha e, talvez ajudar você, futuro leitor, a colocar logo na lista de leituras.O sistema de magia mostrado na história me agradou bastante. Aqui são apresentados dois tipos de bruxas. E cada uma extrai a magia de uma determinada maneira.O que eu adorei, é que elas tem os seus limites e não usam a magia para consertar qualquer dificuldade que apareça e, muitas vezes que usam, ela é bem sutil, já que os caçadores podem sentir o rastro que ela deixa.Sobre os personagens: A protagonista é de longe a melhor personagem desse livro todo.A autora promete uma mulher forte e destemida, e ela nos dá isso.A Louise é incrível, engraçada, destemida e sem papas na língua. Ela sempre tem uma resposta espertinha e nunca abaixa a cabeça.O livro ainda tem outros personagens muito bons, em especial a melhor amiga bruxa da Lou, Coco, e e o caçador, Ansel.A Lou e a Coco tem uma amizade incrível! Eu simplesmente amo quando o livro apresenta mulheres maravilhosas e não cria rivalidade entre elas.Logo chega o Ansel e também cria uma afinidade com as duas. Ele é tão doce e maravilhoso, que eu quero guardar em um potinho longe de toda a maldade do mundo.Eu gostei sim do Reid, mas para mim ele não chegou perto de ser tão carismático quanto esses três personagens, e até entendo isso. A autora colocou nele todas as características de um fanático religioso que acha que sua "verdade" está acima de tudo.O bom é que ele tem uma evolução muito positiva na história.Sobre a trama principal: adorei que a história não tenha jogado tudo para mim já no começo. No decorrer da leitura eu fui descobrindo mais sobre os motivos que levaram a Louise fugir do clã, e vários detalhes que ligam ela a cidade onde buscou refúgio.O livro entrega revelações até os últimos capítulos e, isso não serviu apenas para preencher as lacunas que vão ficando, mas também para me manter totalmente presa e focada na leitura. E olha, tem revelações ein.Teve um outro ponto positivo nesse livro que fez eu gostar muito dele, e foi o romance. Se vocês gostam de um relacionamento de tirar o fôlego. De um casal que desenvolve um amor mesmo com personalidades, opiniões e ideias diferentes. Esse livro é para vocês.Eu fiquei com medo de não gostar tanto do relacionamento por ele apelar para o clichê de casamento arranjado (praticamente forçado) e também pelo Reid ter características que eu abomino em pessoas na vida real. Mas não aconteceu. Eu amei os dois como um casal e quase pulei de alegria quando eles deram um primeiro beijo (sou dessas, haha).Ultimamente eu nem ando fazendo muita questão de romances nos livros, mas esse não seria tão bom sem a presença dele.Tudo o que citei acima foi suficiente para adorar o livro, mas ele não se tornou um 5 estrelas por um motivo: Eu gostaria de ter lido mais detalhes do mundo.Tudo o que sei, é que a cidade foi inspirada em algum lugar da França. Eu queria que tivessem mais detalhes, que o mundo fosse explicado da mesma maneira que a magia foi. Não basta simplesmente inventar o nome de uma cidade e colocar alguns poucos elementos que remetem a uma cultura.Ainda assim foi um livro ótimo para mim e, para um debut, foi mais surpreendente do que estava esperando.Acredito que a autora vai evoluir no decorrer do processo de criação e escrita. Mal posso esperar para isso, pois aqui ela já mostrou uma fração do que é capaz de fazer.A continuação será lançada no segundo semestre do ano que vem, e nem preciso dizer que estou arrancando os cabelos para ler logo.O final do livro deixa um gancho bem legal para o próximo e estou curiosa para saber os rumos que a história vai tomar.Serpent & Dove vai além de uma trama sobre bruxas caçadas e obrigadas a esconderem os seus poderes.É a história de dois inimigos que se tornam amantes e começam a perceber que nos dois lados existem coisas boas, mas que também existem mentiras e trapaças. Que nenhuma verdade está acima da outra e, que nenhuma vingança pode apagar um amor que nasceu em meio ao ódio e intolerância.É também uma história de amizades surgindo nos momentos mais sombrios e improváveis.É sobre uma mulher que se impôs e não deixou uma guerra antiga determinar o final da sua vida.Um livro que com certeza não passará batido por alguma editora daqui.

I'm not one to read hyped books - and this was uber-hyped! Everybody loved it. Everybody sang its praises.Curiosity made me do it - albeit a hesitating one - and I pre-ordered it, then simply picked it up and couldn't put it down.It's about witches. It's the Spanish Inquisition with a fantasy twist. It's not really YA because it's pretty harsh and brutal, and it has some steamy scenes.Lou is the witch of the story - along with other side characters, including her best friend. She's in hiding from her mother, who wanted to use her for the good of mankind, to end the war between the witches and the Church.Enter Reid. No, please, do enter! See, he's the enemy. He loathes witches. He grew up in the Church, trained to dispose of witches. All his life he was told witches were bad. Then fate has him having to marry one. Of course, he had no idea, at first.Do you see where I'm going with this? Can you already imagine the feels and the heartstrings that shall be pulled, as you read the story and journey of Lou and Reid? Of how two enemies fall in love with each other?My God, but did Ms. Mahurin do an excellent job! Cliffhanger isn't as bad as others but because you can't help but fall in love with everything about this book, you finish it wanting book two RIGHT NOW.5 brilliant stars.

Absolutamente perfeito, memorável e com personagens que podem contar comigo pra tudo, PODE ENTRAR MELHOR FANTASIA DE 2020! ⠀Serpent & Dove é o primeiro livro de uma até então duologia escrita por Shelby Mahurin e que infelizmente não tem aqui no Brasil ainda, mas eu vou indicar porque sei que quando chegar, vocês lembrarão das seguintes palavras: Reid, Lou e Ansel, contem comigo pra tudo!!!!!! ⠀Tá, não eram exatamente essas palavras mas senta que vem. ⠀Reid é um caçador de bruxas. Um Chasseur treinado pela igreja para exterminar tudo aquilo que era antinatural, abominável e que vagava de demoníaco na terra: as bruxas. E quem nossa menina é? Louise — que ela não me veja a chamando por esse nome —, uma criminosa ardilosa que se deixou ser vista mais de uma vez e que acabou se metendo numa situação um pouco extrema com o caçador gostoso. ⠀Mas seguimores, sinopses e resumos a parte, vamos ao que interessa né? Reid é um GOSTOSÃO de quase 2m, contido, irônico e MUITO fofinho e puritano. Já a Lou é devassa, fala o que pensa e não tá nem aí pra quem tá ao redor dela, ela canta muito mal e tem uma boca muito suja. ⠀A escrita da Shelby me fascinou de um jeito que eu não via desde Sarah J. Maas e Leigh Bardugo; ela liga os detalhes e faz coisas sem que você perceba, quando tudo tá quietinho, ela joga um plot twist na sua cara e depois disso é só ladeira abaixo. ⠀Tombo atrás de tombo, a história te prende e você come as unhas, morde os dedos e fica com o coração na mão para o desfecho que os personagens podem ou não ter. Ela te prende a cada personalidade e você se vê em alguns momentos, se afeiçoando até a alguns personagens insuportáveis e ficando mais interessado em alguns coadjuvantes. ⠀Mal posso esperar pra setembro chegar e Blood & Honey vir com toda a glória possível para o desfecho dessa duologia que me conquistou com todo o coração. ⠀Digo e repito: Shelby Mahurin, conte comigo pra tudo!

The way Shelby has written the characters in this book is utterly fantastic. The personality of each and every character really shines through and I loved reading between Lou and Reid. Usually in books where there are multiple perspectives I have favourites but I honestly enjoyed each and every chapter from both sides.The romance in the book is exceptionally gripping. While it is a slow burner the progression is intriguing enough to keep you wanting more which brings me to my next point. The sex. This book, while categorised as YA, is definitely more on the adult side. There are some particularly steamy moments which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. When they eventually take place it’s like eating after starving all day long because there is such heightened sexual tension between the characters throughout the book.The world building is equally as good. I could really picture the world in my mind which is so important whilst reading fantasy books. Even after putting this book down for days and coming back to it I could instantly teleport my mind back to Shelby’s world and I loved that!Story progression in Serpent & Dove is slow but worthwhile for the ending. It really had my mouth agape at the plot twists. Yes, there is more than one! I honestly didn’t catch on to any of them while I was reading too which is testament to Shelby’s writing. There’s nothing worse than a predictable ending!The magic system is really interesting. I did get a little bit confused with the French references and pronunciations at points but most things were explained. I loved that there were different kinds of witches with different capabilities, the way the witches use their magic is so creative too. It wasn’t the typical witches with cauldrons and frogs legs kind of stuff which I really appreciated. I find that books with witches can sometimes come across very cliché.My overall thoughts about Serpent & Dove are overwhelmingly positive. I don’t think there was a single point where I was not enjoying this read. It is perfect for this autumnal time of year and really got me in the mood for Halloween. I am heavily invested in the characters and the story and can’t wait to get my hands on the second title, Blood & Honey.