Serpent & Dove

By: Shelby Mahurin

Narrated by: Holter Graham, Saskia Maarleveld

An Amazon Best Book of 2019 * New York Times Bestseller * B&N's YA Book Club Pick * Indiebound Bestseller * #6 on the 2019 Kids’ Indie Next List

""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 duology, 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, coming July 2021!

Good story...

The story was fine, it kept me reasonably engaged but I had a big problem with the male narrator. His voices were inconsistent and the cadence was at best distracting and at worst unbearable. I probably won’t pick up a sequel.

Horrible Male Narrator

The story was amazing, but I would’ve preferred the whole story to be narrated by Saskia Maarleveld instead of two narrators. It was almost unbearable having to listen to his voice. I thought the reviews were overreacting and you could get over his voice after a little bit of time but NO. The way he pronounces words, he does pause on commas, and most of all when he tries to imitate the female voices it sounds HORRIBLE. I have the physical copy of the book so I just ended up reading Reid’s chapters and listening to everything else.

Actually as good as everyone says

This is really just...brilliant. I hope a sequel doesn’t ruin it.
Truly, though—the pacing, the prose, the narration, the fresh take on magic, the romance...It was all executed brilliantly.
Usually when other reviewers comment on how great the “banter” is in any given story, I’m either underwhelmed or I find it cringe-worthy. This one had me laughing.
I also thought both narrators were well casted and the dual POV was effective in its purpose, and not simply used as filler.

The Male Narrator Ruined It

It's a romance novel, enemies-to-lovers, it's great! A little basic in parts but exactly what you want to read when you're looking for something new and also something old. But, while the girl was amazing and I loved every second, good God that guy cannot do voices. He ends up sounding like he has tampons shoved up his nose and it just... it was annoying for me. The two narators had different voices for the male MC, and I just couldn't stand his, unfortunately. I'm sure the actor is a wonderful person, but I wish someone had told him to speak less in nose, and to relax a little.

Good story, but a bit rushed at the end

Good story, good world building, good romance and characters, but the ending felt a bit rushed.