Goodreads Synopsis:
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.
My Review:
I first read Serpent & Dove in February and recently reread it to prepare for the sequel, Blood & Honey (review to come). When I first read the book, I liked it, but I got caught up in it and read too quickly to understand the plot and worldbuilding. I’m glad I reread it so I can truly appreciate it.
I’m not sure how often I say this, but fake relationships and enemies to lovers are some of my favorite romance tropes, so a fake relationship destined to fail because the two are mortal enemies and only one of them knows it? GOLD. Even though these tropes are definitely familiar, Mahurin brought a new feeling to them and a new dynamic. Too often in romance young women are portrayed as overly innocent, but Lou didn’t even bother pretending. She’s a character I now unabashedly love!
One thing I also enjoyed was the Dame Blanches’ magic. The quite literal concept that their magic has a price equal to the result was an idea that I’ve rarely seen, and the different ways it was applied were really interesting. The Dame Rouges have a different magic, one primarily focused on blood, but neither magic system seems easier than another: the Dame Blanches have a cost, the Dame Rouges need other ingredients for most spells.
Reid and other characters were very religious, but Mahurin didn’t make those characters’ beliefs overly good or evil, only how they applied them.
Everything really came together in a great way and set up perfectly for the sequel, which came out yesterday (September 1st)!
I would recommend this book to people who like YA romances a little on the older side and enemies to lovers with high stakes. Lou and Reid are charming, understandable characters who shines just as brightly in Blood & Honey.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5.
The Fiction Feature 