A Dangerous Adventure and One Forbidden Love

Personal Rating:

People might hate nor like this book. I picked it up with no expectations because of the reviews that I heard about it. I’m still intrigued even though people say it was a waste of time to read this book, but honestly, it is worth the hype.

Serpent and Dove is the first book in Shelby Mahurin’s fantasy trilogy. It is set in the town of Belterra, where witches and witch hunters battle for control of the town. I was initially baffled by the author’s choice of terminology in this work. Still, I gradually got into it and enjoyed the adventures of our two main characters, Lou and Red. Lou is a witch who eventually fell in love with Reid, despite being a witch hunter who swore to serve his village and fight for their rights against witches who might cross their area and kill their people.

Lou chose to marry Reid because she was being pursued by a man who intended to kill her. Reid, on the other hand, is a dedicated and faithful chasseur who welcomed Lou’s marriage despite his views on witches. It was amusing to see their actions at first, knowing how much they despise each other, but their love soon blossomed, and they became more passionate about each other.

This is my second time reading a book about enemies to lovers, and it reminds me of Matthias and Nina’s relationship in Six od Crows. The tale centers around the church’s battle against witches, and romance is a big part of it. I particularly appreciate the events of this novel, and I believe Lou is one of the most courageous and strong female lead characters in fiction; the way she dealt with her enemies and managed to use her power was truly amazing to read.

The writing style was excellent but not particularly unique, not similar to those great authors, yet it was well-suited to how the author told the narrative. The first few pages were a little slower than usual, which is anticipated in fantasy literature. We always expect the first few pages to be about world-building or introducing some of the main characters.

Also, I wanted to point out how well-designed the magic system is in this book. Reading about the power of those fierce witches that was mentioned in the narrative was both terrifying and amazing. Nonetheless, I enjoyed and recommended this book to everyone, particularly those who desire to expand their fantasy experiences.

I’m a bit nervous about reading the sequel because I accidentally spoiled myself by seeing a reading vlog on the internet, but I’m excited to read it. Some reviewers claimed that the second book began boringly and ended abruptly, but I chose to ignore such criticism and read it at my own pace. I understand that I may not be able to persuade you to read this book, but at the very least, give it a chance because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more of this book’s adventures in the future.