Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin - Restarting April 25th 2022

[Linaria]

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.

[janel]

OKAY so I just finished this - i have MANY thoughts but for now i'll just start with:

are you KIDDING me with how easy that setup was? it doesn't start till like... 20% in and I felt like more time could have been spent building that circumstance. It read a little like a fanfic that didn't need to worry about setup :x

[Linaria]

turniip wrote: "OKAY so I just finished this - i have MANY thoughts but for now i'll just start with:

are you KIDDING me with how easy that setup was? it doesn't start till like... 20% in and I felt like more tim..."

I'm almost 20% in and at least this gave me hope something exciting would happen soon.

[janel]

Yeah all I can really do is hope you like it more than I did but I’m worried :C

I do think it’s a trope we would like though, maybe just not here!

[Jaye]

I'm screaming a little this book is really a thing. I guess I didn't read the summary because when they end up getting married I was thinking, seriously??

[Jaye]

Me, tired of male POVs in general wondering why Reid even has one when he has nothing interesting to say, do, or think.

[Jaye]

If she thinks about him one more time as "my husband", I'm actually going to lose it.

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "Me, tired of male POVs in general wondering why Reid even has one when he has nothing interesting to say, do, or think."

RIGHT? he had nothing to contribute other than thinking about Lou so honestly, what was the point? the reveals done through his character could happen through Lou's POV i just... why.

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "I'm screaming a little this book is really a thing. I guess I didn't read the summary because when they end up getting married I was thinking, seriously??"

LOL honestly it's RIGHT on the back cover of the ARC for me which I READ but I still didn't see coming because it was just... so sudden and there was NO RESISTANCE to it

[Jaye]

turniip wrote: "Jaye wrote: "I'm screaming a little this book is really a thing. I guess I didn't read the summary because when they end up getting married I was thinking, seriously??"

LOL honestly it's RIGHT on ..."

"YOU ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED"
Lou & Reid: lol ok

[Jaye]

reid be like: LoU iS a MaN's NaMe!!

[janel]

Jaye wrote: "YOU ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED"
Lou & Reid: lol ok"


SERIOUSLY - they didn't even fight it and she was consoling him with a soft hand squeeze and calm eyes? i just... HUH

I really didn't like this book :C

[Maddie]

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Date changed. Restarting October 1st 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Maddie]

I'll be joining this with you guys! I can't wait!

[ikram]

Can I join this one?

[HeatherH]

The more the merrier!!

[Ashleigh]

15% - (view spoiler)[Really loving this world so far. I went into it knowing nothing, then 10% in, decided to read the synopsis. Wish I hadn't because almost nothing from the synopsis has happened yet and now I'm just waiting for it..

But I'm really looking forward to finding out more about the magic system and how Lou and Reid's paths will cross in the book.. (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

Chapters 1-3 read so far.
(view spoiler)[ The language and the random french are a little off putting to the setting in my opinion so far, but otherwise I'm really enjoying this one. Reid's conversation with the archbishop gave a very cult-ish feel in their beliefs and teachings, which I'm interested to see that play out later when Reid learns the truth about Lou as I am assuming will happen this book. I'm also super curious to see how the heck they end up married! Oh, and what's the deal with the ring?! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'll start tomorrow and keep up with you all! I don't want to drop back again!

[HeatherH]

I'll be reading slow, 3-4 chapters a day, as I'm doing a couple at once!

[Lesa]

I will start either later today or tomorrow. Got email my book on hold is available to me. Yay lol.

[Ashleigh]

18% - (view spoiler)[I love the logic of the Archbishop. You're a caught thief, we know you've been hanging round with a witch, we're trying to kill the witches, you've also kinda accused one of our men of physically assaulting you and we really should lock you up.. but you know what? It's your lucky day kid! We're gonna marry you off to the man you accused so you can be his problem and he'll stop moping about the fact he didn't catch and kill your friend. PROBLEM. SOLVED.

...what? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Lesa wrote: "I will start either later today or tomorrow. Got email my book on hold is available to me. Yay lol."

Another book that we're inadvertently reading together this month haha!

[Lesa]

@ashleigh haha lol....
I think I am going to start on Dracul first until I go pick this book up from library later....

[Ashleigh]

57% - (view spoiler)[So my heart sank when Lou asked Reid if she deserved to die if she was a witch and he said yes. Obviously it's gonna come out later but the fact he's been so conditioned to believe that all witches deserve to die, no matter what, is upsetting.

And I'm kinda shipping them together. There's sexual tension between them and I wish they would just kiss.

I think that Celie was jealous that Reid married someone else and that's why she was begging him to leave her. I think she forgot that she rejected him, and yeah it's a sham marriage and EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, but dude come on. I was actually pleased that we didn't have a miscommunication moment and Lou and Reid were straight up with each other after she heard him talking with Celie. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Heather wrote: "I'll be reading slow, 3-4 chapters a day, as I'm doing a couple at once!"

I'll do this as well!

[Maddie]

Wow you're flying Ash!

[HeatherH]

Maddie wrote: "Heather wrote: "I'll be reading slow, 3-4 chapters a day, as I'm doing a couple at once!"

I'll do this as well!"

Yay! Everyone seems to fly through them faster than I can..

[Maddie]

XD Me too and then I get too far behind! But this will be good!

[Farren]

I was excited to start this one last night and realized it wasn't even on my kindle 😭 But I'll be starting tonight and I hope I love it like everyone else does

[Jenn]

Joining this as well!

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ I am loving the setting of this book! Not quite sure what to think of Reid yet but I am loving Lou. She's so fiesty but I want to know more. Who's after her? What does she need the ring for? Omg that wedding though! LMAO at their faces when the archbishop said they had to consumate it (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Ashleigh wrote: "18% -.."

(view spoiler)[ lol right? Marriage is the obvious answer here. Haha. This is going to be a disaster in the beginning but I can't wait to see how it plays out (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Jenn wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "18% -.."

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It's a weird setup but it's unique haha. I understand that they have to cover their backs after the comprising situation, but why not say she's a thief and the chasseur was trying to apprehend her?!? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

66% - (view spoiler)[Now that was a sex scene! Woooo, never has asking for consent been so sexy. I just love them and I loved this scene and urgh it's gonna be ripped away from them both when the truth comes out :( (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

@Maddie it's sooooo good!

[Ashleigh]

80% - (view spoiler)[My heart hurt when Reid found out the truth :(

But maybe he can overlook it..? I mean, he wants to find her and protect her from Jean Luc and her mother, so maybe we could have a happy ending?

I liked the moment where he realised basically all the women around him are witches and he's so stupid not to see it before. I can't believe no-one realised sooner that Coco was a witch haha! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I should start tomorrow I hope!

[Ashleigh]

Finished - (view spoiler)[Reid is a male witch? HOLY PLOT TWIST, BATMAN!

LOVED every second of this book and I will be urging everyone on GR to read this book. Urgh, it was just soooo well done and the world building and magic was great, and the characters were my beautiful cinnamon buns and I want the second book now :( (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[ Holy crap! Totally called Reid being the daughter of a witch but never thought of Madame Labelle. And when that ceremony started at the end of the part, I thought maybe he was the Archbishop's son but then it all made sense! Craziness! I also love the slow way that Lou and Reid are falling for each other.

Side note: Nothing better happen to Ansel (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Ashleigh wrote: "66% - [spoilers removed]"

Agreed! (view spoiler)[It was perfect for the two of them. Reid's shyness and Lou's gentleness made for this perfect moment. But of course, happiness couldn't last long here and allll the truth bombs are coming out! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Oh wow that ending. Who is Coco's Aunt??? That name seemed to strike fear in the hearts of everyone. I have a feeling the next book is going to be insane! I'm glad Reid's mother didn't die. I don't think he could have taken that. Also he's witch? Didn't actually see that one coming. I love these characters and this book. Cannot wait until the next one! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Ashleigh wrote: "Finished - "

I'm with you! I loved everything about this book! And now we wait a year for the sequel...

[Ashleigh]

@Jenn (view spoiler)[I know! This is the problem I have with reading brand new releases, I'm too impatient!!

I thought Reid would be the Archbishops son, I had no idea Lou would be his daughter. (hide spoiler)]

[HeatherH]

@maddie, have you started yet? :)

[HeatherH]

Part 1:

(view spoiler)[ I'm really loving this! I adore how spunky and mouthy Lou is. Reid is the typical brain washed by some cult-ish religion character so I'm really hoping he learns to make his own way soon. I'm curious to learn more about the magic system and how many types of witches there are - so far two that we know of, are there more? The marriage idea was wacky but I'm betting there is more to it than his explanation... (hide spoiler)]

[Farren]

Ashleigh wrote: "18% - I love the logic of the Archbishop. You're a caught thief, we know you've been hanging round with a witch, we're trying to kill the witches, you've also kinda accused one of our men of physic..."

Haha (view spoiler)[ He's horny, she can lead them to the witches... I get it lol But I was wondering how they would end up together and I certainly wasn't that to be how it happened (hide spoiler)]

[Farren]

I'm about a quarter in and am in the beginning of Part 2

(view spoiler)[ I love Lou, but I'm already so tired of Reid whining about Celie! However, I do admire him for refusing to let anyone abuse her physically or verbally, and I'm glad he's starting to see that the Archbishop may not earn as much respect as he gives him.

The first few chapters were quite heavy on the French references and I was worried I'd just be confused the whole time. I'm glad it cut down a lot on that (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

@Heather: No, will get to it tomorrow, I've got most of the day off :)

[Lesa]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ loving Lou and her sassyness lol. She speaks whats on her mind by any means. Like to learn more about the magic. Shocking when Reid is around her he smells cinninom is that her magic smell hmm.
And this marriage omg. Lets see how this will go. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Ugh the men in this are dicks. Women are lesser, should obey their husbands, be killed as witches. I'm glad Lou and her friends fight against the patriarchy, I would lose my mind in that situation. Reid doesn't know what he's in for with Lou lol (hide spoiler)]