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Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin

"Set in the magical world of Belterra, Louise is a witch but she's been hiding her magic. She's on the run from her terrifyingly powerful and dangerous mother and her "plans" for her only daughter. When she gets herself involved with the Chasseurs, those sworn to the Church and whose sole mission is to hunt witches, Lou, as well as Reid, her reluctant Chasseur husband, will learn that there are gray areas in life, not everything is black and white. It's a riveting, emotional, complex and complicated read." 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Lou is foulmouthed, opinionated and brash but likable. And Reid is honorable, complicated and torn by duty and love. It's a bit saccharine but I really enjoyed the love story. And all the other characters, even Beaureguard Lyon, all had their charms and quirks/An interesting take on witchcraft and the different "arts", magic of the land, blood magic etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how Mahurin expands upon it. 

Cons: Though it was a bit cliché, Reid first saying hurtful things to Lou when he finds out what she is, to him then going after her, it was melodramatic but still enjoyable. 

Full Review: 

Louise (Lou) is a thief. She's been on the run from "someone" for the last two years. She's been hiding what she truly is and what she can do for longer than she'd like to remember. Her life as a criminal is not easy, there are many out there who would and do beat her and treat her mercilessly, but she knows that this life is better than the one she fled when she was sixteen. 

Reid Diggory, is an orphaned boy and the captain of the Chasseurs, an elite force that protect the royal family from the constant threat of witches. The witches have killed 24 people in the last few years alone. Reid, under the leadership of the archbishop, is leading the hunt to find and execute these witches. It is his duty, it is his honor and it is his steadfast belief that all witches are evil and must be burned and sent to Hell where they belong. And he will not be swayed in that belief. 

When Lou is captured the day after she steals a magical ring from a wealthy aristocrat by none other than Reid himself, the archbishop steps in and takes matters into his own hands. He forces them to marry so Reid's reputation will not be tarnished and Lou will be under the protection of the Chasseurs. The reader learns later that the archbishop does this for different reasons but at first, Lou and Reid are forced to put up with one another. 

Lou knows what Reid is and knows that if she gives even an inkling of what she truly is away, he will kill her. As the back of the book says, there's only one way this can end, with a match and a stake. At first, yes, you start to think that really is how it's going to end but I was very pleased at how the book actually ended. 

I read this book in about two days, that's how good it was. It's been a long time since I've managed to read a book that fast and it's a sure sign that I enjoyed it. It was a unique take on the idea of witchcraft and it was also a good lesson in how the world is not black and white. Things aren't always as easy and cut and dry as good or evil. There are areas in-between and the sooner we can accept those gray areas, the sooner we'll have more peace, acceptance and understanding in our lives. 

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