Serpent & Dove

July 22, 2019
Tender romance and a rebellious, resilient heroine buoy this uneven tale, which counsels understanding and forgiveness in the face of zealotry and persecution. First in a planned duology, Mahurin’s debut follows Louise—an irreverent witch on the run from her coven, the Dames Blanches—and Reid, a pious Chasseur, who kills witches for the Church of Belterra. Homeless, abstaining from magic, and stealing to survive, Lou conspires with two friends to pilfer an enchanted ring that will help hide her from the Dames Blanches’ queen, La Dame des Sorcières. When the heist goes wrong, attracting Reid’s attention, Lou places him in a compromising position to publicly discredit him. Her ploy backfires: Reid’s boss, the Archbishop, orders them to marry, thus maintaining the Chasseurs’ virtuous reputation. Lou acquiesces, provided that she can conceal her true nature; who better to protect her than a witch hunter? But matters become increasingly complicated as love blooms. Poorly established stakes, wobbly worldbuilding, and a shortage of action slow the start, but the bombshell-laden conclusion thrills while whetting readers’ appetites for the sequel. Ages 14–up.

July 15, 2019
A stealth witch and a devout witch hunter are forced to marry. In this French-flavored fantasy world, witches are hunted down by the Church's Chasseurs and burned at the stake; they retaliate against this genocidal crusade through vicious terrorist attacks. Thief Louise le Blanc wants none of that--she's left her witch life behind. But Lou ends up on Chasseur captain Reid Diggory's radar when a heist goes bad; his attempt to catch her lands them in a situation so compromising that the archbishop suggests marriage to save face. Lou's initial priority is self-protection--wanting to avoid both fallout from the heist and a dangerous figure from her past--and she's fine with using Reid. The slow-burn, opposites-attract romance between crass, irreverent Lou and prim and proper Reid gets very hot and sexy once it ignites. Lou sees firsthand the damages some witches do to innocents, has her presumptions about individual Chasseurs challenged, and also sees up close the horrors Chasseurs perpetrate. Despite occasional pacing hiccups and an easily guessed twist, the secondary characters will charm readers, and the story picks up when Lou's past dangerously catches up to her, revealing the true stakes. Though at heart a romance, rich second-tier characters round out the shades-of-gray, morality-and-empathy themes. Witches, Chasseurs, and some secondary characters come in all colors; the leads appear white. The ending screams sequel. Will cast a spell on romance fans. (Fantasy. 15-adult)

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August 2, 2019

Gr 9 Up-As a witch, Louise le Blanc is hunted. Not just because she is a witch, but because she was born to die. Once Lou found out what was planned for her, she ran to the city of Cesarine-where witches are burned at the stake-and began a new life there without magic. Reid Diggory only knows life as a Chasseur, a witch hunter. He and his band of witch hunters are what keep Cesarine safe. At least that's what he thought. After an unfortunate collision, Lou and Reid are forced to marry. As strangers, they must figure out what this new life has in store for them and Lou must struggles to hide the witch inside of her. Mahurin has taken the witch and witch hunter trope and made it new again. The world-building will draw in readers and Lou's strong but wistful nature will keep them turning pages. Set in a mythical French backdrop, the story is rich with French culture and couture. VERDICT Teens who enjoy drama and a little romance will enjoy this novel. -Rena Gibson, Ralph Ellison Library, Oklahoma City

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Holter Graham and Saskia Maarlevald team up to narrate this French-inspired fantasy. Reid has dedicated his life as a chasseur to hunting down and burning all witches. Lou escaped her coven two years ago and has been in hiding ever since. When their paths cross, leaving them both in a compromising position, their only choice is holy matrimony. Maarleveld gives Lou a breathy, husky voice that complements her rough-around-the-edges temperament and wicked humor. Graham's initial depiction of Reid sounds uptight and clipped but gradually warms up as the character grows and changes. Both narrators excel at the bickering between the main characters, and listeners will find themselves equally laughing out loud at their antics and swooning as the story progresses. A.K.R. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine