Shelby Mahurin’s debut novel Serpent and Dove was a delight to read, with a fantastical narrative weaving together a forbidden romance, politics and religion and of course, magic. Set in a world where witches are despised creatures, sought out and burned by witch hunters sworn to their religion, an unlikely couple is formed. Lou, a charismatic witch on the run, finds herself entangled with a devout witch hunter named Reid. Despite their clashing identities a romance blossoms between them as two worlds collide, and their alliance becomes essential in the war between magic and the Church.
For her debut novel, Mahurin’s writing style appears effortless and works well for the pacing of the story. The writing in Serpent and Dove strikes a delicate balance between lyrical prose, particularly in emotional scenes that evoke a strong connection, and fast-paced, engaging narration during action sequences. It successfully creates an immersive world while keeping readers captivated by its swift pacing. Her development of the main character’s and their traits as well as the evolution of the romance was expertly written, and allowed for strong emotional attachment between these characters and the audience. Her witty yet believable dialogue leads to enjoyable interactions and interspersed moments of comedy.
As for the characters in Serpent and Dove, they are undoubtedly the strength of the novel. Lou, sassy and reckless, is a delight to read as she interacts with the cold yet easily flustered Reid. The dialogue and interactions between the two were my favourite parts in the story, as they allowed each other to shine as well written and enjoyable characters, as their love outweighed their differences. Because of this it comes as no surprise that the overarching theme of the narrative is the power of love transcending all boundaries, such as prejudice, societal divisions and identity.
The plot of the novel appears straightforward at first, as simply a star-crossed lovers romance set in a magical world. However, readers will quickly learn there is much more going on behind the scenes as plot twist after plot twist is revealed, leading into a more exciting and investing story. The climax of the narrative is skilfully built with tension and delivers shocking events, keeping the reader gripped and eagerly wanting more. However, one criticism I would make about Serpent and Dove is about its magic system. It appears confusing at first and not well thought out, and only explained as patterns with golden threads. This system doesn’t work well in the flow of action, as the strangeness of Lou selecting an invisible thread to perform some kind of attack removes from the escalation of some scenes.
In summary, Serpent and Dove is a well written and engaging novel. Mahurin skilfully combines loveable characters, a well paced narrative, magic, love and political intrigue into a memorable and captivating story. Although targeted towards a younger audience, I would recommend it to those who enjoy light fantasy or an authentic romance, as it offers an immersive read. Serpent and Dove is a delightful debut that leaves readers eager to dive into the next installment in the series.