Book Review: Serpent and Dove

Reviewed by Annette Dean, Library Directorserpent_dove_400x.jpg

I like books with dragons and witches in them. This book series has both! I read this series at the start of summer on our youth services librarian, Stacey Leerhoff’s, recommendation. The whole series follows Lou, a witch, Coco, a blood witch, Bo, a prince, and Reid, a witch hunter (chasseur). Serpent and Dove is the first book in the series. In it, Lou and Reid meet, get married, and fall in love. In that order. Coco is Lou’s best friend and is from a different coven.  Coco's coven was turned out by Lou's mother Madam LaBlanc, who is the leader of all witch kind. Lou escaped her Mother's plot to kill her at 16 and has been living in hiding where Coco joined her soon after she fled. Both live in hiding from other witches and from everyone else, because there has been a war between the church/king and witches for all of their lives. The church trains and employs witch hunters called Chasseurs. Reid was trained as a Chasseur and is a Captain in their ranks.  In a turn of fate and a horribly botched robbery, Lou and Reid end up marrying. Bo comes into the picture as Coco’s love interest. He hates his father the King and joins the adventures of the group to both annoy his father and try to keep Coco safe.  This is a pretty fast-paced series that keeps the reader on edge as the group narrowly escapes kidnappers, pub brawls, violent mobs, witches, chasseurs, guards, werewolves, and more. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of giving too much away, but if you like a romantacy, you will like this series. It didn't quite fill the void that the romantasy 4th Wing by Rebecca Yarros left, but it came close. 

The story continues in two more installments Blood and Honey and Gods and Monsters. Between the 3 novels, there is every type of mythical being imaginable and every twist and turn possible. Just when you think the characters will have some peace, another plot to harm one of the main characters is discovered and must be overcome. The novels are available via Hoopla, Bridges, and in print in the Young Adult section.