accalia175's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
<b>“I was no one's sacrifice. Not then. Not now. Not ever.”</b>
__________
This was a Goodwill store pickup book, mostly because it was a fantasy/witch-type. The cover artwork was eye-catching as well. I only read this book for something to pass the time as I'm waiting for two other books to be delivered of other series I'm reading. However, it's clear from the beginning chapter this is certainly a YA book, if not a mature YA. There's a lot of dialogue, not much description, and things seem to be jumping around. If you're not well-versed in French, fair not since there aren't too many terms/names that are hard to pronounce, but for me, there was enough that I was kinda struggling throughout the entire book.
The plot is a familiar church vs witches theme, with the witches having massive powers and out for blood, as well the church burning any witch at the stake, no questions asked. We've all seen/read of this before, so the originality is lacking. The slight difference is that the bad guys almost end up grouping together to become good guys, in a sense.
So, why the 3 stars?
- Lack of originality
- Little descriptions of people, cities/towns, events, etc.
- Too much dialogue (in a way I was able to breeze through most of it without actually "reading" it)
- For most of the book, the plot seems to vary, as do the characters' emotions. There are only two POVs, but it all seems so different each time it's switched. Almost like a whiplash of emotions/actions, so to speak.
I do want to mention the ending for anyone who's thinking of DNFing this book. It took until the last quarter or so of the book for me to fully have a grasp on the characters, where the plot is heading, and actually wanting to find out what happens. I don't want to give anything away, but it's almost sweet. There were actually a couple of spots that were heartwrenching. There's some humor mixed into the book, but most of it seems to fall flat.
This is certainly a YA book, but mature for language and there's only one "spicy" scene.
This will not a series I will be continuing to read.
__________
This was a Goodwill store pickup book, mostly because it was a fantasy/witch-type. The cover artwork was eye-catching as well. I only read this book for something to pass the time as I'm waiting for two other books to be delivered of other series I'm reading. However, it's clear from the beginning chapter this is certainly a YA book, if not a mature YA. There's a lot of dialogue, not much description, and things seem to be jumping around. If you're not well-versed in French, fair not since there aren't too many terms/names that are hard to pronounce, but for me, there was enough that I was kinda struggling throughout the entire book.
The plot is a familiar church vs witches theme, with the witches having massive powers and out for blood, as well the church burning any witch at the stake, no questions asked. We've all seen/read of this before, so the originality is lacking. The slight difference is that the bad guys almost end up grouping together to become good guys, in a sense.
So, why the 3 stars?
- Lack of originality
- Little descriptions of people, cities/towns, events, etc.
- Too much dialogue (in a way I was able to breeze through most of it without actually "reading" it)
- For most of the book, the plot seems to vary, as do the characters' emotions. There are only two POVs, but it all seems so different each time it's switched. Almost like a whiplash of emotions/actions, so to speak.
I do want to mention the ending for anyone who's thinking of DNFing this book. It took until the last quarter or so of the book for me to fully have a grasp on the characters, where the plot is heading, and actually wanting to find out what happens. I don't want to give anything away, but it's almost sweet. There were actually a couple of spots that were heartwrenching. There's some humor mixed into the book, but most of it seems to fall flat.
This is certainly a YA book, but mature for language and there's only one "spicy" scene.
This will not a series I will be continuing to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Murder, Blood, and Death
mixed_emoticon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
TLDR Review for Serpent & Dove
3.5/5 stars
The first 100-200 pages read with all the pleasure of rubbing sandpaper on your face, but it's a necessary evil for background and believability. Thankfully, it gets better quickly after that.
Highlights:
📚 (Completed!) Trilogy Starter
🪟 multiple character perspectives
🇫🇷 French setting
🧙♀️ Witch trials
🎭 Hypocrisy
💍 Forced marriage
🧲 opposites attract
😈 Mutual corruption
🧶 Fluffy romance
🔥 How is this tame enough for YA!?
🎢 Emotional rollercoaster
🗡️ Sacrifice
🩸 graphic murder, dying, and death
3.5/5 stars
The first 100-200 pages read with all the pleasure of rubbing sandpaper on your face, but it's a necessary evil for background and believability. Thankfully, it gets better quickly after that.
Highlights:
📚 (Completed!) Trilogy Starter
🪟 multiple character perspectives
🇫🇷 French setting
🧙♀️ Witch trials
🎭 Hypocrisy
💍 Forced marriage
🧲 opposites attract
😈 Mutual corruption
🧶 Fluffy romance
🔥 How is this tame enough for YA!?
🎢 Emotional rollercoaster
🗡️ Sacrifice
🩸 graphic murder, dying, and death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
izzie_r's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Long chapters :(, anyway Reid’s character growth>>>>>>> also I love ansel and coco <3 , Beaux is pointless. Lou is my all time fav book girl. Ended on a cliffhanger 😒 have to buy 2nd book. Also anyway I loved this book it was a slow burn too but got a bit bored when the romance was done and it was just plot
Spoiler
Reid being a witch pissed me off like that completely defeats the point of witch and witch hunter romance also let the women have their own thing he’s already related to a king plus I loved that he didn’t swear and ima miss his stubbornness bc I don’t want him and Lou to get too similar I mean fgs they have the same long lost parent thing and it’s just weird how his father FIGURE the archbishop is her LITERAL BIOLOGICAL father , speaking of glad that sexist prick died
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Murder, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
zoepagereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was the best witch book I’ve read this year. The two main characters were perfect opposites of each other, and the alternating point of views made sure the reader never gets board with who’s telling the story. I thought the use of French felt weird and out of place. Are they an English speaking country where everyone just says occasional phrases and swears in French? Why not on say it in full sentences? 5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Body horror, Murder, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Death, Grief, and War
Minor: Abandonment
dlsmk's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Blood, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Self harm
Minor: Sexual assault, Acephobia/Arophobia, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Violence, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Grief, Hate crime, and Vomit
Moderate: Cursing, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
selestre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Death, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping, Self harm, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexism, and Child death
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Can a witch and a witch hunter fall in love? Louise aka Lou has been on the run for a few years, doing whatever it takes to survive, though she never could have dreamed her survival meant marrying someone hellbent on destroying her and her kin. Reid was raised to believe in the wickedness of witches and to bring about their destruction above all else. His sense of righteousness leads him into a marriage with Lou despite his condemnation of her criminal ways.
The book is well paced and establishes stakes early on while continuing to drop bits of lore along the way to keep readers hooked. Lou is an endearing scamp and Reid is a very good boy learning that the world isn’t necessarily what he thought. They both grow to understand each other’s point of view as their relationship develops. A very fun read despite one of my least favorite tropes- closing out the book with a lead-in to the next which the audience has no context for but it feels like it’s supposed to be a mic drop moment.
The book is well paced and establishes stakes early on while continuing to drop bits of lore along the way to keep readers hooked. Lou is an endearing scamp and Reid is a very good boy learning that the world isn’t necessarily what he thought. They both grow to understand each other’s point of view as their relationship develops. A very fun read despite one of my least favorite tropes- closing out the book with a lead-in to the next which the audience has no context for but it feels like it’s supposed to be a mic drop moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Death, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual content
kimmag92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I went into Serpent & Dove not knowing much about the plot and I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting a vaguely 1700s French witch hunting book that is also a critique of Christian ideology but I'm here for it. Overall, I enjoyed this book especially Lou and Coco. I would have liked to see more build up to the romantic portion of Lou and Reid's relationship. I knew as soon as Reid was introduced he was our love interest but the shift from Lou and Reid barely tolerating each other to "I love you" still felt sudden and not well explained.
I do think Serpent & Dove falls into the category of YA that is written for adults and not teens as the characters late teen ages don't matter to the story. For much of the book they read much older and I think had the author aged up the characters to their mid-20s and marketed it as adult fantasy the story would have worked much better.
I do think Serpent & Dove falls into the category of YA that is written for adults and not teens as the characters late teen ages don't matter to the story. For much of the book they read much older and I think had the author aged up the characters to their mid-20s and marketed it as adult fantasy the story would have worked much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury