Parents' Guide to

Serpent & Dove, Book 1

By Mandie Caroll, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Wickedly fun witch fantasy has hot romance, magic, violence.

Book Shelby Mahurin Fantasy 2019
Serpent & Dove, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

StudiousStudent
StudiousStudent Adult
October 15, 2019
age 18+

Amazing Story, but...

This book is absolutely stunning! It kept me hooked and I did not want to put it down at all. However, this book does contain an explicit sexual scene! If you've read any of the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" books by Sarah J. Maas, this book is extremely similar in terms of language and sexual content. This book didn't have a lot of violence, but when it did, it was fairly graphic. Also, there is quite a bit of language in this book. I don't know why CSM only says it's occasional. There are a lot of instance of the f-word, lots of the s-word, and pretty much any other word you can think of. The main character (Lou) has a pretty filthy mouth, so just be aware of that. Aside from this, the storyline was excellent and the romance was very swoon worthy! Just be aware of the content of this book! As a twenty year old, I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I don't think this is the best book for younger teens (16 or under). There's plenty of other books to enjoy for that audience. (This book should not be considered Young Adult. Instead, it is a New Adult book which means there is more sexual content and for a slightly older audience than a YA book.)
harleymama
harleymama Parent of 12-year-old
July 20, 2022
age 18+

Graphic Sex Scene 18+

I haven't read the entire book, only the sex scene when my daughter told me she skipped a chapter because it had adult content. Holy crap, very adult sex scene... not quite smutty but still quite graphic and not appropriate for young people. 😬
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SERPENT & DOVE centers on Lou, a rebellious witch who escapes from her coven, the Dames Blanches, on her 16th birthday. She renounces magic, and for two years, she survives by stealing what she needs. When a botched robbery puts her in a compromising position with Reid, the pious lead witch hunter, his boss, the archbishop, proposes they marry to protect Reid's spotless reputation. Lou accepts, figuring the best place to hide from the leader of the Dames Blanches, La Dame des Sorcières, is with the witch hunters themselves. Their mutual hatred dissipates as they get to know one another, and they begin to fall in love. However, Lou continues to keep her identity as a witch secret. When the truth unravels, a brutal fight for survival ensues that reveals the fate of their love, and the fate of their world at large.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (15 ):

This richly-imagined, funny witch fantasy has complex characters, intricate systems of magic, and a captivating slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. It's a well-paced story full of intrigue and action. Lou's crass humor and refusal to be a proper lady will win over readers, while Reid's transformation from religious man of strict faith to principled but open-minded person is endearing. Well-developed secondary characters are just as charming. While all of the characters in Serpent & Dove start out in separate, warring worlds of morality, they eventually find their own and each other's humanity in the murky gray in-between.

The beginning suffers from vagueness about the systems of magic and an unproductive mystery about who is searching for Lou and why, though the story picks up and fills in gaps once Lou's past returns to claim her. Readers might be unsettled by Lou and Reid's first kiss (at the scene of a murder) and the pain and pleasure of the sex scene, though they aren't surprising given their hard-won relationship and personalities. The ending has a predictable plot twist, but it's easily forgiven as the intense battle for survival keeps the pages turning to the very end. Overall, this book is a stay-up-all-night joy to read, and fantasy-loving teens are sure to clamor for the sequel.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Serpent & Dove: How does fantasy violence differ from real-life violence? Does this affect how you feel about the violence in this book?

  • This book is marketed as young adult but will attract adult readers as well. Why do you think the publisher decided to market it to teens? What separates young adult from children's or adult literature?

  • How does sexual consent figure into Reid & Lou's decision to make love. How does Reid get consent from Lou? How does Lou get consent from Reid? What, if anything, surprised you about the sex scene?

Book Details

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