Title: Bird and Serpent
Author: Shelby Mahurin
Publisher: Galera Record
Number of pages: 504
Synopsis: Together as one, to love, honor or burn. Bird and Serpent is the first book in a stunning trilogy that unites witchcraft, fantasy, dangers and forbidden love. Pre-order accompanies a beautiful snake pendant and a page marker. Two years ago, Louise le Blanc had to flee her clan and hid in the city of Cesarina, leaving all her magic behind and living off whatever she could steal.
However, the city is full of dangers and mysteries for someone like her. In the region, Church hunters walk through the city, venerated as true holy men. And the archbishop, the strict patriarch of the Church, seems to be violent. There, witches like Lou are feared, hunted... and then burned. Reid Diggory lives his life based on one verse: Thou shalt not let a witch live. A fanatical witch hunter for the church, Reid has dedicated his entire life to eradicating the occult and making the city's archbishop, his father, proud of his actions.
But when the time comes and the opportunity to capture a witch, a thief tricks him and his target manages to escape. Intending to put her on trial, Reid believes she won't get away again. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt and tricks him again, in a public scandal, the two are forced into an unimaginable situation: marriage. Marriage to a hunter could provide true protection for witches - if Lou can convince him that she is not one.
However, as time passes, his secret becomes increasingly difficult to keep hidden. Despite the danger Reid poses to his survival, Lou's complex feelings for Reid slowly begin to emerge. Unable to change what he really is, Lou will have to make a choice.
Review
′′ Bird and Serpent ′′ was my first read of 2022, and what book was that, my dear readers? I started this reading at the book club I organized in December, and I have to tell you that I had never read a fantasy that left me so fascinated, involved with the premise and shocked by these plots that left me totally groundless..
Here we will meet Lou, a witch who is part of the Dames Blanches, and is running away from her coven and her own mother. Our little girl is running away from her terrible fate, which was laid out for her when she was only 16 years old.
When Lou runs away, he happens to meet Coco, a witch from the Dames Rouges. The two end up becoming friends and allies. The covens of the two characters hate each other and are mortal enemies.
Coco and Lou now live in a town of Cesarina, leaving all the magic behind and surviving on whatever they can steal. However, the city of Cesarina is full of dangers, mysteries and witch hunters. There, witches like Lou are feared, hunted and burned. Reid Diggory lives his life seeking and hunting witches, based on a single sentence: Thou shalt not let a witch live.
When the hunters have the perfect opportunity to capture a witch, a thief tricks the hunters and the target escapes. Reid believes he will bring the thief to trial and prison. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt and tricks him again, the two are embroiled in a scandal in the middle of a theater. What happens next is that Reid and Lou are forced into marriage.
Marriage to the hunter could provide protection and relief for Lou, but will our little girl be able to hide that she is a witch? Reid has no idea that he will marry his greatest enemy. Will he find out?
"Bird and Serpent", by author Shelby Mahurin, was a great surprise for me. I started this reading last Sunday, and can you believe I finished it in just two days? I couldn't stop reading this book at all, because the premise is very engaging and we always want to know what will happen on the next page.
We have a total of 504 pages here, and I only stopped reading when I finally got to the last page and I have to say: WHAT END WAS THIS MDS? I finished the book totally shocked by the twists that caught me off guard and so far I'm shocked by all the discoveries and already looking forward to reading the second book of this PERFECT trilogy.
Author Shelby Mahurin's writing and narrative are simply phenomenal, captivating, fast, fluid, intense and engaging. There's no way not to get involved with this phenomenal premise!
If you, dear reader, love a well-written fantasy, with several plot twists, mysteries and a romance "enemies to love", I strongly recommend "Bird and Serpent". If you, dear reader, have already read this perfect work, come freak out with me, please!