Book Summary - Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
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In this episode of Literature on the Rocks…
we’re stepping into witchy territory with Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin, our very first book featuring witches. While this one landed squarely in the middle for us overall, it still gave us plenty to talk about, sip on, and side eye along the way.
Before diving into the magic, Rox blessed us with a completely unhinged author fact that we cannot unlearn. Apparently Shelby Mahurin once earned the high school title of weirdest toes, and honestly, that set the tone for the episode. Once we got past that revelation, we broke down the enemies to lovers setup, the forced marriage trope, and the rigid world of the Church versus the forbidden world of witches.
This book also fully tested our nonexistent French skills. From pronunciations to phrases we absolutely butchered, Serpent & Dove made us feel like we accidentally enrolled in a very sexy French language class. We also spent some time debating whether this book truly fits in the YA category. While it is often labeled that way, the chemistry and spice definitely push the boundaries and had us questioning where it really belongs.
Lou stood out as a bold, unapologetic main character, and we loved her defiance, sharp tongue, and refusal to fit neatly into any box. While the pacing and story beats did not fully sweep us away, the magic system and witch lore kept things interesting enough to keep us turning pages.
Naturally, we needed a cocktail that felt enchanted, layered, and just a little dangerous.
Serpent & Dove – The Witches Pact
Ingredients:
1 oz Cognac
1 oz elderflower liqueur
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
3 oz chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
¾ oz Chambord
Directions:
Mix Lou’s layer by shaking Cognac, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe or champagne glass and slowly top with Champagne to keep the pale golden hue. Slowly pour Chambord over the back of a spoon so it settles at the bottom like a pool of dark magic. Serve unstirred and let the drinker decide when to make the pact by stirring the layers together. Garnish with gold luster dust for shimmer and a rosemary wand for a touch of the wild.
Our Serpent & Dove prompts are live, and we want to hear where you landed. Witchy win or magical miss Mix up The Witches Pact, share your thoughts, and listen in for our full breakdown.
