Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wickedly fun witch fantasy has hot romance, magic, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say this book has a captivating story and well-developed characters, but it also includes explicit content that may not be suitable for younger readers. Many reviewers advise parental discretion due to strong language, violence, and mature themes, suggesting it's more appropriate for older teens.
- mature themes
- explicit content
- strong language
- well-developed characters
- captivating story
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : October 10, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 528
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate