Review: Gods & Monsters (Serpent & Dove, #3) by Shelby Mahurin
Ah, Gods & Monsters, the much-anticipated conclusion to Shelby Mahurin’s Serpent & Dove trilogy. I dove headfirst into this one, half-excited, half-nervous. The first book had captured my heart with its delightful blend of witchcraft, romance, and witty banter, so I was eager to see how it all wrapped up. But oh, how the tides have turned! 🎉
Let me start with the good: the beginning of Gods & Monsters was promising, filled with potential and familiar faces that brought a smile to my heart. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for that promise to fade. The pacing lagged dramatically, with vast stretches where it felt like nothing of consequence was happening. After plowing through the first 150 pages, I found myself wondering when the plot would actually begin. There were endless conversations, yet very little action, leading to an overwhelming sense of frustration.
The characters, who once danced off the page with life, became caricatures of themselves, their motivations muddled and their backstories disappointingly absent. Morgane, the supposed villain, was particularly flat; she was painted as simply evil, devoid of the depth that would have made the conflict more engaging. It felt as if the author decided to skip the villain origin story altogether, leaving readers in the dark about why Morgane was so antagonistic. Instead of a captivating antagonist, we got a cardboard cutout, resulting in a lack of tension when the stakes were supposed to be high.
And then there’s the French—oh, the French. As a francophone, I couldn’t help but cringe at the numerous grammatical mishaps throughout the book. I know that no author is flawless, but the staggering number of errors, especially in such a prominent cultural context, felt both careless and distracting. It’s as if Mahurin wanted to sprinkle some flair into the dialogue without fully understanding the structural nuances of the language, making the whole endeavor rather painful to read.
Moving on to the plot, I was baffled by the lack of urgency in dealing with Morgane. The characters seemed more interested in chit-chatting than concocting any real plan against their enemy. For a book that stretches to an exhaustive 612 pages, I expected more than just 140 pages of action-packed content at the end. Honestly, waiting that long for an exciting moment felt incredibly unsatisfying.
However, the climax—when the characters faced imminent peril at the stake—was an intense moment that momentarily revived my interest in the book. Célie’s role, in particular, was well-written and added a glimmer of hope to an otherwise sagging narrative. But by that point, it felt too little, too late.
In summary, while I adored the beginnings of this trilogy, Gods & Monsters felt like a bittersweet farewell. It’s a frustrating blend of missed opportunities, muddled characters, and unfulfilled promises. If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with depth, you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you adored Serpent & Dove and are committed to completing the series, perhaps you’ll find a kindred spirit in the pages of this final installment.
For my fellow readers: while it certainly won’t capture every heart, this book may still resonate with those who crave light fantasy romance without heavy stakes or profound character exploration. As for me, this journey felt like walking through a beautifully decorated house that turned out to be little more than a façade. I felt let down, yearning for the intricacies and richness that could have elevated it to something truly unforgettable.
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