Shelby Mahurin does it again!! The Scarlet Veil is a spin off duology that, while it can be read as a standalone, is a continuation of her Serpent and Dove series … BUT now there are vampires. Celie is a character that I wasn’t sure I would love in the original trilogy but I am so excited to see her come into her own and step into her power in this book. This book made me fall in love with Celie and it is so interesting to hear her inner dialogue and PoV vs seeing her from the outside only. Peace out Jean Luc, hello Michal! Enemies to lovers, in the way that only Shelby Mahurin can do. I can’t wait for book two!! Also… getting to reunite with old friends aka, the gang from G&M was everything my heart needed.

The book was somewhat entertaining for me. The plot is clear and precise to the leading characters objective. The background story of the FMC, celie is remarkably detailed. I love reading about the different characters and how they contribute to the story. The action sequences are a added plus to how well the book reads. The twists in the book is surprising to the story. I will say that the book feels like it has a very slow pace to it. I would like the action or entertaining sequences to last more than one or two pages. I think that it’s great to Celie out on her own to help her kingdom out, but I felt that she could have a small team of defenders to travel and fight alongside her.

I loved reading more about these characters that I enjoyed from the previous trilogy. I enjoyed the progression of the story and the growth of the main character. The slow burn romance is perfect - now I want to read the next book!!

I enjoyed this book. I love how it was interconnected with her previous series. I've found that the book was centered on the healer, which was a character. I was really curious about. I also really just enjoy the world building in the magical system within this universe. The character arcs, and the growth that everyone goes through this book was a meant, but it was also well paced and well developed. And I just enjoyed how the main character went through a lot of changes, but it came out, almost better in the end.

I actually think I enjoyed this more than the Serpent and Dove books! I love vampires, and this just tickled that part of my brain nicely.

Really enjoyed this book!

Rating 4/5 🌟

I really enjoyed the previous series and was so happy that the world is expanding! This series you don't need to have read the pervious series but it was such a good thing cause I knew things and didn't have questions about who the MCs were!

A spin-off to the Serpent and Dove series, a new vampire enemy to lover book delivers a story that will leave you wanting more. Celie is determined to never be the weak fragile girl she was seen as before and after she becomes the first huntswoman in the Chasseurs she is met with distain and secrets that try to force her back into the shadows of her former life. Refusing the role that others have chosen for her she sets out to uncover a new evil that is causing the land to wither and people to be drained of all their blood. However when she is captured by a ruthless blood sucking king, this once damsel in distress steps up to prove to herself and others that there is more to her then meets the eye especially when she discovers newfound abilities place her in a prophecy that may lead her to her and others downfall.
I loved this book and being able to return to this land yet discover new aspects about it. Will definitely be reading the second and in fact am waiting impatiently to get my hands on the second.

Loved this book. The scarlet veil is an exceptional first book in a fantastic spin off series. Celie has been one of my favourite characters since reading the very first series. It’s rare that a fantasy heroine is depicted the way she is as they’re usually very different, and that’s exactly what drew me into her character. It was a thoughtful story and I’m super excited to see what happens next!

Content warning: kidnapping, murder, drugging, blood, large age gap relationship

Célie may have redeemed herself by Gods & Monsters but I was unsure about going back into the Serpent & Dove world with her as the protagonist. While I get that Célie is only 19, it was exhausting how naive she was and how many times she failed to do something/understand what was going on. Based on everything else she's encountered it took her WAY too long to figure out vampires exist. Given her age and lack of life experiences it also made little sense that Michal was as interested in her as he was. I didn't buy the romance.

This book is also WAY too long in general at over 600 pages, but especially for a YA novel. With that being said, Mahurin does a great job at making her novels super readable and even though the plot lagged, it was an enjoyable read... even if it was super easy to predict how this whole thing was going to end.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

After DNFing Blood & Honey in her first series, I was hoping that this book would give me that loving feeling I had for Serpent & Dove. Unfortunately, I feel like the author didn't learn anything from the pacing issues they had in the first book. This book was FAR too long. I also wish it had been in a different universe than Serpent & Dove since I think that was kind of one of my issues with it. There were just so many problems that carried over to this series so I won't be continuing with this.

Okay this shocked me with how much I enjoyed it. After having read the Serpent & Dove trilogy and liking it but not loving it, I had mixed feelings going into this book. I will say that you kind of have to had already read S&D to fully appreciate and understand this story since the world is closely tied together. The writing was fun and I enjoyed the characters like I did with S&D. This dark and gothic story had all the fall vibes you could ask for and I am definitely looking forward to the next book. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant at first to continue Célie’s story; however, I was quickly pulled in. I admire how Mahurin showed the character’s depth and determination. As Célie comes into her own, we’re introduced to new compelling characters, as well as dark, magical settings. Cannot wait for the sequel!

Favorite quote(s):

Here—gilded in the golden candlelight of the theater, framed by the carved demons around the stage—he looks truly otherworldly, like an avenging spirit or fallen angel. Like the Angel of Death.

Review:
I loved this book so much! I loved seeing old and new characters and having more story in Belterra and out of it. I loved Célie and how much she was changed and stronger, and stood up for herself and what she wanted. I was a bit sad that Jean Luc wasn't there for Célie like he should have been, but I did like that he was trying to change things in Chasseur Tower and their views on supernatural beings. I loved the moments with Lou and the others with Célie. Their friendship is so good. I loved meeting Michal, Dimitri and Odessa. I loved their bond and back story. I felt so bad for Michal and him losing his sister Mila and how it set him on the path that lead to him finding Célie. I thought the murder mystery was so interesting and i was so shocked at some of what happened, though I wasn't too shocked at who the Necromancer was. I also loved that Célie got a bit of a new role, the Bride of Death. I thought it was so cool how she could see ghosts and the interactions with them were great. I liked the moments in Requiem and how we got a new setting and how different it was to Belterra. That ending was so shocking and honestly so criminal. Cliffhangers hurt. I can't wait for the next book though!

The Scarlet Veil is one of my new favs. I love Shelby Mahurin's writing (I literally have a signed copy of Blood & Honey) and this is absolutely the reason! The plotline is quick and interesting, the romance spicy and fun, and Celie is a badass.

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I wanted more and cannot wait until book 2!

i think i can easily conclude that i still prefer vampires over witches. mind you, i do love witches but i always had an obsession with those blood suckers ever since middle school. it definitely started out with twilight and then the vampire diaries carries on... specifically the originals (the mikealson's family will always slay)

the scarlet veil has all the fall spooky vibes you need to experience autumn to the max. i've read shelby's first trilogy (not the final book tho...) and i did enjoy it. i truly had fun with the characters but it had been so long that i didn't remember much of the plot from those previous books. however, it did not hinder my reading experience. actually, i do think that it will enhance your reading if you read the serpent & dove trilogy first but i don't think it's necessary to understand the world and its creatures. we're introduced to célie tremblay who's the first lady to take the vow and become part of the chasseur crew. they hunt witches and other dangerous creatures. however, her place is often questioned by her brethen and her fiancé & captain of the crew, Jean-Luc, wants to protect her at all costs. he doesn't think she's strong enough to be part of every missions or secret investigations.

new dead bodies are turning up. no link between each victim other than the fact that they are not human. when célie learns about this plot after finding one body - her late friend- she's determined to help her fiancé and her friends (lou, reid, coco, beau, etc) to find the killer. along the way she's kidnapped by vampires and brought into their secret island where she's locked in that haunted castle owned by the king of vampires, michal vasiliev. he thinks she's the key to finding the killer since he took his little sister away from him and he wants retribution.

i honestly got the best gothic romance vibes from this book. the description, the setting, the characters made me feel like i was also living in that castle. i loved michal, our grumpy cold-hearted vampire and his cousins, odessa & dimitri. i also loved that célie has the ability to communicate with the ghosts in the castle. it was truly such a fun read for fall. i knew that it was only the first book in a duology so i kinda expected the cliffhanger.

i can't wait to see what shelby has in store for us in the sequel and final book.

TROPES :
- enemies-to-lovers
- slowburn
- haunted castle
- only one coffin
- angsty banter
- a talking cat
- soft heroine
- "if anyone touches/harm you, they die" energy
- a villain love interest (vampire) -> klaus mikaelson energy
- a masquerade ball


rating: 4 bloody stars.

thank you again to HCC Frency & HarperCollins Canada for sending me an e-arc of this book <3

Shelby Mahurin is a fabulous storyteller! I loved her previous series of Serpent and Dove and this new series was a great extension of her discography. This is a story of vampires, romance, and finding your true purpose. This story follows Celie as she embarks on an out of character adventure as a new huntswoman, lead by her fiancé who may not be so pleased of her new drive to join the hunt. Feeling discourage by everyone's doubt in her, Celie embarks on a quest to track the killer of the lair of Les Eternels, an ancient creature only spoken of in nursery rhymes. While on this quest he catches the attention on someone who she might not want the attentions of.

I loved this book and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. It's really fast-paced and I ended up finishing it in one night. Shelby's writing style is perfect for fans of fantasy and will make a instant auto-buy author for anyone.

4 ⭐ / 0 🌶️

I'll be honest...I wasn't a fan of Célie in the Serpent and the Dove trilogy but I really enjoyed the world that the author created there so gave this one a shot. I'm happy to say that I ended up liking Célie's character by the end and I am looking forward to more from this new spin-off. However, as with the original series...this tale is very slow to build. There is a lot of internal dialogue to wade through, but it is needed for Célie's character growth I think. And while this is a spin-off series, readers new to the Serpent and the Dove trilogy may find references to Célie's past confusing. All in all though, I am looking forward to more from this series. The world built about these captivating characters is fantastical, with intriguing mystery and satisfying journey of self discovery. I can't wait to find out what is in store for Célie next.

"Do not run again. .... Or I will chase you. .... You do not want me to chase you, pet."

✔️ French Gothic
✔️ Past Trauma
✔️ Vampires, Ghosts, Witches
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Grumpy Meets Sunshine
✔️ One Coffin
✔️ Magic, Murder, & Mystery

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

While THE SCARLET VEIL stands on the shoulders of its predecessors, it carves out its own niche in the fantasy romance genre. The narrative sometimes treads familiar ground, but its execution and the depth of its characters are what truly shine. A solid four-star read for anyone looking for their next vampire romance obsession, it promises darkness, romance, and an adventure that keeps you engaged till the very end.