5⭐️

<b>“You’re doing it again,” he says at last.

I look away quickly. “Doing what?”

“Romanticizing nightmares.”</b>

Célie Tremblay in the first female Chasseur and fiancee of the captain, Jean Luc, who treats her as if she is incapable to taking care of herself. When Célie finds a dead body in the cemetery, and mysterious man who she believes to be the killer nearby, her world is changed forever. Jean Luc and her friends refuse to include her in their investigations of what they believe to be a serial killer, and so Célie takes it upon herself to solve it and prove her worth. She is kidnapped and shipped off to a strange island full of vampires and must find a way to save herself, protect her friends, and find the killer.

This was a great YA fantasy - even without having read Serpent & Dove first. I really liked Célie and Michal, and the story was full of ghosts and vampires and has excellent gothic vibes. Also, who knew “one casket” would be an amazing trope?? I’m so excited for the next one!!

<b> I can be made of stone too. I will not crack, and I will not shatter.</b>

It’s a quick, easy read featuring magic, angsty romance and enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. It’s the perfect book to read when you don’t feel like thinking and just want to be entertained and lost in fictional reality

I ATE THIS SHIT UP!!!!

To be honest, I've read the first Serpent & Dove and have a vague understanding of the other two books. It made the first part of the book slightly confusing? I knew the characters and I knew the main points of the books, but I feel like a lot of the dialogue and character motivations were lost on me.

But that was okay! The main character, celie, finds herself in a new location that makes this book its own story outside of s&d.

I really read this book so so fast. I AM SO HAPPY VAMPIRES ARE BACK IN!!!

Is the story kinda generic? Yes. Do I miss vampire boys? YES.

I will say that the plot of this book heavily reminds me of the acotar/fourth wing where the main man sucks and another, darker and mysterious love interest comes in. And tbh, I felt nothing for Xaden and everything for Michal.

I dont know. This book scratched my vampire itch.

Man, Shelby knocked this one out of the park. I am in awe of how beautifully yet darkly crafted The Scarlet Veil was. It is every bit enchanting and tragic. Once we meet the vampires, the story took off, and I could not put it down.

You get transported into such a dark world, literally and figuratively. With the way the book is set in older times parts of the story are so romantically beautiful yet at the same time are serious and thrilling as they search for a murderer. I loved everything about this world-building and places we travel to.

I also adored seeing the whole crew from the Serpent & Blood series, however I LOVED Célie even more in this. She is nothing short of a boss yet delicate at the same time. Then there are the vampires like Michal that we meet… man oh man. I really need so much more of Michael in my life. The pull between him and Célie is just delectable.

The ending is quite literally killer. I finished the book with my jaw dropped and kept flipping hoping there were more pages. It does end on a cliff hanger and then an “oh $#!?” moment. I honestly cannot WAIT for book two. This by far my favorite book from Shelby Mahurin to date and so far my favorite read of August. Just absolutely stunning. Do yourself a favor and pre-order this yesterday.

This is likely going to be one of those reviews that is completely incoherent. There was not a critical bone in my body while reading this, it was just pure vibes.

I'll make an attempt, though.

So the book starts off a while after the events of Gods & Monsters, and Célie now is a Chasseur and engaged to Jean Luc. You can imagine that this is not easy, as being the first woman in any environment never is. I thought Célie's character to be so complicated. She's fairly naive, reckless and headstrong. Which sometimes just makes for absolute disaster. But it's also not her fault when literally no one is willing to help her navigate her own struggles. This made for such fascinating dynamics between her, Jean Luc and the rest of the S&D cast. Especially because none of them were completely wrong (with one notable example though, you'll know once you read).

The blurb doesn't give a whole lot away, so I'll do it. Célie ends up making some very interesting friends. The type with fangs that don't like sunlight and all that. One of them just happens to be the king of vampires, because of course. There was so much angst and tension between Célie and him I was about to burst out of my body. Forget about your expectations of a steamy romance, this book gives you nearly nothing and you're still going to be grateful for the scraps you do get.

I loved all the supporting characters as well. Obviously the S&D cast makes an appearance, which is great, but their story has been told. They don't have a super big role to play, because this is all about Célie and her trying to find out what she wants and where she belongs. I absolutely loved the other side characters as well. Their personalities were so vibrant and I can't wait to see more of them in the next book.

Oh and if the whole romance thing isn't enough for you, there's also a plot. Mysterious murders have been taking place in Cesarine, and Célie is trying her damndest to figure out who the murderer is. There is definitely an air of mystery and the plot is developed well enough to keep you hooked, but I think this story is mostly about self-discovery. Célie needs to figure out who she really is inside. The build up to the end was fantastic as well, although I did figure out who the murderer was before it got revealed. I think you will too, which is the only bummer in this book. The reveal would've been much more shocking if no one is able to guess. Despite that, I had to read the epilogue twice, I was so shocked.

So, I'll leave that at that.

I tried so hard but I could not get into this story. I will try again when it’s printed but it was a lot to wrap my head around to get into

This book! I LOVE it so much! I’m so excited to be going back into the Serpent and Dove world! The moment I read what this book was about, I immediately just had to read it. And it did not disappoint one bit! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! I wish there were even more!!!

A spin-off of Maurin's Serpent and Dove series with appeal for fantasy romance readers and fans of The Vampire Diaries.

Six months after the conclusion of the events of the Serpent and Dove series, Célie Tremblay has joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. She is determined to excel in her new role and help protect Belterra, but finds it difficult. She is not accepted by all huntsmen, and her fiancé purposefully keeps information from her. When a string of murders threatens Belterra and her friends, Célie hopes that she can help catch the culprit and prove her worth. But her past has come back to haunt her, and when she is captured by a mysterious man with cold skin and uncanny speed, she is whisked away to a dark and terrifying island where she must survive on her own.

I felt, personally, like this story would have better been told outside of the world of Mahurin's previous work, or perhaps without direct use of earlier characters. For those who were not so keen on her other series, she might find it difficult to hook readers in. There was also mention of past events quite a bit in the beginning, where background knowledge is helpful, but not necessary. Célie is an intriguing protagonist, and the allure of a vampire romance is strong. Great for YA readers and collections who are hungry for vampire romance.

So you know: Halfway through The Scarlet Veil, I realized that this is a spinoff of Mahurin's debut series. I do not recommend starting this book without reading S&D, but that's exactly what I did.

The Scarlet Veil better be the beginning of a vampire resurgence. Teen me loved a vampire moment, and current me could not be more pleased.

The combination of vampires, magic, and other realms made this an entertaining read. There was a lot going on; I enjoyed that.

Célie is still growing on me. She's fearless but so foolish. Although the others repeatedly warn her about danger, it doesn't set in until that final attack. Celie's constantly surrounded by the supernatural, so why is she so naïve?

Nor am I completely convinced by the romance(s). Célie has two love interests, but neither seems right for her. Both men disregard her thoughts and treat her like property. I am disgusted by the way they interact with Célie. It would take a grand romantic gesture and *several* apologies to sway me.

However, I loved the side characters: Dimitri, Odessa, Mila. I would read the next book solely to see what happens to them.

As the blurb says, "a new evil is rising", and Célie must stop it. There was a lot of buildup: multiple mysterious and tragic occurrences. Because of this, I was expecting an intimidating mastermind set on destruction.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I was disappointed by the reveal. After finding out their identity, I didn't fear the villain. I pitied them. I wanted to be spooked, not sad.

What I'm hoping for in the next book:
~Higher stakes - I want to be on the edge of my seat, afraid to turn the page for fear of what the villain will do next.
~More Dima! (There's a soft spot in my heart for Dima.)

Bottom line: I'll be on the lookout for the book 2.

At the time of reading this book, I hadn’t finished the Serpent & Dove series yet, and I highly recommend doing so because I was a little lost. I was, though, quickly able to re-center and enjoy this book so freaking much.

There isn’t too much that I can say in a review that doesn’t give things away from the previous books, but this is a companion series that takes place after the end of Gods & Masters, following Célie, someone instrumental in the Serpent & Dove series.

It’s been six months since Célie joined the Chasseurs and her fiancé Jean Luc is smothering her whilst trying to protect her, though Célie is determined to prove to everyone that she is strong and WORTHY of her rank.

When a new evil descends upon them, bringing death so close to their doorstep. And Célie finds herself directly in the center of it all. Still reeling from the scars of her past, she is plunged into new dangers, finding that she is integral to this new conundrum they all find themselves in the midst of.

I absolutely LOVED this book. The darkness and the intrigue was masterful, and the side characters, the new introductions are to die for!

3.75⭐️

“Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising—one that Célie herself must vanquish, unless she falls prey to the darkness”

I have yet to read the Sepent and Dove trilogy so this was my first book by Shelby Mahurin and It was a lot of fun! I loved the inclusion of vampires and the book had some gothic elements which added to the overall eerie atmosphere. I also reallt enjoyed the other characters in this, I know they’ve been featured in the S&D series and would love to read more about them and their friendships. The first half of the book felt a bit slow for me but the action and tension did pick up after that as I got more into the story. The ending was a massive cliffhanger so I’d definitely pick up the next book to see what happened.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and Shelby Mahurin for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers
✨ Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book!
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Vampires? A huntswoman? Traumatic past? Mysterious evil that is threatening society? Sign me up! And thrillingly, Shelby Mahurin’s The Scarlet Veil did not disappoint. Mahurin’s world drew me in, and I was captivated until the (agonizingly unresolved) end.

When we meet Célie, she is an uncertain huntswoman who is struggling to find her place among the male-dominated squad of Chasseurs. Despite her desire to succeed on her chosen path. she is continuously isolated and underestimated by those around her (including her fiancee, the captain of the Chasseurs). A series of unresolved magical deaths leads Célie to confront a mysterious (and certainly dangerous) figure she meets and ultimately triggers a series of events that forces her to not only find a way to save herself, but to uncover the truth so she can protect those she loves.

There was a lot to love for me in The Scarlet Veil: I was invested in the mystery plot, all of the primary and secondary characters, and especially in the palpable tension between our leads, Célie and Michal. I love some morally grey characters, and there many well-written ones on offer here. As infuriating as it was, I also loved that our leads were, actually, enemies. I also want to appreciate that this book did feel very appropriately situated as a young adult book and dealt with mature themes in a way that will appeal to that audience. That being said, I think it has a great deal to offer to both young adult and adult audiences in storytelling and character development.

Because this book is admittedly right up my alley, there are some things that may not work for everyone. The plot is very detailed with a complex fantasy world and does not move quickly, so it may not work for someone who’s looking for a fast-paced, fast-developing romance. Additionally, I’m not sure if it’s because I haven’t read Muhurin’s Serpent & Dove series that takes place in the same universe, but I do feel like things were a little unclear at the start of the book and it took a moment to get oriented to the setting and characters. I do think a basic outlining of the world and creatures in it would have been helpful early on in the book for those (like me) who had not read the other series (I’ll definitely go back to read Serpent & Dove now, however).

I would recommend this book to fantasy and romantasy lovers—both young adult and adult—especially those who love a real enemies-to-lovers story. I am anxiously awaiting the next books in this series!

This book surprised me so much. It exceeded my expectations, hell, blew them out of the water even.
I was never a fan of Célie, I still remember how much I couldn't stand her the first time I read S&D, but now finally doing a read through the whole trilogy at once and finally completing it, the unthinkable happened — Gods&Monsters made me fall in love with her. However, when I first heard TSV being announced I had my reservations, especially since I hadn't read G&M at that time and Célie wasn't a character I was interested in.
But then somehow, miraculously, I landed an arc and everything changed.
And this book was just so damn good, and so much more than I thought it would be.
We have murder mysteries and gothic castles, and deadly beautiful creatures - and in the center of it all the beginning of a love story you can sink your teeth into.
The tension, the angst, the slow burn, the pull between Célie and Michal .. it's gonna set your heart on fire.

I wasn't expecting we'll see the gang so early on in the book or that we'll even see them as much as we did but I'm so happy this was the case *happy tears*. Though they don't take away from Célie and her story, exactly the opposite!
I'm so happy Célie still has her friends even if they don't treat her exactly right in the beginning of the book.
Not to worry, they quickly realize their mistake and honestly I blame Jean Luc for everything even if they shouldn't have listened to him in the first place.

The characters

Célie is the type of heroine we don't see often as a lead in a fantasy book - soft, kind, gentle, her mind is her strongest weapon, and her strength is the people she loves. It's very interesting to take her away from everything she's ever known and make her realize she can survive on her own.

Célie went through so much in S&D and she continues to struggle in TSV — to find a place where she belongs, to work through her trauma, to prove herself — and the way Shelby describes it is so painfully relatable. When she told Lou "you know what I went through, you were supposed to be my friend" oh, how that hurt, I can easily imagine how gutted Lou was.

Jean Luc was never someone I thought she's gonna end up with. I'm sorry to all of his fans, at this point I don't mind him but to me it always felt like Célie was settling for him, and after everything it's obvious he loved more the idea of her or perhaps who she used to be than the person she is now.
Everything that happens between them made perfect sense and I'm glad she was able to talk to him and try to make him understand even if he's in denial.


Michal... *content sigh* I don't wanna give away too much but I think everyone will love Michal, I know I do.
He's definitely a villainous character though I wouldn't call him a "villain", he's exactly what I love - morally grey.
And the way he treats Célie, the way he is when he's with her and everything that happens between them is just... 🫠🫠🫠
I love them together so much, oh my gods, and barely anything even happens between them in this book. The romance is so torturously slow burn and I loved every minute of it. They better end up together or I swear—

The new supporting characters are fantastic and I can't wait to learn even more about them.
I need to point out that even though I was able to guess pretty early on who was behind the murders (call it occupational hazard, 98% of my reads are fantasy lol) that didn't take away from my enjoyment and there were plenty of other things that shocked me.

If you go into this book expecting only romance - you will be disappointed, even if what you get in TSV makes you shiverish and giddy. But the plot is so much more - it gave me The Vampire Diaries, The Phantom of the opera and Beauty and the beast vibes. As I mentioned there's a murder mystery, a masquerade ball, there are ghosts, betrayal and heartbreak and scorching tension. Célie's arc is so beautiful and compelling I couldn't put this down.
Such a thrilling, engrossing read with gothic, decadent atmosphere that will grip you by the throat refusing to let go.

The ending had me gasping, I didn't think she will go there, I can't believe Shelby actually went there and I'm so SO excited that she did, I can't wait to see where it's gonna take Célie and I'm already begging on my knees for the sequel.

Eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

#54- I loved the Serpent and Dove Series so much. I was shocked a few months ago when I noticed this book out on NetGalley. I was even more surprised that I was able to get an ARC. It picks up right where Gods and Monsters leaves off. This time it follows Celie as the main character. She is pretty immediately kidnapped and taken to a world of vampires. It does end in a cliffhanger (which I hate) but over the book was so good and I will impatiently be waiting for the next one (hopefully in 2024).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book was absolutely immaculate. I read Serpent and Dove awhile ago, but was interested in this because it was a spin-off, and boy did it not disappoint! This book was a perfect supernatural romantasy, and it had me in my feels. The romance was such a slow-burn, but it is worth it!!! This book also has the found family trope, and the one coffin trope. I was immersed in the world building of this book, and the mystery behind who was killing all these supernatural creatures! I felt for Celie, and how she never quite felt like she belonged. That cliff-hanger ending tho!!! This book was definitely one of my top new releases of 2023!

I am a huge fan of Serpent & Dove so I was SO excited to be approved to read The Scarlet Veil early. Shelby Mahurin really knocked it out or the park with this one! She took a character from Serpent & Dove who wasn’t very likable (Celie) and really changed my perspective on her. By the end of the book I was sympathizing with her and rooting for her.
I loved being able to return to the world of Serpent & Dove. The new characters and addition of vampires built on what was already established in the previous series in a positive way.
This book had everything you could want in a fantasy book. A strong female lead, relationship drama, a compelling vampire love interest, enemies to lovers, and a compelling storyline.
I loved this book! I’m already mad that I have to wait for the next one!

It shouldn't have been possible.

Celie.
Jean-Luc.
Vampires.

Those three things shouldn't have come together and made me swoon. Yet, somehow, Shelby has turned my old hardened heart back into softened mush for VAMPIRES and that is what this review is really about-- how I've made the terrible mistake of giving up on them.

Just kidding-- it's also about how Celie's character ARC was impressively written, and I held onto every thought, moment, mistake, and epiphany of growth without being annoyed at her struggle or internal monologue overly droning on (because it didn't! What a relief).

IF YOU CAME FOR THE VAMPIRES then you will be pleased. IF YOU CAME FOR ANY OTHER REASON, then you will still be pleased because… yes. Yes to everything I don't think I can say without providing too many spoilers and yes to Vasiliev. Like, maybe if I say that three times he will suddenly appear? Could that work?

I'm done because I'm going to reveal something pivotal and someone will be disappointed and so-- if you are someone who enjoys Shelby's writing, you'll love this. I think the voice and tone exceeds the Serpent & Dove series (don't attack me, I still love those!). If you're new to her, and thinking this is where you'd like to start then I support that because it will not disappoint, and in fact, I think it will make you fall in love and, hopefully, support all of her future work as I plan to.


And of course, thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Scarlet Veil in exchange for my honest opinion

I read an eARC of The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin. Thank you, HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley.

I read this after I forgot it’s set in the world of Serpent and Dove. As someone who forgot Serpent and Blood after reading it, and reading this, I’m not sure I missed anything, but it definitely felt like I didn’t have information that I should have going in the book. Certain side characters had weight to them in the text that felt weird to be reading about, and certain things I should have known about Celie, while revealed later, felt more like things I should have “known all along” instead of things revealed for plot-relevant reasons.

But onto the story itself. It’s been six months since Celie joined Chasseurs. She’s not very good, mostly because her fiancé Jean Luc, basically encompasses the “nice guy” trope, and he won’t let her train with the other hunters, and it turns out, hides a string of deaths that she should have known about for her own safety, but instead he didn’t tell her “for her safety”. When she finds a dead body, and then overhears what he’s kept from her, she leaves.

Of course, after her friend gives her a cloak and an apology, she’s left by herself long enough to be conked on the head, find herself on a boat, and captured by a mysterious man who takes her to an island full of magical creatures, including “Eternals”.

I have to say, I think I read this at the wrong time. The story wasn’t bad, I could see a lot of things that other people would definitely enjoy, but for me, everything felt flat. I didn’t enjoy Celie, while working with the mysterious man, didn’t actually learn how to protect herself, and that the love interest needed a nice guy love interest to make this unsufferable gloomy man actually interesting. Though from other reviews, apparently he’s the type most find “hot”. While I’m stuck here hoping she gets with the blood-addicted cousin of the gloomy man because this guy is so insufferable, and I’m done with his type being the “main love interest” in books.

Anyway, this definitely has an audience, but I expect I’ll forget it as quickly as I did “The Serpent and the Dove”.

This was a fun read! I will admit that after loving Serpent and Dove and Gods and Monsters (we don't talk about Blood and Honey), I was slightly disappointed, but it was very minor. I just wish I had connected to the characters more. And really, I think the reason I struggled to connect to them was because the first 60% of the book was so slow. It was good, and I enjoyed reading it, but if you're looking at the development of the plot, there was very little. Especially when you consider the last 10% and the sheer chaos that went down. The chaos was fun though! It does make the wait for Book 2 rather painful... I didn't remember much about Celie from Serpent and Dove, which did serve as a minor problem. This is definitely a spinoff where the first trilogy is essential. Despite that, I can't wait for the second book!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for this earc

Let me start with the fact that you kind of really need to read S&D trilogy before reading this one because you need the backstory

That being said, please see a perfect example of “I tried copying ACOMAF plot but YA”. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not exactly a bad thing but you can also predict 80% of this book. You honestly wanted us all to believe that ACOMAF wasn’t the inspiration? Because Jean Luce sure looked like Tamlin to me. And Dimitri and Odessa sounded a lot of like the Inner Circle members.

As a lover of Vampire romance, you can also predict every scene Michal is in, including Celie watching him feed from a woman, Michal giving Celie his blood and of course turning her in the end. You couldn’t have written basic ABC plot if you tried.

Even the bad guy. I’m not a huge fan when the bad guy being the one character authors brings on without a reason and “saves” for a big reveal.

Even with all that, you can still enjoy this book because she used these plot lines because we all love them, just don’t expect have your mind blown. It’s a fun and easy book you can read between your favs.

My hope is that Shelby will take this book and builds something more out of it. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.