The Scarlet Veil, written by Shelby Mahurin, is a captivating and exhilarating vampire romance that seamlessly blends elements of horror, action, and puckish humor. This enthralling novel not only delves into a twisted central mystery but also takes readers on a profound journey of self-discovery alongside the protagonist, Célie. Mahurin's masterful storytelling skillfully intertwines heady romance with a dark and thrilling narrative, leaving readers spellbound from beginning to end.

I know that people have stated that you should read the first set of books before this one. But if you didn't enjoy that other series then I would say don't worry about it. This book although it is set in that world have is about a side character I enjoyed this one way more than book one of the other series. And although I know I missed a lot of the connections etc. I didn't loose any enjoyment from that. This book was fabulous and I could not put it down.

I thought the premise of this book showed a lot of originality. You can definitely see the authors development through writing compared to be debut series to this novel. The writing was wonderful. I appreciated the characters as well. Some parts moved a bit slow, and I was craving a bit of action or romance rather than the constant dialogue.

I did not realize this was a spin-off series, but I still enjoyed it not having read the original trilogy. It took me a little bit to get into the story because I was a bit confused, and I'm sure there are little things that I didn't pick up on/a few things that didn't make total sense, but I still had a good time. I really enjoyed the protagonist's characterization, and overall I thought this was a really solid and fun YA fantasy.

I received an advanced copy of this book from HarperCollins Children's Books via NetGalley.

Six months after Célie embraced her sacred vows and became a huntswoman among the Chasseurs, she strives to establish her place alongside her fiancé, Captain Jean Luc. As they both work to safeguard their realm of Belterra, echoes of her past linger, and a fresh malevolence emerges, one that Célie must confront to prevent succumbing to its darkness.

I did not know this was a spinoff series, so I was quite confused when I started the book. However, I felt the author did an excellent job of explaining what had happened without the reader needing to read the previous series.

The protagonist, Celie, stood out to me, not as a typical weak character despite moments of self-doubt. Her true strength emerged through her bonds with friends. Although I had reservations about Michal initially, the author masterfully crafted a blend of tension and captivating moments between Celie and Michal when they were in each other's company.

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!