I didn't realize this was related to Serpent and Dove when started, and to be transparent, I haven't read that series first. A very typical but still fantastic read about 1800 style vampires. You follow the story of Celie, a girl who suffers from severe trauma from waking up, locked in a casket next to a dead body. Yikes.
As she deals with this trauma, her fiance hides secrets of mysterious deaths occurring throughout their town, in order to decrease her anxiety. However, his lies end up in Celie's abduction as she walks the dark streets alone.

Celie wakes up to discover she has been kidnapped by a group of vampires who intend to lure all her friends and fiance to the island to kill them all. During Cillas hunt for a way to kill them before the fated night of all hallows eve, she discovers she can speak to ghosts... But why? Is Celie human? Not human? Why haven't the vampires killed her yet? Why do they want her friends and fiance?

This was a great read that had you very frustrated at the FMC as she is so OBLIVIOUS to everything around her. Definitely one of those stories you end up yelling at and setting down aggressively for a break.

I've not read Shelby Mahuran (@shelbymahurin) before but I'd definitely pick her up again.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

This book was atmospheric and filled with sexy tension that really put a focus on the characters and their fun adventure. I thought the story was well-paced and a good callback to Serpent and Dove. It was a overall fun and wild ride with characters that we already know well.

I loved this book from the beginning to end. The prologue hooked me and definitely made me want to keep reading. I loved all the characters and watching them develop throughout the story. I cannot wait to follow this series.

A steamy, sexual tension filled romance full of gothic haunts and classic vampire tropes. Shelby Mahurin's best work yet!!!

Thanks go to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. In exchange for this arc i will be leaving an honest review.

. *SPOILERS FOR SERPENT AND DOVE SERIES WILL BE IN THIS REVIEW*

3.5 rating but rounding up to 4. <b>Book to be released September 26, 2023 </b>

I did read all of the Serpent & Dove trilogy when it came out so learning about a spin off I couldn't say no. Though I admit the main character of this book, Celie, was not my favorite in S&D due to how different she was to Lou and Coco's strong independent women vibes that she started to develop late in the series.

. *SPOILERS FOR SERPENT AND DOVE SERIES WILL BE IN THIS REVIEW*

Where we start back in this world it is six months after the end of Gods & Monsters and Celie is the first female huntswoman which is hard enough without her fiancé ,Jean Luc, being the captain. Everyone wants her to quit and go back to the life that is expected of her, to be a wife and mother away from fighting and monsters but with friends like Lou and Coco that's not what she sees for herself anymore. More possibilities have been brought to light.

One day after a tough time in training and frustrating conversation (or lack there of) with her fiancé Celie goes to the cemetery to visit her sister's grave, only to find more than the previously dead but also a freshly murdered female drained of all blood and a oddly pale male standing near the gates. One who happens to be cold to the touch as well. This event leads to the truth coming out that Jean Luc has been keeping things from her as well as her friends but now she is a part of this. Monsters have been getting murdered and all look like they have been drained of their blood with only two puncture marks on their neck as evidence. Feeling betrayed and like no one sees her worth she goes out to try and solve this mystery herself. Which leads to her kidnapping and a deal to help a king of vampires solve this mystery (and maybe more) to clear his species' name. In order to solve this mission though Celie must face some things she thought were buried in her past and a few things about herself to lift the veil enough to see who she needs to face and what needs to be done to stop them if it is even possible. Who is Celie really? What does she really want for her life? What happened in her childhood? Does she really need the protection people keep forcing upon her?

Coming into this I was expecting the independent Celie i met in the last S&D book but she started out portrayed as a weak submissive female lead that just didnt sit well knowing the BA things Celie did to get where she is. It almost set her back in my eyes until i realized she was getting angry each time she was forced to be weak and submissive. Thankfully she got her spark back and someone else made her hear all the things she has done that other people had pushed under the rug either saying she didnt do it or bushing off her idea like it was dumb. Celie grew into her independence and self-worth over the span of this book. Bonus points for the fact the original cast of S&D was in this book too and was a big part of it. Every time Celie needed someone or something they were there to help out or save the day.

On to the reason this was marked down. First i was annoyed with the Celie portrayal in the first quarter being a down grade from her in the last S&D. Second the twists werent twist at all. I was able to call who was the villain, what the goal was, and how this was all going to end all before hitting 70% which doesnt really work well for a series it works for a standalone because it shows the author provided clues that could be seen but in a series it just feels like all the suspense and shock that is supposed to carry the plot got dropped off early and new things must be thrown in to keep everything relevant. Third is people dont really stay dead in this S&D world unless you want the character to surviving then boom dead. So the shock value of anyone dying or about to die just doesnt hit after S&D making the cliffhanger a known thing to happen at the end of this. Previous books ended the same way.

Will I be buying a physical copy of this book? Probably not. Would i like to read the following books? Yeah sure maybe but would rent from the library (SUPPORT YOUR LIBRARYS) Would I recommend this to people? Yes if you havent read the S&D books it could be an ok place to start but also it is good for the fans of the original cast who have very strong page time in this book too.

This was such a fun spinoff, full of delicious tension, deepened worldbuilding, and incredible twists and turns. Cannot wait for more!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and holy moly—WOW WOW WOW! I was enthralled from the get and couldn’t get enough! I’m desperate for the next book! Seeing this side of Celie, her troubles at start, her anxiety and heartbreak and her memories, surrounded by our favorite characters to boot. Then her groundbreaking decisions, her wit, her sass, and her determination was such a glorious thing to read. Introducing Requiem and Michal, Odessa, Dmitri and the rest was just such a fascinating and mystical, while also quite mysterious, world. I never could have predicted the twists and turns of the journey to solve the murders, the way the characters worked their way into our hearts, nor that breathtaking, stressful, shocking end and then the epilogue!!! Gah!! Give me more. Especially more Michal and Celie!!

"He is the Angel of Death.
And he can't take his eyes off me."

I thought I understood before, the hold Shelby Mahurin's storytelling could have. Serpent & Dove has yet to release me after all these years—yet somehow, impossibly, The Scarlet Veil may have usurped its place.

This book is a ghost. A delicious, entrancing story that will haunt anyone who's ever tried to be "good" when all the world wants them to be is small, quiet, meek. It's for the girls who grew up in purity culture—who excelled at it, only to wake up one day and realize all the world saw them as was a doll.

Célie is a rare breed of character. Groomed to be delicate and soft, she carries this narrative with incredible strength and clarity, as well as the unending will to survive by whatever means necessary. Her journey is complex, full of questions and rapid observations of the world and characters around her as she observes, calculates, acts, and immediately re-strategizes if it fails. She's hopeful not out of naivety, but determination to create something beautiful out of destruction.

And Michal...god is he destruction, but the best possible kind. If the quote at the start of this review tells you anything, it's to be prepared for a Damon/Stefan-type hybrid but ten times better. His tongue is clever, his presence intense, and when his focus locks in on Célie from that first encounter on, their chemistry is palpable. He sees Célie for what she is–brilliant, curious, quick. Even when he's teasing her, or doing the Beast yelling about the West Wing thing, he holds space for her voice and truly listens.

I could go on about the plot but I'm terrified of giving spoilers, so I'll say this: Shelby continues to be masterful in weaving banter with tension, funny twists with gut-wrenching ones, and I had to pick my jaw up multiple times from where it dropped.

And the ending. Holy f*cking h*ll.

This is a Gothic love story, brushed by elements of horror and simmering with heat. It's a romance, yes, but also a raw, intimate look at what it is to grow up without truly knowing yourself—to go through trauma and violations, and try to unpack the truth from lies as the world crumbles around you. Célie's story will stick with me not only because of the sexy vampires and spectacular settings, but because she is me. I am her.

And if she was willing to brave the dark, so can we.

I MEAN OH MY GOSH. I love Serpent and Dove, but The Scarlet Veil was an absolute delight! Reading a bit more as a crossover, this was a delightful romantasy full of magic, ghosts, vampires, and forbidden romance. Cannot wait for the sequel!

One of my favorites of the year! I was drawn to the cover immediately and I’m so happy I got an ARC! I loved the magic system and it was such a wild journey! I read it all in one sitting. I was so immersed!

I adored Serpent and Dove so when I came across the opportunity to read the Scarlet Vale as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I jumped on it. I was nervous because Celie was so timed in the first trilogy. But I trust the author.

I am so glad I did. I adored this from start or finish. The new magical world introduced is rife with mystery. I cannot find out what happens to poor Celie next. She is daring and brave and the vampires add a lovely new cast of characters mixed in with all the old we already love. Highly recommend it to fans of the series.

I can’t wait to read what happens next!

I will never stop recommending Shelby's book EVER. They are the perfect blend of gothic, magic, and romance.

I have to confess, I didn’t really care much for Celie in the S&D series, but I was really hoping that maybe once she took center stage that her character would be developed more thoroughly in a way that made me like her. I still don’t.

But y’all, vampires though, they’re making a comeback and I’m so here for it! I really loved Michal. And a couple of the side characters were also really fun and endearing. But Celie is just… ugh. She is so weak and whiny and annoying. I know not every fantasy main character can be the badass trope but I guess that’s just my personal preference.

I still really don’t understand why Michal would even be drawn to someone like Celie. They just didn’t work for me. Honestly, his character seemed more the type to respect someone who has some fight in them and be turned off by someone simpering - but that’s just me.

This was really a struggle to get through because of how much Celie got on my nerves. I enjoyed the new world building aspects. The mysteries around Celie and her abilities were intriguing and I wished I cared more to find out what was going on. The pacing and the plot were pretty slow. It lacked a solid drive and motivation to keep me turning the pages. But the mysteries were

Although this is a new spin-off series, you definitely need to have read the S&D series completely to understand what is going on here because it picks up pretty much where that one left off. Even though the original cast of characters primarily took a back seat, I enjoyed the cameos that they made at times.

I’ll probably be in the minority here yet again, so don’t take my words to heart if you loved this. But I won’t be continuing with this series. I think die-hard fans of S&D are going to love this new series, especially if you actually liked Celie. For me that series really lost its luster after the first book. I was truly hopeful but this just failed to get it back again for me.

I have never read the Serpent & Dove trilogy, I saw vampires and my brain stopped working. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the book more because I didn't catch the S&D references, but it stands on its own.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

I had not read the Serpent and Dove trilogy by Shelby Mahurin prior to reading this book, but I am most certainly going to be purchasing and reading now!

I just love anything Vampire and don't know how I missed this authors books.

The Scarlet Veil begins as a string of grisly murders sweeps Belterra. Yet Jean Luc—her fiance and the Chasseur captain—keeps Celie away from the details until she’s thrown into the center of the investigation.

The character, Celie is the maincharacter in this book. She’s is not the typical heroine. She is not strong and powerful and it is amazing to see her overcome stereotypes and come into her own.

She always expects the best from others is a bit naive, but learns and develops into a powerful,. brilliant and caring heroine.

I loved all the characters, but Celie is my fave by far.

Loved the romance, mystery, magic, witches, gothic vibes, close-knit families, tragic kings, and of course VAMPIRESI

I will most definitely be purchasing The Scarlet Veil trilogy and a hardcover copy of The Scarlet Veil.

Highly recommend!

Thank you @harperteen and @netgalley for the earc of this book that will be perfect for spooky season.

Here’s what I loved: (no spoilers)
• the addictive plot
• a SWOONY romance
• the tentative alliances
• some paranormal activity
• the murder mystery

Celié is used to being a secondary character. She’s been pushed back, coddled, and ignored. Now she’s out to show her worth and prove to herself she has what it takes. She isn’t secondary in her own story!

This book definitely had some creepy, addictive vibes, and I can’t wait to see what @shelbymahurin does in book two.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: make outs + innuendo
Tw: blood, murder, violence, gore, creep
Out Sept. 26

Book review: THE SCARLET VEIL by Shelby Mahurin

Y’all, when I saw I was approved for this arc I couldn’t get the smile off my face. I devoured this book in just a few days and am already going to pre-order a copy because I know I’ll be reading it again and again.

🩸The Scarlet Veil is an expertly-launched spinoff of a favorite YA Fantasy series of mine (Serpent & Dove), feeling true to the tone and world of the original while also braving new and exciting ground.

🪽Our protagonist, Célie, has an inner journey that made this book a five star read for me. If you read the other books in the series, you know that she’s got a lot to work through — a uniquely horrifying experience, a love that might not truly understand her, and a dream that could no longer be right for her.

🪦Enter: vampires (and their brooding, villainous king).

🧛I don’t want to give much more away because I want to encourage everyone to read it — if you love lush fantasy settings, mysterious love interests, engaging side-characters, and ENDINGS THAT WILL LEAVE YOU DESPERATE FOR THE NEXT BOOK (!!!!) The Scarlet Veil should be at the top of your list!

Note: I don’t think you need to read the Serpent & Dove trilogy in order to understand and love this book, but I do recommend it. It’s one of my favorites!

(Also, I have to give Mahurin major props for how she used her main squad from the Serpent & Dove books. They served Célie’s story well, playing key roles without feeling like just an epilogue.)

Thank you so much Shelby Mahurin, Harperteen, and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book! The Scarlet Veil comes out September 26, 2023, just in time for spooky season 👻

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Did I read a book that isn’t out until September & love it? Yes, yes I did.

Shelby Mahurin’s The Scarlet Veil is such a delicious bite of vampire romantasy. It gave me those vampire book thrills I look for: danger, beauty, temptation, & a bite that brings pleasure .

At the beginning of the book Célie is a Huntswoman, the only Huntswoman in a group of men who largely deride her & her abilities. Her fiancé, the Captain, is so busy trying to protect her that he stifles & under-appreciates her in a different way.

Then Célie finds a dead body & in short order is kidnapped by mysterious, obviously dangerous people she realizes are vampires. Two mysteries surround everything: the recent crop of similar deaths in her city & the death of her sister & the trauma Célie experienced in its aftermath.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric vampire book with kissing, check this one out. If you’re looking for a tortured MMC who speaks and moves & acts in a silky, clearly dangerous way, a spirited and beautiful FMC who can talk to ghosts (!), and a prophecy that suggests their romance is doomed, check this one out.

Don’t be mad at me about the cliffie, please! Also I should note that this is a spin-off of the Serpent & Dove series but I’ve only read book 1 in that series & I was fine .

In closing, this book is delivering big vampire energy & I’m here for it. You might want to be too .
4.5⭐️. Out 09/26.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a mural painted on a red background of a white woman with red lipstick wearing a tartan corset & holding a set of bagpipes.]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

Spoilers ahead!!!

Read the Serpent and Dover series first!


Celie is still trying to figure out life after the death of her sister and the trauma she went through with being locked into a coffin with her dead sister for two weeks. She’s training as a Chasseur and she’s really just trying to find her spot in this world. When people start popping up dead, she wants to help out and help find the killer. When she overhears a conversation pertaining to her between everyone she cares about, she is hurt. They only see her as a glass doll who needs protecting and they aren’t listening to her. So, she takes matters into her own heads and sets out to try to solve these murders. Before she’s able to get far….she’s kidnapped by a mysterious and dangerous man or dare I say…Vampire.

First and foremost….what the hell. Honestly what kind of ending was that?! I have never been so happily pissed off at a book before. I truly loved S&D but this book may just be better. The characters are wonderful. The plot is absolutely fantastic. The slow burning romance was seriously top notch. I LOVE Michal. I know he’s the morally gray villain and whatever but man I just really love him.

Secondly, Jean Luc and the rest of Celine’s friend gang honestly made me mad. They literally just ignore her plea for help and how she wants to be treated like an actual person instead of a child. Yes, she went through trauma but she’s trying to dig her way out of it and heal/find herself and none of them helped whatsoever by lying to her and hiding the truth from her.

Lastly, I honestly didn’t see the twist coming. I had a feeling that what happened at the end would happen but I never guess the person who did it. That was so creatively done if I may say. Screw Frederic though. He’s a great villain and I absolutely loathe him. I’m praying that Celie isn’t actually dead and she comes back to Michal. They deserve their HEA. Also, Pippa better be pissed off and demand her sister be brought back. I have a feeling that she may be a villain too with the information that was given at the end of this book.

All in all; I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. I tried to read it slowly because I know this book doesn’t release until the end of September but man I just couldn’t stop reading it. I need the second book like now. I am so excited to see where this story is going to lead. I will give the publisher and author my kidneys for book two asap 🤪😅

Easily a wonderful 5 star read!

If you read the Serpent & Dove series and enjoyed it, then I definitely recommend this spinoff! When I tell you the burn is slow, the burn is s l o w.
I generally love slow burn romances when it’s a littler faster 😂 like, I just got to a kiss at 67% 🫠 but it is classified as YA, so it’s definitely expected!!

I’m also not a *huge* fan of the “I’m the weakest link” “(don’t)feel bad for me” tropes. Is there an actual word for that??

I did give this 4 stars instead of 5. The point docked for it is purely because of my own enjoyment with the above mentioned tropes!

If you read Gods & Monsters and remember that BOAT SCENE (🥵) then the slow burn is going to be worth the wait in book 2, I can feel it!!! 😉
Overall, this arc is proving to live up to the hype with the murder mystery and forbidden love / enemies to lovers which I’m always a sucker for 😩 also, who doesn’t love vampires and ghosts????

I will always read ANYTHING by this author. Her books have such intense vibes and amazing world building. Thank you so much for the ARC ♥️🫶🏻