Serpent & Dove
“Serpent & Dove” by Shelby Mahurin is a YA fantasy novel set in a French-inspired world where witches are hunted by the Church. The story follows Louise “Lou” le Blanc, a witch who has renounced magic and hides in the city of Cesarine, and Reid Diggory, a devout witch hunter. After a chance encounter forces them into an arranged marriage, their opposing loyalties and beliefs create tension. As Lou’s secrets threaten to unravel, the pair must navigate betrayal, forbidden romance, and a brewing war between witches and the Church. The novel explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the clash between duty and desire, blending fantasy, romance, and adventure.
The Bellerose: Lou
byMahurin, Shelby
The chapter opens with a chilling description of bodies marked by magic in Belterra, noting their unnatural sweetness and lingering aura—signs that hint at supernatural involvement. The Church attempts to suppress these mysteries, but thirteen such deaths in a year, including aristocrats like Filippa Tremblay, spark fear and rumors. Filippa’s grotesque transformation into a hag before her murder suggests a witch’s vengeance, likely tied to her father Pierre’s illicit trade in magical artifacts. The narrative sets a dark tone, blending intrigue with the ever-present threat of witch hunts and violent retribution.
Lou and Coco, disguised as men to avoid suspicion, observe Pierre Tremblay in a brothel, where he waits uncomfortably amid courtesans. Their banter reveals Tremblay’s arrogance and wealth, juxtaposed with his daughter’s tragic fate. The scene underscores the hypocrisy of the aristocracy and the dangers of exploiting witches. Lou’s sharp wit and Coco’s wariness highlight their dynamic as they prepare to meet Babette, a courtesan with scars hinting at her own hidden ties to magic. The brothel’s decadent atmosphere contrasts with the underlying tension of betrayal and hidden agendas.
Babette arrives, flirting and negotiating for payment while feigning ignorance of Lou and Coco’s true identities. Her coy demeanor masks a calculating nature, as she jokingly inflates her fee. The exchange reveals the precarious trust between them, with Lou and Coco aware that Babette could turn on them for profit. The dialogue crackles with tension, blending humor and menace as they discuss the Church’s brutality toward women—especially suspected witches. Babette’s offer of sanctuary under her mistress’s roof feels like a veiled threat, hinting at deeper alliances and dangers.
The chapter culminates in a standoff over payment, with Babette demanding double the agreed sum and Coco refusing to yield. Their confrontation mirrors the broader stakes: Tremblay’s presence suggests he carries a magical object, and the women’s mission hinges on securing it. The brothel, a haven for secrets and sin, becomes a battleground of wits and wills. Lou’s final quip about the Church’s brutality underscores the peril of their world, where trust is fleeting and survival demands both cunning and ruthlessness.
FAQs
1. What are the distinctive characteristics of bodies touched by magic, and why is discussing these signs dangerous in Belterra?
Answer:
Bodies touched by magic exhibit several unusual characteristics: a cloyingly sweet smell (distinct from decay), a sharp taste in the air, and for some individuals, a tingling aura around the corpse as if the magic lingers. These signs suggest the magic is still “alive” or present in some form. However, discussing these observations is perilous in Belterra because the Church condemns such talk as heresy, punishable by burning at the stake. The chapter emphasizes the fear surrounding magic, as even acknowledging its existence risks execution (e.g., “those stupid enough to talk about such things ended up on the stake”).2. How does Filippa Tremblay’s death reveal the consequences of exploiting witches, and what does it suggest about the power dynamics in this society?
Answer:
Filippa Tremblay’s murder serves as a brutal warning against exploiting witches. While Filippa herself had no enemies, her father, Pierre Tremblay, trafficked magical objects—a practice that angered the witches. Her grotesque transformation (silver hair, wrinkled skin, and gnarled fingers) and slashed throat were not just a killing but a symbolic retaliation. This underscores the witches’ power to enforce consequences, even against the aristocracy. The chapter highlights the tension between human greed and supernatural retribution, showing that magical beings wield significant influence despite their persecuted status (e.g., “one did not exploit the witches without consequence”).3. Analyze the significance of Lou and Coco’s disguises as men in the brothel. What societal pressures does this reflect?
Answer:
Lou and Coco disguise themselves as men to avoid attracting attention as unaccompanied women, which could lead to suspicion of witchcraft. In Belterra, women—especially those with scars like Coco’s—are vulnerable to accusations and execution by the Church (“It’s a dangerous time to be female”). Their masquerade critiques a society where female autonomy is restricted and perceived as threatening. The brothel, ironically, offers temporary safety (“Here, we are safe”), but their need for deception reveals the pervasive fear and oppression of women, particularly those connected to magic.4. How does Babette’s character embody both the risks and survival strategies of magical individuals in Belterra?
Answer:
Babette, a courtesan with scars hinting at her magical nature, navigates danger through manipulation and alliances. She covers her scars with makeup and silk, hiding in plain sight while exploiting her role in the brothel for protection and profit. Her bargaining for extra coins (“I seem to remember twenty”) shows her pragmatic approach to survival. However, her offer of sanctuary from Madame Labelle is fraught with irony, as Labelle would kill Babette if her true nature were discovered. Babette thus represents the precarious balance between concealment and exploitation that magical individuals must maintain in a hostile world.5. What thematic contrast does the brothel setting create with the broader societal attitudes toward magic and women?
Answer:
The brothel, a place of indulgence and illusion, contrasts sharply with Belterra’s puritanical surface. While the Church condemns magic and women’s autonomy, the brothel thrives on both—women like Babette wield power through seduction, and magic is hinted at in the scars and hidden identities. This duality exposes societal hypocrisy: the aristocracy and Church publicly denounce magic but privately engage with its remnants (e.g., Tremblay’s trafficking). The brothel becomes a microcosm of resistance, where marginalized characters like Lou and Coco operate, albeit under constant threat.
Quotes
1. “There’s something haunting about a body touched by magic. Most people first noticed the smell: not the rot of decay, but a cloying sweetness in their noses, a sharp taste on their tongues.”
This opening line establishes the eerie atmosphere of magical deaths in Belterra and introduces the central mystery of the chapter—the unnatural corpses left by witch-related violence. It sets the tone for the dangerous world where magic leaves tangible traces.
2. “Though the Church did its best to conceal the mysterious circumstances of each death, all had been buried in closed caskets.”
This quote reveals the Church’s active suppression of magical evidence, highlighting the tension between institutional power and supernatural truth. It contextualizes the secretive investigation that Lou and Coco undertake.
3. “But while Filippa might’ve had no enemies, her pompous ass of a father had accumulated plenty while trafficking magical objects. His daughter’s death had been a warning: one did not exploit the witches without consequence.”
This passage connects the aristocratic victim to the broader conflict between witches and those who profit from magic. It demonstrates the brutal economy of magical retribution in this society.
4. “Only a fool would mistake two as charming as you for such wretched, violent creatures.”
Babette’s ironic statement underscores the central tension of the chapter—the hidden identities of witches moving through society. The sarcastic tone reveals how witch hunts have created a culture of dangerous deception.
5. “It’s a dangerous time to be female.”
Lou’s blunt observation encapsulates the chapter’s feminist themes, showing how the witch hunts have made womanhood itself suspect. This simple statement carries the weight of the systemic persecution faced by all women in this world.