Review of Gods & Monsters: Shelby Mahurin’s Epic Conclusion

Gods & Monsters ♥ Shelby Mahurin ♥ Serpent & Dove #3

Published July 2021 ♥ Published by Harper Teen

Book One Review : Serpent & Dove: A Review of Love, Magic, and Adventure

Book Two Review : Blood & Honey Review: Why It’s Better Than Serpent & Dove

❥ Young Adult Fantasy

❥ Enemies to Lovers

❥ Forced Proximity

❥ Magic

❥ Witches & Witch Hunters

❥ Completed Trilogy

Gods & Monsters Review

Contains Spoilers

Gods & Monsters is thankfully the final book of the Serpent & Dove trilogy by Shelby Mahurin. Honestly, I am glad to be done with this series. I had the highest of hopes for this trilogy, truly. I wanted to love it so bad.

Just as Blood & Honey picked up immediately after the events of Serpent & Dove, Gods & Monsters starts right after the events in Blood & Honey. Our dear Ansel is dead, and the rest of the crew is on the run. This time though, Celie joins the group. Still rattled by the events of S&D and B&H, she vows to see Morgane dead. I liked Celie and she proved herself to be useful, smart & resourceful.

Reeling from the aftermath of Ansel’s death, it takes a bit before anyone realizes Nicholina is residing in Lou’s body. A quick dip in some magical mermaid water, though, and Lou is cured ! I thoroughly loved the idea of creepy old Nicholina inhabiting Lou’s mind & body. I wish it had lasted longer, or perhaps took place at a different time. But, unfortunately, there was zero point to the whole thing besides finding out the truth about Nicholina and a bit of info about the Blood Witches.

After emerging from the Magical Water, healed, the real fun begins for our crew. Morgane & Coco’s aunt Josephine are waiting for Lou & company. But hold up – plot device. Reid pulls a pattern. Morgane and he collapse. End of conflict. The gold pattern Reid pulls makes it so both he & Morgane simply forget Lou. Morgane & Josephine disappear &, the gang can creep around the kingdom without them lurking in the shadows

Reid forgets that he loves Lou, that she is his wife & that he himself is a witch.

I have the same issues with Gods & Monsters as I did the previous two books, the point of view chapters. Again, it works well when it works, but here it just doesn’t flow nicely half of the time. Especially when Reid forgets everything. Once he & Lou are no longer telling the same story, the POV chapters get fuzzy. I find it to be a cop-out; rather than explain something, we switch POVs, and then it just doesn’t matter? Only it still matters, and you are left just wondering what the hell is actually happening.

Fortunately for everyone involved Reid regains his memories, all of our crew’s allies come together & the day is saved.

All in all the story had some great moments. Coco gets to talk with her mother Angelica. Everyone healing from Ansel’s death. Ansel himself is able to move on. Coco’s tears of grief burning the capital to the ground, only to be healed by her love later. Nicolina’s backstory. Three’s death & mayhem. Werewolves, a dragon. I just wish the whole thing had been executed better.