The Laughing Listener
April 2020
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld & Holter Graham
Length: 14 hours & 13 minutes

Story Rating: 5 Stars
Performance Rating: 5 Stars
Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Wow! Wow wow wow!! This book was so much fun?? You’re going to see that word in this review a lot because I just can’t think of a better way to describe this delightful book without using the word fun.



I went into this book with no expectations. A bunch of my book friends told me to read it and at this point in our friendship, I just read whatever they tell me to with no questions asked. I didn’t look at the summary or any reviews, just dove straight in and was IMMEDIATELY enchanted with these characters and this world.

It feels important to note that this is a romance novel more than anything else. I mean, let’s be honest. Very [b:Romeo and Juliet|18135|Romeo and Juliet|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572098085l/18135._SY75_.jpg|3349450], but with witches and magic. It was done in such a fun way though, I didn’t even mind the use of such an old trope. If that’s not your cup of tea, however, you’re going to HATE this. Most of the reviews I’ve read have been stellar, but the negative reviews are BAD and I feel like that might be the reason why.



That being said, if you hear the words “forbidden romance” and “witches” used together and perk up, then you definitely need to get your hands on this. Lou is a free spirited witch who’s running from her past and Reid is a religious man, part of a group of soldiers tasked with bringing witches down. When they’re forced to marry CHAOS ENSUES. Watching Lou fluster Reid in various ways was HILARIOUS and I loved her for it. I will never stop singing Big Titty Liddy ever.

“Big Titty Liddy was not very pretty, but her bosom was big as a barn. Her creamery knockers drove men off their rockers, but she was blind to their charms—”

Reid was a frustrating character to say the least, but he had a great character arc over the course of the book that I loved. And ANSEL AND BEAU AND COCO!!! I demand more of them in the next book.

The world building and magic system was super intriguing to me, but we never really get a full explanation of how the magic works?? I’m really hoping this is explored more in the sequel because I’d really like to learn more about the magic "patterns."

FINAL WORD

FUN!! Fun fun fun! If you’re a fantasy romance lover, then LOOK NO FARTHER.

#1 ↦ [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#2 ↦ [b:Blood & Honey|40550366|Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove, #2)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580922495l/40550366._SY75_.jpg|62967372] ↦ ????
#3 ↦ [b:Untitled|52535769|Untitled (Serpent & Dove #3)|Shelby Mahurin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|78127328] ↦ ????