REVIEW: Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

Want a lighter fantasy read? This is the one for you!

BOOK OVERVIEW

Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin

Series: Serpent & Dove Trilogy #3

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Witches, Magic

Content Warnings: Blood & Gore Depictions, Self-harm, Murder, Torture, Death, Kidnapping/Abduction, Drowning, Possession/Exorcism

Suggested Age Rating: 16+

Published: July 27, 2021, by HarperTeen

Page Count: 624

Synopsis:

Continuing from the cliffhanger of Blood & Honey, Lou must deal with the new darkness settled over her which will take more than love to drive it out. There's not much I can say without spoiling so let's go straight to the review:

Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

“Hope isn't the sickness, it's the cure"

INITIAL THOUGHTS

First off, let's appreciate that cover!! ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. I read this book immediately after reading that cliffhanger from Blood & Honey and got right back into the French-inspired world of Belterra.

“Perhaps our souls are merely fragmented. Part here, part there. Part everywhere. Yours will shatter soon enough"

MY REVIEW

Alright, where to begin? Definitely a LOT more plot in this book than the second. Others have said that it gets "boring" in the middle, but personally, I loved it! There is an epic internal battle that a character undergoes and so many things happen and I literally did not want to put the book down! There is just SO much happening!

There is also that awesome moral conflict the characters have that I loved from the start of the series! The world also expands further and introduces new settings and characters. The plot is still very character-driven and does have more of a focus on their relationships. However, the political battle is a major conflict and is addressed most in this novel compared to the previous two books.

So many plot twists occur, but the relationship between Lou and Reid is probably the most epic. I can't say too much without spoiling but if you liked the enemies-to-lovers banter in Serpent & Dove, you're gonna LOVE it in this one. *cough* take me to church *cough*

Amazing character development for both the protagonists and side characters, and it all comes down to a bittersweet resolution at the end. The heart-warming friendships, cute and hilarious banter and found family trope are definitely highlights of this book!

I love Shelby's writing style and I'm intrigued to read any other book she would release. Different character ethnicities and genders are beautifully incorporated into the novel and all the new plot details are presented in a way that makes sense without a massive info dump!

"You've lived in fear too long.

Fear has helped me survive.

Fear has kept you from living"

The only downside of this book was the ending. Most things are resolved but there is a question of "what now?" that went through my mind. The main issue I have is the lack of plot depth. There is a message about the strength of hope....but to do what? Honestly, it didn't impact me the way it should have.

"You should both show your scars [...] They mean you survived"

So, should you read the series? If you want a lighter fantasy read with an emphasis on the characters and romance, then I would recommend this book! It's perfect for those just getting into the fantasy genre.

"She looked at me like I belonged to her and she belonged to me"

Pros: amazing diverse characters, enemies-to-lovers 2.0 (awesome romance), epic internal battle

Cons: anticlimactic ending (politically), lacked plot depth and meaningfulness

What's your favourite fantasy romance?

Let me know in the comments down below!

Happy reading!

- Jasleen ♡

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If you liked Gods & Monsters, you might like...

• Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo

• Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Mass

• From Blood and Ash (From Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (My Review)