We've Been Social Distancing For A Week Now (But It Feels Like Forever)

Hi!
So we've been social distancing for a week. Maybe longer depending one where you are. I have only left my house and interacted with people I'm not related to in person twice in the last week. It's beginning to feel like torture. I've cleaned, and cooked, and done laundry and generally been a housewife. And I'm tired of it. I want to go see people. I get why we need to do this. I really do. There are others who would be a lot worse off than me if they got it and I don't want to be spreading it around. That being said LET ME OUT OF HERE. I want to see people again and talk to them. I want time to actually have meaning again. What does it matter if its ten or two? It makes no difference in what I'm doing. Normally I have a schedule, it gives the day meaning.
Today I went outside with my dog. I stood in the light rain and looked at the flowers growing in my yard and the grass. I jumped in puddles. It was honestly amazing. I felt so much better just being outside in the fresh air. It may be rainy, which is normally a reason for me to stay inside, but today just being out brought me joy.
Good things are coming out of this social distancing/quarantining too. There are dolphins in Venice for the first time in sixty years, and they water is clear. There are blue skies in China because the factories are closed. Maybe we can learn something from this and preserve the beauty we're gaining from not being out.
I've been able to do some things I've been putting off while I have all this time. I've copied my notes from classes down legibly, cleaned my room (it really needed it), and blogged more. And I had a movie night with my friends. Netflix Party is an amazing thing, we all live far apart (me more than them) but we managed to watch A Cinderella Story together in our homes and chat while we did. All y'all need to check it out. You can download it from the chrome store and movie night away. I may see if I can get CA on here to talk about A Cinderella Story with me. That would be fun. You hear that CA. We should try to do that.
Well happy social distancing (I hope you don't go crazy),
Merlin:)

Serpent and Dove Shelby Mahurin

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live
I have to say that really sounds pretentious and snotty and it is but this book is not. Can I just talk about the magic system?!?! It's so complex and amazing. Where exactly the magic comes from is never explained but the system that governs magic is incredible. One magic requires balance but the way another works it doesn't. It's all so amazing. I love that. Also this fictional France is amazing. The way that the church is integrated into France shows how the Catholic church truly was in France.

Characters!

• Louis le Blanche- She typically goes by Lou because a couple of years before she ran away from her family for various reasons, that you have to read to find out. She's also a witch, an earth witch to be exact. So running away means she's got tons of personality and spunk and an absolute refusal to be told what to do.
• Reid Diggory- I know if you're a potterhead I you thought about Cedric in that moment. Alas he's not. He is pretty cool though. He's a Chasseur which I'm sure is French for something but here it means he's a witch hunter. See the problem here? He's completely devoted to his job and the church, but he's still pretty great even if he's kinda pretentious.

Yeah we only really have two main characters. There are lots of other characters, otherwise this might get kinda boring, but it's been a minute since I read this and I don't remember all of them...

Plot!

Lou ran away from her family two years before the start of this book. She's been living in basically fictional Paris. It's not actually Paris and this isn't actual France but it's basically Paris. What is it with France and having sort of a dark fantasy thing going on? So many books are set in France. This one, Beauty and the Beast, I want to say Sorcery of Thorns. I mean it's kind of fitting, the atmosphere always seems so magical. Anyway, to support herself, Lou has taken to being a thief. One of her misadventures goes slightly wrong. She ends up with a choice either marry Reid and save his reputation, or spend the rest of her life in prison. Having a brain, and knowing how to use it Lou agrees to marry Reid. Now here's the problem a) she's a witch and he's a witch hunter b) they absolutely hate each other. Now that they're married there's a whole slew of other problems that pop up and make the rest of the book. Along with an enemies-to-lovers thing going on that is amazing.

My Opinion!

This is an amazing book. That's the short of it. The world building is done really well and the systems of magic are to die for. I love the differences in the magic systems, and the whole relationship between Lou and Reid is amazing. The world and the way the Church and Chasseurs are integrated into it is really good. I might be a little bit of a history nerd so this really reminded me of how the Church was in actual France pre-revolution. Also "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" is a pretty neat motto even if its awful. The whole way characters question authority and who they have been lead to believe is right their whole lives just makes me happy. Ten of ten paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 

Stay Healthy,

Merlin:)