Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for letting me read The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin! I was OBSESSED with the Scarlet Veil, especially the ending, so I have been feral to get the sequel arc and I was so happy to get approved for this and it did not disappoint! The sheer yearning and gothic vibes in this book is everything I want from a book. Celie and Michal might be my favorite book couple and I am so satisfied by how Shelby Mahurin delivered and wrapped up their story.

Shelby Mahurin does it again! Some slight spoilers for the first book in this duology, The Scarlet Veil, ahead.








The Shadow Bride opens up with Celie's first days as a vampire not with Michal, but back in Cesarine with the crew. She's fighting her new instincts and trying to act like nothing has changed but Celie is fighting a losing battle. When Michal comes knocking to see if she's doing ok, Celie learns that much worse has happened besides becoming a vampire. Frederic resurrecting Filippa created more than just a rip in the veil between worlds and now dead bodies are reanimating and attacking the people who did them wrong during their lives. Not only that, Death has become corporeal and Celie learns that he has big plans for her and the world at large.
Mahurin's storytelling is so unique and fresh that you realize you can't predict what's going to happen! I feel like a lot of fantasy books lately follow a similar formula and they're easy to predict but still fun. I had no idea what to expect from one event to the next in The Shadow Bride and I loved it! The characters are so well fleshed out and I love that we still get to see our favorites from the Serpent and Dove trilogy, along with new favorites from The Scarlet Veil. The ending did get a little confusing but everyone's story arcs were well wrapped up by the end. I can only hope Mahurin will write in this universe again!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin completely captivated me from the very first page! I couldn’t put it down and ended up devouring it in one sitting. The world-building is stunning, and the characters are so richly developed, I found myself completely immersed in their journeys. Mahurin's writing pulls you in with its blend of magic, mystery, and suspense, making it impossible to stop reading. The conclusion to this duology was absolutely amazing—everything I hoped for and more. It wrapped up the story beautifully, giving the perfect sense of closure while still leaving me in awe of the world she created. If you’re looking for a thrilling, enchanting read that’s impossible to resist.An absolute must-read!

The Shadow Bride is a breathtaking conclusion to The Scarlet Veil duology, delivering high stakes, raw emotions, and gothic beauty in every page. Shelby Mahurin masterfully balances Célie’s transformation, ensuring she evolves without losing the softness and heart that define her. Michal’s devotion is searing, his love for Célie palpable, making their romance a stunning slow burn that feels inevitable yet deeply moving. The villain is genuinely terrifying, the side characters shine, and the pacing is relentless, keeping you hooked until the very last page. Mahurin’s prose is lush and immersive, pulling you into a world that is haunting, tragic, and utterly spellbinding. The epilogue is perfection, offering a conclusion that is deeply satisfying

Ugh, this was so worth the wait. Honestly, what an amazing conclusion to this duology. Shelby is one of my auto buy authors, and the Scarlet Veil was the first book I read when I started to dip my toes back into reading way back when. There may be some nostalgia coloring my opinion, but oh well. I love everything about this world she’s created. I loved getting to see old friends and check back in with newer ones. The relationship between Michal and Celie was swoonworthy, as expected. The side characters were great as always. The stakes were high and the foot was on the pedal the whole way through. There were moments where I had to put the book down because I needed a moment to process. I loved the plot, and the villain scared me and made me nervous, which I loved. I’m glad everything worked out in the end, because everyone in this little band of misfits deserves the world.

Overall, this sequel did not disappoint. The wait was very worth it, and I devoured this story. I’d read it all over again in a heartbeat. The characters were great, the romance was amazing, and the plot kept me hooked all the way through. Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this e-arc!

Incredible conclusion to this duology! I love how, despite being set in the same universe and the fact that we see familiar characters, these two books stand completely on their own. The vibes were immaculate, and it kept me on my toes the entire time. Forever obsessed with Célie & Michal. ESPECIALLY Michal 🫠

No words for how much I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! The perfect ending to this duet!!!! It was EVERYTHING I didn't know I needed. It's been a while since I've been so invested in a book that I was reading it any second I could (like walking to my car to and from work) It was PERFECT!!!

That's the SLOWBURN ,angsty, epic romance I needed. Dare I say, I even loved the 🔥🔥 because it was SO well done and built up! I need more books done like this one!!!! You feel their angst and connection!!! full review when I can form words for this AMAZING book! Vamps are back, baby! I am all here for it!!!! I already can't wait to reread this via audio!

I was really looking forward to this because I loved The Scarlet Veil so much. Unfortunately, I feel like this was a bit of a let down. After Celie is turned into a vampire, she tries to return to Cesarine away from Requiem and the other vampires and tries to act like her life hasn't changed (she tries to drink animal blood and it doesn't go so well!). Meanwhile, the spell that was cast when Celie was killed has torn a hole in the veil between life and death, and zombie-like revenants have started plaguing both Requiem and Cesarine. So, too, has Celie's once-dead sister, Filippa, who is willing to do whatever it takes to bring her unborn baby back to life. Death itself has taken an interest in Celie and the others. He wants to permanently tear down the veil and rule over both the living and the dead in one realm.

Overall, this was really slow and it felt somewhat disjointed. The plot of this book feels like it came out of nowhere for me compared to the first in the duology. I really didn't feel the pay off here of what was developed in the first, like it just didn't connect for me and I'm really surprised. I feel like I couldn't even enjoy Michal and Celie when it finally happened because it didn't feel earned. Maybe if I go back and read TSV and then re-read this I'll come around to it, but for now this fell short of what I was expecting.

It’s that feeling.

That feeling when you finish a book and your heart feels so full like it’s going to burst. Where every emotion has clawed up your throat, rendering you without speech. How those butterfly wings beat erratically against your stomach.

It’s finishing a book you so highly anticipated and having it exceed every single expectation.

The Shadow Bride soars to the skies like a phoenix, a phenom that exhilarates in the way it weaves the alluring words of its tale, in the way it intrigues with a mystery that sends chills down the spine, and in the way it casts a love spell centering a couple whose romance finally, finally, takes flight.

This book is everything I hoped it would be– and yet still somehow so much more.

We pick up shortly after the cliffhanger of The Scarlet Veil. Célie is a new woman– a new creature, one of the night. She thirsts for something she abhors, hungers for a craving she refuses to satisfy, and grieves for the heartbeats lost. She is surrounded by loved ones, but has never felt more alone. She has been reborn but barely has time to adjust when everything around her and her loved ones unravels. A new enemy takes hold of the chess pieces that have become her life. When the darkness threatens to overwhelm not just Célie, but everyone she holds dear, she finds her anchor in the Vampire King himself, Michal, and in her friends. Together, they race against the clock to save humanity from a terrifying fate.

Célie, Oh my Célie, my beloved heroine of heroines. How I admire you, how I resonate with you, how I will always love you. Forever.
My greatest fear coming into this book was how changed Célie would become. Her humanity, her softness, her warmth, her light, are such essential facets of her being. They are what made me so far gone for her in the first book. I feared I would not recognize the new Célie. I feared needlessly. So needlessly. I am so incredibly satisfied with how Shelby Mahurin develops Célie’s arc. Mahurin never changes the essence of Célie, but she ensures she is still a character who can grow– who can evolve– without losing herself in the process. Célie’s humanity is such a cherished part of who she is, and I was immensely happy with how it is approached in her arc. I was beaming by book’s end! Célie remains a wonderfully soft heroine whose strength is not found in brawn or steel, but in love and heart. For her heart, as un-beating as it may become, remains her greatest strength. Thank you Shelby Mahurin for uplifting all the soft girlies with the treasure that is Célie Tremblay. A heroine forever embedded in my heart.

Michal. Michal, Michal, Michal. My villain turned anti-hero. Or, maybe, never quite the villain after all. What happens early in his arc had me reeling so fiercely. I was at a loss of words, my heart thumped without pause, my eyes frantically trying to figure out what I was seeing! Let’s just say, his arc leads with quite the bang. And what follows is breathtaking. It follows a soul who has made a choice, a poignant choice, and will uphold it to the very ends of the world. Michal’s love for Célie is unquestionable, it’s just so clear how dear he cherishes her. That love propels his every action, his every choice, his every word. Michal is the last real lover! It is so gratifying to see the love interest so in love as he. Allowing himself to express that love softens his sharp edges, he remains the ever formidable Vampire King, but there’s a vulnerability now present that doesn’t create weakness, but rather adds strength. Michal remains a complex, complicated creature, but whose layers now feel far more reachable in exploring.

The romance between Célie and Michal is, oh gosh, how to describe it? Glorious? Immaculate? Divine? Heavenly? It’s a contradiction to their state of being as unholy creatures, but it speaks to the love filling their very bones and souls. It’s a love story of obstacle, but it’s a love story meant to be. Tentative steps begin the journey before full exploration takes hold. Uncertainty and untruths linger, and timing is not found right away. But like steps in a waltz, it just takes practice. And it's so heart-fluttering to watch Célie and Michal practice how they’re feeling, until that most anticipated moment finally, oh so finally, arrives. One moment, one single moment, unleashing every quiet, loud, vulnerable, and wild feeling all at once. To shake the earth and defy the stars. The passion, the love, and the trust between Célie and Michal is the driving force of this tale. It’s a love I’ll gladly worship.

The main supporting cast remains incredibly dynamic, lovable, and oh so heartfelt. From Lou, to Dimitri, to Odessa, to Mila, to Reid, to Coco, and to Beau. I loved them all. There is one character not included here, as they are instead placed at a distance, and I actually found that very understandable– not every friend is one made for life, and that’s okay. On the flip side, there is a very surprising member added to the main supporting cast. She appeared early on and my jaw dropped at her arrival! I did not expect this inclusion but it worked so well. In fact it added so much heart to the familial dynamic, and that’s all I will hint about that! Then there’s Filippa. A character so closed off, and yet so clearly in pain and desolation. I won’t expand too much here, to not give anything away, but she’s a character to keep all eyes on. I was deeply moved by her story– and Célie’s urgency in deciding whether to find a way to save her sister’s soul or to let her go.

From the world-building to the narrative pacing, it all hits. Every note is in perfect tune, every motion synchronized with exact precision. Every step is the right step and serves to elevate the material. Special shout to that epilogue! You know what. I shan’t say anything else except exactly what I felt about this book as a whole…

Dear god, I loved it.

The Scarlet Veil and The Shadow Bride– what a gorgeous duet you are. I’ll sing your praises until the end of time. Oh yes, how I love you.

Thank you Harper Collins Childrens and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

This book owns me. The weight of everything Célie and Michal have fought for comes crashing down, and you feel it in every sentence. The romance is searing, and the writing wraps around you like a spell. Mahurin doesn’t just conclude a story, she destroys you in the best way. Every thread of longing, sacrifice, and impossible choices we’ve followed comes together in a way that feels inevitable yet utterly heartbreaking. I love how she leans into the gothic, the tragic beauty of a love that refuses to die, and the way she makes the supernatural feel deeply, achingly human. This is the kind of finale that that leaves you staring at the ceiling wondering how you’ll ever move on.

It feels surreal to finally be reviewing The Shadow Bride—especially knowing it won’t officially be out until the end of this month. The wait has been excruciating, but let me just say: it was absolutely worth it.

Ever since I turned the final page of The Scarlet Veil last January—because, hello, cliffhanger—I’ve been counting down the days for this sequel. And wow, did it deliver.

Shelby Mahurin’s writing is phenomenal. If you’ve read anything by her, you already know why she’s an auto-buy author for me. Her storytelling is immersive, her prose lush without being overindulgent, and she has this incredible way of making characters feel so achingly real.

And The Shadow Bride? It’s such a ride. Every bit as mesmerizing and addictive as The Scarlet Veil, with all the elements that made that book an instant favorite—only now, the stakes are even higher, the tension sharper, and the emotions deeper.

There’s something to be said for a well-executed duology. When done right, they’re superior to trilogies—tighter, more intentional, no filler to drag the pacing down. And The Scarlet Veil and The Shadow Bride? This is how you do it. Perfectly planned, plotted, and executed.

And the characters? Ugh, I love them. This series is a Serpent & Dove spin-off, so we get glimpses of beloved familiar faces, but at its heart, this duology belongs to Célie.

I love that she’s soft, that she leads with her heart, and that she’s never forced to change to prove her strength. She finds power on her own terms, and that means everything. This series is for the girls who see themselves in Célie, and I appreciate that so much.

And then there’s Michal. Michal. I was obsessed with his dynamic with Célie—the tension, the longing, the slow-burn perfection of it all. Their relationship unfolds so beautifully, so deliberately, that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Simply put: this book understood the assignment. If you loved The Scarlet Veil, The Shadow Bride will sweep you right off your feet. And if you haven’t read either yet? You’re in for something incredible.