ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Though Louise Le Blanc fled from her coven, she has never quite left her magic behind d in Cesarine, where soldiers of the Church, called Chausseurs, ruthlessly hunt and burn witches, the slightest whiff of magic is a dangerous thing. Lou carves a life out of trickery and crime, but when she encounters a rising star Chausseur named Reid, she has to con him into a compromising position to keep from being exposed. But then the Church forces them to marry, trapping them both in a wary, unpleasant union. Though a genuine attraction grows between them, Lou knows that Reid's values are firm; the truth of what she is endangers her no matter how much he's come to care. A detailed supporting cast and a rich, French-inspired world make for a strong backdrop, but the core of this fantasy is Lou and Reid's complicated, often steamy romance, and a religious war that shows no side in a gentle light. There are no resolutions here, either aders will have to wait for the inevitable sequel for those.

Kirkus Reviews

A stealth witch and a devout witch hunter are forced to marry.In this French-flavored fantasy world, witches are hunted down by the Church's Chasseurs and burned at the stake; they retaliate against this genocidal crusade through vicious terrorist attacks. Thief Louise le Blanc wants none of that—she's left her witch life behind. But Lou ends up on Chasseur captain Reid Diggory's radar when a heist goes bad; his attempt to catch her lands them in a situation so compromising that the archbishop suggests marriage to save face. Lou's initial priority is self-protection—wanting to avoid both fallout from the heist and a dangerous figure from her past—and she's fine with using Reid. The slow-burn, opposites-attract romance between crass, irreverent Lou and prim and proper Reid gets very hot and sexy once it ignites. Lou sees firsthand the damages some witches do to innocents, has her presumptions about individual Chasseurs challenged, and also sees up close the horrors Chasseurs perpetrate. Despite occasional pacing hiccups and an easily guessed twist, the secondary characters will charm readers, and the story picks up when Lou's past dangerously catches up to her, revealing the true stakes. Though at heart a romance, rich second-tier characters round out the shades-of-gray, morality-and-empathy themes. Witches, Chasseurs, and some secondary characters come in all colors; the leads appear white. The ending screams sequel.Will cast a spell on romance fans. (Fantasy. 15-adult)

School Library Journal (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Gr 9 Up--As a witch, Louise le Blanc is hunted. Not just because she is a witch, but because she was born to die. Once Lou found out what was planned for her, she ran to the city of Cesarinewhere witches are burned at the stakeand began a new life there without magic. Reid Diggory only knows life as a Chasseur, a witch hunter. He and his band of witch hunters are what keep Cesarine safe. At least that's what he thought. After an unfortunate collision, Lou and Reid are forced to marry. As strangers, they must figure out what this new life has in store for them and Lou must struggles to hide the witch inside of her. Mahurin has taken the witch and witch hunter trope and made it new again. The world-building will draw in readers and Lou's strong but wistful nature will keep them turning pages. Set in a mythical French backdrop, the story is rich with French culture and couture. VERDICT Teens who enjoy drama and a little romance will enjoy this novel. -Rena Gibson, Ralph Ellison Library, Oklahoma City