I fell in love with the House of Night series so when I got a chance to review a new book by this writing duo I jumped on it. Twins I. The story? Bonus! It’s the second d book in the sisters of Salem series and Mercy and Hunter and still coping with the death of their mother. Their relationship goes though a lot of changes in this book but their growth is palpable by the end. Adding in a beautiful world as usual for the Casts and you get another fantastic story!

"Omen's Bite" by P.C. Cast offers a fascinating foray into the world of magic, mythology, and sisterhood, wrapped in a fast-paced narrative that keeps the pages turning. The story of twin sisters Mercy and Hunter, descendants of the Goode family of witches, tasked with the protection of ancient portals to underworlds, is ripe with potential and delivers a rich tapestry of fantastical elements. Cast's ability to weave various mythologies into the fabric of her story, particularly with the exploration of the Egyptian Gate and its guardian, Khenti, showcases her skill in creating a compelling magical universe.

However, the novel is not without its shortcomings. The dialogue often veers into the realm of cringe-worthy, detracting from the immersive experience Cast otherwise so adeptly crafts. This aspect might momentarily jolt readers out of the narrative, reminding them of the constructed nature of the story.

The romantic subplots within "Omen's Bite" are another area where the novel falters. These relationships, crucial to the emotional backbone of the story, feel rushed and underdeveloped. The lack of depth and complexity in these romances makes it challenging for readers to invest in or root for any of the couples. Instead of serving as a compelling component of character development or plot progression, these relationships seem more like afterthoughts, which is a missed opportunity in a narrative so rich with potential for deep, meaningful connections.

Despite these issues, "Omen's Bite" remains an engaging read, especially for those enchanted by the allure of magic and mythology interwoven with modern storytelling. The plot moves swiftly, ensuring that readers remain engaged from start to finish, even if some elements do not resonate as strongly as they might have hoped.

In summary, "Omen's Bite" is a solid addition to the urban fantasy genre, offering a world of enchantment, danger, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. While the dialogue and romantic elements may leave something to be desired, the novel's strengths in plot and magical world-building make it a worthwhile read for fans of P.C. Cast and newcomers to her work alike.

Welcome back to Hunter and Mercy with Sisters of Salem. I really want to like this series and I love these authors very much. I feel this book had some ups and downs for me as I read it. I fell we got to know the characters better in this book but I did not feel a connection with them like I wanted to. I guess for me I am missing the spark I found in the House of Night series and the characters there.

All in all the book was ok for me I will keep reading this series just because I love the authors and can't wait to hear what else is in store for this story. But I am looking for the spark I fell in love with in some of the other work these author produce. I hope to find it in their next works.

Welcome back to Hunter and Mercy with Sisters of Salem. I really want to like this series and I love these authors very much. I feel this book had some ups and downs for me as I read it. I fell we got to know the characters better in this book but I did not feel a connection with them like I wanted to. I guess for me I am missing the spark I found in the House of Night series and the characters there.

All in all the book was ok for me I will keep reading this series just because I love the authors and can't wait to hear what else is in store for this story. But I am looking for the spark I fell in love with in some of the other work these author produce. I hope to find it in their next works.

DNF at 48%
I want to finish this series, but it was slow moving and having a hard time keeping my attention. I may go back to this at some point, but it's unlikely.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Unfortunately, I didn't think this book was as good as the first.
There was too much going on and in my opinion everything going on didn't have much to do with the main problem at hand. I wanted to follow the magic of how the girls would fix the trees not just read about them fighting. I also didn't care for all the attention Kirk gets in this book. I feel like it's an added element to the story that isn't needed.

This was a great young adult fantasy. I love the characters and the witchy elements. I found this one to be quite enjoyable.

This book was out of my normal wheelhouse but I will definitely be reading these author's books from now on. So good!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a great read. I had a hard time putting it down and was left with a bit of a book hangover afterward. Definitely recommend.

A great book 2 in the trilogy, I can't wait for the next.
I cant wait to find out what happens with the sisters and will they save the town.

Title: Omens Bite
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Release Date: April 5th, 2022
Page Count: 315
Format: Netgalley/Audiobook
Start Date: December 14th, 2022
Finish Date: December 30th, 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This is the second book in a trilogy. I fully suggest anybody that's interested in this book read Spells Trouble first. This trilogy is written by a mother daughter team. They also wrote a series called House of Night. House of Night is one of my favorite series of all time. I've read them a few times. I'm not going to lie, I haven't enjoyed this trilogy as much as I did House of Night. I enjoyed it and was invested in the outcome. I think it was the twins attitudes. They were both just annoying in their own way. I actually enjoyed the secondary characters more than I did the twins. I still fully recommend this trilogy. My misgivings aside, it's a very intense and alluring story. I just wish that the twins were given less whiny personalities.

While I'll give it to the research put into dealing with realistic witchcraft, this novel is still full of stereotypical teenage angst. I don't know if it's just because I'm older or now used to dealing with high schoolers as an adult, but the blatant bullying that goes in this novel isn't quite as realistic as it used to be. With the introduction of the internet and other forms of quiet bullying, things aren't quite as out in the open as they used to be. I do enjoy seeing some Illinois rep, though, but some of the characters use very British terminology like "bloody Hell" that makes it feel odd since much of the novel is supposed to take place in rural Illinois.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

After enjoying the first in this trilogy, I will admit that I was unfortunately disappointed with this follow-up. There is a lot of slow burn and teenage angst to this one, so buckle up for some whiny characters. Seemingly struck with sequel syndrome, this book just kind of wandered around a bit and felt a bit sloggy. There wasn't as much tension throughout the novel, but instead it all packed into the ending, leaving me with a cliffhanger.

While I do want to know how the story ends, it is always a bit frustrating when an author stretches things out in a way that just makes it feel like a grab for a third book. I don't really care whether a story is a standalone, a duology, a trilogy, or more...I just want a story that is going to consistently entertain me.

Will I still read the next book? Most likely. I really did enjoy the first one enough to hook me and the ending left me really wanting to know what happens. I just hope that the finale has some more solidly written character interactions, a bit more maturity, and a consistent action plan from start to finish. It was done in the first one...it can be done again. Fingers crossed.

This was an entertaining YA fantasy read. The plot was medium-paced and kept me intrigued. There could have been more character development as one of the sister's actions frustrated me quite often.

This is story about sisterhood.

I struggled with this one.. the elements that I enjoyed in the first were somewhat lost, and I had a hard time feeling connected to the characters. That being said, Xena continues to be awesome.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Wednesday books!

I absolutely loved this book! It was a fantastic follow-up to Spells Trouble. I will say that I think part of why I love these books is that I am from central Illinois myself, and the accuracy and detail the authors have put into their descriptions of places is fantastic. They really did a great job nailing the central Illinois vibe. I love the Goode sisters, I think they are fantastic characters, and I find myself agreeing with each sister about the other during their chapters. I also adore Xena, and wish I had my own familiar like her in my life. I think the direction this story took in this book was perfect. It definitley didn't have a book two slump feeling. The cliffhanger it ended on was great, in that it has me super excited to read the next book and see what happens with the Goode sisters!

Being the second book in the trilogy,this book spent the e tire time building up for the final, which made it a little slow to read and didn't keep my attention the same way as the first one. Omens Bite was also more true to it's target audience, as it was very full of young teenage drama. The sisters are definitely not getting along, but it all seemed very immature and petty. The building of lore and myth continued to amaze me. In the end, they are both in some serious trouble, so I look forward to seeing what comes next.

I had such a great time reading these books! I've enjoyed their previous world, and I was excited to start this one. The prologue was immediately engrossing, and I had to learn more about this world, and getting to know these sisters!

It's the girls' birthday, and it's time for them to get initiated, and to take up the task of guarding the gates to the underworlds. And boy, do things get going quickly! I loved watching these stories unfold, and I need to know where it's going to go from here!

There was a lot going on in these books. With this world of magic and the Underworld gates and the various mythologies that are coming into play, and the murders that claimed their mother's life, as well as the relationship between the twins, there's a lot going on. It worked so well, and I couldn't put them down!

By Omens Bite, we've gotten to know these characters and this world, and things are getting worse. It's a darker book, and the twins are pretty top tier in their miscommunication, and there's some bad feelings there. I wish they'd just sit down and talk it out, they needed each other! And oh, that ending was an evil cliffhanger! I need to know more!

These were really great reads, and I can't wait for book 3!