4-4.5 stars
I'm quite enjoying this mystery series set in the Appalachian mountains and hope there are more books to come. The first book focused on one of the daughters in the James family (healers and herbalists who each have a magical gift) and this one focused on a different daughter. I would love to have a book centered on each daughter--and maybe one on the mother and one on the grandmother! While I think this would work as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the first one first.

The characters are well-developed and I really like the combination of regional folklore and magical realism with a dash of romance thrown in. The plot is also good and keeps you guessing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

The sequel to Bittersweet in the Hollow, a book about a magical family living in a small Appalachian town, tinged with mystery and even a bit of horror (also cryptids!), Lies on the Serpents Tongue follows another James sister, Rowan, who can taste lies.
I loved this book almost as much as I loved the first one, I think Kate Pearsall is such a beautiful writer, and the world she creates is full of magic, whimsy, mystery, pain, and love. The setting is so immersive, the characters and their relationships are wonderful, and the mystery/thriller aspects are gripping while still feeling cozy. I love this series, and really hope there is more to come.

*Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!

The second book of the James family, set in Cabal Hollow in the Appalachian mountains.

This time we are reading in Rowan's POV. In the first book, Rowan wasn't especially my favorite of the James sisters, but I loved it so I gave her a chance anyway. I loved this book even better somehow.

The Appalachian setting, the mystery, and the mountain folklore were the perfect mix to hook me from the very first chapter. I would recommend this in any classroom setting wishing to juxtapose and discuss folklore crossover and similarities with that of folklore in the UK. It's fascinating.

I can't wait to see if this series will continue. There are more James family members and I'm still very invested!

Thank you to Randomhouse for sending me a complimentary digital book through Netgalley. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This review is currently posted to Goodreads

The is the second book in the Bittersweet in the Hollow series. While I have not yet read the first I absolutely loved this entire book.
Sisters Rowan and Linden both have special and unique abilities. One can smells lies and one can taste the feelings of others. The story is both Dark and Delightful from beginning to end. The writing is almost lyrical, the characters are strong and the story holds you captive.

This is a series that will create life long readers.

Thank you NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the electronic advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

Lies on the serpents tongue is a quick read about truth,lies, deception. I absolutely loved this novel.

I liked this book! That being said, I did not enjoy it as much as the first, so as a sequel it was a little disappointing. But it was good!

Thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the #gifted copy of this book.

Summary: Flowing right from the tumultuous summer, Cabal Hollow slowly returns to normal and the James women are coming to terms with their new secrets. But there's no rest for the weary as something new is haunting the town and stealing items, along with memories. Rowan's gift is to detect when someone is lying, but can she trust the one person who has lied the most to help her solve this new mystery?

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Kate's writing because it just draws me in and doesn't let go until the book is over. This book was just as good as the first one. I loved the banter between Hadrian and Rowan, which continued from Bittersweet in the Hollow. The two were destined to be partnered up and it was fun to watch their relationship grow. The mystery throughout this book had me guessing until the very last page. I love how the clues are there all along but there is so much happening that you get distracted before you can solve it. The sisterly bonds in this book are one of my favorite aspects because they are always there to support one another no matter what.

I grew up in an area in Ohio in Appalachia and would hear about some of these crazy stories, so it's fun seeing them come to life in this series. Though it is a series, this book could be read standalone, but I highly suggest you read it in order to get the full effect!

Read if you love:
👀Mystery
✨Fantasy vibes
⛰️Appalachian Settings
👯‍♀️Strong Sisterly Bonds
💖Enemies to Lovers

I enjoyed 'Bittersweet In The Hollow' and would recommend reading that first before reading this. I think that this is a good follow up. The story flows really well and is paced well. The characters are entertaining and well developed. I really enjoyed this and if you enjoyed the first book I think you will too. Special Thank You to Kate Pearsall,Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue was a nice companion to Bittersweet in the Hollow. I DEVOUR books that are set in Appalachia – and this one was no different. I really like the James Family and the atmosphere of the novel. The Mountain folklore-witchy vibes are everything. Not to mention Mothman. We love Mothman.

This was a YA mystery, and it did keep me guessing. When I did think one thing was going to happen, it was something else, entirely and was just a lot of fun to read.

Rowan is a force to be reckoned with and I related to her a lot. There’s a moment when she is told that just because she can do everything by herself, doesn’t mean she should have to. And I think a lot of people can relate to that sentiment.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel! It was a treat!

I loved this second enry in the series, #LiesontheSerpentsTongue. I rounded up as NetGalley doesn't have half stars. Magic in everyday life is required for an urban fantasy, and Pearsall did this very well. I enjoyed the imagery and symbolism in the novel. There was also a touch of romance. I didn't give all 5 stars because I found myself skimming in parts, but it's still a solid entry. 4.5 stars.

This is a dark fantasy YA novel set in the Appalachian area of WV. I did not read the prequel and had no trouble following this well written novel.
The story follows 18-year-old Rowan who possesses the unique ability to detect lies by their scent. Whether a gift or a curse, this unique magical gift has led her to “smell” many unpleasant truths, causing her to build emotional walls and struggle with trust.

Rowan’s old rival, Hadrian, appears on her doorstep seeking her help. Despite her initial distrust, Rowan becomes involved in a series of strange occurrences: small items disappearing, owners acting as if their possessions never existed, and rumors of a new monster prowling the Hollow. Their relationship is genuine and together they must work together to find the truth behind these mysteries.

The novel explores themes of trust, the burden of hidden truths and self discovery, all set against a backdrop of supernatural intrigue and Appalachian folklore. Written well enough that I didn’t roll my eyes or think it was ridiculous/laughable.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers.

An absolutely fantastic follow-up to a great book! I love Kate Pearsall's writing so much. It's so atmospheric, and she does a great job of making the reader fall in love with the entire cast, not just the main character. She's definitely on my auto-buy list moving forward.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin for a digital ARC of this book.

While I didn’t know this was a sequel when I first started reading. While I haven’t read book 1 (Bittersweet in the Hollow), this story stood well on its own. The magical realism and atmospheric charm of a small town Appalachian town really pulled me in from the start, and the well-rounded characters and murder mystery plot line kept me turning the pages.

The pacing did start to lag in the middle, but the intrigue did not. And while the romance remained a subplot, it was cute. I did get the feeling I was missing a bit of history between Rowan and Hadrian, but there were enough context clues to make the relationship believable. I loved the conclusion—it wrapped everything up so nicely and left the door open for more stories in the world.

If you’re in the mood for an atmospheric YA mystery with a heavy sprinkling of magical realism, I would encourage you to give this one a try.
4/5 stars

[arc review]
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue releases January 7, 2025

We’re back in Caball Hollow, only this time, it’s through the eyes of Rowan: a James sister with the ability to taste when others are lying.

In between volunteering with the National Forest Service, Rowan spends her time determined to figure out why she’s coming across species of animals that aren’t native to their area, and why certain townspeople are suddenly forgetting memories tied to misplaced items.

I enjoyed returning to Caball Hollow and delving deeper into the history of the James family and the Bone Tree.
This sequel did a great job of incorporating information about events from the previous book in a way that allowed returning readers to be refreshed of things they might have forgotten about, while also providing enough backstory so that new readers felt just as in the loop.

The ending sets up nicely for a continuation from either Juniper or Zephyrine!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I didn’t expect there to be more to this series and I was stunned and excited. I want more and more stories exploring the sisters and their amazing family. I love seeing how they all have different magic and abilities. This one was just as fun as the last one and I love this author’s writing so much!

3.75 stars

I loved "Bittersweet in the Hollow" and was so excited to hear that there was going to be a book about Rowan! I really liked her as a narrator, and having more of the forest in this book was fun, parts of it gave "Lovely, Dark, and Deep" vibes. Which, side note, disappointing movie plot, but superior vibes. So I was pumped. But so much of what I loved about the first book in this series was the establishing details about the small, Appalachian town and its residents, and how all the descriptors in the book felt true to the region. It's not that this installment felt out of place, it just didn't have as much of that, likely since they were all already established in book one. I also was hoping for more building of the relationship between Rowan and Hadrian--it felt very sudden to me, and like they didn't have a ton of on-page interaction before they were suddenly together. It also felt like book one had more sisterhood and family ties included, and since Linden is a baker, there was more food detail there too, which I always enjoy.

Overall I still really enjoyed and recommend this book, but do prefer the first one and think this one could have been longer. I have a feeling we're going to get a Juniper book 3, though, and with how much the magic was expanded on in this book I'm excited to see where that one goes! Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bittersweet in the Hollow and now Lies on the Serpent's Tongue is an extremely underrated series. Everyone should be talking about and reading this. Bittersweet in the Hollow was a favorite read of 2024, so I had high hopes for Serpent's Tongue. It is not often that the follow-up is as good as the first. But, it was here! Lies on the Serpent's tongue brings you back with your favorite characters and sisters, yet with a fresh perspective of Rowan. Once again Pearsall creates an original, whimsical, and captivating story. This was easily five stars and Pearsall is now a must read author for me. I will be putting this series into as many of my student's hands as possible.

I really enjoyed the book, though Bittersweet into the hollow felt a smidge more fleshed out. I am a sucker for a rural Appalachia setting, and this book delivered in spades. If you enjoyed Bittersweet in the Hollow, you will enjoy the follow up of Lies on the Serpent's Tongue.

I've always felt that too few writers and filmmakers fully grasped the responsibility of starting a series. A sequel can be a great return to a previously enjoyed world and adding depth to a fantastic story, or it can mean ruining the reputation of the whole series with rushed storytelling or bad artistic choices. The stakes are high, and that's even if a creative doesn't up the promises they're making to their audience with a cliffhanger.

Kate Pearsall's debut, Bittersweet in the Hollow, was a solid and satisfying novel. With Lies on the Serpent's Tongue, Pearsall delivers a strong second installment in what I hope will be at least a quartet of enchanting stories.

Rowan has always been the most hot-headed James sister, but the events of the past summer has pushed that quality past even the boundaries she's comfortable with. At Gran's suggestion (or insistence), Rowan takes a volunteer position to help ready the nearby forest for fire season. The cabin where she stays is rustic, to say the least, but other than that, she finds the gig much less of a punishment than she anticipated. But strange things are going on in the forest, too: magpies and adders in the woods, thousands of miles away from their native habitats, and threatening voices in the woods. Probably from the ginseng poachers the forest rangers keep trying to thwart. And then there's the badly beaten hiker—or poacher—without identification or, for that matter, shoes. 

Strange things are happening in town, too. People's memories are disappearing, like they're losing whole chunks of themselves. Rowan's ability to sniff out a lie, a gift that's always been reliable, may be on the fritz. But nothing's quite as strange as the mysterious reappearance of Hadrian Fitch, whose strange presence on the James farm over the last year was only matched by his sudden vanishing. But helping Hadrian also means learning more about all the odd things Rowan's noticed lately, as well as a chance to help Gran find her sister, so Rowan agrees. She finds her answers, all right, but also more trouble than she bargained for.

Serpents is more companion novel than a direct sequel; reading Serpents without or before Bittersweet will give some spoilers to Linden's story, but there's enough explanation for novices to the world of Caball Hollow. Rowan's sister Linden, the center of Bittersweet, sits quietly in the back seat for this one, but Rowan has more than enough personality and story to carry this book on her own. Pearsall has managed to craft her voice that is distinct from Linden's while similar enough to make the two girls, and books, close siblings. And while Linden was thoughtful and sweet, Rowan's brawler tendencies make her a lot of fun in the driver's seat.

She's the sister who says what you wish you had the guts to say, and do what you wish you weren't too chicken to do. But Pearsall lets her experience natural consequences for that kind of liberty, which can be refreshing in a sea of YA main characters who often see plenty of injustice but very few earned consequences. The very grown-up drama she finds herself brushing up against with ginseng poachers and a too-thin barrier between our world and the supernatural one is nothing that can be solved by a single teenager, though not for lack of trying. And while Rowan's protective nature covers her family like a hug that might be just a little too tight, it also makes it hard for her to find her own identity. She does a lot of growing up in these pages, and I was rooting for her all the way.

I was both hopeful and a little wary at a sequel to Bittersweet, since I felt it had been so self contained. But Serpents is more than a bonus story set in the same world. Rather, it's further exploration of a world that goes beyond one character, and I might have liked it even better than the first book—even if it made me a little less hungry. There are still two more sisters in the James family, and I hope Pearsall can let us get to know and love the others just like Rowan and Linden.

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue is book two in the Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall.
I loved book one Bittersweet in the Hollow and was super excited to jump into the second story. Which guys it did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved this. An incredible read. It’s filled with magical realism, deep characters, engaging visualization and fantastic storytelling.
This story grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go.
A phenomenally dark and enthralling YA story.

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!