This was my most anticipated read of the year and I'm so honored to have gotten an ARC from Penguin Teen. I adore Rowan's character. I could see so much of myself in her. She is stubborn and rash while so loyal to the people she loves. I love the twists and turns Pearsall uses in her storylines. Her writing instantly hooks me in.
Kate's writing will always bring back my passion for reading. I can't put into words how much this duology means to me. I can't say thank you enough to Penguin Teen and Kate Pearsall for the ARC!

When there’s a follow-up to a debut author’s book that you rated five stars there’s always that sliver of doubt about how good it’ll be. We’ve all been burned, right? They don’t call it the Sophomore Slump for nothing. Luckily, Kate Pearsall managed to navigate the tough waters of producing a companion novel (or is it a second in a series, maybe?) to the fascinating and excellent Bittersweet in the Hollow, which I rated five stars in 2023 and have never stopped recommending.

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue has a lot of the same charm to it that Bittersweet in the Hollow did, even if it lacks some of its warmth. This is likely due to the increased action and adventure in the plot and the decreased time spent around the James family home and business. We spent a lot of the first book in and around all of the members of the James family, learning about each family member and growing to care about them. In this book the plot is more about Caball Hollow at large, the legacy of the James family, and Rowan’s contentious relationship with Hadrian Fitch than anything else.

Speaking of plot, take this as a serious warning: If you haven’t read Bittersweet in the Hollow you won’t understand the plot of this book.

As with the previous book, I was utterly charmed by the folklore, herblore, folk medicine, recipes, spells, and magic in Pearsall’s writing. It was one of the things that captivated me most in BitH and the prodigious use of it in this book was not only important to the plot but also adds so much character and atmosphere to the book I just think it sets the whole thing apart from other books in the genre. I respect the research that had to have gone into the writing process and the due diligence paid to issues that are plaguing our national forests (like are portrayed in the book).

I can’t wait to read the next Pearsall book. Whether it’s another BitH book or something new, I’m eager to see what’s next.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Amateur Sleuth/Book Series/Fantasy/Folklore/Paranormal Mystery/Paranormal Romance/YA Book Series/YA Fiction/YA Paranormal Romance

This is book 2 in a series that follows sister witches in the mountains of West Virginia. I loved that occasional chapters would have little inserts from their family cookbook with remedies and talking about what plants were in harvest and that small touch made the characters feel so much more real. Also this is the first series I have read about the Mothman and it’s made me want to read more about him. Hoping for another book in the series after this

I completely enjoyed this read! After finishing I found out that it is part 2 of a storyline so I will be grabbing book 1 soon. The snarky MFC Rowan James is what I need in this moment as a main female character, she is witty, strong willed, but has a sensitive side. The writing in this book was great, I did not feel like I was coming in on the middle of a story, the character development, world-building, and plot lines were solid, and the pacing, in my opinion was perfect to assist in maturing the storyline. The mystery just got deeper and deeper the more you read, when one thing was revealed and seemingly solved, it broke open a whole new side of the mystery. It kept me wondering and that was a huge plus for me. There is a romance subplot and I actually liked that it was slight and didn’t take away from the main point of the story. The part that made me smile was the recipes from the family book and the information of what foods are in season during a specific period. At this point I am a member of the James family because I have their recipes now! Hadrian's story was heartbreaking to me, how he came to be in his situation and how he has to live now. The way he spoke of wanting to go home… that small part of the story broke me.

This was a cute cozy, small town, mystery with magic and a splash of romance mixed in for fun.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group, and Kate Pearsall for the ARC of this book. The review I am leaving is honest and completely voluntary.

Back in the eerie Appalachian town of Caball Hollow, we follow Rowan, one of Linden’s sisters, who possesses a unique supernatural ability; she can taste other people’s lies.

I thought her ability would make it easier to solve the mystery in this story, but that’s not the case. It makes the mystery just as challenging to solve!

One of my favorite aspects of this story, beside the supernatural ability and the beautiful writing style, is the family dynamics.
It’s heart-warming to see the James women always having each other’s back and caring for their small town, despite the way of how some of the people in town treat them.

I’m thrilled to see Rowan and Hadrien as the main characters cause I love their banter and the tension between them in the previous book.
However, just like the first book, the romance is not the main focus of the story.
I would’ve love to see more of them working together to solve the danger lurking around the small town again.

The pacing was a little slow at first, but the twists and turns in the last half of the book more than make up for it, keeping me on the edge of my seat the whole time
That last line at the last chapter really surprised me! It made me wished I had the next book in my hands already!

Overall, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue is a fantastic addition to the series!
Judging by the ending, the series is far from over, and I’m curious about which sister will be the main character next. My bet is on Juniper!
Well, no matter who it is, I will definitely keep an eye out for the next adventure in Caball Hollow!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: death, car accident, violence, blood

Thank you to Kate Pearsall, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am obsessed with the cover of this book! This was a good book with an interesting premise. I really enjoyed Kate's writing. It held my attention and the attention to detail makes you feel like instead of reading, you are watching a movie play out in front of you.

4.5! I actually liked this one better than the first one in the series. I tend to connect to more prickly main characters and Rowan was giving me prickly and angry in the best way. I was more invested in the romance in this story and felt that there was a more believable build up of a relationship between the characters. I found the mystery to be engaging and thrilling, and did actually find that I was surprised by what happened in the end. I feel that the ending was a little rushed as a result of all of the different mysteries the author tried to pack in, but overall I really enjoyed the plot as a strong highlight in the novel. I enjoyed where they left room for the story to continue in a new novel!

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

⋆⋆⋆⅞ — don't have much to say about this. the writing was really beautiful, and i enjoyed the plot. i will say that the romance was very hasty towards the end. rowan and hadrian very much have chemistry, and there's a romantic tension underlying most of their interactions, yes, but i feel like they don't interact that much for them to be all "i love you, i'd die for you" like they were in the last few chapters. 90% of the book is about the bone tree/missing memories plot, and only 10% is romance, so i felt like their relationship should have been left more ambiguous. but anyway, this was really pretty. and i think the ending is possibly hinting at a juniper and james darrow book??? which i am very much seated for, if the author ever goes that route.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

This isn’t the type of book I usually go for, but I found Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue to be such a satisfying read. Rowan’s journey, as she navigates her magical gift and untangles a murder mystery, was captivating. Caball Hollow’s dark, atmospheric setting, with its eerie small-town charm and hints of magical realism, pulled me in completely.

The romance subplot is minor, but the relationship between Rowan and Hadrian felt genuine, adding a nice layer of tension and heart to the story. While the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, the unfolding mystery kept me engaged and eager to uncover the truth. The conclusion tied everything together nicely while leaving room for more stories in this world.

Even though I didn’t read the first book (Bittersweet in the Hollow), this book stood strong on its own, with everything explained clearly. If you love YA mysteries with magical realism and a dash of small-town intrigue, this one is absolutely worth picking up!

Kate Pearsall's Lies on the Serpent's Tongue is an absolutely beautiful and often tender, thrilling story following Rowan, who can smell lies. Upon entering the world, it. immediately made me want to read the novel it's companion to, Bittersweet in the Hollow. Persall's writing is brilliant, and I look forward to diving in more!

I really enjoyed this book I liked it just as much as Bittersweet in the Hollow. Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue follows another James sister, Rowan, who has a gift where she can tell when a person is lying. Rowan is thrown into a murder mystery and has to team up with Hadrian to find the killer. I loved the dynamic between Rowan and Hadrian. I love a good enemies to lovers trope!

I really loved this author’s writing. This was such an engrossing read. I loved the world that the author created and the characters. I loved following another sister in this world. I hope the author continues on in this series from the other sisters’ perspectives.

I definitely recommend this series to YA mystery thriller lovers.

I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced reader copy (ARC) of Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall through NetGalley, and as a sequel to Bittersweet in the Hollow, it absolutely did not disappoint!

Returning to Caball Hollow and the beloved cast of characters felt like coming home. The James women, with their rich personalities and unique gifts, will always hold a special place in my heart. This sequel not only deepened the intrigue surrounding the mystery of the Mothwinged Man introduced in the first book but also brought fresh characters and a seemingly unrelated (or is it?) new mystery into the fold.

What I loved most about this book was the chance to explore another James sister’s gift from her perspective. It added new depth to the story and made the narrative feel fresh while still maintaining the charm and suspense of the first installment. The blend of old and new elements kept me hooked from start to finish.

This was a 5-star read for me, without a doubt. I can’t wait to return to Caball Hollow, hopefully sometime soon, and unravel more secrets with the James family!

The book was okay for me. I was hoping for a bit more action to keep me on the edge of my seat. The premise was intriguing, but I didn’t feel as swept away as I’d hoped. Still, I’m grateful for the chance to read it. Thank you for the ARC!

3.5

Honestly, just fine. I liked Rowen enough as a protagonist, especially her hardness towards the world. But her development felt rushed, and the big bad didn't feel like a big surprise to me. Would have liked a further deep dive into the lore and Rowen's aunt even more because I thought it got brushed aside in the end.

"Everybody lies. And in knowing their lies, I become the keeper of their secrets."
Lies on the Serpent's Tongue is the second book in the Bittersweet Hollow series and it does not disappoint. This is about a girl who can smell the lies of others and uncovers mysteries in the small Appalachian town. The book was a page turner from beginning to end and was such a good sequel. This was written really well and all of the characters in this were great. I loved how this took place in a small Appalachian town. Overall, this is one that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves fantasy or mystery books. Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall.

I had a really hard time getting through this one. There were suspenseful moments, but overall I found my mind wandering a lot and I struggled to get through it. I didn’t connect to any of the characters sadly. I think this book had a great premise. It promised a lot but just didn’t deliver for me.

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue || Kate Pearsall
4.5 stars

"If the four of us sisters were one body, Linden would be the heart, Juniper the spirit, and Sorrel the brains. I'm not sure what they'd say I would be. Maybe the muscle. Or the mouth."

"I'm not saying that I know at eighteen that you and I will be in love forever. I'm saying that even if we hate each other again tomorrow, I'd still want you to live."

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC.

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue takes place after the events in Bittersweet in the Hollow, but instead of Linden, Rowan is the main character of this story. As a reminder, each of the 4 James sisters has an ability and Rowan can detect lies. There is a whole lot going on in the tiny town of Caball Hollow. The Bone Tree is damaged and strange things are happening, such as animals appearing that aren't indigenous to West Virginia, objects are going missing, along with memories, and people are losing pieces of their souls. Not to mention there is a mysterious death, the appearance of a John Doe who won't awaken from a coma and some out of town people looking to capture local legends on camera for their Youtube channel (oh, hello Moth-Winged Man, you're back again), who aren't quite who they seem. Rowan, believing there is a connection to it all, sets off on a quest to figure out what is going on as this is affecting her family on a personal level. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately...) Hadrian Fitch is also trying to figure out what is going on and he needs her lie detecting abilities to do so.

Compared to Bittersweet, I enjoyed Lies on the Serpent's Tongue more. Where Linden was sweet as honey, Rowan is a prickly holly bush, and I prefer a feisty main character. I continue to love the magical realism and paranormal elements to these small town mystery thrillers. I also enjoyed the enemies to lovers storyline between her and Hadrian. The slow burn and moments of tension between these two gave me butterflies and had me looking forward to the next scene between the two of them. I also found this story a bit more suspenseful and mysterious than the first book, and I was not able to predict the ending. As with the first book, Kate Pearsall does a marvelous job worldbuilding and is so descriptive that I can see the scenes play out in my mind.

I'm not the biggest fan of series past 2 books nowadays, but, I love that the author is allowing each sister to shine in their own books in this series and will continue to read this series as the books release. If you're looking for a mystery thriller, that isn't too scary and that has the perfect mix of romance, pick this book up, but please read Bittersweet in the Hollow first!

-young adult
-mystery thriller
-enemies to lovers
-small town
-magical realism
-paranormal
-witchy
-1st person POV
-book 2 in a series

Content Warning: violence

I really enjoyed Bittersweet in the Hollow, the first book in this series. I love the James women!

We are back in Caball Hollow which is in the Appalachia mountains of West Virginia. It’s an eerie small town and the James women history with witchcraft, the bone tree, the Moth-Winged man stories and now sightings of the Wampus Cat just adds to it all. I enjoy the lore of the James women and the atmosphere of the setting.

I feel like this book is way more atmospheric than book one and much more creepy. Rowan, one of my favorite of the James sisters, because of her fiery personality, she is restless but she finds her calling when she is forced to volunteer for the Forest Service and she is one brave young lady. She is alone in the forest except for basically a treehouse and a walkie-talkie. For someone young, she’s really responsible and doesn’t complain about things, which I love about her.

The mystery about community members missing items and essentially maybe missing parts of themselves is what brings Rowan and Hadrian (the Moth-Winged Man) together. Between these two and their attraction to one another, we learn more about the forest, the Otherworld, the bone tree, and what would happen if the bone tree died. I also loved the storyline about Zephyrine who is Gran’s lost sister.

I do feel like this book was help transitioning to what’s going to happen with book three and so I feel like we didn’t get to know Rowan as much as I wanted. We were in her head a lot which is great but I wanted to see her interact more with her sisters and Hadrian. I loved her scenes with Hadrian but I love them so much I wanted more.

Final Thoughts:

This is a great sequel and I can’t wait to read more about the James sisters and Caball Hollow!

I'm so excited we got a sequel to Bittersweet in the Hollow!!!
I love Rowan and all of the members of the James family, and especially her antagonistic, I'll work with you because I need you not because I trust you, of course, I don't have feelings for you relationship with Hadrian, whom I would totally date in real life.

In this one we see Rowan volunteering for the forestry service and I enjoyed this change of scenery for her. I thought she really came to life out in the woods and found something she could call her own. I just really enjoyed every aspect of this book, the vibes were 100% there, the characters were very well written, and the story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I'm keeping my fingers crossed we will get stories for Rowan's sisters as I'm totally not ready to leave Cabal Hollow and the James sisters just yet.

I need to start this review by saying I really do enjoy this series. The James women are all very interesting characters, and I love that the author is taking the time to tell a story from hopefully each of them. I have my delighted suspicions about who will be next with the fervor of a reader theorizing about a beloved series.
That being said, Lies on the Serpent's Tongue does a lot of things very well. It begins with a great recap of Bittersweet in the Hollow, and there is plenty of moderately spooky elements to keep it thrilling. Rowan's brand of magic is scenting lies, and that's such an interesting one to have! I found it so interesting and realistic that even people who know of her skill still lie knowing she can detect it. Knowing a lie is a lie is not the same thing as knowing truth.
Some fun romance tropes were included like One Tent (variation of one bed, maybe the YA version?) and fake dating. My one issue is that this book does feel a little underdeveloped. I wish it was longer and could explore new family relationships and provide a less rushed conclusion.
This series is fun but dark YA. I can't really think of anything else I've read like it, and that is perhaps the highest compliment I can pay an author. I can't wait to read them all.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers - G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!