This book has a lot going for it. Who can resist witches, especially when combined with teenage drama and challenges? The author did a fantastic job incorporating various elements of magic, like tarot and cauldrons, and the Gods and Goddesses added an extra layer of fun. While some parts were thrilling, I found myself wanting to put the book down occasionally due to its slower moments.

I was a bit unsure about the target audience. Despite the YA feel of the story and the characters' thought processes, the explicit scenes and language suggest it might not fit squarely in the YA category. It left me wondering where it truly belongs.

I also struggled with the shifting POVs initially. The transitions between the sisters were confusing at first, but I eventually got used to them.

I’m looking forward to seeing more of Jax and the underworld protectors in the next book. I especially enjoyed Xena; she provided much-needed comic relief when the twins' personalities became a bit overwhelming.

This is kind of stale for me.
I'm about 40% into it and don't really wanna force the rest.
I have so many really exciting books waiting for me that I would rather read.
I may go back to it eventually, but for now I feel like it would only make things worse to continue.

I really enjoyed this start to P.C. and Kristin Cast's new Sisters of Salem series. It's such a fun read full of spooky/witchy goodness. Can't wait for more!

I requested this because I was obsessed with the house of night series when I was younger.

This was a lot of fun, love the witchy vibes, and the relationship between hunter and mercy! Would definitely be interested in picking up the sequel.

I love P C Cast and Kristin Cast since I loved reading Marked and that was years ago. Spells Trouble is the first book in the Sisters of Salem series. If you love reading fantasy and/or witchy stories, you will enjoy reading this teen/young adult book series.

"Spells Trouble" marks the start of an exciting new fantasy series from the mother-daughter writing duo P.C. and Kristin Cast. Fusing elements of witchcraft, mythology, and family drama, this first installment in the Sisters of Salem saga casts a spellbinding introduction.
At the center are Hunter and Mercy Goode, twin witches tasked with an extraordinary birthright - to become Gatekeepers protecting their town from supernatural threats. When their mother is murdered, the devastated sisters must embrace their destiny sooner than expected to avenge her death and save their community from ancient mythological horrors.
The Casts demonstrate their mastery of world-building, deftly establishing the rich magical mythos and history surrounding Goodeville and the Goode family line. The lore surrounding the Gatekeepers and the different underworld realms they safeguard is equal parts fascinating and terrifying.
However, it's the unbreakable bond between the two protagonists that forms the emotional core. Hunter and Mercy's contrasting personalities and individual insecurities create a palpable sense of friction and tenderness reflective of many sister relationships. Their evolution from adversaries into a formidable team carries genuine emotional heft.
While steeped in the supernatural, "Spells Trouble" also skillfully explores universal themes of grief, growing up, and embracing one's truth. The Casts find a nice balance between delivering thrills and chills and grounding the narrative in relatable personal stakes for the characters.
An auspicious start to a promising new series, "Spells Trouble" should delight the Casts' existing fan base while also appealing to wider audiences with its blend of horror, fantasy, and family storytelling. Witches, monsters, and sister drama - what's not to love?

I always think that the premise of this duo's books sound so good, but this solidified that their writing is just not for me. I think that if you have loved books from this duo before than you will probably love them, but if you didn't like their previous books then you can skip this.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It was okay but it needed more. Honestly sometimes it was really hard to get through. I dont think ill be finishing the series

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Love love love PC Cast. Spells Trouble was fun and witty and fantastic! I couldn’t put it down for a second. Can’t wait for the sequel to be published!

A nice read but it took me a long time to finish it. Mostly, it was due to the characters.

The premises of the book got me interested. Twin sisters Mercy and Hunter come from a long line of witch-protectors of a grove of trees in Goodeville. Each tree is a portal to the underworld. When the sisters’ mother is murdered and other inhabitants of the town start dying, the twins need to take up the mantle and hunt down a monster before the solstice.

I found that the relationship between the twins was hard to read about. Instead of the complicity twins usually have, Mercy is constantly verbally abusing, diminishing and blaming Hunter for all their family problems. She goes as far as insisting that Hunter’s pledge to a god and not a goddess is the source of the monsters. I found her childish, self-centered, narrow-minded and completely out of touch of what goes on around her.

On the other hand, I really like Hunter, the more mature of the sisters. She tries her best to deal with their mother’s death while managing everything else, including her sisters’ constant attacks and complete lack of interest on how she’s feeling. I love her ability to use tarot, and her powers as a cosmic witch.

The mix of mythologies in this book was what kept me reading. There are Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Japanese and Hindu elements, including the five different tree portals which lead there. It was nicely thought of and described.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it.

This book was a good representation of the fantasy world interacting with the regular world which is what I have come to expect from this author. She tells the story of witches descended from Sarah Goode (of Salem Witchcraft Trial fame) and how they have protected their town for generations in a pentagram formed by five trees. When the trees begin to get sick and their mother is taken from them, how do Hunter and Mercy, the next generation of witches, battle for their town and their family? Very enjoyable read.

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I first discovered the Cast's when they wrote that fun little vampire series, so I was very excited about this book. It is about twin witches who learn to be gatekeepers when their mother becomes the first in a string of murders. I hope to see this story develop and evolve in the next installment.

I thought this was an interesting book with a cool cover. Would definitely recommend to witchy book fans.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for advance reader copy for a honest review. The synopsis was so promising, as it had me at Witches and Twins, but the story was just not for me. Two of my friends loved your story, which is great. Maybe my age has something to do with it. I am again sorry, maybe if I try to read this at another time I can re-read this story and might have a better outcome.

I love their energy through out the book and cant wait to read the next!! They should definately make more together! Dark, immersive and hard to put down!

Hunter and Mercy are twin sisters and witches who are faced with saving their hometown. The mystery kept me reading to find out what was happening! I found both Hunter and Mercy to be likeable as I read, along with their group of close friends. There were times I was laughing or gasping along with them! I am interested in continuing their story and reading the next in the series.

Spells Trouble is a young adult novel following two twins who are tasked to protect the town in which their ancestors founded, as well as solve the mysterious happenings within the town. It mixes together teenage and family drama with witchcraft that I found fairly compelling. As an educator, I think my students would definitely like this book as an independent reading book. It is a solid young adult novel. There were some parts that felt a bit cliche, or there were parts that definitely felt convenient for the story. I plan on continuing the series to see how these characters develop.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I had high hopes for this to be a fantastic witchy read. This wasn’t a fault of the book but a personal fault. The book read very young to me and yes I know it’s supposed to be YA. I realized while I tried to re-read these authors previous work (HoN series) that I just don’t vibe with their writing styles as I’ve gotten older.