I adored this novel. In my youth, I read books like Cate Tiernan's Sweep. The unraveling of witchcraft through the books was one of my favorite things. This book delivered that nostalgic feeling. I loved the relationship between the twins. I am eager to see what comes next in this series.

One thing I would like to state of the Cast's writing is that I never understand why their novels are labeled young adult when there are erotic scenes in many of their books. I would never let my thirteen year old niece read this.

This was a fun start to a new YA series! The characters were realistically presented and the insecurities that they experience felt very true to what life is like for teens and the pressures that they experience regularly. There were elements that felt rushed for the sake of plot - the exploration of grief should have been more drawn out than it was. Also, the shift in Hunter’s character at the end of the novel felt a little bit forced and silly for a character who spent the majority of the novel being so reasonable and put together. I assume this was done to lead into the next part of the series, but I wish the build had been more apparent. That said, the witches connection to their own gods and goddesses and the type of magic that it would bring them was very well executed and an interesting take on witchcraft. I loved that each witch had an element that they felt more connected to and that their power was strongest when focusing on those magics. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how the Goode sisters story evolves throughout the course of the series!

When I read the synopsis for Spells Trouble, I was hooked. Twin witches tasked with protecting the five gates to the Underworld, based on five major mythologies (Greek, Norse, Hindu, Japanese, and Egyptian)? Sign me right up!

Oh, you sweet, summer child.

This book could've been good, heck, it could've been great.....if only no one ever spoke. The dialogue is so gut-wrenchingly cringe-worthy. It's as though someone's grandma was trying to relate to the youths of today, which I guess is very much the case. Mercifully, there was not a single instance of "lit" or I would've thrown my kindle across the room. Also, despite the book being completely set in the middle of Illinois and PC Cast/Kristin Cast being very much American, one of the twins insists on using British swears for no apparent reason. My eyes rolled so hard every time there was a, "bloody buggering hell" or a "wanker," I think I saw my own brain.

I muscled through it to the end, hoping the witchcraft and mythology would drown out my constant, internal groaning. It did not.

Mercy and Hunter remind me so much of the classic characters we discovered in the author's past series: House of Night. I think this book feels a bit on the younger side of YA but is classically fun in all the ways YA lovers know and appreciate. Although I didn't personally connect with the stories I am intrigued to see where this trilogy goes!

I just don't think this one was for me. I found it to be VERY YA. The choice of words used by the characters seemed a little forced like they were trying too hard to be cool. One of the characters kept using British jargon and I just didn't understand why. It was never mentioned or explained why she spoke this way. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped, I think there are certain aspects that other readers will find entertaining.

This duo is amazing! I loved this new series and foray into a new world. Spells Trouble was a unique take on a familiar trope and I can't wait to see what happens next.

I was let down by this book. Another series starter that didn't quite know what the story was going to be and where it was going to go. I hope the author has it figured out in the later books, but I know I won't be picking them up.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for the honest review of #SpellsTrouble.

I switched between the physical copy of this and the audiobook. Sadly, this just wasn't a book for me. It read much more middlegrade than I expecting (though with a random explicit sex scene thrown in).

I ended up DNFing this book 30% into it. Not because it was a bad. I have just recently discovered that YA is not for me anymore. I appreciate the opportunity to have gotten this ARC.

Double double, twins spell trouble…

I want to thank St. Martin’s press for providing me with an E-Arc of “Spells Trouble” by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.

Spells Trouble is the first book of a new Young Adult paranormal fantasy series called Sisters of Salem. The story features sixteen year old twin witches called Hunter and Mercy Goode. They are celebrating their sixteenth birthday and coming from a long line of witches they are about to perform a ceremony so they can become protectors of the Gates to different Underworlds. But during the ceremony something is wrong and they discover that the gates are breaking down, releasing all kinds of evil into their world. When their mother is killed trying to protect one of the gates the girls must do anything in their power to protect and save their world.

This was my first book written by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. And I had some good expectations when I read the recap. It started well and I was really interested in the story at first, but then it took some time for the story to get into the action. The idea of the story was good and had potential, but for me it was a miss.

The story sometimes felt more like a middle grade book instead of a young adult book. And it would be such a problem if there wasn’t a random sex scene tossed into it. I call it random since I didn’t think it was timed very well. The girls just lost their mother and the gates are crumbling down and for me there was no reason at that time in the story for a sex scene and it actually felt wrong. Also the characters were flat for me. I couldn’t connect with them and at times I was irritated by them. I found it also weird that their friends almost didn’t react when they discovered that the twins were real witches. I would freak out or would be really excited. But they didn’t show much in my opinion. The plot was kinda disappointing and predictable and the action wasn’t building up towards the end. I don’t think I’m going to read the second book into this series.

A witchy supernatural YA novel about twins Mercy and Hunter Goode and their crazy journey dealing with teenage life, magical portals, and a cat who can turn human. This reminded me a lot of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Hocus Pocus.” An entertaining and unique teen paranormal adventure with magic woven into every page!

On the eve of Mercy and Hunter’s sixteenth birthday, the twins are faced with a life altering situation. With the help of their friends, Hunter and Mercy must learn to harness their new power and guard the four gates that have suddenly decayed.

I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this one, as I’ve never read anything by these two authors and I was pleasantly surprised! The action is non-stop, the teenage problems are realistic, and I loved the added elements of surprise! This one reads a lot like a movie scene and I could totally picture every moment playing out on the big screen. Be prepared for a giant cliffy and the added elements of sexuality and death being discussed. This is one cute and quirky rollercoaster ride!

First off… as a practicing witch, I’m drawn to anything and everything witch like, witch adjacent, and downright witchy, especially books involving witches in any way at all. That being said, I either really love fictional witches or I can’t stop pausing while reading because there are random “witchy” words thrown in sporadically that have no bearing on the story at all and are usually used incorrectly, and it drives me bonkers.

Now that that’s out of the way, I can happily report that not only did the writing duo, P.C. & Kristin Cast, firmly cement their place on my autobuy author list for life, they have full-on imprisoned my witchy heart in a prison cell that no spell could break me free from with Spells Trouble.



My full review can be found on the Nerd Daily Website!
https://thenerddaily.com/review-spells-trouble-by-p-c-cast-kristin-cast/

I have love this author when I was younger. I am glad I picked up this book now. The magic, the sisterhood were all tangled and beautifully written together!

I really loved the beginning of this book, I thought the scenes taking place in Salem were really interesting and detailed.

Fast forward to the present, I had a really hard time liking Mercy's character in this book. Yes, she thinks she is in love and she thinks her boyfriend in the greatest but whew, that was hard to watch. I really liked Hunter's character; she was head strong, thoughtful, and caring.

There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and parts that I found myself skimming over to try and slog through them. I would give book 2 a chance to see if I would finish reading the series.

DNF this book, out of respect to the authors I will
Not be writing a review.
I wanted to love it, and was looking forward to reading it, but I was very disappointed. No matter how many times I picked it up and told myself to get through it, I just couldn’t.

DNF at 20%
I absolutely love the concept of this book, and the prologue was amazing, but unfortunately the shift to modern day was not for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and overall I just couldn’t get into it after the very beginning.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review*

Hunter and Mercy Goode are witches who are excited to celebrate their birthday and their coming of age ceremony. During the ritual something goes terribly wrong in which Hunter and Mercy now have to figure out how to set right and restore order to.

Spells Trouble takes place over just four days. I was so surprised when I read that in the book because A LOT happens. So much more than what you would expect to be crammed into only four days.

I am going to review this through the eyes of my younger self in that if I were reading this 10 years ago I would have absolutely loved it. The premise of the story is pretty cool and the way that they have to solve the issue is written and described well. I could really visualize everything because PC and Kristin Cast write with an abundance of detail. There's also a saucy scene that was written in with a little more detail than I was expecting. So be warned if you're getting this for your younger child and that's an issue.

I felt like the resolution of the problem happened pretty fast in the end though. Like too easily maybe. I'm not going to spoil anything though.

Overall, it was a good story, but I doubt that I'll read more from the authors. I was hoping that their writing had evolved since House of Night and it really hasn't.

Book said teens or YA so I was thinking this would turn out like there night series. I was terribly wrong. I’d almost say grades 6-8. Characters were boppy teens and twins girls right before there 16th birthday. One teen is dating the football captain, the other is gay, and bullied.

What did I like? Not much really here for me. Been so long since I’ve identified with a younger mind that this book just fell flat. Nothing in this book made it really stand out as something unique either. I think I’ve read way too many girl power books lately. I prefer to have the guy save the day sometimes. Two stars.

DNF

I had an audiobook arc copy of this and the narrator did a great job! I really liked them and will for sure look into more of their work in the future.

As for the actual book, I unfortunately decided not to finish it. I was enjoying it at the beginning but I quickly grew bored and didn’t find myself connecting to any of the characters or to the plot.

I really wished I loved this one! I was a huge fan of their House of Night series when I was younger.

If you’re into teen witches with dark magic and a murder mystery, do check this one out. Don’t let my review deter you if you’re interested!

Spells Trouble is the first book in the YA paranormal Sisters of Salem trilogy.

This is the first book in a new series by P.C. and Kristin Cast (House of Night series).

The book focuses on 16 year old twin witches Hunter and Mercy Goode. They are the main narrators. We get chapters from each sister (3rd person POVs).

The story takes place in Goodville, Illinois in Salem County.

When deaths start occurring in their town the twin sisters need to use their magic.

The twins are the Gatekeepers of their town. They protect various Gates around town that could lead to different underworlds.

The book features a lot of high school drama. And each sister has a best friend (Emily is Mercy's bff and Jax is Hunter's best friend). I really enjoyed these relationships immensely.

Mercy has a boyfriend Kirk (star quarterback). I do think that this added an interesting element to the story. However there was some sexual content, which I don't think was necessary.

I didn't really enjoy the monster/underworlds aspect of the story. But I did really enjoy the spells and the witch aspect.

Overall this was a cute YA story.