Over the years, I have heard great things about this mother/daughter writing team - and one of their earlier titles is in a TBR pile somewhere... This twin story with a witchy vibe sounded like such a great premise - and thanks to Sweet Valley, I am incapable of resisting any twin story at all, particularly of identical twins. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this one quite as much as I expected to.

The historical prologue held more promise than the modern storyline - in fact, it seemed like all the best parts of the story had been skipped to get to the start of the story set in a small Central/Southern Illinois town. Twins Mercy and Hunter may share Elizabeth and Jessica's eye color, but the two never really seemed like twins to me - even before the bigger fights between them, they just didn't seem close. And I never felt a connection to either sister. And while there were a few scenes - particularly the ones with the football team that seemed more Sweet Valley than Salem, the book lacks that same fun, warmth and affection.

I did like Xena's character a lot- definitely the most interesting of the bunch. I just wish that the emotions seemed more genuine overall here. And the ending pretty much erased the book's events entirely - I mean, I don't mind a good cliffhanger, but this one instead of making me eager to see what happens next, left me feeling like I had wasted my time listening to it. It may have kept my attention from start to finish, but I really don't see myself continuing on with the series.

But, I really enjoyed the performance and narration of the audio version. The large cast size at times made me wish that I had a physical copy instead to flip back through pages to be certain of who exactly was who. I really wish that the authors had approached the story differently - the prologue set the tone for a book that at the very least, melded history with magic and I really wish that the frame of this had been one that continued the story started in the prologue, mixed in with the modern troubles. It would have also been nice to see the sisters having a closer relationship in the beginning, rather than just being told it.

Let me start by saying that I grew up reading novels by P.C. and Kristin Cast so the fact that I was even approved for this book means more than you will ever know, truly a dream come true. Also the fact that this book was witchy and everything my heart could ask for made it even better. I mean the power these ladies hold with their storytelling ability is almost unbelievable. I thought this whole thing was such a fun read. I also loved the different point of views in this story as I think that it built up the book even more, and added great depth and dimension to the story. This book gave me so much, It made me fell all of the emotions, it took me on a journey, it connected me to the characters and it gave me a taste of fantasy that I am so desperate to have exist in this lifetime. I truly cannot thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to read this and I can say with 100% certainty it will. not be the last book by them that I read.

I have a "Goody" in my family tree so reading this from past to present and seeing how the transition progressed was really fun! A great read!

Harper and Mercy Goode are twin witches. When their mother dies, they are faced with the task of protecting their world.

I liked the premise of this book, and the multiple perspective idea. However, I had some issues with the writing style and the random sex scene. I don't really mind sex in books, but this was something else. It felt like it didn't fit with the rest of the book, and it my opinion it would have been better off without it.

These ladies have done it yet again! They are just wonderful at creating worlds full of magic for you to just get lost in. The girls they have created, the sisters, the mother, even that familiar cat. It is fun and magical and wonderfully entertaining. even though it is about teenagers they still find a way to keep everyone entertained. I love their knowledge of the magic and the cultures that surround it. I love the stories and worlds these women create, I can't wait for the next one.

I received this and as an audio galley to listen to for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me access.

We have a sisterly bond filled with love and bickering, as it should be. P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast weave a wonderful story darkness and magic and the balance it needs. I enjoyed the history of the Salem witch trials that were interwoven into the story.

I will say upon listening, I was not prepared for a certain, and very descriptive, steamy scene. Maybe not exactly YA appropriate.

Do you post reviews for everything you read, or only books that you liked/recommend?
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I tend to not like posting negative reviews, but in this case I feel like it is necessary. This book had a huge PR campaign, and oddly I received the physical ARC @wednesdaybooks , the ebook ARC @stmartinspress @netgalley , and the ALC @macmillan.audio for review. Because of all of these reading options I did something I almost never do and read the physical ARC along with the audiobook ALC at the same time. Due to reading it this way I was able to see revisions made from the earlier draft (the physical copy) to the final (the audiobook). Some revisions were for the good while others put the nail in the coffin of my opinion on this one.
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This book had so much promise! Witchy twins with ties back to Salem, coming into their magic in the wake of tragedy. Sadly the story didn’t deliver. Below is a list of grievances.
-I’m all for sex positive rep in YA when it fits the story and is done well. I’m this case it was gross (especially the conversations with the mother). Ultimately the unnecessary sex scene led to over the top slut shaming and overall just left a dark shadow over most of the story.
-The horrible homophobic rhetoric and interactions between characters throughout the book. Being Gay is portrayed as a character flaw and repeatedly used as a way to make one main character feel unlovable and an outsider. All of this blew up towards the conclusion of the book, where a revision was made from the earlier draft to make the sexual orientation of the one sister the scapegoat for everything that went wrong in the entire book. Disgusting.
-This is the start of a series and honestly I can’t see as way forward for this series that isn’t extremely problematic. This was a mix of bad editing and poor decisions on the part of the writers as far as character development and conflict.
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My experience with this book makes me wonder how many other books have differences like this that we never know about because we only read one format. Everything in my review is based on the final content in the ALC which I got email confirmation from the publisher is the final published copy.

Not a bad story, but I've read more interesting witch and mythology stories before. Maybe it's because it's the first, but the details weren't fleshed out enough. How did the first witch get the trees? Why are they in Illinois? Why does the one twin think she's British? (that got really annoying). I think teens who are new to fantasy might enjoy more than me.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I'm so upset about this rating. I really wanted to love this book and the concept was there but this was a complete miss for me.

The prologue of this book started off strong and I truly believed I was going to hooked from the beginning. There was a dark haunting introduction to this story, but rather than continue down that road we were plopped securely in an outdated, cliched high school witch story that is trying desperately to be relevant. The problem with this book was that the authors seem so disconnected from what it is to be a modern teenager, that even I as a 30-year-old woman could see that this was written by someone who had long forgotten what it's like to be a teenager.

There is the cliched douchey football player with a tragic home life that chooses popularity over love. There are endless references to pop culture that again seem like the book is trying too hard to relate to teens. The incorporation of multiple mythos and also multiple popular magic systems ("mundane" I'm looking at you) was tedious and made it seem like rather than actually creating any sort of magic system, the authors decided to borrow from everyone else's imagination. There is no depth to any of the characters; the whole cast of characters felt like a failed attempt at campiness. And the worst offense in this book was the development of Hunter Goode as an LGBT character, her sexuality felt like a lazy attempt to prove the authors' wokeness. Oh, and I almost forgot the cringeworthy sex scene that is unnecessary and uncomfortable given that this book seems to be written for 13 year olds.

The story itself wasn't well developed, nothing happened in this book and then we were left with a cliffhanger. I won't read the next one and wish I had just DNF'ed it. There was no satisfaction in finishing this as all.

3.5 rounded up.
I listened to the audio version and found the narration by Cassandra Campbell very pleasant. I felt her distinction between characters was clear without being distracting.

I’d like to start by saying I am not the audience for this book as a mid 30s lady. Though I did enjoy the witchcraft element and the friendships of the supporting characters, there was just too much melodrama for my tastes. I felt there was a lot of promise, and I probably would have been more into it if I was a teen.

However, I was VERY surprised by the explicit sex scene considering the target audience, but I haven’t read a ton of YA so I’m not sure if this happens a lot.

One thing I really struggled with was the nervous habit one of the main characters had of picking/chewing her nails/cuticles. By the end of the book I was dreading the description of it and found it very grating and uncomfortable (which I imagine was the intention).

***Thank you to Macmillan audio for providing me with a copy of the audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.

Spells Trouble has a great premise, and I really liked the prologue. After that, things go a little astray. Don't get me wrong, the story does have its moments, but they're fewer and further between with each turn of a page. Now, here's where I'll say that I read the House of Night series by this author duo, and it Having read the House of Night series by this author duo, I expected to find teenage angst and drama, and this one certainly has its share of those. The problem is that these characters lacked the development to draw me in, to make me care about that angst. That wasn't helped by a story that was drawn out much too far with a lot of lags I came very close to skimming through.
Because I liked the premise so much, and I'm always looking for an original storyline, I also listened to the audiobook of Spells Trouble. My hope was that Cassandra Campbell could breathe some life into these characters, and she did In fact, her performance is the only reason I raised my rating from 2 to 3 stars. She does give distinctive voices to the characters, definitely more than I was able to muster when reading. Even so, those characters are still cookie-cutter versions of almost any group of teenagers in any teen drama you saw on television in the 90s. With the unrealistic dialogue, I kind of felt like I was back there watching an episode of Dawson's Creek A really long episode.
I'd like to think that the world created here still has potential, so I'll reserve a decision about following along with the series for now. As it stands, I feel like I read and listened to a sub-par story read by an above-average narrator.

This one was a fun peek into what modern witchcraft might look like, with a few fantastical details. I really appreciated the bits of lore woven through a present day setting, but I struggled with a few life aspects that seemed like but of a stretch in the setting. Overall a fun read!

Spells Trouble by P.C. Cast, & Kristin Cast was a wonderful story. I was engaged and on the edge of my seat to hear what would become of Hunter, Mercy, and their friends every step of the way. I listened to the audiobook and it was very well narrated and kept me engaged the entire time. Highly recommended fantasy read/listen!

Thanks to NetGalley for an early preview of the book in exchange for my honest review

This genre isn’t something I would normally gravitate towards. Sci-fi, witchy, etc
With that being said, I really enjoyed this book.
Hunter and Mercy are young twin witches who are learning the ways of witchiness when their mother is murdered the need for their skills is amplified
There is enough reality and young adult content to bring this book back to a realm of my understanding just when it starts to drift off down the witchcraft black hole
I don’t know enough about the practice to relate but I do appreciate a book and a skill that focuses on the divine powers of women. Which this book does
Definitely enjoyed this one!

After reading and LOVING the House of Night Series I was thrilled to see that this powerful mother-daughter duo was back with another supernatural series. So of course I was delighted to get my hands on a copy of this book to devour.

The book begins with Sarah Goode, accused of being a witch, and locked in a cell with her young daughter. Fast forward to the present time and we are introduced to twin sisters Hunter and Mercy Goode, whom are descendants of Sarah Goode.

Several great characters, a great plot, and an enjoyable read.

A great novel that I highly recommend.

Twin witches Mercy and Hunter Goode are turning sixteen,and coming into their full powers, and responsiblities, as adult witches.

As descendents of the founding Goode witch of Goodeville, these young women are the newest in a long line of gatekeepers protecting their town from other ancient underworlds.

On the night of their ceremony, strange and tragic events take place. Mythical, and deadly, creatures start to invade Goodeville.

The twins must use their strengths and put aside their differences in order to save their town and loved ones from a horrible fate.

I enjoyed this YA read a lot. There were so many positive things addressed that are real teenager concerns; boyfriend troubles, conflict with siblings and growing up LGBTQ in a small town. The witchy vibes were awesome and I want to move into their big comfy magic filled house right away!

As I said in my review for the print book, it’s not my favorite of the Cast’s work, but still incredibly enjoyable. I think the narrator was a fantastic narrator for this book as well. She had a good flow and energy without overpowering the story. She was easy to listen to in standard speed, as well as slightly sped up. I think that the narrator definitely served to enhance the story, and I greatly enjoyed the listening experience

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up having to DNF "Spells Trouble" because it made me feel uncomfortable and I will go into detail as to why.

Before we begin, I would like to say that the prologue was extremely interesting and I felt like it had a lot of potential. It set up a very interesting story, and I almost wish that we followed Sarah Goode's tale instead of the twins'.

First of all, the dialogue in this book feels like an early 2000s teen romcom. Teenagers don't speak this way and it began to feel tedious. For example: "Oh em gee!" or "hugsies!" or "where's my pressie?" It's just unrealistic and, after awhile, was annoying and frustrating to read. Along with the dialogue, I couldn't tell the twins apart. I know that one is the party girl and the other is more serious and reserved, but as far as description, personality, and manner of speaking/thinking goes, they were indistinguishable.

I didn't like their mother's character at all. She acts like a sister instead of a mother and the girls call her by her first name (it's not explained why), however, it was the kitchen scene the night of their birthday that put me off. Now, I am all for discussing safe sex with your children but when their mother says makes inappropriate comments and tries to get them to discuss things in a crude manner, I had to put the book down. It made my skin crawl. Their mother said things like: “Make sure those condoms find their way into your purse and onto your boyfriend's penis” or asks if her daughter she needs to “talk about [her] clitoris." She even makes comments on the size of her daughter’s boyfriend’s penis and says that the girls should be grateful that their family history allows for multiple orgasms. Uncomfortable isn't a strong enough word to describe how I felt about this scene.

The plot had a lot of potential but it felt so dull. I love witches, but the magic didn’t feel exciting or enticing. On top of that, there were those hints of colonialism that I just can't get behind. In the prologue, Sarah Goode begs those watching over her to lead her somewhere safe. She finds a town riddled with monsters, closes the Gates to Hell, and names it after herself as a reward. The twin's mother comments on how not even Indigenous peoples would settle in this town before their ancestor arrived, due to the Gates of Hell and the evil creatures, but thank god a white woman got ahold of it to turn it all around!

Lastly, I was granted the audiobook to listen to. I wouldn't say I'm overly picky about audiobooks and their narrators, but this narrator made choices that gave me headaches. She chose these high, squaky voices for the teens that made me cringe. It was hard to listen to and is part of the reason I couldn't continue the story. (These choices probably didn't help the dialogue either).

Thank you again, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of this book. I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

This pulls you in immediately with twin witches! These sisters are the complete opposite of each other but are so loyal. They are surrounded by friends that support them. Then something awful happens. Now the sisters have to figure out what went wrong. The story was so great. I could not stop reading. The narration was great. I need the next book right now! Thank you to Netgalley and Sg Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I have thoroughly loved books from this dynamic duo in the past, this one just lacked for me. The synopsis of this book sold me on the promise of fierce witches, and instead I'm left with disappointment. The plot was disjointed. The pacing was slow. And the characters felt underdeveloped. So frustrating.