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