Lies on the Serpent's Tongue

By: Kate Pearsall

Narrated by: Julie Webster

In this haunting companion to Bittersweet in the Hollow, a girl who can smell the lies of others uncovers the incendiary mysteries of her small Appalachian town.

“Sparkling and darkly atmospheric.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Studded with folk magic, intrigue, sisterly bonds, and romance.”—Booklist

Everybody lies. And in knowing their lies, I become the keeper of their secrets.Rowan James has spent her whole life harboring unpleasant truths. That’s what happens when you can smell lies like ash on the teller’s breath. She’s learned that complete honesty is rare, and no one is truly who they claim. So when the enigmatic Hadrian Fitch, an infuriating liar and former hand at the family farm, shows up on her front porch unannounced, her first instinct is distrust.

Weeks before, Hadrian had taken off without so much as a goodbye, leaving Rowan smoldering mad despite claiming she wanted him gone. Now, bloody and bruised, Hadrian is looking for the kind of help only Rowan can provide—to smoke out his unknown attacker in a town full of liars.

Soon, as a rash of petty thefts plagues Caball Hollow, rumors spread that a clawed monster straight out of local lore is prowling the area. Rowan knows finding Hadrian’s assailant may be the key to untangling an increasingly complex web of mysteries, but as she gets closer to the truth—and to Hadrian—she uncovers incendiary secrets that could burn the whole town to the ground.

Critic reviews

“Pearsall again paints an atmospheric family saga studded with folk magic, intrigue, sisterly bonds, and romance, and Rowan’s compelling character development ties the multifaceted plot together.”—Booklist

“This gothic Appalachian mystery works as a stand-alone but weaves together complex characters and storylines from 2023’s Bittersweet in the Hollow. The plot is intricately crafted, with key information held back until the novel’s explosive conclusion . . . Sparkling and darkly atmospheric.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The atmospheric writing captures the impact of the supernatural on real-world events . . . An engrossing supernatural story with a nice slow burn romance . . . Strong first buy.”—School Library Journal

“Rowan’s strength as a narrator holds it all together, anchoring the story in her intensity, rage, and utter devotion to her family . . . Fans of the previous title will not be disappointed, and readers new to the series will happily head back to the first book.”—BCCB

A great sequel

I loved Bittersweet in the Hollow, and this was a worthy sequel. The blend of mountain wisdom, mystery, and magic make for a compelling read.

Not really a stand alone

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall
Genre: Young adult gothic mystery
Romance: ♥️♥️♥️
Plot: ⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐
Vibes:⭐
World building: ⭐
overall: ⭐⭐

When I picked up the book, I was told that despite it being a spin off book, it can be stand alone. Unfortunately, I don't think that's true. There was so much context that I felt as though I was missing. There were characters that I was supposed to know, deals that happened that I was not aware of, and relationships that I was just thrust into. I'm sure all of it would have made more sense if I read the first book but as a stand alone, the world building is basically non-existent.