Written by contributor Graceley Knox
Please note there are mild spoilers through this review. Stop reading now if you don’t want to know anything other than what is in the book description!
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.
Not only do we jump right into the action from page one with a prologue set in Salem, Massachusetts during the Witch Trials (with being a witch from New England, I’ve usually got plenty of side eyes for all things witchy only being set in Salem because witches are worldwide people, but I digress), P.C. and Kristin waste no time in setting the stage, or gallows as it were, and entrance readers senses with their descriptions of the harrowing predicament our heroines ancestor, Sarah Goode, is currently in.
Without giving too much away, let me just assure any sort of practitioner of the craft (and by craft I mean witchcraft), that not only do the authors keep fictional magic mystically mysterious, they keep it practical and not in a boring way that might bog down a reader who’s unfamiliar with witches or any of the arcane arts.
They weave little bits of lore, spellwork, and omens throughout the novel in a perfect mix of fantastical and feasible. Add in their trademark quick-witted writing, and their ability to address common misconceptions about witchcraft, such as all who practice the craft worshiping the devil (you do you, fellow human. No judgement here, I’m just including an example I found refreshing in a work of fiction), and the fact that it’s not all complex potions and secret rituals by moonlight (although they have those too!), but giving intentions to everyday items and actions.
Moving on because I could, and will happily, wax poetic about this novel for hours… After one hell of an introduction to the Goode line of witches, we’re introduced to not only a change of setting from Massachusetts, but twin witches—Hunter and Mercy Goode, who are no more alike than oil and water. They also know they’re witches and embrace it fully, which is a refreshing change from what has become the norm in YA witch books where they have to discover they’ve been a witch all along etc.
You’ve got Mercy, who’s a certified badass in my book with her hand embroidered jeans and rebellious witchy attitude. Add in her unapologetically comfortable in her own skin, even as a sixteen-year old, energetic and eclectic vibe, and it’s just a cherry on top. Every teen (and adult) out there who’s afraid to wear certain things or stand up for themselves should take note and follow in Mercy’s footsteps when it comes to speaking up and demanding respect for themselves.
And then we’ve got quiet but intense, secret romance novel writer, Hunter, who think’s she’s the only lesbian in her town (shout out to the authors for always including a diverse cast of characters in their novels). She’s also no less of a badass for her introverted and less in your face way of handling things, despite her lack of confidence in herself in the novel, which I honestly felt made her incredibly relatable as a character because I know I was absolutely full of doubts and questions and insecurities at her age, and still have some of those as an adult.
The novel has themes of being different throughout the novel, be it being straight or gay, a kitchen witch or a celestial witch, having a guy best friend when you’re a girl etc… I will note that this book was definitely written with an audience of teens in mind. Not adults who have the gift of hindsight, but teens who don’t always make rational decisions, whose brains are still developing and thus they make ill-advised and sometimes confusing, even to themselves, decisions.
With that said, so long as you go into the novel expecting it to be YA, which it fully is—even with the steamy scene between Mercy and her boyfriend, and the murders that are depicted as happening through the town—this book is absolutely meant for a YA audience. Knowing this, I was able to set my expectations reasonably for the characters and their development. Also, this is the first book in a trilogy, so regardless of my greedy desires to know everything that’s going to happen like yesterday, because I’m fully invested in the Goode twin’s wellbeing at this point, there were a few loose ends left dangling at the end of the book that are giving me a serious book-hangover right now.
As a writer, I understand having a cliffhanger ending. As a reader, it both makes me want to reread the book to find little clues I might have missed during my first read of the book and throw the book at the wall (no books were harmed in the writing of this review, pinky promise!)
I’m dying to see how the authors continue the story in book two. Will there be more to do with monsters and the different underworlds? Will they accept their destiny fully or will something happen to drive a wedge between them? Will their aunt continue to make me cackle with her antics? Either way, I can’t wait to dive back into the town of Goodeville, IL with the Goode sisters, and their circle of friends once book two comes out!
Spells Trouble is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 25th 2021.
Will you be picking up Spells Trouble? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Double double, twins spell trouble…
Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins to learn what it means to be Gatekeepers–the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and nightmares come to life.
When their mother becomes the first victim in a string of murders, the devastated sisters vow to avenge her death. But it will take more than magic to rein in the ancient mythological monsters who’ve infected their peaceful town.
Now Hunter and Mercy must come together and accept their destiny or risk being separated for good.
