Lies on the Serpent's Tongue

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.