Spells Trouble: Sisters of Salem #1    by Kristin Cast & P. C. Cast Order:  USA  Can Macmillan, 2021 (2021) Hardcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The mother and daughter team, P. C. and Kristin Cast, wrote the popular teen supernatural series House of Night. Now, Spells Trouble is the opening salvo in their Sisters of Salem saga. As before, the authors combine teen relationships and teen angst with supernatural conflict. Twin witches Hunter and Mercy Goode live in Goodeville, and are direct descendants of the town's founder. Their mother Abigail, a powerful witch, mentors them and, in particular, teaches them how to fulfill their destiny as Gatekeepers. They must protect portals to various underworlds and prevent the creatures who inhabit them from entering our world. Their mother's familiar, white Caine coon Xena, also lives with them. As this first episode opens on their birthday, Hunter and Mercy are preparing themselves for their dedication ceremony as Gatekeepers. Hunter's best friend is Jax. Mercy has a crush on quarterback Kirk (whom the others dislike) and her best friend is Emily. Though close, the twins are quite different - in sexual orientation, in popularity, and in the deities they have chosen to serve. Mercy serves Freya but Hunter has chosen sky god Tyr. The dedication ceremony goes awry, something terrible comes through a Gate, and Abigail dies in banishing it. Xena takes human form to be the twins' guardian, so they can stay in their home. Meanwhile, readers see the Sheriff's body taken over by something monstrous. Hunter and Mercy desperately seek means (both spells and science) to correct the damage done to the Gates, while Mercy's relationship with Kirk implodes. Instead of coming together through this extreme crisis, the sisters grow apart, leading to a cliffhanger of an ending that will leave fans anxious for more. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews