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Savannah Red #1
The Bell Witches
YOU’LL WANT TO BE ONE. UNTIL YOU KNOW THEIR SECRETS.
After Emily’s father tragically dies, she is forced to live with the only family she has left, an aunt and grandmother in the heart of Savannah, Georgia in a house as beautiful as it is mysterious.
But all is not what it seems with the Bell family; they’re hiding a magical secret.
When Emily meets the alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was always meant to be. As the spark between them grows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn; but every step closer to him, takes her a step further away from her family.
Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water...
THERE’S NO BOND GREATER THAN MAGIC
After Emily’s father tragically dies, she is forced to live with the only family she has left, an aunt and grandmother in the heart of Savannah, Georgia in a house as beautiful as it is mysterious.
But all is not what it seems with the Bell family; they’re hiding a magical secret.
When Emily meets the alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was always meant to be. As the spark between them grows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn; but every step closer to him, takes her a step further away from her family.
Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water...
THERE’S NO BOND GREATER THAN MAGIC
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2024
482 people are currently reading
22202 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Kelk
50 books5,489 followersLindsey Kelk is the Sunday Times bestselling author of books including the I Heart series, On A Night Like This, The Christmas Wish, and One in a Million, along with the middle grade Cinders & Sparks series.
As well as writing books, Lindsey co-hosts the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage, and Tight and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network.
Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in LA, where she lives with her husband and two very rude cats.
As well as writing books, Lindsey co-hosts the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage, and Tight and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network.
Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in LA, where she lives with her husband and two very rude cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 772 reviews
December 7, 2024
-you would sacrifice your family legacy and magic for a boy you met at 16?
-yes! I love him!
-yes! I love him!
November 10, 2025
The Bell Witches is a solidly well written & highly entertaining read. The storyline & the prose itself lives up to the beautiful dust jacket. A great witchy read for YA fantasy lovers.
Basic Premise (no spoilers):
Emily James, having lost her father to a traffic accident, leaves Wales to go to live with her grandmother and her aunt in Savannah, GA. There she meets Wyn, an instant love interest, and the twins who become her fast friends. Very quickly she realizes that--as the title of the book suggests--she's from a long line of witches.
A Few Thoughts:
**I sped through this book at breakneck speed--it is highly addictive & I didn't want to stop.
The plant references--both the medical use and the rumored associations--are all legitimate, and I can tell that a good amount of research went into this topic, and that other various aspects of the old religion went into writing this book. In general, similar to Practical Magic, it's a positive depiction of the old religion and far less off the mark than many I have read.
A Few Issues:
The characters are all basically likable--the love interest, Wyn, especially so--but all of their ties to one another felt slightly too easily formed and too rushed. People just don't become instant friends who trust one another completely overnight. That didn't feel authentic. It's not a glaring pacing issue--just enough to give me pause. I understand that the author wanted to keep the action moving along, but these characters could have used some more basic bonding time before becoming devoted to one another.
The main issue I had is another fairly minor one. In the middle of the book for about 150 pages, Emily can't say anything politely. Every time anyone does anything for her, she makes a sarcastic comment. Any time anyone says anything to her, she answers with sarcasm and rudeness. She never says thank you. It's to the point that you almost stop liking her. No kid who has just met family for the first time and has lost her parents is going to be that rude to her new hosts. Scared, sad, yes. But constantly rude? It's obnoxious, and I don't think the author was even conscious that she kept writing her this way because she is meant to be consistently likable. Constant sarcasm with not an ounce of gratitude or grace is not likable. It's a small annoyance, but I felt my suspension of disbelief lag here a bit.
___________________
Spoiler ahead in the penultimate sentence:
I would love to keep reading this series--I loved the imagery in the setting. The plot was creative and original. The prose was palatable. So please, please, please Ms. Kelk, write Emily with a bit more gratitude in future works. She is a very wealthy, privileged white kid with magic--hard to justify the snark. She has a terrible grandmother, yes, but she didn't know that for most of the novel, so it's hardly an excuse. I don't mind reading about privileged white kids, especially if the magic system is interesting, but they have to be likable people.
Basic Premise (no spoilers):
Emily James, having lost her father to a traffic accident, leaves Wales to go to live with her grandmother and her aunt in Savannah, GA. There she meets Wyn, an instant love interest, and the twins who become her fast friends. Very quickly she realizes that--as the title of the book suggests--she's from a long line of witches.
A Few Thoughts:
**I sped through this book at breakneck speed--it is highly addictive & I didn't want to stop.
The plant references--both the medical use and the rumored associations--are all legitimate, and I can tell that a good amount of research went into this topic, and that other various aspects of the old religion went into writing this book. In general, similar to Practical Magic, it's a positive depiction of the old religion and far less off the mark than many I have read.
A Few Issues:
The characters are all basically likable--the love interest, Wyn, especially so--but all of their ties to one another felt slightly too easily formed and too rushed. People just don't become instant friends who trust one another completely overnight. That didn't feel authentic. It's not a glaring pacing issue--just enough to give me pause. I understand that the author wanted to keep the action moving along, but these characters could have used some more basic bonding time before becoming devoted to one another.
The main issue I had is another fairly minor one. In the middle of the book for about 150 pages, Emily can't say anything politely. Every time anyone does anything for her, she makes a sarcastic comment. Any time anyone says anything to her, she answers with sarcasm and rudeness. She never says thank you. It's to the point that you almost stop liking her. No kid who has just met family for the first time and has lost her parents is going to be that rude to her new hosts. Scared, sad, yes. But constantly rude? It's obnoxious, and I don't think the author was even conscious that she kept writing her this way because she is meant to be consistently likable. Constant sarcasm with not an ounce of gratitude or grace is not likable. It's a small annoyance, but I felt my suspension of disbelief lag here a bit.
___________________
Spoiler ahead in the penultimate sentence:
I would love to keep reading this series--I loved the imagery in the setting. The plot was creative and original. The prose was palatable. So please, please, please Ms. Kelk, write Emily with a bit more gratitude in future works. She is a very wealthy, privileged white kid with magic--hard to justify the snark. She has a terrible grandmother, yes, but she didn't know that for most of the novel, so it's hardly an excuse. I don't mind reading about privileged white kids, especially if the magic system is interesting, but they have to be likable people.
July 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️2.5 stars
🫑0 spice
A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with this arc!
The Bell Witches follows the story of Emily, a sixteen year old girl who moves to Savannah, Georgia from Wales following the death of her father. With no parents, she is taken in by her grandmother, Catherine in the Bell family mansion, and quickly realizes that her family has incredible wealth and status she was unaware of. Emily is a descendant of a family of powerful witches, and this history has been kept from her until she moves to Georgia and starts having odd experiences.
*Light spoilers*
The entire book is about Emily’s “Becoming”, an event on her seventeenth birthday where she truly becomes a witch. For me, this was not a big enough point of interest to keep me entertained for the entire book. The side plots were very tame, and the whole book felt like it was filler to get us to book two. Unfortunately, it never gripped me enough to have me intrigued about another book.
The dialogue is probably what bothered me most. It is very modern language with all of our “slang” we have on social media, including references to Starbucks, Apple, TikTok, etc. Maybe it’s just personal preference, but hearing all of our cringy sayings we use put into a book is not for me. The characters also just said really, really odd things at times.
ALSO - the author mentioned her own name in the book? It was really weird and definitely took me out of it.
The relationship between Emily and Wyn was very insta-love. We had love at first sight, and very quick “I love you’s” said. The thing that sets this apart is that Wyn is also a Were, which also is a very loose plot point.
Overall, I was disappointed with this read. I don’t know if it’s more my taste that made it not as enjoyable, but the story felt underdeveloped. Also, this really is not much of a fantasy, it just happens to contain witches in my opinion. I think if you’re a fan of more “modern” witch-related reads, this might be for you!
🫑0 spice
A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with this arc!
The Bell Witches follows the story of Emily, a sixteen year old girl who moves to Savannah, Georgia from Wales following the death of her father. With no parents, she is taken in by her grandmother, Catherine in the Bell family mansion, and quickly realizes that her family has incredible wealth and status she was unaware of. Emily is a descendant of a family of powerful witches, and this history has been kept from her until she moves to Georgia and starts having odd experiences.
*Light spoilers*
The entire book is about Emily’s “Becoming”, an event on her seventeenth birthday where she truly becomes a witch. For me, this was not a big enough point of interest to keep me entertained for the entire book. The side plots were very tame, and the whole book felt like it was filler to get us to book two. Unfortunately, it never gripped me enough to have me intrigued about another book.
The dialogue is probably what bothered me most. It is very modern language with all of our “slang” we have on social media, including references to Starbucks, Apple, TikTok, etc. Maybe it’s just personal preference, but hearing all of our cringy sayings we use put into a book is not for me. The characters also just said really, really odd things at times.
ALSO - the author mentioned her own name in the book? It was really weird and definitely took me out of it.
The relationship between Emily and Wyn was very insta-love. We had love at first sight, and very quick “I love you’s” said. The thing that sets this apart is that Wyn is also a Were, which also is a very loose plot point.
Overall, I was disappointed with this read. I don’t know if it’s more my taste that made it not as enjoyable, but the story felt underdeveloped. Also, this really is not much of a fantasy, it just happens to contain witches in my opinion. I think if you’re a fan of more “modern” witch-related reads, this might be for you!
October 24, 2025
The Bell Witches is a YA witchy read perfect for spring and autumn reading.
We follow Emily, who recently lost her father in an accident and has moved from Scotland to Savannah, Georgia, to live with a grandmother and aunt she thought were dead. Emily's life has literally turned upside down. She's gone from living a modest life travelling from place to place with her father to living in a grand yet mysterious mansion. Shortly after arriving, she meets Wyn, whom she falls for instantly. Her grandmother forbids dating until after she has turned 17 (which she almost is), but she can not stop the pull towards him.
When Emily begins to have flashbacks, she couldn't possibly remember from infanthood and feeling strange, she begins to worry there's something wrong with her.
As she finds out the Bell family's secrets and has to navigate truth from lies and her head from her heart, everything starts to spiral and all she now loves and cares about is now hanging in the balance.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it would make a great movie.
We follow Emily, who recently lost her father in an accident and has moved from Scotland to Savannah, Georgia, to live with a grandmother and aunt she thought were dead. Emily's life has literally turned upside down. She's gone from living a modest life travelling from place to place with her father to living in a grand yet mysterious mansion. Shortly after arriving, she meets Wyn, whom she falls for instantly. Her grandmother forbids dating until after she has turned 17 (which she almost is), but she can not stop the pull towards him.
When Emily begins to have flashbacks, she couldn't possibly remember from infanthood and feeling strange, she begins to worry there's something wrong with her.
As she finds out the Bell family's secrets and has to navigate truth from lies and her head from her heart, everything starts to spiral and all she now loves and cares about is now hanging in the balance.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it would make a great movie.
November 24, 2024
This was okay, but a little too bland for me.
Also, really tired of Werewolves actually just being people who turn into wolves. It's a pet peeve.
The story revolves around Emily, who has recently returned to Savannah after the death of her father. Her grandmother takes her in, and it's not long before Emily discovers a family legacy that may be more than it seems.
Honestly, the story stays busy enough, but I guess it just wasn't all that interesting to me? Emily is fine as a character but nothing particularly special - I didn't really feel connected to her and therefore didn't feel much for what she was going through. There are strange things happening but she's more concerned with catching up with the Boy she fell in love with at first sight.
And let me tell you, this was the worst case of insta-love I have read in a while. This was literally the FIRST GLANCE they started feeling all hot and bothered for each other. GOD. I am just not here for that kind of romance.
The grandmother seemed very Mother Gothel from the start, so I never really liked her and I wanted Emily to stop sucking up so much. But I guess if you factor in the grief at having no family left other than this mysterious grandmother she's just met for the first time, you can kind of understand it.
It was a decent enough story, but it was just not all that exciting for me. I wanted more action, more adventure, and definitely more than Emily just getting icecream with a Boy all the time.
Others who prefer a more cosy type of fantasy should enjoy this, but it wasn't quite intense enough to really capture me. I did still enjoy it well enough, though.
With thanks to Harper Collins for an ARC
Also, really tired of Werewolves actually just being people who turn into wolves. It's a pet peeve.
The story revolves around Emily, who has recently returned to Savannah after the death of her father. Her grandmother takes her in, and it's not long before Emily discovers a family legacy that may be more than it seems.
Honestly, the story stays busy enough, but I guess it just wasn't all that interesting to me? Emily is fine as a character but nothing particularly special - I didn't really feel connected to her and therefore didn't feel much for what she was going through. There are strange things happening but she's more concerned with catching up with the Boy she fell in love with at first sight.
And let me tell you, this was the worst case of insta-love I have read in a while. This was literally the FIRST GLANCE they started feeling all hot and bothered for each other. GOD. I am just not here for that kind of romance.
The grandmother seemed very Mother Gothel from the start, so I never really liked her and I wanted Emily to stop sucking up so much. But I guess if you factor in the grief at having no family left other than this mysterious grandmother she's just met for the first time, you can kind of understand it.
It was a decent enough story, but it was just not all that exciting for me. I wanted more action, more adventure, and definitely more than Emily just getting icecream with a Boy all the time.
Others who prefer a more cosy type of fantasy should enjoy this, but it wasn't quite intense enough to really capture me. I did still enjoy it well enough, though.
With thanks to Harper Collins for an ARC
June 29, 2024
I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Eh. So-so reading experience.
I acknowledge here and now that I read a VERY early copy of this book, so some things might change or be corrected.
First of all, one thing that this book does absolutely right: athmosphere. I never went to see the deep South, but goddamnit was I transported to Savannah, with all its lush plant life and squares and old Southern mansions. I din't know what Spanish moss was before reading this book, but now it's one of my favorite plants, I think! I could practically feel the air and its humidity, and the smells and sounds of the perfume garden.
Overall, this book is a very nice YA novel about Emily, who finds out she's a witch after her father tragically dies. I think this book could have been very, very good if it wasn't for the romance.
Ah, the romance. Never did an insta-love manifest more quickly than in this book, between our heroine Emily and her oh-so-beautiful boy Wyn. I looked at Kelk's other works, and they are pretty much only romance books, so I expected the romance to be sweet and balanced, but ... no. They came, they saw, they confessed their undying love for each other at the third date. They don't even know each other! It honestly took away a lot of my enjoyment of the book, and I found myself looking forward to the parts where Wyn is gone, because then I could focus on the actual story and character development. Wyn has no personality except that he's hot and that he's specifically built for Emily to be in love with. There's another character, Jackson, who has a crush on Emily, and honestly, those two have TONS more chemistry than Wyn and Emily, because we see them interact, and because they seem to actually like each other. Ugh, anyway.
I loved all of the interactions that Emily has with her family, and with her newfound best friend, Lydia. Lydia was honestly a stand-out character for me, even if she does fit into the trope of racially ambiguous quirky best friend. She's just incredibly entertaining.
Emily's family are very well written. Ashley, Emily's resentful aunt, was also one of my favorite characters. Anyone who stress-bakes is an automatic 10 in my book.
Catherine was a very good villain for a story like this, though I have some problems with the execution of her eventual downfall, namely the fact that she doesn't really get to BE the villain. It's complicated.
Lastly, I have some issues with the writing style.
First, the fact that the word "unalive" is used as an actual verb, in the text, in place of the word "kill". At first, when Lydia used it, it did take me out of the story enough to write a confused tweet about it, but eventually I thought that because Lydia is hip and cool, that using this word was a way to paint her as a modern young woman who is internet-savvy. But then Ashley used it. Ashley, who doesn't use the internet. ... What? Please don't do this. "Unalive" is a word people use to get around AI filters on platforms like Tiktok and Twitter. It has not yet found it's place among the English language as a real, legitimate verb. It just comes off as cringy.
Secondly, there is a sentence structure that is overused by the author, and honestly, I'm not even sure it's grammatically correct. Kelk tends to use the word "but" in place of punctuation. "I did this but Wyn just appeared on my door step," "Everyone knows her but your friend lives with her grandma," or something like this. This sentence structure, using the "but" to join to sentences together without even the slightest appearence of a comma, appears on every page multiple times. It's ridiculous. This overuse of a sentence structure hinders the flow of the language and just annoyed me to hell and back. Granted, not everyone is obsessed with sentence structure and punctuation like I am ... I hope that this book is due for another round of editing anyway, and that someone will also notice this and correct it. Or just add some commas. ... Please.
Lastly, the amount of Taylor Swift references. Look, it's cringy, and it ages your text. We get it, everyone loves her right now, but in a couple years, people will look back and say: "This is a product of its time." We don't want that.
Eh. So-so reading experience.
I acknowledge here and now that I read a VERY early copy of this book, so some things might change or be corrected.
First of all, one thing that this book does absolutely right: athmosphere. I never went to see the deep South, but goddamnit was I transported to Savannah, with all its lush plant life and squares and old Southern mansions. I din't know what Spanish moss was before reading this book, but now it's one of my favorite plants, I think! I could practically feel the air and its humidity, and the smells and sounds of the perfume garden.
Overall, this book is a very nice YA novel about Emily, who finds out she's a witch after her father tragically dies. I think this book could have been very, very good if it wasn't for the romance.
Ah, the romance. Never did an insta-love manifest more quickly than in this book, between our heroine Emily and her oh-so-beautiful boy Wyn. I looked at Kelk's other works, and they are pretty much only romance books, so I expected the romance to be sweet and balanced, but ... no. They came, they saw, they confessed their undying love for each other at the third date. They don't even know each other! It honestly took away a lot of my enjoyment of the book, and I found myself looking forward to the parts where Wyn is gone, because then I could focus on the actual story and character development. Wyn has no personality except that he's hot and that he's specifically built for Emily to be in love with. There's another character, Jackson, who has a crush on Emily, and honestly, those two have TONS more chemistry than Wyn and Emily, because we see them interact, and because they seem to actually like each other. Ugh, anyway.
I loved all of the interactions that Emily has with her family, and with her newfound best friend, Lydia. Lydia was honestly a stand-out character for me, even if she does fit into the trope of racially ambiguous quirky best friend. She's just incredibly entertaining.
Emily's family are very well written. Ashley, Emily's resentful aunt, was also one of my favorite characters. Anyone who stress-bakes is an automatic 10 in my book.
Catherine was a very good villain for a story like this, though I have some problems with the execution of her eventual downfall, namely the fact that she doesn't really get to BE the villain. It's complicated.
Lastly, I have some issues with the writing style.
First, the fact that the word "unalive" is used as an actual verb, in the text, in place of the word "kill". At first, when Lydia used it, it did take me out of the story enough to write a confused tweet about it, but eventually I thought that because Lydia is hip and cool, that using this word was a way to paint her as a modern young woman who is internet-savvy. But then Ashley used it. Ashley, who doesn't use the internet. ... What? Please don't do this. "Unalive" is a word people use to get around AI filters on platforms like Tiktok and Twitter. It has not yet found it's place among the English language as a real, legitimate verb. It just comes off as cringy.
Secondly, there is a sentence structure that is overused by the author, and honestly, I'm not even sure it's grammatically correct. Kelk tends to use the word "but" in place of punctuation. "I did this but Wyn just appeared on my door step," "Everyone knows her but your friend lives with her grandma," or something like this. This sentence structure, using the "but" to join to sentences together without even the slightest appearence of a comma, appears on every page multiple times. It's ridiculous. This overuse of a sentence structure hinders the flow of the language and just annoyed me to hell and back. Granted, not everyone is obsessed with sentence structure and punctuation like I am ... I hope that this book is due for another round of editing anyway, and that someone will also notice this and correct it. Or just add some commas. ... Please.
Lastly, the amount of Taylor Swift references. Look, it's cringy, and it ages your text. We get it, everyone loves her right now, but in a couple years, people will look back and say: "This is a product of its time." We don't want that.
February 15, 2025
The Locked Library subscription box
I debated whether or not to write my honest feelings here because they are pretty savage, but after reading yet another awful locked library pick I decided I will.
This book is terrible.
I had a strong feeling whilst reading that the author has spent a lot of time on booktok and jumped on the genre, cobbling together components from other books that have succeeded in the hope of producing a bestseller. This perception was only confirmed when I later looked up Lindsey’s other books.
The author has written absolutely nothing like this before; all Lindsey’s books are chic lit, with covers I’d imagine seeing on the shelves in Tesco ready to be picked up by middle aged women setting off on holiday to an all inclusive (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
The insta-love was cringe worthy, and it felt very much like she was trying to be ‘down with the kids.’ It was so juvenile, and the characters felt so 2 dimensional.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she typed a plot out and had AI write the book for her.
I do think part of the issue is Harper Collins appear to be investing heavily in books with popular tropes and pretty covers at the expense of quality writing.
Aaaaand now I’ve got that out my system.
I debated whether or not to write my honest feelings here because they are pretty savage, but after reading yet another awful locked library pick I decided I will.
This book is terrible.
I had a strong feeling whilst reading that the author has spent a lot of time on booktok and jumped on the genre, cobbling together components from other books that have succeeded in the hope of producing a bestseller. This perception was only confirmed when I later looked up Lindsey’s other books.
The author has written absolutely nothing like this before; all Lindsey’s books are chic lit, with covers I’d imagine seeing on the shelves in Tesco ready to be picked up by middle aged women setting off on holiday to an all inclusive (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
The insta-love was cringe worthy, and it felt very much like she was trying to be ‘down with the kids.’ It was so juvenile, and the characters felt so 2 dimensional.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she typed a plot out and had AI write the book for her.
I do think part of the issue is Harper Collins appear to be investing heavily in books with popular tropes and pretty covers at the expense of quality writing.
Aaaaand now I’ve got that out my system.
August 17, 2024
If you’re looking for a gothic witchy fantasy to put on your radar then you need to put the Bell Witches on your TBR.
This is such a cosy, magical book filled with family secrets, friendship, romance and of course witchcraft!
After Emily’s father suddenly passes away she finds herself living with her long lost family who aren’t all that they seem to be. They’re witches! Emily finds herself swept up in secrets and mystery as she discovers her own identity along the way.
Lindsey’s writing is gorgeous and this would be the perfect spooky season read.
Due for release October 2nd so perfect timing!
Thank you to the lovely team at Harper Voyager and Harper Collins Australia for sending this gorgeous proof of the Bell Witches my way!
This is such a cosy, magical book filled with family secrets, friendship, romance and of course witchcraft!
After Emily’s father suddenly passes away she finds herself living with her long lost family who aren’t all that they seem to be. They’re witches! Emily finds herself swept up in secrets and mystery as she discovers her own identity along the way.
Lindsey’s writing is gorgeous and this would be the perfect spooky season read.
Due for release October 2nd so perfect timing!
Thank you to the lovely team at Harper Voyager and Harper Collins Australia for sending this gorgeous proof of the Bell Witches my way!
September 25, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.
I think The Bell Witches is more suited to a younger audience, potentially as they'll be able to relate to Emily and the complexities of being a teenager, with the added bonus of her being a witch.
I enjoyed the plot but I admit I did cringe a couple of times when Emily and Wyn were talking and Wyn delivered the most cringe-worthy dialogue. Maybe it's just a case of me being an old fogey now and not appreciating romance, who knows?
I felt sorry for Ashley towards the end. At first I thought she was just really miserable and grumpy for the pettiest of reasons but it all made sense in the end.
I predicted the plot twist surrounding Wyn pretty early on so it wasn't a surprise when it happened and I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it.
All in all, a good read but will probably be more appreciated by the under 20's.
I think The Bell Witches is more suited to a younger audience, potentially as they'll be able to relate to Emily and the complexities of being a teenager, with the added bonus of her being a witch.
I enjoyed the plot but I admit I did cringe a couple of times when Emily and Wyn were talking and Wyn delivered the most cringe-worthy dialogue. Maybe it's just a case of me being an old fogey now and not appreciating romance, who knows?
I felt sorry for Ashley towards the end. At first I thought she was just really miserable and grumpy for the pettiest of reasons but it all made sense in the end.
I predicted the plot twist surrounding Wyn pretty early on so it wasn't a surprise when it happened and I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it.
All in all, a good read but will probably be more appreciated by the under 20's.
October 22, 2024
When you sigh in relief when the book is over, it's a good indicator that it wasn't for you 🥴
December 19, 2024
Any book that feels like a chore to read shouldn’t be read at all.
DNF 12%, I just can’t do it. The story reminds me of those YA novels waaay back in the day circa 2012. From the first chapter there is the most instant insta love that ever did insta love I have ever read. The story and characters are so bland and nothing is fleshed out. I tried to skim more and based on the other reviews I’m definitely in the majority with them.
It’s such a shame as the Illumicrate and original covers are absolutely stunning.
*sigh*
Can’t get them all, I guess.
DNF 12%, I just can’t do it. The story reminds me of those YA novels waaay back in the day circa 2012. From the first chapter there is the most instant insta love that ever did insta love I have ever read. The story and characters are so bland and nothing is fleshed out. I tried to skim more and based on the other reviews I’m definitely in the majority with them.
It’s such a shame as the Illumicrate and original covers are absolutely stunning.
*sigh*
Can’t get them all, I guess.
August 24, 2024
This is a very atmospheric YA novel with a great setting and witchy vibes! I must admit that I was hesitant to start this book because I was unfamiliar with the author, and the vast majority of YA novels I’ve read lately have missed the mark for me. However, I’m happy to report that this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and I had a really good time with it!
The main character, Emily, moves from the UK to Savannah, Georgia, to live with her grandmother and aunt, her only remaining relatives after her father’s death. Soon, she discovers that her family hides a secret: magic runs through their generations. Things become even more complicated when Emily meets a charming boy named Wyn, whose situation turns out to be as complex as hers.
There are several aspects of this novel that I really liked, the first being the lush, gothic atmosphere of the American South. I think the setting is what really makes this book work. The plot isn’t particularly complicated or original, and the twists are fairly easy to predict, but that didn’t bother me because the vibes here are impeccable. The book is also very fast-paced; there isn’t a single scene that doesn’t push the story forward, which I really appreciated.
As for the romantic plot, Emily and Wyn fall in love very quickly. I imagine some readers might prefer a slower burn with more character development. While I do enjoy a slow burn, this is a book about teenagers, and it’s quite normal, I believe, for 17-year-olds to fall fast and hard. So for me, the way their relationship developed wasn’t really a flaw. I do wish we had learned more about Wyn and his family, but I’m certain we’ll get that in the sequel. Other secondary characters, like Emily’s aunt and her twin friends, also have great potential for further development.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s a solid source of entertainment if you don’t overthink it and just let yourself get swept up in the atmosphere and fast-paced plot. I’m certain it will be a great pick for its target age group, as well as for some older readers like me.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The main character, Emily, moves from the UK to Savannah, Georgia, to live with her grandmother and aunt, her only remaining relatives after her father’s death. Soon, she discovers that her family hides a secret: magic runs through their generations. Things become even more complicated when Emily meets a charming boy named Wyn, whose situation turns out to be as complex as hers.
There are several aspects of this novel that I really liked, the first being the lush, gothic atmosphere of the American South. I think the setting is what really makes this book work. The plot isn’t particularly complicated or original, and the twists are fairly easy to predict, but that didn’t bother me because the vibes here are impeccable. The book is also very fast-paced; there isn’t a single scene that doesn’t push the story forward, which I really appreciated.
As for the romantic plot, Emily and Wyn fall in love very quickly. I imagine some readers might prefer a slower burn with more character development. While I do enjoy a slow burn, this is a book about teenagers, and it’s quite normal, I believe, for 17-year-olds to fall fast and hard. So for me, the way their relationship developed wasn’t really a flaw. I do wish we had learned more about Wyn and his family, but I’m certain we’ll get that in the sequel. Other secondary characters, like Emily’s aunt and her twin friends, also have great potential for further development.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s a solid source of entertainment if you don’t overthink it and just let yourself get swept up in the atmosphere and fast-paced plot. I’m certain it will be a great pick for its target age group, as well as for some older readers like me.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I heard about it. I've been a fan of Lindseg Kelk for about 14 years now when I first read "I Heart New York".
This was a classic witch coming of age story with a Lindsey twist on it. I loved it. I found Emily to be believable as a character and I can't wait to see what she does next. I'm hoping we get more of Lydia and that she regains her family's gifts. Wyn is a complicated one as in his storyline, I can't predict what'll happen next but I can't wait to find out.
I have so many questions at the end of this book that the second book is needed now.
I knew I had to read this as soon as I heard about it. I've been a fan of Lindseg Kelk for about 14 years now when I first read "I Heart New York".
This was a classic witch coming of age story with a Lindsey twist on it. I loved it. I found Emily to be believable as a character and I can't wait to see what she does next. I'm hoping we get more of Lydia and that she regains her family's gifts. Wyn is a complicated one as in his storyline, I can't predict what'll happen next but I can't wait to find out.
I have so many questions at the end of this book that the second book is needed now.
August 11, 2025
After losing her father, Emily leaves the only life she's known behind in Wales, to travel to the historic town of Savannah, Georgia. She goes to live with her Grandmother and Aunt in their family's huge old house. As Emily adjusts to her new life, she meets people in town and makes friends, but she also has started to experience odd changes and sensations that she can't quite explain.
Adjusting is becoming a challenge for her, as she learns about her family and town's history, she starts to realize how big the challenge that she is up against is.
Emily uncovers the truth about her lineage that changes everything, she’s a descendant from a long line of powerful witches.
She will have to decide who she can trust, in a town where everyone is keeping secrets.
"Because magic is not good or bad, it's the truth. Our connection to the blessing is strongest in places with history, where lives have been lived, happy and sad."
"There are only two things people could never have enough of, love and knowledge."
This story is about much more than magic though. The main theme centers around the pull between family loyalty and personal freedom, but it's also about finding unexpected friendships, and a risky and very rushed romance.
By the end, I found myself not invested in Emily’s journey at all anymore. I found myself rooting for the antagonist (not because I liked them, but because I wanted the story to be over.)
I felt like this book could have been so much more, but it just wasn't there.
The love felt rushed and not in a good way, the plot was minimal, and the characters weren't very likable. It wasn't a bad read, but there was nothing remarkable or different that it brought to the genre.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publisher for this ARC.
Adjusting is becoming a challenge for her, as she learns about her family and town's history, she starts to realize how big the challenge that she is up against is.
Emily uncovers the truth about her lineage that changes everything, she’s a descendant from a long line of powerful witches.
She will have to decide who she can trust, in a town where everyone is keeping secrets.
"Because magic is not good or bad, it's the truth. Our connection to the blessing is strongest in places with history, where lives have been lived, happy and sad."
"There are only two things people could never have enough of, love and knowledge."
This story is about much more than magic though. The main theme centers around the pull between family loyalty and personal freedom, but it's also about finding unexpected friendships, and a risky and very rushed romance.
By the end, I found myself not invested in Emily’s journey at all anymore. I found myself rooting for the antagonist (not because I liked them, but because I wanted the story to be over.)
I felt like this book could have been so much more, but it just wasn't there.
The love felt rushed and not in a good way, the plot was minimal, and the characters weren't very likable. It wasn't a bad read, but there was nothing remarkable or different that it brought to the genre.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publisher for this ARC.
October 30, 2024
I’ve read a lot of heavy books this year, so it was nice to read a laid back and cosy style witchy read. I found the characters likeable, with a nice sprinkle of humour throughout. Perfect YA read for anyone who loves witches!
June 3, 2025
2.5 ⭐
Most predictable plot I've ever read, boring characters, insta love romance ☠️, not realistic at all. I was expecting a gothic fantasy (mentioned in the synopsys??) or at least a cosy fantasy romance. And I got a YA predictable, cliché and boring story.
Most predictable plot I've ever read, boring characters, insta love romance ☠️, not realistic at all. I was expecting a gothic fantasy (mentioned in the synopsys??) or at least a cosy fantasy romance. And I got a YA predictable, cliché and boring story.
October 8, 2024
I listened to the audiobook of The Bell Witches and the audiobook was really well performed by the narrator. She was really confident performing the Savannah accents of most of the characters and that made it feel more authentic. I don't have any complaints about the audiobook performance.
As for the story itself, to me it felt like it fell on the lowest end of the YA spectrum. It's very insta-love, and even for a 16 year old protagonist who had only had one previous kiss, this insta-love was a bit extreme. Plot-wise, maybe I've just read so much YA by now that I can see where the plot is going a mile off, but I found that I'd predicted the main plot points in the first chapter as soon as Emily gets to Bell House and meets her grandmother. I was frustrated that Emily never put two and two together or questioned what she was seeing/hearing/experiencing at any point when it all seemed so obvious what was happening.
On a positive, I did really like the writing style. It was really visual and descriptive and I felt like I knew what it was like to be there in Emily's environment. So I enjoyed the descriptive style and the audiobook narrator but unfortunately I didn't connect with the plot and insta-love romance as it skewed too young for me, even for the YA age range.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader/Listener Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
As for the story itself, to me it felt like it fell on the lowest end of the YA spectrum. It's very insta-love, and even for a 16 year old protagonist who had only had one previous kiss, this insta-love was a bit extreme. Plot-wise, maybe I've just read so much YA by now that I can see where the plot is going a mile off, but I found that I'd predicted the main plot points in the first chapter as soon as Emily gets to Bell House and meets her grandmother. I was frustrated that Emily never put two and two together or questioned what she was seeing/hearing/experiencing at any point when it all seemed so obvious what was happening.
On a positive, I did really like the writing style. It was really visual and descriptive and I felt like I knew what it was like to be there in Emily's environment. So I enjoyed the descriptive style and the audiobook narrator but unfortunately I didn't connect with the plot and insta-love romance as it skewed too young for me, even for the YA age range.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader/Listener Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 13, 2024
This book really reminded me of the ya fantasy books that I grew up with. That’s not necessarily a terrible thing, but some of the characterisations were a little too early 2010s for me. There wasn’t anything new or exciting in this book, and the overall impression was underwhelming for me personally. I do think that this will be the right book for people, and that’s perfectly okay with me!
This book is more of a coming of age book that I thought, which is fine! I think that part is well done, and I can definitely see how Emily is going to grow into a more mature character as the series continues. My problem was that Emily needed a more stronger characterisation, maybe some more anger or empowerment. Instead, her priorities felt like a bad representation of teen girls. She could have been better presented, especially for young people.
Leading on from this, I also think the author needed to really think about how 16-17 year olds speak. The dialogue felt very stereotypical and slightly insulting towards teens. The modern references were oversaturated and just not necessary in such volume.
The witchcraft aspect was fine - drawing from more fictionalised depictions of witch trials in history but still interesting. I would have loved to have more information on how the magic works in practice but that will come more in the second book. The family dynamics were incredibly messing and nonsensical at times, but I quite liked that as it added some depth to the story.
Overall, an easy ya fantasy book to read. It’s not exactly my cup of tea, but I’m sure it will be for others.
This book is more of a coming of age book that I thought, which is fine! I think that part is well done, and I can definitely see how Emily is going to grow into a more mature character as the series continues. My problem was that Emily needed a more stronger characterisation, maybe some more anger or empowerment. Instead, her priorities felt like a bad representation of teen girls. She could have been better presented, especially for young people.
Leading on from this, I also think the author needed to really think about how 16-17 year olds speak. The dialogue felt very stereotypical and slightly insulting towards teens. The modern references were oversaturated and just not necessary in such volume.
The witchcraft aspect was fine - drawing from more fictionalised depictions of witch trials in history but still interesting. I would have loved to have more information on how the magic works in practice but that will come more in the second book. The family dynamics were incredibly messing and nonsensical at times, but I quite liked that as it added some depth to the story.
Overall, an easy ya fantasy book to read. It’s not exactly my cup of tea, but I’m sure it will be for others.
August 27, 2025
I give the second star only because of the gorgeous copy I have from the Locked Library. Although I should probably take it away for the awful audiobook.
I was very determined not to DNF it, but it was a struggle. It's supposed to be YA and while I'm not the target audience for YA, I usually enjoy it very much - this was a book for early teens.
The insta love ("I cannot live without you" on a 3rd date), the language (do we really need to say ”unalive” in books??), constant mentions of Starbucks, Apple stores, TikTok, Instagram and other social media, and drooling over 17 year old boy's muscles is just cringy.
The main character has zero personality but of course two most handsome guys (children still) are falling for her. Also she had no clue she was a witch 3 weeks ago, but now she's the most powerful witch in the history of ever. And also, while the romance develops in literally couple of days, the love interest then conveniently disappears for almost the rest of the book.
This book was predictable and full of clichés. Some authors should stick to writing cheap romance and not try to lure us with pretty covers and promises of gothic fantasy.
And also (my rant is not over) while the writer is British (albeit living in the States) the book is so painfully American it made me want to throw it out the window. And if I have to read again about someone literally getting wet over COOKIES like it's the pinnacle of humanity's baking achievements, I'm going to lose my mind.
Rant over. While writing this review I decided to give it only one star. I'm angry with this book, and with myself, for finishing it and wasting my time.
I was very determined not to DNF it, but it was a struggle. It's supposed to be YA and while I'm not the target audience for YA, I usually enjoy it very much - this was a book for early teens.
The insta love ("I cannot live without you" on a 3rd date), the language (do we really need to say ”unalive” in books??), constant mentions of Starbucks, Apple stores, TikTok, Instagram and other social media, and drooling over 17 year old boy's muscles is just cringy.
The main character has zero personality but of course two most handsome guys (children still) are falling for her. Also she had no clue she was a witch 3 weeks ago, but now she's the most powerful witch in the history of ever. And also, while the romance develops in literally couple of days, the love interest then conveniently disappears for almost the rest of the book.
This book was predictable and full of clichés. Some authors should stick to writing cheap romance and not try to lure us with pretty covers and promises of gothic fantasy.
And also (my rant is not over) while the writer is British (albeit living in the States) the book is so painfully American it made me want to throw it out the window. And if I have to read again about someone literally getting wet over COOKIES like it's the pinnacle of humanity's baking achievements, I'm going to lose my mind.
Rant over. While writing this review I decided to give it only one star. I'm angry with this book, and with myself, for finishing it and wasting my time.
August 15, 2024
Wow, that was certainly a ride. I loved parts of this book, but others kind of made cringe… for instance, the word “unalive” was used by two different characters to reference killing or death, and that broke immersion for me. I also wasn’t a fan of the insta-love the MC had with Wyn, but I guess her magic might explain that (I can’t say why without giving away plot details).
Overall, I had a good time reading this book and I’m interested in reading a sequel if it becomes a series. It wasn’t a masterpiece by any means, but I think it explored some complex themes really well and the pacing felt right. I also really liked Ashley’s character development and I loved Lydia so much that I wish she were real. There was a lot done right in Lindsey Kelk’s latest novel.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I had a good time reading this book and I’m interested in reading a sequel if it becomes a series. It wasn’t a masterpiece by any means, but I think it explored some complex themes really well and the pacing felt right. I also really liked Ashley’s character development and I loved Lydia so much that I wish she were real. There was a lot done right in Lindsey Kelk’s latest novel.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
Many thanks to Harper Collins, Lindsey Kelk and NetGalley for letting me have access to this ARC. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review and read this.
Rating- 3.5 stars
(E-ARC)
The Bell Witches is a coming of age story filled with magic, witches and suspense. When Emily's father tragically dies, she is forced to go and live with the only remaining family she has. Her auntie and grandmother who are both as mysterious as each other. But it is not all that it seems and Emily realises that the Bell family is hiding secrets. A lot of secrets. However, Emily soon makes a connection with a boy called Wyn and believes that she has found the one as an instant connection is formed. As the sparks and the love grows between them, Emily's life begins to take an exhilarating and terrifying turn where secrets began to unravel and new secrets form. But as she grows to love him more, it begins to take her further away from her family....
I did have fun with this gothic fantasy book. The Bell Witches really engrossed me from the beginning of the book and loved to see what secrets the family was keeping away from her. As someone who loves to guess things in books, this kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed trying to guess what was going on throughout the novel. However as I got through the novel, I had already guessed the plot and knew what was going on as it was highly predictable what was going on. You could really tell from a mile where the story was going to go.
At times, I did relate to Emily at times where she talked about her romantic experience only coming from Kindles which did make me chuckle a bit whilst reading this on holiday. However, there were times where I felt the writing was quite cringey and felt like there were too many references throughout eg Taylor Swift. The Taylor Swift references were relentless and I just wish they could have been toned down a bit. I also felt like the love between Wren and Emily was too easy and felt like there was no challenges between them and was just instant
As much as I enjoyed this book to a certain extent, I really wish that there were more challenges to Emily's and Wren's relationship as a whole and was not as predictable as to what was going on..
Rating- 3.5 stars
(E-ARC)
The Bell Witches is a coming of age story filled with magic, witches and suspense. When Emily's father tragically dies, she is forced to go and live with the only remaining family she has. Her auntie and grandmother who are both as mysterious as each other. But it is not all that it seems and Emily realises that the Bell family is hiding secrets. A lot of secrets. However, Emily soon makes a connection with a boy called Wyn and believes that she has found the one as an instant connection is formed. As the sparks and the love grows between them, Emily's life begins to take an exhilarating and terrifying turn where secrets began to unravel and new secrets form. But as she grows to love him more, it begins to take her further away from her family....
I did have fun with this gothic fantasy book. The Bell Witches really engrossed me from the beginning of the book and loved to see what secrets the family was keeping away from her. As someone who loves to guess things in books, this kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed trying to guess what was going on throughout the novel. However as I got through the novel, I had already guessed the plot and knew what was going on as it was highly predictable what was going on. You could really tell from a mile where the story was going to go.
At times, I did relate to Emily at times where she talked about her romantic experience only coming from Kindles which did make me chuckle a bit whilst reading this on holiday. However, there were times where I felt the writing was quite cringey and felt like there were too many references throughout eg Taylor Swift. The Taylor Swift references were relentless and I just wish they could have been toned down a bit. I also felt like the love between Wren and Emily was too easy and felt like there was no challenges between them and was just instant
As much as I enjoyed this book to a certain extent, I really wish that there were more challenges to Emily's and Wren's relationship as a whole and was not as predictable as to what was going on..
October 9, 2024
“History is written by the victors. That’s the saying isn’t it? But it’s not entirely true. Your so-called ‘real history’ is made up of the stories men wanted people to believe. Sometimes the past lives within us, not written or recorded, but handed down from one generation to the next. Our history is alive.”
Lindsey Kelk writing about WITCHES! *screams*
As soon as this was announced, The Bell Witches became one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 - and it did not disappoint!
After Emily’s father tragically passes away, she goes to live with her only living relatives in Savannah, Georgia. Relatives her father told her were dead. As she navigates her life now without her father, she begins to learn her family’s history and what it means to be a Bell. It’s not long before she’s swept up in magic, secrets and mystery.
The Bell Witches is a YA gothic witchy urban fantasy that greatly reminds me of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and The Vampire Diaries (tv show). It’s full of teenage angst, forbidden love, self-discovery and drama. I love any book that features a character finding out family secrets - it’s gives the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the page.
Lindsey Kelk’s writing was so descriptive and so enjoyable to read. It engrossed me from the very beginning, with every chapter ending on a juicy cliffhanger. The way she subtly revealed things during a scene or in dialogue kept me guessing and I loved trying to figure out the truth with Emily.
Lindsey Kelk is known for her romance and chick lit books (some I’ve greatly enjoyed!) so this was a complete surprise! And so refreshing. I loved how Kelk so clearly gathered inspiration from past successful YA books/tv shows, and then turned it into her own. For a YA fantasy debut, this was a success for me.
The only thing that was of any issue was Emily and Wyn’s romance - it felt instant and rushed, slightly underdeveloped and a little cringe at times. However, I can see it going in an interesting direction in the next book.
I’m quite excited for the sequel! Lindsey Kelk really cast a spell on me with this one.
Lindsey Kelk writing about WITCHES! *screams*
As soon as this was announced, The Bell Witches became one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 - and it did not disappoint!
After Emily’s father tragically passes away, she goes to live with her only living relatives in Savannah, Georgia. Relatives her father told her were dead. As she navigates her life now without her father, she begins to learn her family’s history and what it means to be a Bell. It’s not long before she’s swept up in magic, secrets and mystery.
The Bell Witches is a YA gothic witchy urban fantasy that greatly reminds me of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and The Vampire Diaries (tv show). It’s full of teenage angst, forbidden love, self-discovery and drama. I love any book that features a character finding out family secrets - it’s gives the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the page.
Lindsey Kelk’s writing was so descriptive and so enjoyable to read. It engrossed me from the very beginning, with every chapter ending on a juicy cliffhanger. The way she subtly revealed things during a scene or in dialogue kept me guessing and I loved trying to figure out the truth with Emily.
Lindsey Kelk is known for her romance and chick lit books (some I’ve greatly enjoyed!) so this was a complete surprise! And so refreshing. I loved how Kelk so clearly gathered inspiration from past successful YA books/tv shows, and then turned it into her own. For a YA fantasy debut, this was a success for me.
The only thing that was of any issue was Emily and Wyn’s romance - it felt instant and rushed, slightly underdeveloped and a little cringe at times. However, I can see it going in an interesting direction in the next book.
I’m quite excited for the sequel! Lindsey Kelk really cast a spell on me with this one.
March 19, 2025
2.5-3 stars for this one.
Easy to digest, simple world building and a huge potential with its premise, for me it just didn’t hit. Most likely due to it being set in the present day of age.
The use of slang terms such as “slay” was quite disorienting. Starbucks being present in the town and mentions of Bridgerton threw me. Not necessarily a glaring issue but we live in that time period and I’d like to read about being elsewhere.
I have a lot of bones to pick regarding the characters. Emily, I could not connect to her for the life of me. I had not a single interest in what she had to say. I’m getting tired of FMC’s being so oblivious to things around them and “shaking off” that “uneasy feeling” or getting “pulled” by invisible forces. USE YOUR BRAIN!
For example, when Emily saw the ghost in the cemetery but waved it off as a real person that was wearing a “vintage outfit, looking like she’d been run through a black and white filter” and just happened to disappear. It’s just unoriginal.
The same with MMC being “ripped” “washboard” or “utterly symmetrical features” and “tall and broad” regardless if they’re 17 year old boys. I need an author to give me a skinny, weak, pimple prone teenage boy for once. When their actions don’t match the supposed age of the character it’s almost impossible for me to formulate images of them in my head, which in turn almost spoils the book for me. The more projection I can get from a story the better. But unfortunately the FMC and the MMC had blurry faces the whole time.
Wyn and Emily’s relationship was very “insta-love”. Quick I love you’s. And OH he reads so of course he’s the one. Not to mention this invisible tug regardless if I know a scrap about this guy. Ridiculously two dimensional.
I’m disappointed, it has huge potential with the plot yet it got lost in the inconsistent teenager POV. Im also getting tired of abilities/powers just being inherited without any form of training or preparation/sacrifice other than a little burning pain smh. It’s boring and again, unoriginal. It dismisses the ability to connect with a character or discern what it may be like to experience such anomalies.
Would not class this as fantasy. More of a modern day set book with mild witch themes. Definitely felt like a filler book to lead up to the sequel but I don’t have an interest to continue this series.
Easy to digest, simple world building and a huge potential with its premise, for me it just didn’t hit. Most likely due to it being set in the present day of age.
The use of slang terms such as “slay” was quite disorienting. Starbucks being present in the town and mentions of Bridgerton threw me. Not necessarily a glaring issue but we live in that time period and I’d like to read about being elsewhere.
I have a lot of bones to pick regarding the characters. Emily, I could not connect to her for the life of me. I had not a single interest in what she had to say. I’m getting tired of FMC’s being so oblivious to things around them and “shaking off” that “uneasy feeling” or getting “pulled” by invisible forces. USE YOUR BRAIN!
For example, when Emily saw the ghost in the cemetery but waved it off as a real person that was wearing a “vintage outfit, looking like she’d been run through a black and white filter” and just happened to disappear. It’s just unoriginal.
The same with MMC being “ripped” “washboard” or “utterly symmetrical features” and “tall and broad” regardless if they’re 17 year old boys. I need an author to give me a skinny, weak, pimple prone teenage boy for once. When their actions don’t match the supposed age of the character it’s almost impossible for me to formulate images of them in my head, which in turn almost spoils the book for me. The more projection I can get from a story the better. But unfortunately the FMC and the MMC had blurry faces the whole time.
Wyn and Emily’s relationship was very “insta-love”. Quick I love you’s. And OH he reads so of course he’s the one. Not to mention this invisible tug regardless if I know a scrap about this guy. Ridiculously two dimensional.
I’m disappointed, it has huge potential with the plot yet it got lost in the inconsistent teenager POV. Im also getting tired of abilities/powers just being inherited without any form of training or preparation/sacrifice other than a little burning pain smh. It’s boring and again, unoriginal. It dismisses the ability to connect with a character or discern what it may be like to experience such anomalies.
Would not class this as fantasy. More of a modern day set book with mild witch themes. Definitely felt like a filler book to lead up to the sequel but I don’t have an interest to continue this series.
October 3, 2024
“Light hides the lies; truth lives in the dark”
Let me start by saying what an absolute pleasure it has been reading this ARC. At 60% in I had pre order the Waterstones signed edition and booked myself onto Lindsey Kelks event at their Liverpool store (November 13th for those of you wanting to get in as well).
If you loved Charmed growing up, but added The Covens addition of cool, then I think we’ve hit the sweet spot that The Bell Witches is offering. If you’re looking for a cosy witchy read this year, this has to be added to your TBR immediately. To add a little extra, head over to Kelks Instagram and she’s even given tours of the areas which inspired the book and I have to say, her writing was so beautiful it was exactly how I’d imagined the places in my head. Okay so maybe I should pause on hyping this up and tell you more about why I loved it so much.
We follow Emily who’s father tragically dies leaving her an orphan, faced with her only living relatives being in Savannah, Georgia she has to leave her home in Wales, England and move across the world to start a new life with her aunt and grandmother. THIS is where the fun begins. In strolls Wyn, and as any 16 year old there ensues a connection and spark that stays as PG as a 16 year old should, remember I said this is cosy so don’t come here for that. As she moves further into her secret family history with her Grandmother the two relationships play alongside each other growing a more complicated set of obstacles for Emily to overcome.
I should mention the friendship that Emily strikes with Lydia, I really loved the sisterhood and if this ever became a series of books I would LOVE to see that explored. Very wholesome, made me miss my friends.
The Savannah setting for this book is perfect, the details in the writing to make you feel as though you’re really absorbed into this world is fantastic. Some of this was predictable, but what seasoned witch loving enthusiast doesn’t suss these out, but there were a few chapters that literally had me put my kindle down and ask my cat what the actual hell. Please return after the final few chapters and tell me you didn’t fly through them like you were reading for your life.
To summarise, I loved this book if you couldn’t tell already. I can’t wait to pick up the stunning edition of ordered to adorn my shelves. If you’re a fan of stunning covers and sprayed edges, don’t sleep on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying what an absolute pleasure it has been reading this ARC. At 60% in I had pre order the Waterstones signed edition and booked myself onto Lindsey Kelks event at their Liverpool store (November 13th for those of you wanting to get in as well).
If you loved Charmed growing up, but added The Covens addition of cool, then I think we’ve hit the sweet spot that The Bell Witches is offering. If you’re looking for a cosy witchy read this year, this has to be added to your TBR immediately. To add a little extra, head over to Kelks Instagram and she’s even given tours of the areas which inspired the book and I have to say, her writing was so beautiful it was exactly how I’d imagined the places in my head. Okay so maybe I should pause on hyping this up and tell you more about why I loved it so much.
We follow Emily who’s father tragically dies leaving her an orphan, faced with her only living relatives being in Savannah, Georgia she has to leave her home in Wales, England and move across the world to start a new life with her aunt and grandmother. THIS is where the fun begins. In strolls Wyn, and as any 16 year old there ensues a connection and spark that stays as PG as a 16 year old should, remember I said this is cosy so don’t come here for that. As she moves further into her secret family history with her Grandmother the two relationships play alongside each other growing a more complicated set of obstacles for Emily to overcome.
I should mention the friendship that Emily strikes with Lydia, I really loved the sisterhood and if this ever became a series of books I would LOVE to see that explored. Very wholesome, made me miss my friends.
The Savannah setting for this book is perfect, the details in the writing to make you feel as though you’re really absorbed into this world is fantastic. Some of this was predictable, but what seasoned witch loving enthusiast doesn’t suss these out, but there were a few chapters that literally had me put my kindle down and ask my cat what the actual hell. Please return after the final few chapters and tell me you didn’t fly through them like you were reading for your life.
To summarise, I loved this book if you couldn’t tell already. I can’t wait to pick up the stunning edition of ordered to adorn my shelves. If you’re a fan of stunning covers and sprayed edges, don’t sleep on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2024
I do love an easy read about witches!
I really enjoyed getting a chance at reading this book early and glad I had it on preorder.
The description of Savannah made me wanna pack up and get a flight over.
I enjoyed the main characters and the arcs they had through the book.
I found the romance to be quite fast paced and in a world of slow burn romance books out there it took me back a bit that within a matter of chapters they were in love.
I enjoyed the lore behind the Bell family, I liked the magic system and how it was described.
The plot twists I somewhat saw coming but they were still exciting to read!
Excited to see what the author has install for the next book.
Thanks Harper Collins for the chance to have a read!
I really enjoyed getting a chance at reading this book early and glad I had it on preorder.
The description of Savannah made me wanna pack up and get a flight over.
I enjoyed the main characters and the arcs they had through the book.
I found the romance to be quite fast paced and in a world of slow burn romance books out there it took me back a bit that within a matter of chapters they were in love.
I enjoyed the lore behind the Bell family, I liked the magic system and how it was described.
The plot twists I somewhat saw coming but they were still exciting to read!
Excited to see what the author has install for the next book.
Thanks Harper Collins for the chance to have a read!
November 25, 2024
ARC Rating 3.5/5 ⭐️ This was a nice YA soft witchy coming into power story.
I love the book cover, it's so pretty ✨️
The audiobook was very nice with great narration. I enjoyed the different character vices and the southern accents.
I love the imagery and the soft descriptions of the magic. But the story was very slow paced and boring at times. Overall, I think this was a little too YA for me, so I won't be continuing the series.
Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, and Lindsey Kelk, for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
I love the book cover, it's so pretty ✨️
The audiobook was very nice with great narration. I enjoyed the different character vices and the southern accents.
I love the imagery and the soft descriptions of the magic. But the story was very slow paced and boring at times. Overall, I think this was a little too YA for me, so I won't be continuing the series.
Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, and Lindsey Kelk, for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2024
The Bell Witches was an atmospheric, witchy read that had epic twists and turns, and I couldn't put the book down.
From the first few chapters, I was intrigued by Em and her grandmother as well as a Bell House. Linked with witch magic, the house is sentient, and I especially liked the magical wallpaper.
After Em's dad passes away, she lives with her grandmother, the only living relative she has left, apart from her aunt. But things are more sinister than Em expected in this small town. Her aunt is constantly in a mood and makes no secret of disliking Em while her grandmother is obsessed with one thing only.
While the first part of the book took me a while to read, once that first twist dropped, I was glued to the pages.
There was so much suspense, mystery, and magic - I loved it. I had a theory about something and was surprised that I guessed right, but along with it came another surprise I didn't expect.
I feel this story carries a message of self-discovery. To not be led by what others want you to do, but by what you want to. Following your own path instead of someone else's.
I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
Thank you Jonathan Ball Publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the first few chapters, I was intrigued by Em and her grandmother as well as a Bell House. Linked with witch magic, the house is sentient, and I especially liked the magical wallpaper.
After Em's dad passes away, she lives with her grandmother, the only living relative she has left, apart from her aunt. But things are more sinister than Em expected in this small town. Her aunt is constantly in a mood and makes no secret of disliking Em while her grandmother is obsessed with one thing only.
While the first part of the book took me a while to read, once that first twist dropped, I was glued to the pages.
There was so much suspense, mystery, and magic - I loved it. I had a theory about something and was surprised that I guessed right, but along with it came another surprise I didn't expect.
I feel this story carries a message of self-discovery. To not be led by what others want you to do, but by what you want to. Following your own path instead of someone else's.
I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
Thank you Jonathan Ball Publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2024
3.75 stars
December 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this book, but I predicted almost everything that happened! Will continue the series as I enjoyed the characters and setting
I enjoyed this book, but I predicted almost everything that happened! Will continue the series as I enjoyed the characters and setting
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