Hell's Belles: Book One

Hell's Belles #1

by Alison Perry

California girl Emma Ayers’ life has just been shaken by sudden tragedy. On top of losing everything, she’s also been forced to move across the country to Charleston, South Carolina. Emma now lives in the infamous South-of-Broad section of the city surrounded by old money and even older mystery. It’s a universe away from her normal teenage life and not just because of distance. Charleston holds its share of secrets and Emma seems to be part of the biggest one of all.

She just doesn't know it yet.

That’s where Hell’s Belles come in. It’s one of the oldest débutante societies in the South and yet no one knows anything about them, only that you don’t mess with a Belle.

Living among the mansions and manners of the Holy City, the Belles use their wiles and not a small bit of witchcraft to achieve their every mysterious ambition.

Their world and the old aristocratic rules they live by are about to collide with Emma’s mundane and doleful life. Emma has always felt there was nothing extraordinary about her. What happens to a girl who finds out there’s more to everything than she ever could have imagined?

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy

114 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

Alison Perry is a writer, reader, and momma who lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband Greg and their three boys. In previous lives she's been a singing waitress on a river boat, a limousine driver in Las Vegas, and front desk clerk at a dilapidated motel on the shores of the Floridian panhandle. She loves books about the south, drinking bourbon, and trashy reality television.

Reviews

[L. McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so my stupid ass for some reason thought this is a horror book. Why you might ask? Because of various keywords in the plot and the title including “Hell”. Most of the things I read and have in my reading list involving magic is either fantasy or horror and Hell usually means pretty twisted horror tales.
This? More of a YA mix of contemporary fiction and fantasy (if that makes sense).

What’s it about?
Emma has been dealing with some terrible shit. First, her parents and sister died right after she had a pretty bad argument with her mother. Second, her grandma dies right afterwards. Her life is looking like the beginning of a really twisted Robot Chicken skit... like even more twisted than usual.

(“It’s alive!”)
Well, someone she doesn’t know who claims to be someone who knew her grandma decides to adopt (kinda?) Emma and this woman along with the other girls she’s taking care of (“Belles”) are rich as fuck. However living this new luxurious life may also mean some crazy things are gonna happen.

Pros:
The story is interesting.
The mysterious tone and suspense! The mystery of it all and the twists are by far the best thing about this book.
There are a few well done humorous parts of the book.
The narrator of the audio edition I listened to does an excellent job!

Cons:
This is pretty slow paced. Hell, I don’t think there was an action scene in this whole book.
Holy fuck, there is some filler in this. A few moments of detail about certain things in Emma’s new life would be fine but a good half of this is “Wow these clothes, wow this house, wow this food, wow this person’s so rich.” OH MY GOSH JUST STOP!
The flashbacks are annoying. There’s so many, it’s not done well (some books have a way of making it work, not this) and it made it more confusing.

Mixed thoughts:
The characters. So I definitely give the author credit for giving them all distinct personalities and some things about them are interesting but gosh, I cannot fucking stand those personalities I mentioned.
The main character is probably the most annoying. I understand she’s sad about her parents dying and stressed about this new lifestyle but fuck, that’s pretty much all her character is.

Overall:
Not bad but I ain’t bothered to read the next book.
It’s mysterious tone and story are definitely interesting but not quite interesting enough for me to deal with more of the confusing switch to flashbacks and slow pace among other things.
This isn’t bad just not for me.

3/5

PS- I think of AC/DC with the title!

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read

The story delves into the life of Emma. This poor girl couldn't get a break after losing her parents her grandmas suddenly dies and she is shipped off to live with a woman she doesn't know Virginia.

Virginia is a woman who had known her grandma and as the story unfolds we find out exactly how the two are acquainted, as Emma is thrusted into a world of mystery and the unknown.

[One-Click · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Narration - Rebecca Schwab - Pretty Good. Mostly females in this story ranging from teenagers to a grandma in her 90's.

First, after reading some other reviews...you need to understand before you start, that this is a SERIAL - not to be confused with a series or a trilogy. That means that you are getting short 'episodes' similar to a TV series and usually each less than a 2 hour read. Each one will probably end on a cliffy and the next 'episode' which will also be short and cliff-hangerish will come out in fairly quick succession. The first book in a serial introduces you to the characters, the location and usually gives you a hint of what's to come. If that's not your thing, then look away...nothing to see here!

So, with that out of the way, This is a serial about our main character Emma, a teenager whose entire life has been turned upside down.

Following a week of tragic events and finding herself with no family (that wants her anyway) Emma is whirling, finding herself suddenly orphaned and homeless. She's now heading to Charleston, South Carolina with a complete stranger (a friend of her grandmother) who seems to be keeping things from her. Once settled in the very lavish accommodations of her new guardian, she begins to meet the new people in her life and we're led through additional indications of a bigger purpose to this move than just someone being kind and keeping a young girl from the foster care system. Emma is now part of a bigger secret and we're just given a taste of what's to come.

Pretty interesting start to a new serial with indications of paranormal abilities and some mystery, so if you enjoy that type of read, I think this will be one that you'll enjoy. I'll definitely be continuing!


I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from Audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serialized novels and I sometimes give each other the side eye. I wasn't blessed with an abundance of patience so having a story STOP partway through makes me sad. Especially when it's a story I'm (mostly) enjoying.

The mostly part revolves around the secrets kept from Emma. Part of me gets why the Belles were keeping those secrets. Really, I do. Yet... I have an irrational knee-jerk reaction to secrets. Especially when they're so blatantly kept from the main character.

Again, I get why Virginia was trying to ease Emma into the truth. Emma had been through more than her fair share and she needs time to find her footing. But secrets like this make me have crazy eyes. It's a proven fact. I mention it in many reviews. I get it and I understand how those secrets help move the story forward, but I'm irrationally peeved by them.

That said, I did enjoy this book. The Belles are secretive and with a diverse set of powers. I don't know if I'd be thrilled being thrown into the middle of them given what their talents are, but what can a freshly minted orphan do, right?

There were some ups and downs here. The downs were mostly my own issues, though, so don't let that dissuade you from checking this one out.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Anya Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was fantastic! I have read another title of Perry's (That Summer), and while in some ways these two stories are very different (Hells's Belles has witches!) — other aspects are distinctively Perry. For example, she is able to really convey the heart and fears of the main characters. It is refreshing to read a story so real and raw, and also very contemporary. Nothing about this story feels dated or overdone. And I think that's because Perry really captures a teen voice.

One particularly moving part of the story was when Emma looked back on her memories of her family, it was extremely touching. Everything about Emma's character felt so real and authentic, I never questioned her motives or wondered why she felt something because Perry presented her in a way that was so believable.

Ohh, I also loved the portion of Josephine's Wikipedia page! It was so clever and caused me to consider who these Hell's Belles REALLY were!

I can't wait to get my hands to the next installment. (UPDATE: Already downloaded!) I've never read a serial before, but I'm hooked. There is so much to this story and I feel like I have just gotten a glimpse of the iceberg. Very excited to find out more about these Southern Belles…especially Calista!

[Jordan Stivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really solid start to what I expect will be a great overall series. The concept is original and the main character is one of the most relatable young heroines I've read in a long time. I knocked it down a star simply because the lead up to the reveal was a little excessive for me. I felt like the main character knew something was amiss for a very long time. Maybe that point was just mentioned to much? I'm probably being picky though. The ending SOLD me on the series. I'm downloading books two and three as I type and I'm very excited to learn more about Emma and the Belles as the story unfolds. (Also, completely unrelated to the writing, I'm loving this publishing format of a series of novellas over the summer. Very original and very enjoyable from a reader's perspective. It'll keep me from binging them all!)

[Leah Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Alison, I had no idea that writing is your passion. Keep up the good work. I will always support you by buying your work. Bravo Mrs. Perry!! I can't wait to read more about Emma and the other ladies.

[Donna Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

I really liked the book, can't hardly wait for the next one to be published! I will order it as soon as it comes out!

[Becky Spanbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Can't wait for more!

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit too YA for me . . . or, perhaps, I'm too old for this book, however you prefer to look at it, I did not finish it.

I read plenty of YA fiction and much of it I greatly enjoy. A well-written book with interesting characters is always an enjoyable read.

Sometimes, however, the challenges the characters are facing, and the hurdles they have to surmount in a YA book are simply too angst-filled for an adult who is [very far!] past the difficulties of adolescence to related to and connect with in a book. That was the case here for me.

That is absolutely not to say this is a bad book. It is not. But I think it would connect far better for a reader who is closer to the age of the main character, and who is currently, or very recently facing the same kinds of growing pains as the teens in this book. Oh, and there's magic!

For the right reader this could be a very enjoyable read. I was not that right reader.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this story through Hidden Gems and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved this book and I cannot wait to read further into the story in the coming books. That being said, be forewarned this book is not going to answer all your questions by the end, it won't even answer half of them. It was a great introduction to the Belles, how they are different than the rest of the world, and their personalities. There was drama, action, and magic on nearly every page. I can't say too much else without giving away the story, but if you love paranormal fantasy then you will not be disappointed with this book!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much that as soon as I finished it I downloaded book 2!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it bought book 2-had a hard time putting it down

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell's Belles starts with Emma Ayers losing her parents and her grandmother. She is taken to Charleston, South Carolina to live with her aunt. She is met with four of her cousins. Emma also noticed that her cousins and aunt are keeping a secret from her. As she started to question the reason of why she is there, she discovered there is more to the Hell's Belles and her role in it.

Hell's Belles is a very unique story of debutantes who are witches and a secret that is yet to be discover in this book. This story also reveals each of the Hell's Belles past which will gives the readers/listeners a comprehension and connection to each of the characters.

The narrator, Rebecca Schwab provides the perfect voice for Emma and the rest of the Hell's Belles. She makes her voice sounds like teenagers with attitudes. The housekeeper sounds wise and believes that Emma should know some of the Hell's Belles history.

I was given this audiobook by the author via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way for writing this review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't decide between three and four stars.

I enjoyed this story. I liked the setting and the number of female characters. I'm intrigued by the mystery. The characters seemed real and I could relate to them. However, this story isn't a story. The plot is completely unfinished because this is really only the beginning of the story.

The main character's strange talent and relationship to her sister and family is an important part of her development, and it comes too far toward the end of the book. The hints of paranormalcy also show up pretty late in the book.

I enjoy it, and I want to get to the meat of the plot, but I feel that making this much of the story its own book isn't enough.

[tamilnadu09 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! I love that the main character is someone that everyone can relate to. The plot swirls around a lot of mystery- namely that there is SOMETHING BIG going on that everyone else knows about except the main character (and, therefore, the readers). The payoff isn't dragged on forever though, since it's a novella. I am really interested in reading more about the world that the author has created here!

[Lolani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this is part of a fairly large series, but it took way too long for anything to happen.

[KAREN RAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT
IMMEDIATELY STARTED BOOK 2

[Debra Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I just loved this story so far. It is written very well. Very intriguing. Love all the characters. Can't wait to read two.