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Lizzie Grace #2
Hell's Bell
When the church bell tolls thrice in the middle of the night, evil this way comes…
Lizzie Grace and Belle Kent, her witch familiar, are living and working on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation—one that has banned the use of magic within its borders. Although they have their supporters—including ranger Aiden O’Connor, who once hated all things witch—Lizzie and Belle now face possible eviction.
But the Faelan Reservation is a place filled with wild magic which—when left unprotected—quickly becomes a draw to those who walk the darker paths. As Christmas approaches, a new evil comes to town—one that eats the souls of the living and animates the flesh of the dead.
As the body count grows and the trail of clues leads them to the doorstep of the local vampire, Lizzie, Belle, and Aiden must find the killer before death comes calling on them.
But the biggest threat of all may come in the form of a witch who sees through the veils of Lizzie’s carefully constructed lies and suspects the truth of who she really is…
Lizzie Grace and Belle Kent, her witch familiar, are living and working on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation—one that has banned the use of magic within its borders. Although they have their supporters—including ranger Aiden O’Connor, who once hated all things witch—Lizzie and Belle now face possible eviction.
But the Faelan Reservation is a place filled with wild magic which—when left unprotected—quickly becomes a draw to those who walk the darker paths. As Christmas approaches, a new evil comes to town—one that eats the souls of the living and animates the flesh of the dead.
As the body count grows and the trail of clues leads them to the doorstep of the local vampire, Lizzie, Belle, and Aiden must find the killer before death comes calling on them.
But the biggest threat of all may come in the form of a witch who sees through the veils of Lizzie’s carefully constructed lies and suspects the truth of who she really is…
9 pages, Audiobook
First published January 23, 2018
625 people are currently reading
1389 people want to read
About the author
Keri Arthur
100 books6,002 followersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
June 29, 2020
AMAZING - again!!!
So Hell's Bell picks up right where Blood Kissed left off but with more intrigue, mystery, magic, murder and hot werewolves!!!
I love how Lizzie and Belle are developing as characters and obviously Aiden but the great thing is, these are not the only characters that are becoming stronger, the sidelines have their own fierce personalities that are fast becoming firm favourites of mine.
Lizzie and Belle are definitely growing and I have a feeling that there is a whole lot more to these two than meets the eye and of course beyond what is obvious. There are so many avenues that this series could take and it is extremely exciting to be venturing along these paths with these fabulous characters.
I've already downloaded Hunter Hunted to carry on my adventures.
Excited to push on!!!
So Hell's Bell picks up right where Blood Kissed left off but with more intrigue, mystery, magic, murder and hot werewolves!!!
I love how Lizzie and Belle are developing as characters and obviously Aiden but the great thing is, these are not the only characters that are becoming stronger, the sidelines have their own fierce personalities that are fast becoming firm favourites of mine.
Lizzie and Belle are definitely growing and I have a feeling that there is a whole lot more to these two than meets the eye and of course beyond what is obvious. There are so many avenues that this series could take and it is extremely exciting to be venturing along these paths with these fabulous characters.
I've already downloaded Hunter Hunted to carry on my adventures.
Excited to push on!!!
February 12, 2018
This is second in a series and, as in many Urban Fantasies, it's written to be read in order. In other words, important details are established in early books that have bearing in subsequent ones and while the author will generally try to update in-place, it's usually a lost cause. At any rate, I recommend reading in order and not least because if you liked the first, I think you'll enjoy this one as well.
So I'll keep this review short because you should already know if you're going to like it based on how much you enjoyed the first (I often say that and then the review ends up as long as ever anyway. Sigh). I liked the lore reveals in this one (including what's up with the wild magic) and at least some more detail on the pack council side of things. And Aiden just gets more and more awesome.
I think the story and pace of this one was stronger and while the chapters are as long, I didn't notice it as much for some reason.
There are really only two things holding this down from a full five stars. First, the relationship between Lizzie and Aiden needs some hope. They haven't done anything more than kiss, so far, but you can see that they are building a connection in a deeply emotional way and having that be so very taboo for high-ranking weres puts a pall over the whole thing that I'm not enjoying. Aiden knows he can't let this new thing go its full length and is up front about that. So I'm not happy with them progressing to more than friends. Because Arthur does a fantastic job showing how well-suited they are and their developing trust and respect with the sizzle of attraction is just roiling my innards.
The second drawback is that the copy editing is as weak as it was before. It's almost all dropped and/or repeated words rather than grammar or word-choice errors (though I noticed one instance of a dropped letter making for a confusing moment). Which means a decent copy editor should have caught that stuff in her(his) sleep. Seriously. Find a copy editor. Please?
Anyway, this is a 4½ star story that I'm going to round up on the strength of the core friendship (Lizzie and Belle) and a great story with awesome pacing. I really hope Arthur resolves the relationship tension better than it is shaping up to be, though...
So I'll keep this review short because you should already know if you're going to like it based on how much you enjoyed the first (I often say that and then the review ends up as long as ever anyway. Sigh). I liked the lore reveals in this one (including what's up with the wild magic) and at least some more detail on the pack council side of things. And Aiden just gets more and more awesome.
I think the story and pace of this one was stronger and while the chapters are as long, I didn't notice it as much for some reason.
There are really only two things holding this down from a full five stars. First, the relationship between Lizzie and Aiden needs some hope. They haven't done anything more than kiss, so far, but you can see that they are building a connection in a deeply emotional way and having that be so very taboo for high-ranking weres puts a pall over the whole thing that I'm not enjoying. Aiden knows he can't let this new thing go its full length and is up front about that. So I'm not happy with them progressing to more than friends. Because Arthur does a fantastic job showing how well-suited they are and their developing trust and respect with the sizzle of attraction is just roiling my innards.
The second drawback is that the copy editing is as weak as it was before. It's almost all dropped and/or repeated words rather than grammar or word-choice errors (though I noticed one instance of a dropped letter making for a confusing moment). Which means a decent copy editor should have caught that stuff in her(his) sleep. Seriously. Find a copy editor. Please?
Anyway, this is a 4½ star story that I'm going to round up on the strength of the core friendship (Lizzie and Belle) and a great story with awesome pacing. I really hope Arthur resolves the relationship tension better than it is shaping up to be, though...
June 11, 2022
The publisher's blurb, reprinted at the top of this Goodreads page, sets up this story quite well while being rather sketchy about the unique paranormal world Keri Arthur has created for the Lizzie Grace series--a distinctly different alternative Australia from the one her earlier character Riley Jenson inhabits. It took me the first seven paragraphs of my nine-paragraph review of the series debut, Blood Kissed, to do justice to Lizzie, Belle, and their world, so let me provide the link to that review and then carry on from there: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
With the current installment Lizzie's story clearly separates into two levels: (1) her actions on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation in central Victoria, facing not one but three different deadly adversaries there; and (2) significant further development in a plot that looks like it'll extend through the whole series.
Under (2): Not only does Lizzie's first-person narration share more details as it goes along about her backstory and her current estrangement from her powerful witch parents who live in the nation's capital Canberra, but the adventure in (1) brings out two unexpected aspects of Lizzie's magical powers, and they're a surprise to both Lizzie and us. (How much Belle knew is being kept in abeyance, I suspect.)
As before, much of this tale hinges on Lizzie's relationship with Belle, her unique familiar--not an animal but another witch, from a lower-ranking family. Once again there's extensive telepathic dialogue between them, and Belle is clearly much, much more than a familiar. They've been together, hiding their true identities, for twelve years now:
Ashworth is a fully trained witch and government official with magical powers that are much greater than Lizzie's but less than those of the Canberra witch families who influence national politics. The RWA has authority in all criminal cases where magic is even suspected, whether it's being wielded by witches or coming from the earth itself as wild magic, so when a string of murders yield evidence of a demonic entity known as a soul eater, Ashworth joins ranger Aidan O'Connor, chief of police for the reservation, and of course Lizzie and Belle are in the thick of the investigation.
Ashworth uncovers fact after fact about Lizzie and Belle and grows more interested in them as the case goes on. Will he haul them before the High Council of Witches in Canberra (where Lizzie's parents have an unspecified role)? Will Lizzie's growing affinity to wild magic alter her status in official eyes?
(Already Ashworth asks her why the wild magic feels feminine when it surges up to protect her. But then the RWA is really at fault for leaving the wellspring of wild magic on the reservation unprotected. We sense something big is coming, but it's not present yet.)
And yes, there is that other surprise; Ashworth makes an astounding discovery that all by itself boosts my rating to 4.5 stars rounded up.
Lizzie and Aidan's mutual attraction is handled well here, I thought, moving at glacial speed toward simple dating. In light of the obstacles against any lasting union between a witch and a werewolf, their dialogue is quite realistic. Conversely, Belle sure has a lot of fun with her favorite werewolf (no commitment in sight, and their antics stay off stage). Other reviewers have noted the absence of the sex scenes that are so common in the author's other series.
Those three adversaries I mentioned under (1) above keep the action level high throughout the 14 chapters. (1a) The soul eater attacks particular humans, but if it's simply working down a list it'll attack at random when the list is done, unless someone with strong enough magic can banish it. (1b) Being demonic, the soul eater has to be summoned or directed by someone on the reservation with witch power who's hiding that power, and the thinking is it's a half-breed witch who's dangerous because their powers are instinctive, not controlled. (1c) And Lizzie is being targeted by someone who shoots real, non-magical bullets. You guessed it: a triple climax!
Highly recommended, but read #1 first!
With the current installment Lizzie's story clearly separates into two levels: (1) her actions on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation in central Victoria, facing not one but three different deadly adversaries there; and (2) significant further development in a plot that looks like it'll extend through the whole series.
Under (2): Not only does Lizzie's first-person narration share more details as it goes along about her backstory and her current estrangement from her powerful witch parents who live in the nation's capital Canberra, but the adventure in (1) brings out two unexpected aspects of Lizzie's magical powers, and they're a surprise to both Lizzie and us. (How much Belle knew is being kept in abeyance, I suspect.)
As before, much of this tale hinges on Lizzie's relationship with Belle, her unique familiar--not an animal but another witch, from a lower-ranking family. Once again there's extensive telepathic dialogue between them, and Belle is clearly much, much more than a familiar. They've been together, hiding their true identities, for twelve years now:
Belle and I had opened--and closed--a few cafes over the years, but this was the first one that truly felt like home.Best friends since childhood, the unequal components of their friendship come further into the light as Lizzie begins to realize how much Belle has given up for her sake, now that the two of them are pressed to keep the truth of who they are from the prying eyes of an emissary from the Regional Witch Association (RWA) named Ashworth.
Ashworth is a fully trained witch and government official with magical powers that are much greater than Lizzie's but less than those of the Canberra witch families who influence national politics. The RWA has authority in all criminal cases where magic is even suspected, whether it's being wielded by witches or coming from the earth itself as wild magic, so when a string of murders yield evidence of a demonic entity known as a soul eater, Ashworth joins ranger Aidan O'Connor, chief of police for the reservation, and of course Lizzie and Belle are in the thick of the investigation.
Ashworth uncovers fact after fact about Lizzie and Belle and grows more interested in them as the case goes on. Will he haul them before the High Council of Witches in Canberra (where Lizzie's parents have an unspecified role)? Will Lizzie's growing affinity to wild magic alter her status in official eyes?
(Already Ashworth asks her why the wild magic feels feminine when it surges up to protect her. But then the RWA is really at fault for leaving the wellspring of wild magic on the reservation unprotected. We sense something big is coming, but it's not present yet.)
And yes, there is that other surprise; Ashworth makes an astounding discovery that all by itself boosts my rating to 4.5 stars rounded up.
Lizzie and Aidan's mutual attraction is handled well here, I thought, moving at glacial speed toward simple dating. In light of the obstacles against any lasting union between a witch and a werewolf, their dialogue is quite realistic. Conversely, Belle sure has a lot of fun with her favorite werewolf (no commitment in sight, and their antics stay off stage). Other reviewers have noted the absence of the sex scenes that are so common in the author's other series.
Those three adversaries I mentioned under (1) above keep the action level high throughout the 14 chapters. (1a) The soul eater attacks particular humans, but if it's simply working down a list it'll attack at random when the list is done, unless someone with strong enough magic can banish it. (1b) Being demonic, the soul eater has to be summoned or directed by someone on the reservation with witch power who's hiding that power, and the thinking is it's a half-breed witch who's dangerous because their powers are instinctive, not controlled. (1c) And Lizzie is being targeted by someone who shoots real, non-magical bullets. You guessed it: a triple climax!
Highly recommended, but read #1 first!
January 30, 2018
3.5
A little world building would be a great improvement to this series. Yes, it's a standard UF world, above all if you have already read some of her books. Still, I would like to see the difference in magic and what that implies. I'm told (they are weak, those aren't) and it's not the same. (Mainly because they are able to solve the problems..)
I would have liked also some more back story. It’s really difficult otherwise to understand why she fears discovery. (While her running from an abusive family IS understandable, there's no explanation to why would they be a risk.)
Lastly I'm not sure why panting after someone who first hates you as a witch, then makes clear this is merely an affair. While I understand play, above all if you don't get that many choices (on the run here), I don't really get that vibe. It's not exactly a one night stand, nor an itch. Again I see an author that wants to create angst, but I should see the whys and hows of a character.
On the positive side, this series is at book 2 sex free, which by KA standards, is almost unheard of :D
That said, I do enjoy Keri Arthur's books, and this wasn't an exception.
A little world building would be a great improvement to this series. Yes, it's a standard UF world, above all if you have already read some of her books. Still, I would like to see the difference in magic and what that implies. I'm told (they are weak, those aren't) and it's not the same. (Mainly because they are able to solve the problems..)
I would have liked also some more back story. It’s really difficult otherwise to understand why she fears discovery. (While her running from an abusive family IS understandable, there's no explanation to why would they be a risk.)
Lastly I'm not sure why panting after someone who first hates you as a witch, then makes clear this is merely an affair. While I understand play, above all if you don't get that many choices (on the run here), I don't really get that vibe. It's not exactly a one night stand, nor an itch. Again I see an author that wants to create angst, but I should see the whys and hows of a character.
On the positive side, this series is at book 2 sex free, which by KA standards, is almost unheard of :D
That said, I do enjoy Keri Arthur's books, and this wasn't an exception.
May 1, 2020
I’m really loving this series so far and I did quite enjoy this book. But I also had some slight issues with it. It was quite a crazy storyline and while I do love a good action packed story, it just got to be a bit much at times and I found myself getting a bit lost in all the chaos. I really love the whole dynamic of witches and werewolves and vampires that this series and this book has going on, and the fact that the human world is aware of them and cooperates with them is unique and quite interesting. I loved the soul eater aspect of the plot line, that was damn awesome! I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book in the series goes!
February 7, 2018
Well here we are in this 2nd outing for Lizzie, Belle and Aiden :) I loved it, really I can't think of anything bad but the only reason I gave it 4 Stars is at times it was hard to keep up with who said what and what info she was not supposed to be telling. Minor stuff but I try to reserve those 5 Star ratings for really "knock your socks off" novels (and this really did come close) I am hoping the next one will do it for me.
We have another evil spirit thing going and one thing I love about the 2 books so far is that they get you into the story in a hurry and you don't have to plow through chapters of minutia to get to the meat of the story although you might get sent down some dead ends along the way because these books are a mix of urban fantasy with a bit of romance thrown in but at the heart they are a mystery to be solved.
So without taking pages to say I REALLY enjoyed it, I will just leave it here and say "GET THIS BOOK" (actually get the first one Blood Kissed (The Lizzie Grace Series Book 1) or you will miss some needed background.)
We have another evil spirit thing going and one thing I love about the 2 books so far is that they get you into the story in a hurry and you don't have to plow through chapters of minutia to get to the meat of the story although you might get sent down some dead ends along the way because these books are a mix of urban fantasy with a bit of romance thrown in but at the heart they are a mystery to be solved.
So without taking pages to say I REALLY enjoyed it, I will just leave it here and say "GET THIS BOOK" (actually get the first one Blood Kissed (The Lizzie Grace Series Book 1) or you will miss some needed background.)
February 4, 2023
Thoroughly enjoying this series so far! Lizzie is warm and relatable, she is a witch but not a strong one on her own, so she has to figure a lot out by creatively using her head and her instincts. That makes her so much more relatable than the usual all-powerful/save the world types that are so common (not that I don’t like those sometimes).
Belle and Lizzie’s friendship is also wonderful to read. I like Aiden (Lizzie’s love interest) as well, although that relationship is the reason this book didn’t rate 5 stars. All the back and forth about “I want sex! But there is never time” got old really fast. I honestly like that they aren’t jumping right in bed, as it gives them a chance to really develop an honest and deeper relationship overall, but I think it could have been done by just allowing them to get to know each other before the whole ‘let’s have sex’ came into it. Still, that being my only whine should tell you how really great the story is!
Belle and Lizzie’s friendship is also wonderful to read. I like Aiden (Lizzie’s love interest) as well, although that relationship is the reason this book didn’t rate 5 stars. All the back and forth about “I want sex! But there is never time” got old really fast. I honestly like that they aren’t jumping right in bed, as it gives them a chance to really develop an honest and deeper relationship overall, but I think it could have been done by just allowing them to get to know each other before the whole ‘let’s have sex’ came into it. Still, that being my only whine should tell you how really great the story is!
May 1, 2018
This was just as good as the first one. A dangerous creature was killing people on the reservation. Since there weren't any other witches around, Liz and Belle got mixed up in it. It was shown even more than in the last book that Liz does have unusual powers. There is still a lot to learn about her backstory. Liz and Aiden relationship is building but slowly. It's good because they both have their own issues to overcome before they can truly trust each other. Belle and Liz's relationship feels one sided. Belle does a lot for Liz but it doesn't seem like Liz does much for her. I'm hoping that improves in the future. It didn't end on a cliffhanger, but it showed that Liz and Belle's secrets won't remain secrets for long especially since their lies don't hold up well under scrutiny.
May 25, 2025
"Que l'on doit finir ce que l'on a commencé".
Segunda parte de esta saga de fantasía urbana. Nada del otro mundo, pero Ha estado bien.
***
"Que l'on doit finir ce que l'on a commencé".
Deuxième partie de cette saga fantasy. Rien d’extraordinaire mais c’était bon.
Segunda parte de esta saga de fantasía urbana. Nada del otro mundo, pero Ha estado bien.
***
"Que l'on doit finir ce que l'on a commencé".
Deuxième partie de cette saga fantasy. Rien d’extraordinaire mais c’était bon.
February 6, 2021
4.25 - Loving this series thus far. I love the relationship between Liz and Belle.
January 19, 2022
This was slightly better than the first book. The pacing was slow but the bigger issue is the mystery aspect. The Fitzgerald's revenge against Lizzie wasn't a strong plot point and soul eater parts were all over the place. That part wasn't fleshed out. It kept jumping from one scene to another making to feel disjointed.
The characters have no depth to them. I like Lizzie and Bell's relationship but as characters there isn't much substance to them. Lizzie and Aiden doesn't seemed to be going anywhere. As a werewolf ranger Aiden is quite incompetent and obtuse and most of the werewolves are rude and ornery. Just like the first book it's plain and forgettable.
July 27, 2024
Second in the Lizzie Grace paranormal mystery fantasy series and revolving around two witches who are best friends...on the run...and determined to settle in Castle Rock, Australia.
My Take
Arthur has put together an action-packed, character-driven tale of wild magic attracting evil with no one to take control. It's left to an underpowered and untrained witch who is the only hope for Castle Rock and a reservation whose werewolves don't trust any witches, making this quite the balancing act.
It's also first person protagonist point-of-view from Lizzie's perspective, and she tells us all about her thoughts and emotions when it comes to her attraction to Aiden, the werewolves' anger with witches, the vampire interaction, her interactions with Belle, and all the fears she has about her family and what Ashworth's curiosity could do to destroy the two of them. It is such a tease on Arthur's part, as she touches here and there on Lizzie's parents but never comes across!
It doesn't matter which side of the social divide you fall on, parents can still be crap. Take Lizzie's. Please. They're all out of whack about blaming Lizzie for her sister's death. Well, her parents are not much good for anything, really.
It's a fairly zippy pace, primarily because there is so much action with a range of characters...and Lizzie is still lying about her past.
And remember, be very careful if you hear a church bell ringing three times at midnight...
The Story
It's only the aid Lizzie and Belle provided earlier that has allowed them to stay in Castle Rock, but it's still up in the air as to whether the elders will evict the two of them for being witches. And this right before Christmas.
Some believe Lizzie and Belle are behind the out-of-control magic, and in some ways they'd be right, for the wild magic is enhancing Lizzie's weaker magic.
The Characters
Lizzie Grace is a witch with a gift for psychometry who has been on the run for the past twelve years with her best friend, fellow witch, and familiar, Isabelle "Belle" Kent who is also a spirit talker and strong telepath. They live above the café.
Lizzie had an older sister and her brother, Julius. Belle has a mother and five siblings she hasn't seen.
Castle Rock is...
...the capital of the Faelan Werewolf Reservation and is filled with wild magic...without a witch to keep an eye on it. The reservation used to be O'Connors (gray wolves) only, but the government and witches forced the Marin and Sinclair packs onto it as well.
The Psychic Café is...
...the coffee shop Lizzie and Belle own and run. Penny is their waitress. Frank is their dish hand. Mike Sinclair is the chef and his sister, Meika, is Larissa's mom.
The Rangers are...
...the police force on the reservation. Aiden O'Connor is the head ranger and heir to his father's position as alpha. Ciara is his sister and the coroner. Tala Sinclair is Aiden's second-in-command. Maggie is the receptionist and a ranger-in-training. Other rangers include Byron, who dives; Jaz Rankin who's married to Levi Marin, a barista who makes a wicked hot chocolate; and, Mac.
Aron Marin lost his soul. Rocco, his father, is one of the pack alphas. Luc is Aron's brother and had had a relationship with Marlinda. Harry Marin is a healer. Marcus and Jonny are in on one capture. Zak Marin, a werewolf whom Belle is dating, is one of Maelle's bartenders. (Zak has a twin, Jak. There are more twin siblings in his family: Nick and Mick and Jen and Wren.)
Larissa Marin has a record and is getting worse. Larrisa's friends include Lance Marin and Frankie Kastle, who is a weird sort of hippie. Karla Marin won't allow her youngest son, Garrett, to get married. Gerry Schmidt moved to the reservation a year ago and has been working at Émigré. Teresa White, a human, had worked part-time at the bakery. Karen is the daughter in Blood Kissed , 1, who went vamp. Bryan Redfield is a contract killer.
Maelle Defour is the only vampire in town and owns the Émigré, a nightclub. Roger Smith, a former tailor, is her thrall, a.k.a., a drudge or human ghoul. Marlinda Brown is one of the people who feed Maelle and is one of Maelle's favorites. Janice is one of Marlinda's friends. Aled Freeman, James Morrison, Dani Holgate, Leanne Jones, and Mandy Wilson are other feeders while Molly Brown was fired. Jack Lea is Molly's half-brother.
Cary and Michael Fitzgerald own the Psychic, Taro, and Spiritual Cleaning Center and want revenge.
The Regional Witch Association (RWA) is...
...an overriding governmental body that deals with all situations involving witches within regional communities. A reservation witch provides magical assistance, acts as a government mouthpiece, and enforces the rules. Gabe Watson had been that reservation witch. Now they need one quickly to manage the wild magic that entices evil to the reservation. Anna Kang had been sent to help in Blood Kissed , 1. Oh well... Anna's successor is Ira Ashworth who is quite intrigued, ahem, by Lizzie and Belle's net of spells over the café.
The Interspecies Investigations Team (IIT) is...
...must be called in whenever there is a murder on a reservation that involves a human.
There are six witch houses: the three royal lines include the Marlowes and the Kangs who are usually members of the Council of Advisors, a.k.a., the High Council???, while the three "common" lines include the Sarrs (Belle's family) and Fitzgeralds. Halden University is the only witch university in Australia. (Belle has inherited most of her grandmother's, Nellie, vast collection of books on magic and the supernatural.)
Ghosts are people taken before their time. Spirit guides are powerful witches who choose to dedicate their afterlife to the council or those for whom this path was destined. Imps are lesser demons, sprites.
The Cover and Title
The cover is ominous in its blacks and grays. The black-edged sky with that white glow around the red-haired Lizzie Grace also makes it easy to see the bats circling around Lizzie's head. On the right is a church with a bell tower while the left is a slice of a house with its bay window. Lizzie is wearing a low-cut black tank top with black jeans, her right hand wreathed in spirit and magic. The author's name is in white and centered at the very top. The title is also in white and spaced across Lizzie's hips and thighs with a pale gray for the series information below that.
The title is the warning Lizzie hears, for when Hell's Bell rings, it's death a'coming.
My Take
Arthur has put together an action-packed, character-driven tale of wild magic attracting evil with no one to take control. It's left to an underpowered and untrained witch who is the only hope for Castle Rock and a reservation whose werewolves don't trust any witches, making this quite the balancing act.
It's also first person protagonist point-of-view from Lizzie's perspective, and she tells us all about her thoughts and emotions when it comes to her attraction to Aiden, the werewolves' anger with witches, the vampire interaction, her interactions with Belle, and all the fears she has about her family and what Ashworth's curiosity could do to destroy the two of them. It is such a tease on Arthur's part, as she touches here and there on Lizzie's parents but never comes across!
It doesn't matter which side of the social divide you fall on, parents can still be crap. Take Lizzie's. Please. They're all out of whack about blaming Lizzie for her sister's death. Well, her parents are not much good for anything, really.
"As my parents had told me multiple times, either [her brother or sister] were worth a trillion of me."Hmmm, seems Aiden is losing some of that witch hatred he's been carrying around. Considering how the series started in Blood Kissed , 1, it's encouraging about that betting pool, lol.
It's a fairly zippy pace, primarily because there is so much action with a range of characters...and Lizzie is still lying about her past.
And remember, be very careful if you hear a church bell ringing three times at midnight...
The Story
It's only the aid Lizzie and Belle provided earlier that has allowed them to stay in Castle Rock, but it's still up in the air as to whether the elders will evict the two of them for being witches. And this right before Christmas.
Some believe Lizzie and Belle are behind the out-of-control magic, and in some ways they'd be right, for the wild magic is enhancing Lizzie's weaker magic.
The Characters
Lizzie Grace is a witch with a gift for psychometry who has been on the run for the past twelve years with her best friend, fellow witch, and familiar, Isabelle "Belle" Kent who is also a spirit talker and strong telepath. They live above the café.
Lizzie had an older sister and her brother, Julius. Belle has a mother and five siblings she hasn't seen.
Castle Rock is...
...the capital of the Faelan Werewolf Reservation and is filled with wild magic...without a witch to keep an eye on it. The reservation used to be O'Connors (gray wolves) only, but the government and witches forced the Marin and Sinclair packs onto it as well.
The Psychic Café is...
...the coffee shop Lizzie and Belle own and run. Penny is their waitress. Frank is their dish hand. Mike Sinclair is the chef and his sister, Meika, is Larissa's mom.
The Rangers are...
...the police force on the reservation. Aiden O'Connor is the head ranger and heir to his father's position as alpha. Ciara is his sister and the coroner. Tala Sinclair is Aiden's second-in-command. Maggie is the receptionist and a ranger-in-training. Other rangers include Byron, who dives; Jaz Rankin who's married to Levi Marin, a barista who makes a wicked hot chocolate; and, Mac.
Aron Marin lost his soul. Rocco, his father, is one of the pack alphas. Luc is Aron's brother and had had a relationship with Marlinda. Harry Marin is a healer. Marcus and Jonny are in on one capture. Zak Marin, a werewolf whom Belle is dating, is one of Maelle's bartenders. (Zak has a twin, Jak. There are more twin siblings in his family: Nick and Mick and Jen and Wren.)
Larissa Marin has a record and is getting worse. Larrisa's friends include Lance Marin and Frankie Kastle, who is a weird sort of hippie. Karla Marin won't allow her youngest son, Garrett, to get married. Gerry Schmidt moved to the reservation a year ago and has been working at Émigré. Teresa White, a human, had worked part-time at the bakery. Karen is the daughter in Blood Kissed , 1, who went vamp. Bryan Redfield is a contract killer.
Maelle Defour is the only vampire in town and owns the Émigré, a nightclub. Roger Smith, a former tailor, is her thrall, a.k.a., a drudge or human ghoul. Marlinda Brown is one of the people who feed Maelle and is one of Maelle's favorites. Janice is one of Marlinda's friends. Aled Freeman, James Morrison, Dani Holgate, Leanne Jones, and Mandy Wilson are other feeders while Molly Brown was fired. Jack Lea is Molly's half-brother.
Cary and Michael Fitzgerald own the Psychic, Taro, and Spiritual Cleaning Center and want revenge.
The Regional Witch Association (RWA) is...
...an overriding governmental body that deals with all situations involving witches within regional communities. A reservation witch provides magical assistance, acts as a government mouthpiece, and enforces the rules. Gabe Watson had been that reservation witch. Now they need one quickly to manage the wild magic that entices evil to the reservation. Anna Kang had been sent to help in Blood Kissed , 1. Oh well... Anna's successor is Ira Ashworth who is quite intrigued, ahem, by Lizzie and Belle's net of spells over the café.
The Interspecies Investigations Team (IIT) is...
...must be called in whenever there is a murder on a reservation that involves a human.
There are six witch houses: the three royal lines include the Marlowes and the Kangs who are usually members of the Council of Advisors, a.k.a., the High Council???, while the three "common" lines include the Sarrs (Belle's family) and Fitzgeralds. Halden University is the only witch university in Australia. (Belle has inherited most of her grandmother's, Nellie, vast collection of books on magic and the supernatural.)
Ghosts are people taken before their time. Spirit guides are powerful witches who choose to dedicate their afterlife to the council or those for whom this path was destined. Imps are lesser demons, sprites.
The Cover and Title
The cover is ominous in its blacks and grays. The black-edged sky with that white glow around the red-haired Lizzie Grace also makes it easy to see the bats circling around Lizzie's head. On the right is a church with a bell tower while the left is a slice of a house with its bay window. Lizzie is wearing a low-cut black tank top with black jeans, her right hand wreathed in spirit and magic. The author's name is in white and centered at the very top. The title is also in white and spaced across Lizzie's hips and thighs with a pale gray for the series information below that.
The title is the warning Lizzie hears, for when Hell's Bell rings, it's death a'coming.
November 5, 2021
I think I may have liked this one more than the first. This is possibly because our characters are more established for me, but I also think it is partly because I love the new witch in town. He is not a romantic interest, but interesting all the same.
February 21, 2025
Les enquêtes se suivent et sont toujours trépidantes.
La relation entre Lizzie et son Patrouilleur est de plus en plus cocasse. La ville a ouvert les paris pour savoir quand le couple aura (enfin) son premier rendez-vous !
Par contre, les secrets de famille commencent à peser lourd dans la balance.
Vivement la suite… en audio !
La relation entre Lizzie et son Patrouilleur est de plus en plus cocasse. La ville a ouvert les paris pour savoir quand le couple aura (enfin) son premier rendez-vous !
Par contre, les secrets de famille commencent à peser lourd dans la balance.
Vivement la suite… en audio !
February 1, 2023
Fell Short for Me
I really liked the first book in this series, I thought the world building was pretty solid for a first book, and I was really looking forward to the second. Now I’m not saying this book was bad, it was in no way bad, but it didn’t live up to the first for me.
I think the main issue with this book for me was the storyline/mystery this book followed. It wasn’t really super fleshed out, it was kind of almost bare minimum of information to move the characters around to different situations. It had a very similar feel to the first book, in that they were apparently both revenge plots, and it turns out in this book revenge is just coming from all over the place, but none of the instances are really detailed or immersive in background.
The relationship with Lizzie and Aiden, which went from animosity to attraction in the first book, didn’t really go anywhere in this one. It’s almost like a running joke in this book, and Lizzie and Aiden can’t seem to get it together long enough to go out in date. I think the goal was to build up tension so the payoff in the next book will be more, but for me, it fell flat.
I did like seeing more of our resident vampire in this book, and I liked the dynamics that brought for Lizzie. I also liked the continued friendship between Lizzie and Belle and we learn more about how the two of them work together and their magic. Also I liked the kind of ornery official witch sent to help out, he’s kind of a curmudgeon, and I love it.
Honestly I feel like I could have skipped this book and moved on to the third one, it was just kind of forgettable
I really liked the first book in this series, I thought the world building was pretty solid for a first book, and I was really looking forward to the second. Now I’m not saying this book was bad, it was in no way bad, but it didn’t live up to the first for me.
I think the main issue with this book for me was the storyline/mystery this book followed. It wasn’t really super fleshed out, it was kind of almost bare minimum of information to move the characters around to different situations. It had a very similar feel to the first book, in that they were apparently both revenge plots, and it turns out in this book revenge is just coming from all over the place, but none of the instances are really detailed or immersive in background.
The relationship with Lizzie and Aiden, which went from animosity to attraction in the first book, didn’t really go anywhere in this one. It’s almost like a running joke in this book, and Lizzie and Aiden can’t seem to get it together long enough to go out in date. I think the goal was to build up tension so the payoff in the next book will be more, but for me, it fell flat.
I did like seeing more of our resident vampire in this book, and I liked the dynamics that brought for Lizzie. I also liked the continued friendship between Lizzie and Belle and we learn more about how the two of them work together and their magic. Also I liked the kind of ornery official witch sent to help out, he’s kind of a curmudgeon, and I love it.
Honestly I feel like I could have skipped this book and moved on to the third one, it was just kind of forgettable
November 13, 2020
I normally like this author but this was slow
This one was slow. I’m here for the romance but the investigation side of things were slow too. First I completely forgot what happened between this book and the previous book so a more clear recap would have been helpful. Second the will they won’t they constant change of plans due to work became overly annoying. Just get them on a date all ready. And they keep hinting that Aiden due to being a werewolf wouldn’t stick around with Lizzie but she’s becoming attached anyways. I was wondering if this was going to be like with Rylie Ky and Quinn where Lizzie will end up with Aiden but maybe he isn’t end game or there’s someone else for a bit?
I really disliked how much glossing over was done in this book, I also disliked the pacing or hints. I dislike the council and I suspect having this RWA witch on the reservation is going to be a problem.
I will however read the next one because I want to know if it gets better, but I felt like this one could have used more. It took me a while to finish this which isn’t typical for me, and then I kept skimming. Arthur has tons and tons of descriptions which is not my thing at all. Just tell me there’s a rickety chair in the corner, a small table next to it with yellow walls or whatever and bam I’m done.
I definitely want to see what happens if Lizzie’s family finds out about them.
This one was slow. I’m here for the romance but the investigation side of things were slow too. First I completely forgot what happened between this book and the previous book so a more clear recap would have been helpful. Second the will they won’t they constant change of plans due to work became overly annoying. Just get them on a date all ready. And they keep hinting that Aiden due to being a werewolf wouldn’t stick around with Lizzie but she’s becoming attached anyways. I was wondering if this was going to be like with Rylie Ky and Quinn where Lizzie will end up with Aiden but maybe he isn’t end game or there’s someone else for a bit?
I really disliked how much glossing over was done in this book, I also disliked the pacing or hints. I dislike the council and I suspect having this RWA witch on the reservation is going to be a problem.
I will however read the next one because I want to know if it gets better, but I felt like this one could have used more. It took me a while to finish this which isn’t typical for me, and then I kept skimming. Arthur has tons and tons of descriptions which is not my thing at all. Just tell me there’s a rickety chair in the corner, a small table next to it with yellow walls or whatever and bam I’m done.
I definitely want to see what happens if Lizzie’s family finds out about them.
August 14, 2018
I really wanted to like this book but it was really boring for me.
November 24, 2022
This is the second book in the series, so to understand some character relationships, setting and wild magic you need to read the first book Blood Kissed. It is a good read and start to a series.
Keri Arthur is back in the next book in her Lizzie Grace series, and Death strikes with the tolling of a church bell 3 times:
With Christmas approaching Lizzie and Belle are hoping to further cement their lives in the Faelan Werewolf reservation. When Lizzie is is woken with the sounding of church bells she know that evil has come back to the reservation. This evil has the ability to eat the souls of the living and animate the flesh of the dead. This is way beyond Lizzie and Belle's knowledge which calls for the need to have a new reservation witch come and deal with this evil, but what Lizzie and Belle get is not only a competent witch but one that knows that Lizzie and Belle are more than what they seems and threatens to endanger what they have been running from all these years.
I'm always in search for a good Urban Fantasy series and while I don't think I would normally migrate to one where the main character is a witch, I think that Arthur has swayed me into that direction with this series. I like the small town setting, the characters and that Arthur does not pick the typical Bad Guy/Creature for the book. This book picks up almost immediately after the first book ended, and I am glad that Arthur decided to do this. I think that by not having any time pass between the books, show that nothing has happened in the background to that would affect the characters and setting of the book
One of my favourite part of the series so far is the connection between Lizzie and Belle. I love that they have each other's back in any situation no matter the danger. It was also interesting to see the expanding of their own powers. I think Belle would be a terrifying person to be on her bad side with her mind powers.
I like that Arthur is having Lizzie and Aiden's relationship build slowly, I actually prefer this in series instead of having them hop into bed with them the first moment they get, as then I find the books become how many more sex scenes can i have with these two characters than an actual plot of the book.
Not sure how many more time I can hear that Lizzie is an under powered witch, yet then proves that she is not. I like how people around her are starting to question that statement and hope that they push it more. Ashworth is a great addition to this story as he knows and can sense there is more to them than what they are saying. I also wish that we knew more about why Lizzie and Belle fled other than her being blamed for her older sister's death. You know that there is more to the story and i want to know what it is and why Lizzie feels like she needs to hide it.
Overall, I am really enjoying this series and I am looking forward to continuing on, not just to discover what Lizzie is hiding, but to see what creature Arthur will have Lizzie and Belle battle next.
Enjoy!!!!
Keri Arthur is back in the next book in her Lizzie Grace series, and Death strikes with the tolling of a church bell 3 times:
With Christmas approaching Lizzie and Belle are hoping to further cement their lives in the Faelan Werewolf reservation. When Lizzie is is woken with the sounding of church bells she know that evil has come back to the reservation. This evil has the ability to eat the souls of the living and animate the flesh of the dead. This is way beyond Lizzie and Belle's knowledge which calls for the need to have a new reservation witch come and deal with this evil, but what Lizzie and Belle get is not only a competent witch but one that knows that Lizzie and Belle are more than what they seems and threatens to endanger what they have been running from all these years.
I'm always in search for a good Urban Fantasy series and while I don't think I would normally migrate to one where the main character is a witch, I think that Arthur has swayed me into that direction with this series. I like the small town setting, the characters and that Arthur does not pick the typical Bad Guy/Creature for the book. This book picks up almost immediately after the first book ended, and I am glad that Arthur decided to do this. I think that by not having any time pass between the books, show that nothing has happened in the background to that would affect the characters and setting of the book
One of my favourite part of the series so far is the connection between Lizzie and Belle. I love that they have each other's back in any situation no matter the danger. It was also interesting to see the expanding of their own powers. I think Belle would be a terrifying person to be on her bad side with her mind powers.
I like that Arthur is having Lizzie and Aiden's relationship build slowly, I actually prefer this in series instead of having them hop into bed with them the first moment they get, as then I find the books become how many more sex scenes can i have with these two characters than an actual plot of the book.
Not sure how many more time I can hear that Lizzie is an under powered witch, yet then proves that she is not. I like how people around her are starting to question that statement and hope that they push it more. Ashworth is a great addition to this story as he knows and can sense there is more to them than what they are saying. I also wish that we knew more about why Lizzie and Belle fled other than her being blamed for her older sister's death. You know that there is more to the story and i want to know what it is and why Lizzie feels like she needs to hide it.
Overall, I am really enjoying this series and I am looking forward to continuing on, not just to discover what Lizzie is hiding, but to see what creature Arthur will have Lizzie and Belle battle next.
Enjoy!!!!
October 19, 2022
I woke abruptly, my heart hammering and a scream dying on my lips.
This second book in the Lizzie Grace series opens with a bad omen of a church bell ringing at midnight and leading Lizzie and Belle to find a body which has been killed by a soul eater.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about Lizzie, Belle, Aiden, and the rest of the crew. I like the slow burn with Lizzie and Aiden although I would like to see them progress a bit more. I think Aiden will need to relax some of his feelings about dating outside of the pack for that to happen..
The wild magic of the reservation has been left unattended for a year and now there is a second area of magic that could present a problem.
The Council finally admits they need help from the RWA and a witch arrives to investigate. Unfortunately, he may uncover the secrets that Lizzie and Belle have crafted in order to stay in hiding.
I enjoyed learning more about the vampires, their blood servants, and their thralls.
The characters and storyline are well done. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the knowledge of local yore. There is plenty of action and I was happy to see that Aiden had Lizzie's back. I'm looking forward to a bit more romance from them in the next book. I alternated between reading and listening to this book. The narrator did an excellent job and I could picture the characters.
I look forward to continuing this series.
This second book in the Lizzie Grace series opens with a bad omen of a church bell ringing at midnight and leading Lizzie and Belle to find a body which has been killed by a soul eater.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about Lizzie, Belle, Aiden, and the rest of the crew. I like the slow burn with Lizzie and Aiden although I would like to see them progress a bit more. I think Aiden will need to relax some of his feelings about dating outside of the pack for that to happen..
The wild magic of the reservation has been left unattended for a year and now there is a second area of magic that could present a problem.
The Council finally admits they need help from the RWA and a witch arrives to investigate. Unfortunately, he may uncover the secrets that Lizzie and Belle have crafted in order to stay in hiding.
I enjoyed learning more about the vampires, their blood servants, and their thralls.
The characters and storyline are well done. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the knowledge of local yore. There is plenty of action and I was happy to see that Aiden had Lizzie's back. I'm looking forward to a bit more romance from them in the next book. I alternated between reading and listening to this book. The narrator did an excellent job and I could picture the characters.
I look forward to continuing this series.
April 10, 2018
Lizzie Grace is not your average witch. For starters her familiar is her best friend, Belle Kent, a woman with her own powers. They are both living under the radar on the Faelan Werewolf Reservation running a cafe. Magic is banned on the reservation and, while they have their supporters, their baked goods may be the secret weapon that keeps them safely in place and unnoticed by the wider witch community.
In the midst of the uncertainty, Lizzie hears a church bell ring thrice and realises a soul eater is on the loose. She, Belle and Aiden, her heartthrob werewolf, must sort out the correct magic, find and banish the soul eater, and stay alive while not falling foul of the vampire. Oh and they must not draw the attention of the new witch in town who instantly notices they are different! Piece of cake.
Great fun! I really enjoyed this. It is the second of the series and I missed the first but no problem. I'll definitely put the first on my TBR list and look forward to the next in series.
Recommended.
In the midst of the uncertainty, Lizzie hears a church bell ring thrice and realises a soul eater is on the loose. She, Belle and Aiden, her heartthrob werewolf, must sort out the correct magic, find and banish the soul eater, and stay alive while not falling foul of the vampire. Oh and they must not draw the attention of the new witch in town who instantly notices they are different! Piece of cake.
Great fun! I really enjoyed this. It is the second of the series and I missed the first but no problem. I'll definitely put the first on my TBR list and look forward to the next in series.
Recommended.
January 1, 2019
I enjoyed this second book in the series just as much as the first one. Keri Arthur stepped up her game by laying some red herrings here, which I found to be more interesting than the straightforward mystery of the first book.
The characters are growing on me, and I especially find myself interested in Maelle. I think she has the potential to give rise to some very interesting stories.
I kinda wish we'd been able to see the aftermath of Maelle's vengeance. If I'm lucky, maybe there'll be a passing mention in the next book.
There are still tantalising hints about Lizzy's past as well as her future. We didn't really get many more insights here, so I'm hoping book 3 will give us more to go on. I look forward to reading it soon.
The characters are growing on me, and I especially find myself interested in Maelle. I think she has the potential to give rise to some very interesting stories.
I kinda wish we'd been able to see the aftermath of Maelle's vengeance. If I'm lucky, maybe there'll be a passing mention in the next book.
There are still tantalising hints about Lizzy's past as well as her future. We didn't really get many more insights here, so I'm hoping book 3 will give us more to go on. I look forward to reading it soon.
April 20, 2024
I liked this one more than the first also the grammatical and spelling errors while still present occur less often. Still could use a better editor but overall significantly more readable.
I loved learning more about Belles and Lizzie's magic and how it interacts with one another. Their friendship is something else and I enjoy their telepathic conversations. There's so much more to them and I cant wait to find out all about what is being hidden.
The soul eater and the horrors that go along with it were well done. The action is kept at a good pace throughout.
Good book, Ill jump into book 3 soon.
I loved learning more about Belles and Lizzie's magic and how it interacts with one another. Their friendship is something else and I enjoy their telepathic conversations. There's so much more to them and I cant wait to find out all about what is being hidden.
The soul eater and the horrors that go along with it were well done. The action is kept at a good pace throughout.
Good book, Ill jump into book 3 soon.
July 4, 2018
This is the second book in the Lizzie Grace series and I'm happy to go along with the story. There are witches, werewolves, vampires and other spirits. There's talk of sex but none happens. The murders and mysteries take up the entire book. There's a new character who comes into play which will make the next book even more interesting I think.
June 16, 2021
Loving the series.
April 25, 2019
The story dragged a bit but not bad.
September 17, 2022
I literally sit on the edge of my seat and employ my best reading skills to gather how will 'they' resolve this particular crime now...
The extra threads of the plots are patiently woven in the story. I like the feel of them and the fact that both Liz and Belle are mature and realistic. The romance, although is a part of the plot, doesn't overwhelm; which I truly can't decide if I like or not. But it's good enough for now.
The extra threads of the plots are patiently woven in the story. I like the feel of them and the fact that both Liz and Belle are mature and realistic. The romance, although is a part of the plot, doesn't overwhelm; which I truly can't decide if I like or not. But it's good enough for now.
October 5, 2020
Continuing on the heels of book 1, we continue to follow Lizzie, Belle and Aiden as they are confronted with a new threat. The story builds more on the relationship between Lizzie and Aiden. We learn more of the world, and see more of the special bond between the witches. It’s go from the first page and Ker Arthur fans will not be disappointed. I definitely wasn’t.
Disclaimer: while I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.
Disclaimer: while I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.
February 17, 2018
I’m loving the Lizzie Grace books, and this one was just as great as the first one. Lizzie Grace and her witch familiar and best friend, Belle Kent, have opened up a business on a werewolf reservation, where witches aren’t welcome. They’ve gathered some support from some of the inhabitants after they helped with a killer vampire, but they still aren’t sure if they’ll be allowed to stay. When Lizzie senses evil and hears bells tolling. she and Belle investigate and find a murder victim. Lizzie calls ranger Aiden O’Connor, who has not only begun to support the two witch’s presence but has asked Lizzie out on a date. The attraction is mutual, if only they can find time to go on that date between the growing body count and the danger stalking Lizzie. The relationship between Lizzie and Belle is fun, especially with Belle able to telepathically communicate (and read her mind), so Lizzie never has any secrets from her familiar. It was entertaining seeing all the obstacles Lizzie and the hot werewolf go through trying to go on their date, especially with everyone on the reservation placing bets on it. We learned more about the witches background and got more insight into how they work together, which I thought was pretty cool. I can’t wait to read the next installment, which I hope comes soon.
April 29, 2022
good, not great..
I'm going to continue with the third book hopefully It will be better.
the love interest still has a stick up his @ss and isn't really serious and the MC is starting to become a broken record with the things she says.
I'm going to continue with the third book hopefully It will be better.
the love interest still has a stick up his @ss and isn't really serious and the MC is starting to become a broken record with the things she says.
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