Even more enchanting than the first Aveline Jones book, with beautiful illustrations throughout!

I LOVED the fist A.J. book, so the bar was already high - but this second book has completely topped the first. I loved the 'witchy' world that Aveline discovers, as well as her complex friendship with Hazel (I don't want to say too much in case I give away any spoilers). What made this book not just a 'spooky' book for me was the relationship between Aveline and her mum - it feels so well-written and shows how complex and affectionate these relationships can sometimes be. The end and 'reveal' felt very satisfying to read, too. I really enjoyed this book!

The Aveline Jones books are fast becoming one of my favourite MG series! Atmospheric with fantastic characters I can't wait for book 3!

This was a fantastic book for the end of summer/beginning of autumn season.
It captured the atmosphere and feeling of those hot late summer afternoons perfectly. Multiple times throughout my reading I stopped and re-read descriptions of the setting and nature to more fully soak it in.
You could tell that the author really appreciates this time as well, the descriptions lent a very cosy atmosphere to the setting, despite the rather spooky plot.

Speaking of spooky plot, I think this second instalment to the Aveline Jones series was quite a bit spookier than the first which I loved. For me it was the fact that the mystery and creepy feelings were linked to a friend of Aveline, and she had to learn to follow what her gut instinct was telling her.
Which I think can be tied into a great message for younger readers, that it's important to follow your own instincts when it comes to what you know is right and wrong instead of just following blindly.

It was also lovely to see some returning characters from the first book, Aveline's friendship with Harold provided some great humour and lightness compared with the more creepy and sinister goings on.

I'm looking forward to the next adventure Aveline has lined up, it's always interesting to see more British and Celtic folklore incorporated into middle grade books.
As this one was a little darker than the previous, as I've stated, I think it'd be a good fit for readers 11/12 +

The story follows Aveline to a cottage in the countryside not far from where they lived for her summer holidays. The only thing she found alluring enough for her in the village of Norton Wick was the circle of stones called The Witch Stones. While exploring the circle of stones she came across an enigmatic girl, Hazel. Suddenly, her boring vacation became intriguing and thrilling. Aveline becomes suspicious when Hazel starts acting strange. Bizarre things start occurring that had no logical explanation other than a supernatural one. When Aveline's friend Harold arrives to spend few days, that's when things become slightly twisted.
This is the second Aveline Jones book after The Haunting of Aveline Jones. The author has taken his time to build an eerie atmosphere before taking the story forward. Despite its slow start it picks up pace in the second half and turns into a fascinating and spine-tingling tale of witches and magic. Britain's supernatural history of stone circles and witch trials has been brilliantly blended into the story. The author has not used a plethora of characters to unnecessarily complicate the story. With the minimum number of characters, he has spun a perfect spooky mystery for the middle graders. I am going to pick up the first book and looking forward to the third in the series.

Having already devoured The Haunting of Aveline Jones, I was eager to get my hands on the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I was able to do just that.
I wasn’t disappointed! The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is a chillingly fast paced story that left me a little afraid to turn the bedside light off.
In this second instalment from Phil Hickes, Aveline is once again thrust into a paranormal adventure; this time whilst on holiday with her Mum in the quaint village of Norton Wick
There are some clever and interesting plot twists in this deliciously creepy tale but I was particularly impressed by the treatment of themes of morality, loyalty and friendship that run throughout this novel.
The snippets of historical facts which open each chapter add to the atmosphere and authenticity of the story whilst providing the reader with a history of witchcraft that educates and intrigues them further.
I raced through this book as I was desperate to find out what happened next. I loved Phil Hickes’ first book but his second is even better.
I can’t wait for more of Aveline’s adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and Usbourne Publishing for allowing me an advance copy of this fantastic sequel.

The first book in this series ‘The Haunting of Aveline Jones’ was one of my favourite middle grade stories of last year, which has been shared and equally loved by many children in the school in which I work. This sequel, if anything is scarier and more atmospheric than the first.

In this story, Aveline goes on holiday with her mother to Norton Wick, a small village with a bewitching past. Aveline soon discovers a stone circle behind the cottage she is staying in which dates back thousands of years and is believed to be linked to some local witch trials. Whilst waiting for her friend Harold to join her on holiday, Averline makes a new friend Hazel Browne (with an e) who may not be exactly whom she seems. This is a haunting mystery that Aveline will need to solve, with creepy characters, magic and intrigue abound. I know that my class next year will love this book just as much as the first.

If you liked reading The Wicked Deep, you might not want to miss this one. The Bewitching Of Aveline Jones was spooky, chilling, and fascinating. The illustrations were an added bonus to the reader, elevating the dark aura of the story and served as a guide to know the place and characters graphically. The witch trials might have been in the 1600s, but their echoes are still heard through myths and legends to date. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a short, fast-paced horror story.




(Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the DRC.)

I am now a Phil Hickes fan. When I was granted early access to ‘The Bewitching of Aveline Jones’, I bought the previous book ‘The haunting of Aveline Jones’ to help me get context and an understanding of the character’s personality and development. Well, that was a great read.
Knowing Aveline and her family and support network I was able to see how Aveline was well supported and respected by her ‘people’
The premise of a holiday house beside some Druid circle stones, a strange buried bottle which rattled, and a new friend who wouldn’t or couldn’t enter the property set the scene well.
Aveline’s passion for ghosts and spooky goings-on is supported by her friend Harold and his uncle Mr. Lieberman and Harold is pulled into her adventure with her new friend, who may be a witch!
This a decidedly spooky tale, as was the previous book. As a 54 year old, I preferred to read this in the daytime, in case of night worries! Brilliant writing , excellent plot, and great real interactions between the characters.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

I was absolutely bewitched by this story - so much so that I immediately bought the first book in the series, which I had foolishly missed. I thought it was the perfect level of creepy, whilst maintaining an unpredictable and engaging narrative. This book will be adored by my Year 5 readers and I cannot wait to add it to my classroom bookshelf. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

trigger warning
<spoiler> death by fire </spoiler>

Aveline Jones and her mother spend their holidays in a tiny cottage next to a stone circle, which intrigues her greatly.

The stone circle is directly beyond the cottage's garden, so Aveline has no trouble convincing her mother to let her play there, and so she happens to make a friend who seems to love spending time there, too.
Later on, for a few days, her aunt, an elderly bookseller and her best friend Harold join them, as there is more than enough space in the building at the edge of a tiny village.

There were a few allusions to past adventures, and it seems like this book is part of a series, but it can be read without any prior knowledge as it is really about what happens in the summer holidays.
The plot is pretty straightforward, and while it didn't appeal greatly to me, I can't pinpoint any issues. The characters were fine, I liked the atmosphere. I loved the illustrations, though the magpie at the start of each chapter looks like it has <i>opinion</i> about you.

Middlegrade readers who like witchy, slightly spooky reads will have fun with this.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

This series is a great middle great mystery series. Aveline Jones is such an endearing character. Adventures are great, very engaging plot. Great middle grade books, highly recommend.

the second in this series is scarier than the first, with Aveline on yet another holiday to an isolated holiday home where she encounters supernatural drama and gets involved in spooky events! If you were a fan o the first, this is more of the brilliant same stuff, and if you missed the first, no worries, this will be a great introduction the wonderful Aveline - just don't read it with the lights off!!

This is a really beautifully written and designed book. It's my first time reading Phil Hickes, and I believe this is actually the second book in Aveline's adventures, but missing out on the first didn't affect my reading experience at all. I do, however, want to ensure I enjoy every adventure Aveline and her family & friends experience from now on!

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is for younger readers, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this tale. The tone of the writing is enjoyable and draws you in, with an accessible style that doesn't feel childish but really gives depth to the voices and personalities of the characters.

The plot is spooky and thrilling. Although I didn't feel any of the reveals were particularly surprising to me, I feel like younger reader would enjoy the plot twists and the tense build up to events. I found it easy to visualise the characters and settings, and loved the development of the story. My only thought was that I didn't quite connect with the ending, perhaps expecting more from Hazel or Alice, but I think for the intended audience it would be quite exciting.

The Kindle version was very poorly formatted, but this appears to be a trend only with the NetGalley ARCs, so I read as a pdf style document instead. This way, I was able to really enjoy the stunning illustrations and quotes that have been designed for each chapter break - I felt they really added mystery and atmosphere to the story.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this book to others, either those who enjoy younger stories or those with children. I'll be keeping an eye out for more adventures with Aveline in the future! Thanks to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for the eARC of this great read.

We are back in familiar territory with this wonderful story. The Bewitching of Aveline Jones takes us back to characters that we already fell in love with but this time, instead of ghosts, we are in the realms of witches. Aveline makes a new friend when she is on holiday near a sacred stone circle. However, this friend is not all that she seems, especially when she starts excluding her friend, Harold. Phil Hickes does something wonderful in middle grade - stories that really make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. And The Bewitching is no different. Absolutely stunning follow up and I simply cannot wait for book 3.

Oh, how I wish I would have had Aveline Jones on my bookshelf when I was younger. Adventure, mystery, folklore, witchcraft, sleepovers, fish and chips! - it’s got everything that a 10-year-old me would have absolutely adored.

Aveline and her mum have come away to Norton Wick for their summer holiday. Their cottage sits beside an ancient stone circle that the villagers refer to as the Witch Stones, and she is looking forward to learning more about them. “Ghosts, ghouls and witches (are), of course, her specialist subject.”

She soon bumps into a rather strange girl called Hazel. Unpredictable and overly friendly, mysterious and impossibly cool, Aveline instantly falls under her spell and is even willing to ditch her friend, Harold, just to spend more time with her. But it doesn’t take long for Aveline to start becoming suspicious of her new friend. How does she know so much about the Witch Stones? Where does she keep disappearing to? What on earth does she have against Alice, the local vicar?

With beautiful illustrations by Keith Robinson, The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is a captivating read which manages to feel summery and spooky at the same time. At 256 pages you’ll want to finish it in one sitting, but you might want to sleep with the light on when you’re done! It’s the perfect story to read by torchlight.

Keep your eyes peeled for events, writing competitions and a social media read-along in September. In the meantime, pick up your copy of The Haunting of Aveline Jones to introduce yourself to this “deliciously spine-tingling” new series.

If you enjoyed The Haunting of Aveline Jones then you are going to love The Bewitching of Aveline Jones!

In this book, we join Aveline on holiday in Norton Wick where we see her curiosity about a historical stone circle play out. Of course, if you've read the first book, you'll know that things are likely to turn sour with things not being as they seem and a problem to solve...

I really enjoy Phil Hickes' storytelling and writing style. The language he uses is so atmospheric and immerses the reader in the scenes he creates. One scene in particular left me feeling uneasy; I could picture every detail as if I were there!

Phil Hickes has created a solid series. Once I pick up one of his books, I can't put them down and that was definitely the case with The Bewitching of Aveline Jones. I am already itching to read the next in the set and will be waiting patiently to get my hands on a copy!

In Aveline's second adventure, she and her mum are on holiday in a tiny quiet village. However, just at the end of the garden is an ancient stone circle. Perfect for investigation! The Witch Stones aren't all Aveline finds and she makes a new friend, a mysterious girl called Hazel who seems to have some kind of connection with the stones. Unexplained things start happening but luckily Harold is on his way with a huge pile of books covering all eventualities.
I really liked Alice, the village vicar, who reminded me a lot of Geraldine from The Vicar of Dibley. Though I thought she could possibly have been a little bit more helpful to Aveline.
This was every bit as good as the first book, just as scary and thrilling. I loved the suspense and eeriness. I'll definitely be buying myself a physical copy as soon as it is released and already I can't wait for the third book in the series.

I’ve always loved a scary read and as a child would keenly anticipate my weekly visit to my local newsagent to collect my copy of Misty comic, which was always packed with stories of witches and dark magic. Sadly, it was never as popular as the more girly reads and after a while was discontinued but together with my much-loved Usborne Vampires, Werewolves and Demons supernatural guide provided the younger me with frights aplenty.

When my own children were growing up, either they were not interested in such material or that sort of thing was not available to them. I certainly don’t remember seeing anything like that on our numerous visits to the library or in bookshops, so I am delighted that there seems to be a steadily increasing market for spine-chilling reads – with this sequel to last year’s The Haunting of Aveline Jones being the latest to catch my eye. Even better than the original title, this book will again hold its readers spellbound by the strange and spooky events in which our young heroine finds herself involved.

Our story opens in the summer holidays, with Aveline and her mother starting a break in the country cottage they have rented for a fortnight in the village of Norton Wick. Although the prospect of two weeks on a sunny Spanish beach is more appealing to Aveline, she is keen to investigate an ancient stone circle known locally as The Witch Stones, which is situated just at the end of the back garden. Fighting her way through the brambles and other weeds to reach the stones, Aveline’s attention is caught by an old bottle that is half-buried in the ground and which makes her feel uneasy when she frees it to take a closer look.

When she reaches the stones, she takes a good look around and becomes aware of another presence – a girl in a flowing white dress who appears to be carrying out some sort of ritual. The girl smirks at Aveline who, embarrassed at being caught staring, quickly returns home. The following day, Aveline is again caught out when the girl passes by the cottage on her horse and determined to find out who she is Aveline follows her into the heart of the village where she loses her. Looking around, she is spoken to by a woman who introduces herself as Alice, the local vicar. Alice asks Aveline if she has visited the stones, before revealing that some of the villagers won’t go near them after sunset because of tales of supernatural creatures that might snatch them away.

With little else to do in the village to entertain her, Aveline makes her way to the stones again where she sees the mysterious girl for the third time. Aveline is a little thrown when the girl asks her if she is a witch, before telling her that she is only joking and that her name is Hazel. Keen to be friends, at first Hazel seems like lots of fun but as time goes by Aveline sees a different side to her and starts to question just who she is and why she seems unable to resist the strange girl’s plans for her. What is Hazel’s connection to the stones, and will Aveline be able to break the hold she fears Hazel has gained over her?

The power of suggestion over the human mind has long been recognised, and here that power is used to fantastic effect. From the moment Aveline first spots Hazel, it is clear that there is something odd about her – something unsettling, but suggested so subtly that it is hard for both Aveline and the reader to pinpoint exactly what it is. Many children will recognise the magnetic appeal that Hazel holds and will see themselves reflected in Aveline’s decisions as she tries her best to dismiss her fears and justify Hazel’s strange behaviour to herself. Many of us have found ourselves in awe of other, cooler peers and against our better judgement have tolerated what we know in our hearts to be not in our best interests in our desperation to continue friendships, and so it is here.

Fortunately for Aveline, she has a true friend in Harold – who we first met in Book 1 – and fans of the original story will be delighted to further their acquaintance with him, his uncle and Aveline’s aunt who again all have a part to play in this narrative. Do not fear if you have not read that title as yet though – this works perfectly well as a standalone as everything that you need to know is seamlessly included here to bring you up to speed.

Deliciously spooky, this is a real delight for younger readers who like a scary read. It would make a great class reader in upper KS2, and I am sure some Year 4 children would delight in it too, although I wouldn’t recommend it as late night reading for younger or more sensitive readers just in case – especially one section which I’m not going to describe here for fear of including spoilers. Let’s just say, you’ll know the bit I mean when you get to it.

As always, huge thanks go to Usborne Publishing and Net Galley for my advance read, ahead of publication on 16th September. A spine-tingling 5 out of 5 stars.

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

Aveline Jones is reluctant to spend a summer holiday with her mother in a remote English town devoid of any other children her age. When she finds an odd arrangement of witch stone it captivates her imagination. And when, soon after, she meets a strange but bewitching girl of around her age, her holidays suddenly appear to be far more full of adventure than she originally foresaw.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Aveline Jones. Just as in the last book featuring her, this was full of supernatural horror, eerie vibes, and folklore come to life. I adored the atmosphere Hickes conjured, as well as the insights to Britain's supernatural past. This was heightened with the small snippets related to the occult that appeared between each chapter and were taken directly from historical texts. The illustrations provided a thrilling finishing touch and also aided in crafting the perfect, sinister and suspenseful, little read.

Thanks so much to Usborne Publishing & NetGalley for granting my request for this lovely eARC.

I was granted this request and within 5 minutes I already had it up on my kindle ready to read because I loved the first book so much and couldn't wait to see what adventures Aveline and Harold went on in this story. I definitely enjoyed this book and felt the same spooky vibes that i'd got in the Haunting. The writing is engaging and witty and just keeps you coming back for me. I wish we got a little bit more of Harold and Aveline's friendship in this book; I felt he took a bit of a backfoot in this story and I really was hoping to see him more front and center. I definitely still enjoyed the plot though and I can't wait to see how the next story goes because that premise sounds brilliant!

You can get your hands on a physical copy on 16th September 2021! I know i'll be adding this to my shelf.