Member Reviews
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค
Youโll want to be one until you know their secret. After the tragic passing of her last remaining family member, Emily is forced to live with the only family she has left. With her aunt and a grandmother in a house that is as beautiful as it is mysterious. But all is not what it seems with this family: theyโre hiding a magical secret.
When Emily meets there alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was written in the stars. As the spark between them brows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn. Ever step closer to him takes her a step further away form her family. Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water and there is no bond heater than family.
A story about love, loss, family and magic that will have you enchanted form the very first page. A coming of age story that will resonate with readers young and old, as they too navigate the emotions of loosing a loved one and learning to find your place in the world. A beautifully realised magical system and epic story that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค
wow what a book!
i fell in love with the characters and bell house.
i loved how you felt you were there witnessing the events.
i canโt wait for the next instalment.
a real page turner
Iโve been a Lindsey fan for a few years now so was intrigue when I saw she had written for YA.
Emily is 16 when her dad dies in a tragic car accident, leaving her orphaned. Then she learns she has paternal family members sheโd never heard of living in Savannah and her aunt Ashley is dispatched to bring her home to Bell House. But all is not quite as it seemsโฆ.
A story about love, family, friendship, magic, new beginnings and teenage life. I really enjoyed it and will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review .
This was just an ok read for me due to personal preferences. I found this a bit too YA and has too many tropes for my liking but it was fun and I liked the family and magical parts of the book
Better suited to those who like romantic fantasy and thatโs not me. It was well written and an easy read
Already a massive Lindsey Kelk fan, I was desperate to get my hands on her debut YA fantasy.
After Emily's father tragically dies, she is sent to live with a grandmother she has never met, in a birth town she cant remember. The Savannah setting reminded me so much of Stars Hollow, or even Hocus Pocus, and I loved going along on Wyn's guided tour of the town, seeing Emily discover more about herself and where she came from.
The supporting characters were brilliant- everyone needs a friend like Lydia, and I'm desperate to learn more about Emily's auntie, and her role in the Bell family.
This story was honestly so much fun, with a few twists along the way that I didn't see coming. I feel like we've only just scratched the surface of this brilliant story, and I'm already awaiting book two!
Enchanting and atmospheric! This book swept me away with its magical world and captivating story. The dark, mysterious setting and richly developed characters kept me turning pages until the very end. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Oh. My. Goodness!! I have been waiting for this book for, what feels like, forever! When I tell you it was worth the wait, I am not exaggerating!.
The Bell Witches is incredible! It's got the Kelk stamp all over it, but it's so refreshingly different too. This book is phenomenal. It's fast ride after a leisurely start, it's shocking, romantic, dramatic, gripping, tense. It's everything you could ever want in a YA witchy book, but it's SO much more too.
Lindsey Kelk is a genius and I am in awe of her.
The Bell Witches is an enchanting YA fantasy set within the historical town of Savannah, Georgia.
I've been looking forward to this since it was announced and I was not disappointed. The location is stunning - the various squares, the cemeteries and gothic buildings are described so beautifully that on the surface it seems like a picturesque settlers town. But this isnโt the cutesy witchy story you think it is.
I was drawn in from the first chapter, watching Emily go through all the emotions you would expect from someone in her circumstances. Not only does poor Emily, have to adjust to living in this new somewhat strange place, surrounded by the family she thought were dead, but she discovers the magic is real and she comes from a long line of Bell women who have been guarding a huge secret for centuries.
I loved that the magic system was a little different, in terms of the inheritance of power, but it still included the more common aspects of nature and using plants and herbs.
The plot unfolds at just the right pace and we are fed lots of little snippets of information that create a feeling of intrigue and suspicion. Whilst magic can be used for good, an ancient prophecy threatens to upend Emilyโs new life and watching her journey of self discovery and empowerment was incredibly heartwarming.
Perfect for readers who enjoy escaping to a world of magic, mystery and romance!
I've read almost everything Lindsey has written so was really excited to see sneaky bts peeks at this new book she was writing and to get an early copy!
Normally what I love about Lindsey's books is the main relationships in a book, whether that be the love interests or family, she knows how to write characters who make you feel things and root for them.
In this book, I wasn't very invested in Emily and Wyn. I think it was just a personal thing but for me it was a little too intense too quickly.
But I loved Lydia, Jackson and the complex Ashley. I enjoyed learning about the magical world with Emily as we went but it's those characters who kept me invested.
I also really loved the gothic, atmospheric vibes of Savannah. Lindsey set the book so well that you can really picture the place and imagine how magical and eerie at times it must feel.
I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next and need answers about what happened to one of the characters! (No spoilers)
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins, Magpie and the author, Lindsey Kelk, for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
3.75 โญ
"The Bell Witches" is a ya fantasy novel, with gothic overtones, written by Lindsey Kelk. A beguiling, quick and captivating book that, among many lights and a few shadows, I enjoyed a lot.
The writing simply enchanted me! Elegant, evocative and lyrical, it captured me with its curated and vivid descriptions.
I loved the setting of the city of Savannah! I was fascinated by the many elegant historic mansions, the many squares, the distinctive trees, the quaint cemeteries, the unpredictable weather, and the abundance of history and folklore. I found everything beautifully painted, so much so that I could easily imagine the various places. Moreover, the magical, dreamy, almost suspended in time atmosphere that hovers between the pages won me over! The magic system, the presence of supernatural creatures, mix perfectly with the history, legends and folklore of the city, intertwining to create a fascinating picture.
Emily, protagonist with her only first person pov, left me a little lukewarm. Overall, I liked her, but she didn't win me over. I appreciated the way she tries to cope with the loss of her father, the way she tries to adapt to the new reality and new discoveries.ย However, her constant underestimating herself (even when she is constantly told otherwise) made me roll my eyes repeatedly. In addition,ย she didn't particularly strike me in terms of expressiveness, and I don't know, other than what I mentioned above, she seemed a bit shallow. Some of the secondary characters, such as the grandmother and aunt, seemed more effective to me by comparison. The dialogues did not particularly impress me (some even left me puzzled) and I admit that I found the romance too insta love and rushed in certain dynamics. I perceived no development in the relationship, no chemistry between the characters and this left me rather indifferent, if not bored. Also, Wyn did not convey anything to me and this made the situation worse.
All in all, "The Bell Witches" is an enjoyable ya fantasy that did not completely win me over!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk
Rating: 4/5
After Emilyโs father tragically passes away, she is compelled to relocate to Savannah, Georgia, to reside with her remaining family โ an aunt and grandmother โ in a house as enchanting as it is enigmatic.
Yet, the Bell family harbours a mysterious, magical secret.
In Savannah, Emily crosses paths with Wyn, whose captivating presence immediately resonates with her. As their connection deepens, Emilyโs life undergoes a thrilling and unsettling transformation. However, every stride toward Wyn pulls her farther from her family.
In this journey, Emily discovers that familial bonds are steadfast, even in the face of magical allure and uncertainty.
If I were to encapsulate this book in a single word, it would undoubtedly be: Magical.
In "The Bell Witches," Lindsey Kelk has masterfully crafted an enchanting world that seamlessly intertwines multiple captivating genres โ romance, magic, and mystery.
From the very first page, "The Bell Witches" draws you in with its compelling narrative that compels you to turn page after page, eagerly devouring both the intricate plot and the richly developed characters. Kelkโs skilful storytelling effortlessly transports readers into a realm where magic feels both natural and enthralling, making it a joy to immerse oneself in.
The protagonistโs journey struck a deep chord within me as a reader. Her path is one of grappling with the complexities of everyday life โ navigating issues of love and grief while striving to cultivate inner strength and empowerment. This emotional depth adds a layer of authenticity to her character, making her journey all the more relatable and compelling.
The supporting characters, particularly Wynn, contribute significantly to the storyโs richness. Their presence adds depth and complexity, enhancing the overall narrative and providing meaningful insights into the protagonistโs experiences and growth.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend "The Bell Witches" to anyone seeking a seamless blend of romance, magic, and fantasy. Itโs a book that offers an engaging and enjoyable escape into a world where the extraordinary meets the everyday, leaving readers enchanted and eager for more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie, and the author, Lindsey Kelk, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Title: The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธStars
Release date: September 26th 2024
Step into the enchanting world of The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk, where magic, mystery, and romance intertwine to create a spellbinding tale set in the heart of Savannah, Georgia. I absolutely loved this!
Emily is thrust into a new life after the tragic loss of her father, finding herself under the care of her aunt and grandmother in a house that whispers of secrets and holds a magical allure. The Bell family, with their captivating charm and hidden powers, soon reveal that they are more than meets the eye. As Emily navigates this new world tinged with mystery, she discovers that her own destiny is entwined with the magical legacy of her family.
Enter Wyn, whose magnetic presence draws Emily in like a moth to a flame. Their connection sparks a journey that is both exhilarating and perilous, as Emily learns the truth about her familyโs magical abilities and the sacrifices that come with them. As she delves deeper into the world of the Bell witches, Emily faces choices that challenge her loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for Wyn.
Kelk weaves a captivating narrative that keeps you turning the pages, eager to uncover the secrets hidden within the walls of the Bell family home. The atmosphere of Savannah comes alive, rich with Southern charm and a touch of mystique that adds depth to the story.
The magical elements are seamlessly integrated, creating a world where spells and enchantments coexist with the everyday struggles of love and loss.
The Bell Witches is not just a tale of magic; itโs a story of family bonds, love, and the discovery of oneโs true self. Emilyโs journey from grief to empowerment is beautifully portrayed, and her evolution as a character resonates with authenticity and depth.
The supporting characters, especially the enigmatic Wyn and the intriguing Bell family members, add layers of intrigue and warmth to the story.
The Bell Witches is a delightful blend of fantasy and romance, perfect for readers who enjoy tales of magic, mystery, and the enduring power of familial ties.
Dive into this bewitching world and let yourself be enchanted by Emilyโs journeyโitโs a ride you wonโt want to miss!
Thank you to The Publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie ,The Author Lindsey Kelk & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.