“The Bell Witches” is a witchy YA fantasy book by Lindsey Kelk.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️ Broken family dynamics
⭐️ Gothic fantasy
⭐️ Forbidden romance
⭐️ Supernatural secrets
⭐️ Jaw-dropping twists & suspense

My Review:

Lindsey Kelk's "The Bell Witches" is an engaging read that intertwines themes of family, magic, and self-discovery, set against the atmospheric backdrop of Savannah, Georgia. While the book has its charms, it ultimately falls short of being a standout in the genre.
The story revolves around sixteen-year-old Emily, who, after the tragic loss of her father, finds herself living with her enigmatic aunt and grandmother. Kelk does an admirable job capturing the essence of grief and the search for belonging, and Emily's character is relatable as she navigates her new life. The mysterious Bell family and their magical secret provide an intriguing hook, and the Southern Gothic setting is vividly portrayed, adding depth to the narrative.
However, the romance between Emily and Wyn, while captivating, occasionally veers into cliché territory. I found myself wanting more development in the dynamics between them, as they seemed to fade into the background amid the magical intrigue.
Kelk's writing is accessible and engaging, though the pacing can be uneven. There are moments of tension and excitement, but some plot points feel rushed or predictable, making it hard to stay fully invested.
In summary, "The Bell Witches" is an enjoyable read that blends elements of magic and coming-of-age, but it doesn’t fully realise its potential. It’s a solid choice for fans of magical realism, but those seeking a deeper exploration of its themes might find it lacking. If you’re looking for an entertaining, if somewhat conventional, story about magic and family bonds, this book might be worth picking up.
Additionally, I listened to the audiobook, and I must say that the narrator, Ashleigh Haddad, does a brilliant job of drawing you into the story. Her voice is incredibly melodic, and her ability to change vocal qualities makes it easy to distinguish between the different characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#TheBellWitches #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK

I really enjoyed this one!

-Easy reading, well paced.
-Loved the setting and it gave me Beautiful Creatures (the film vibe)
-Ends well and leaves it open to sequel books
-Could imagine it all really well

The vibe was vibing! I'm happy to say that this book delivers what it promises, something which not a lot of "witchy spooky" books can do. I also really enjoyed the writing, I'll definitely be following this author.

Loved the vibes of this book. It was filled with the chaos of the originals and the heart of Sabrina the teenage witch. I’m really excited to see what happens in the next one and can’t wait to read more of Lindsey’s books

I enjoyed this spooky, witchy novel which I chose to read in the run up to Halloween season. Even though it is mainly a teen romance it was mature in its telling and had a number of elements which I enjoyed exploring. It has a beautiful front cover and pencil artwork at the beginning of each chapter. Looking forward to the promised sequel now.

DNF @52%

Plot wise, this is intriguing, and I was really expecting this novel to deliver what I wish, but unfortunately, there is nothing that I can consider exciting. In my opinion, it's not fantasy or witchy enough for me?

I don't know, but the characters aren't really convincing for me, and I just couldn't care for them.


Thank you, Harpercollins, for the e-arc opportunity via Netgalley.


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Date Released: September 28, 2024
Date Read: October 17- October 21
Ratings: 1.5 ⭐️

I’ve read some of Lindsey Kelk’s romances and really enjoyed them, so I was thrilled when The Bell Witches, her first romantasy novel, was announced.

The Bell Witches follows Emily James, who moves to Savannah in the US to live with a grandmother and aunt she didn’t know she had after her father tragically dies. However, the Bell family are hiding a magical secret. Sparks fly when Emily meets the alluring Wyn, but every step closer to him takes her a step away from her family.

I struggled with this book, and a lot of that is due to how YA it is. Despite being in my twenties, I still enjoy YA books, but this one felt especially young to me. I found the use of slang and references to TikTok etc really jarring. I do enjoy urban fantasy, but all of the modern references felt very out of place in this story.

I am not a huge fan of insta-love, and unfortunately the romance between Wyn and Emily felt this way. However, Emily is 16-years-old and it makes sense that her first love is all encompassing and moves fast. I just wish we saw a little more development in their relationship, as it felt very surface level.

I found the plot to be quite predictable and the pacing felt very slow. I wish there were a few more twists and a faster pace. However, I really enjoyed the atmosphere that Lindsey Kelk created. Her descriptions made me feel as if I was in Savannah myself, and I could tell that she had definitely done her research on the setting.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. However, I think I would have eaten this up when I was a similar age to Emily. I can see younger audiences really enjoying this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it from page one. It's funny, mysterious, pages turn themselves. I didn't hear much about this author before but I like her writing. It's captivating and easy to follow. I've been avoiding YA recently due to predictable plot but this one kept me interested throughout. Sweet and cozy and beautiful.

Great story, really cosy witchy autumn vibes. I enjoyed it so much I reordered 2 physical copies!!

The atmosphere is perfect however I do think that you can tell this is aimed at a younger audience.

I saw this advertised and knew I had to read it. I'm a big fan of Lindsey Kelk and was interested to see how she would do a YA series.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's a different writing style from her, which is to be expected, but it had me captivated from the start.
I'd say it's a cross between a modern day Sabrina the teenage witch, meets Twilight!
But written in a different way.
I'd definitely read the next book.
I liked the characters and knew mostly enough about them to be invested.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and entertaining YA story perfect for the dark and grey days of autumn in the UK, Savannah’s heat and humidity only serving to add to the atmosphere of Em’s story.
Em’s discovery of her roots after being kept in the dark for so long is a liberating experience and we see her grow in confidence and character as the story progresses.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Em and her new found family and friends. Lydia and Jackson were great additions to her circle and immediately drew her in to life in the town - accepting her completely and sharing their lives with ease. Ashley was my favourite- responsible for caring for all and having little in return - she was interesting, feisty and had that simmering anger never far from the surface

A choice for spooky season, although I didn't feel it hit the notes I wanted it to, sadly. It's a shame, as I've heard good things about the author.

A departure from the author's typical genre. Didn't quite hit the right note for me unfortunately, I'll stick to the romance novels.

A truly witchy, magical, spooky novel, this book grabbed my attention from the start. I loved the small town vibes, magical world building, family dynamics and all the characters were excellent.

Suddenly orphaned Emily finds herself with her aunt and grandmother in Savannah discovering her witch heritage.

I loved the magic building in this book and the mystery going through it. With Emily slowly figuring everything out. It did have some predictability at points and the pacing was at times slow with the majority happening in the last 20%.

It definitely feels like a book setting up for a series it was an enjoyable read though and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it! I was so invested in the story that I struggled to put it down. A perfect read for October!

The Bell Witches was the perfect spooky season read.

Emily has lived a normal, if nomadic, life with her father for as long as she can remember. He’s from Georgia, but it’s a place she’s never been, and as far as she knows she has no other living family.
Until her father dies in a tragic accident, and her grandmother comes to Wales to claim guardianship.
Whisked off to Savannah, Emily learns that there’s far more to her family and their history than she ever knew, and a dark secret lurks beneath the surface - the true reason why her father kept her away all these years.
Combine the mystery with a handsome stranger who comes with secrets of his own, and Emily’s life has changed more than she could ever have imagined.

I loved The Bell Witches. The magic system was really interesting as was the way it was woven into our world. I enjoy a book where you’re thrown in the deep end and learn with the character, and this book did it really well - there were times when I suspected certain things which then were revealed to be the case, which I always think means they’ve been clearly hinted at and marked out!

The characters felt realistic and their relationships developed naturally. I particularly enjoyed the way Emily’s relationships with her new friends and family developed alongside her relationship with Wyn - it wasn’t just about the potential romance.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bell Witches and I will definitely read the next book in the Savannah Red series!

This book is marketed as "Gilmore Girls meets Buffy" so I went in with high expectations and was unfortunately let down. It just felt rather undeveloped and I didn't love many of the characters.

Such a cute YA book. Unfortunately nothing new or stand out in this book. But it’s a good solid book for those 14/15 year old wanting a dip into a mystical fantasty world.

2.5 ⭐️

"There is always a before and an after."

I'm very sad because I really wanted to like this but alas I did not.

Let's start with what I did like. The setting, the author did a great job of creating a savannah that hides the secret of witches. With cemeteries and big old houses. Now I am saying this as someone who has never been to the US, but it definitely fits with the Savannah we typically see in media.

My favourite character is Lydia, she provides great relief from the dark nature of the rest of the book. Aunt ashley is also very interesting, especially towards the end of the book. I do like Emily too, but she is a somewhat typical YA protagonist.

Speaking of typical YA, the romance gives 2010s werewolf book. It unfortunately is an insta-love situation and I just didn't buy it.

I also found it very predictable. It took too long for our characters to learn what we have already worked out for ourselves as readers. There's was a lot for the author to set up, though, with the setting and the magic system, etc.

Overall I think that if this is the type of book you like, you'll love it but it wasn't for me. The plot had potential, but I probably will not be picking up the sequels.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.