Hell’s Bell by Keri Arthur
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…
The Bite Breakdown:
Quick Verdict
A darker, sharper second installment that deepens Lizzie Grace’s world while refusing to soften its consequences. I found it more emotionally grounded and more dangerous than book one, with higher personal stakes and less room for comfort.
At a Glance
- Genre: Urban Fantasy
- Subgenre: Paranormal Fantasy, Witch-Centered Fantasy
- Trope: The Sins of the Past
- Series: The Lizzie Grace Series Book 2
- POV: First Person
- Romance Focus: Low
- Tone: Gritty, tense, consequence driven
The Premise (No Spoilers)
In Hell’s Bell by Keri Arthur, Lizzie Grace is dragged into another supernatural crisis born from the werewolves’ entrenched hatred of witches and their prolonged refusal to grant access. Her attempt to maintain a low profile quickly unravels when dangerous magic, old debts, and unwanted attention converge. The story leans into investigation and survival rather than spectacle, with Lizzie forced to rely on instinct, experience, and sheer stubborn resolve.
What stood out to me is how much heavier this book feels on a personal level. Lizzie is no longer reacting blindly to the supernatural world around her. She understands more, which makes every decision carry more weight. The threats are not just external monsters but the cost of involvement itself, including what she risks losing by stepping in again.
As the second entry in The Lizzie Grace Series, this book builds directly on the foundation laid in book one while expanding the scope and sharpening the moral edges. Hell’s Bell cements the series identity as urban fantasy that prioritizes consequence and agency, firmly positioning this as series book 2 rather than a reset or filler installment.
What Worked
I appreciated how firmly the story commits to Lizzie’s perspective. Her voice remains grounded and pragmatic, which keeps the supernatural elements from drifting into excess. The pacing benefits from this focus, allowing tension to build steadily rather than relying on constant action beats.
The worldbuilding also felt more confident here. Instead of explaining everything, the story trusts the reader to keep up. That restraint strengthens immersion and reinforces the sense that Lizzie operates in a dangerous, lived in supernatural ecosystem rather than a neatly defined rule set.
What Didn’t Work (or Might Not)
Readers looking for a fast, plot driven urban fantasy may find this installment slower and more introspective. The emphasis on investigation, fallout, and emotional endurance means action arrives in bursts rather than dominating the narrative.
The romance remains understated, which worked for me but may frustrate readers expecting escalation after book one. Emotional tension exists, but it unfolds cautiously and never overrides the core story.
Romance and Relationship Dynamics
Romance functions as an undercurrent rather than a driving force. Trust develops slowly, shaped by shared danger and mutual respect rather than overt declarations. I liked that Lizzie never sacrifices autonomy for connection, and that emotional safety matters more than intensity or speed.
- Violence
- Dark magic
- Emotional manipulation
- Threats to personal safety
Who Should Read This
This book is a good fit for readers who enjoy urban fantasy with a serious tone, strong heroine agency, and restrained romance. If you value consequence over comfort and prefer character driven tension to flashy magic systems, this series will likely work for you.
Final Verdict
Hell’s Bell tightens the screws without losing emotional control. I finished it feeling more invested in Lizzie Grace and more confident in the direction of the series. It is darker, steadier, and more assured than its predecessor.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
A strong second book that deepens stakes and sharpens character focus without rushing payoff.
Heroine Strength: 4 Crowns
Lizzie remains fully in control of her choices, absorbing consequences rather than avoiding them, which makes her compelling and credible.
Spice Level: 1 Flame
Romance is low heat and largely off page, serving character development rather than driving the plot.
The Cost of Old Grudges
The central conflict in Hell’s Bell by Keri Arthur ultimately traces back to the werewolves’ long history of excluding witches from power and knowledge. What initially presents as a contained supernatural threat is revealed to be a consequence of that systemic denial, with suppressed magic twisting into something far more dangerous once it resurfaces.
As Lizzie digs deeper, it becomes clear that neutrality is no longer an option. Choosing not to act would allow the damage to spread, but stepping in forces her to shoulder responsibility for a mess she did not create. The resolution reinforces one of the book’s core themes: refusing access and agency does not eliminate power, it only warps it, and someone eventually pays the price.
By the end, the fallout reshapes Lizzie’s standing in the supernatural community and sharpens the series’ larger trajectory. The outcome closes this immediate threat while making it clear that the consequences of past prejudice are far from finished, setting up darker and more complex tensions going forward.
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