For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

Apparently what it takes for me to sit down and write the reviews about the books that hit my heart the hardest is to be trapped on an airplane with not enough time to start another book. Or really just enough time to start another book and get to the point that you don’t want to put it down which is right about when I’d be landing. 

I started watching Jaysea post her “Hell’s Belles” TikTok videos right at the beginning. I might have missed the first one or two, but I was there before Penny ever arrived already a committed fan, so it felt apt and very much like a homecoming and a warm hug to get to pick up this book. I was so proud of Jaysea sitting down to write it, and ecstatic when she announced that she was getting picked up and turning this into a trilogy. The world in her head is worth waiting for, worth diving into this massive story, and worth reading back to back mere months apart in different formats. I have yet to buy the paperback, mostly because I already own the ebook, the audiobook, and have preordered the very pretty hardback edition that just came out! However, it might just have to come home with me so I can have a spare to shove at friends. 

Because this story is one you’re going to want to shove at your friends. It’s a little like revealing a piece of my soul? Showing something that I treasure and love. Which is so like our main character Lily to come in and trick you into having adult feelings. This is one of the most amazing fictional depictions of what the afterlife could be, and in many ways what I think a lot of us would love it to be. It weaves together so many different nods to other cultures, and beliefs while teaching acceptance, kindness, and grace. It also teaches you how to stand up for yourself, and that almost no one is without the ability to become a better person. 

It’s a story of slooooow burn, that leads to well deserved spicy moments. Dirty jokes, found family and how to handle hard topics. It is the most of both joy and sadness, it is growth and learning that somehow you might have just adopted a child in a shark onesie and how the universe might know what you deserve better than you ever will. 

She’s a thick lady (the book), but you want her to be because these moments all deserve the time they were given. So when this pink delight somehow appears in your life, it might take a while to get through but you’ll mourn when it’s done. As I did when after having only read the ebook months prior I savored my 25 hours audio book. I even turned it down from my normal reading pace because I enjoyed it so much. Those voice actors by the way and excellent. I loved getting to read not only the dual points of view, but also getting to hear them. Now I get to look down at the beautiful deluxe edition in my hands and I am so glad to celebrate this moment. 

I feel like I both went on and on, and also was extremely vague in this review, which while it is what you want in a review…  I’ve been living in this world for so many years now between the TikTok series and now the book that I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the best thing I can say is this story is the feeling you get from a hug and still manages to hit off every single thing I want in a fantasy story.

Battles? Check.
Romance? Check.
Good communication? CHECK.
Magic homes that give you everything you might need? Check.
Sassy gods and primordial beings? Check.

They are also all on the group chat. Yes you read that right and you’re welcome.  Now I am begging you to go get your hands on any edition of this book that you can. I promise that it will be worth it. 

Looking to find For Whom the Belle Tolls? Here you go:
Bookshop.org ~ Libro.fm ~ Goodreads ~ Storygraph

As a side note, some of the links to Bookshop.org or Libro.fm will either provide me or an indie bookshop I support a portion of the affiliate sales if you use them to buy a book I recommend.