"For Whom The Belle Tolls" Review

First book I've read in ages and I have THOUGHTS!!!

I WISH I could do justice with a simple review but this book was incredible and I will do my best. There may be mild spoilers because I just cannot keep some of my thoughts in my head. But, I will do my best to give warning.

So, “For Whom the Belle Tolls” is not the book by Ernest Hemingway, but a debut by Jaysea Lynn, who goes by SeaYaLater on TikTok and Instagram. She also has a BlueSky page. She started the series in 2021 and I think I started watching in mid-late 2023. And, I followed the series and her progress of writing this book ever since. It originally was self published in just e-book. But, she recently got a book deal for a trilogy so physical and audiobooks are coming and you can bet your ASS I am getting a paperback to reread to pieces and a hardback whenever that’s available for a pretty pretty (and door stoppery because 700 pages) shelf trophy. It’s the first in a trilogy as a prequel that leads into the TikTok series. Seems like she’s tweaking the lore to fit a written, more consistent story and I am here for it.

For Whom The Belle Tolls is a very steamy slow burn, paranormal romance. It also has a whole host of trigger warnings so be mindful of that before you start reading. And this is where I might get into some mild spoilers as I talk about the main plot. I’ll do my best to keep things vague but I haven’t written a review in ages so forgive me being out of practice.

Our leading lady, Lily, dies and enters the afterlife. After finding her paradise, she travels down to Hell and ends up starting the “Hellp” Desk to give them a hand admitting and directing incoming souls. The Afterlife is an enormous place made of all of the realms and worlds you can imagine. Heaven, Hell, a general paradise, Valhalla, Helheim, and more. So, of course, a ton of familiar names get dropped and even make appearances. Including, but not limited to, Persephone, Aphrodite (who is described as fuller figured and that made me so happy), Hades, Lucifer, Thanatos, Brigid, Cerberus, Lilith, Cthulhu, Athena, Freyja, the Morrigan, Pele, and God.

Once the Desk is established, when a soul comes up to her, she can see their file which is everything they’ve done in their life and why they’re going to their assigned level. Not only does she read the physical file but she can see everything in her mind. Which can be really good or really horrific depending on the person. I love the description of this. If a person is particularly vile and destined for the lower levels of Hell, it shows with their file being actually physically disgusting.

She also makes friends with a lot of people, including several demons. One particular demon prince named Beleth, leader of 85 legions but a sweet softie and absolute nerd. But, Lily is hesitant. She’s insanely attracted to him. But, she’s a mortal soul. She has the option to reincarnate. She’s done it several times before. This time feels different. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream “JUST KISS ALREADY” more times than you can count. I love their relationships so much.

Another key character to look out for is Sharkie, a little kid about 8 years old who had a very rough life. Put in foster care when she was 3, bounced around, and life ended by a drunk driver. She loves sharks and goes around in a shark onesie. Lily immediately connects with her and feels a need deep down in her existence to protect and love this sweet injured baby with everything. Everyone loves Sharkie and Lucifer, especially, ensures that she’s protected. There will be scenes where you will cry with her and just want to reach through the pages to hug her tight. I remember fighting not to sob during one particularly gut wrenching scene because I didn’t want to wake Joe during a late night reading session.

Hell is explained to be a place of justice and healing. The first 2 levels are the therapy levels. Sure, you did some stuff, but mostly you go and work toward unlearning the toxic behavior you picked up in life and you can move up to paradise or reincarnate. After a certain point, though… you’re there forever in torment. Like, someone going to levels 7 through 9, there’s no going back. There was at least one instance of someone working up from Level 5 to the therapy levels, though.

The book is told in a dual POV, back and forth between Lily and Bel, since they are the main couple. I kinda hope she’ll expand it so we can see more of Sharkie or maybe other characters from the video series that eventually get introduced. But, I know writing multiple POV can be a challenge so, if she doesn’t, I get it.

Overall, I loved this book. And, I can’t wait for more. If this is what a debut is like for Jaysea, I can just imagine what the rest of her writing career will be like and she will likely be an auto buy author for a long time to come. The story had me invested. It was very spicy. The slow burn was very effective. I laughed. I cried. I related to insecurities and doubts. I cheered victories. So many nights reading until my brain couldn’t process words anymore but all of them well worth it.

As long as you don’t mind waiting 250+ pages until the first kiss and a couple hundred more before the first… uh… boink scene, I hope you will also give this book a chance so we can talk about it together.

Check out Jaysea’s LinkTree for all the goods and support this incredibly talented lady.