I wish I had better things to say about this book but unfortunately, I struggled to get through it before ultimately DNFing it. Going in, I thought this would be atmospheric and dark (especially with that gorgeous cover!) but the story lacked in both these aspects.

I was looking forward to starting this, but the further I got into it, the more it fell flat. It's long in a, doesn't *actually* go anywhere kind of way, and the main character didn't feel fleshed out. For this reason, it was very difficult to make myself care about her point of view or anything that happened to her. Furthermore, Ivy is a neurodivergent character who doesn't come across as being neurodivergent.

Unfortunately, this isn't a book I'd want to finish or recommend. However, thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for the opportunity to review it.

I struggled to get into this story. I was really hopeful and thought with myself as someone who went to university, that was connected to a dark, gothic church, I would have gotten into this story more but I just couldnt. However I am grateful to NetGalley for and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I see the potential, but I don't think it managed to fulfill it. It was lengthy, and the ending was quite confusing. I don't think the book addressed a genuine conflict, so I'm unsure what kind of resolution ultimately took place at the end.

It's interesting how Ivy forgave Martha so easily and was happy to move on, but refused to even look at George in the eye for the same offense. Talk about double standards.

Unfortunately this book just was not for me and I DNFed at about 25%. I had high hopes for it considering the blurb but unfortunately I didn't feel particularly hooked into the story and the main character, Ivy, felt very shallow - especially as her backstory seemed to just be constantly brushed over so we just got thrown into her point of view without any knowledge of her past. I also didn't think the book was particularly atmospheric, but maybe that's just a me issue.

An atmospheric dark academia novel about obsession, infatuation and womanhood. Ivy arrives alone and isolated at a prestigious university, hiding from her past she throws herself into life on campus. She’s determined to belong, despite everyone around her coming from money and having known each other for years. Its a world full of college legacies and secret societies. You can only hide from the past for so long, and Ivy needs to decide how much sisterhood and the future matters to her.

The original blurb for this book describes Ivy as neurodivergent and I struggled to see that in her depiction, having people in my family who are neurodivergent. It came across more as someone struggling to process trauma and is experiencing anxiety because of it.

The aspects of sisterhood and the history around the coven were really nicely done, but I struggled to find the rest of the plot. It just felt quite flat and like it didn’t really go anywhere.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but as much as the writing was beautifully lyrical it didn’t really hook me in.

If you’re a fan of boarding school type stories, with mostly character focused stories you might enjoy this book more than I did.

Many thanks to Netgalley and to Simon and Schuster for my digital review copy.

Happy Reading! xx

I did enjoy this as the aspects of the sisterhood and relation to the coven was nicely done but other than that the overall plot kind of just fell..flat.

Ivy is described as neurodivergent, but as a fellow neurodivergent, ivy doesn’t come across as such, she’s gone through trauma and is having trouble processing it with a sprinkle of very briefly mentioned anxiety that is “healed” through sisterhood of the coven.

The use of educational settings throughout was good but could of been better, there’s constant moments where we are told Ivy is at college when she is actually in university (it didn’t bother me until I really noticed it and now I can’t unsee it)

I’d still recommend this if you’re interested in Dark Academia and witches but that’s about it

I regret to say I personally didn't get in with this book and couldn't finish it. I had high hopes I would really enjoy this one but something just didn't click for me. I found myself not caring about going back to it and I unfortunately had to make the decision to drop it. It may be entirely someone else's love but it just didn't work for me.

Thank you so much for giving me an ARC of this book. It was a good read. I was really looking forward to reading this as the blurb really captured my attention. Neurodivergent main character and dark academia were what first attracted me. It took me longer than expected to read as it took a while to hook me. Thanks again for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

This book was interesting enough to hold my attention while I was reading but I didn’t immediately want to keep picking it up!

Overall it was a good read

A light grey academia-lite
—
Ivy leaves behind her hometown and a tragic incident to start at an (annoyingly) unspecified collegiate university. There she meets new female friends and together they join a drinking society with links to an historic coven allied to her women’s college, while university life swirls them up and spits them out of heartbreak, parties and academia.

Ivy is supposedly coded as neurodivergent but on the page this doesn’t come across (read the brilliant Life Hacks for a Little Alien for an awe-inspiring depiction of neurodivergence); perhaps she is so grief-stricken by the (at first) undefined tragedy that her emotions are dialled down and therefore susceptible to others’ dominating personalities, but the writing gives few clues. Although the age of the characters is 18+ and much of the thematic subjects are clearly adult-oriented, this read as more of a YA novel, and a not very well put together one. The historic coven is threaded throughout but simply as a flourish, not a signal of any genre crossing, and instead the focus is on the relationships between Ivy and her new friends, with barely any mention of her life before university, or anything that might come after.

This wants to be the Life and Death Brigade meets Mean Girls but fails to reach even that relatively low bar. The themes and subjects could have formed the basis of a true dark academia novel, one where Ivy’s responsibility for the past tragedy echoes into her new present, a Carrie redux if you like, but this feels like a missed opportunity.

A good story, atmospheric and enthralling. Liked it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

These Mortal Bodies is a moody, lyrical debut that treads the line between dark academia and contemporary coming-of-age. Elspeth Wilson explores themes of identity, belonging, and the murky edges of female friendship, set against the backdrop of a secretive university world. There are whispers of witchcraft and ancestral magic, but they remain just that - whispers. If you’re looking for a fantasy-forward read, this might not scratch the itch, but if you enjoy atmospheric writing and character-driven narratives, there’s plenty to appreciate here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

Poetic and powerful, this is a haunting exploration of trauma, recovery, and identity. Elspeth Wilson’s writing is lyrical and raw, and the narrative often reads like a meditation on what it means to live in a body that has endured. While not always an easy read, it is a rewarding one—deeply personal and emotionally resonant. Perfect for readers who enjoy literary fiction that sits with discomfort in a meaningful way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

As much as I wanted to hate Ivy, I (disappointingly) related to her experiences with Martha and George - except I cut my toxic friends out 🤣 she was annoyingly desperate for friends and it just led her to ignore EVERY red flag they gave.
Despite being the main character, we never see a background to Ivy’s home life (her mums illness, the friendship and loss of Cara). I felt detached from her, as the things that made her were never explored.
I was excited for some witchy vibes, but there wasn’t as much as I expected. It was an easy read, with minimal drama but I wanted more from this.

NetGalley ARC

These Mortal Bodies is one of those books that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Elspeth Wilson has woven a hauntingly beautiful narrative that mixes dark fantasy with deep emotional exploration, and it’s a story that stays with you long after you finish it.

The plot follows [insert protagonist’s name if you'd like], who finds themselves in a world that feels both magical and devastatingly real. There’s a strong undercurrent of grief and transformation throughout the story, and Wilson doesn’t shy away from the messy, painful parts of being human. The characters are complex, flawed, and very much alive in all their rawness. I found myself rooting for them even when they made choices I didn’t always agree with, which is a testament to how well they’re written.

The world-building is incredible—immersive and richly detailed without feeling like an info dump. Wilson creates a setting that feels both familiar and entirely otherworldly, with just the right amount of mystery and wonder to keep you hooked. The magic in this book is subtle, not overdone, but it still plays a huge role in the characters’ journeys.

What really got me, though, was the way the book explores the human body and the connection between our physical selves and our identities. It’s not something you often see in fantasy, but Wilson handles it with a delicate hand, making it both thought-provoking and emotional.

This book is dark, but it’s also beautiful in its exploration of life, death, and everything in between. If you're into character-driven stories, lush world-building, and fantasy with a deeply emotional core, These Mortal Bodies should be on your radar.

The blurb sounded like it would be right up my street. I went in to this expecting to love it, which may not have helped my cause here.
It fell so so flat for me.

I didn't quite expect all the friendship in this book to be so toxic. There was no comfort. No one to really root for... I just didn't care in the end.

I really wanted to love this.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited for this read, unfortunately it was really difficult to get into and I found myself bored for a lot of the book and wanting to pick up other things to read instead. I couldn't really get on board with the story, it seemed to drag for a lot of the book and I was unable to develop any connection to the characters.

I was really looking forward to this book - the blurb was very much up my street. But I honestly struggled with this book, I don’t think the writing style was for me. I just couldn’t like the characters and I felt I needed more from them, from the book. Just because it wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else cup of tea. Maybe I will try re reading it again at some point - maybe I wasn’t in the right reading mood for this kind of book.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding and rooted for Ivy, though I felt the book was a bit too juvenile to carry the full weight that it clearly wanted to.

It took me a while to get into this and when I did - I struggled. It wasn't an easy one to pick up. I feel like in some places it fell flat but I did enjoy some elements. I love a toxic friendship - of which there is plenty. Unfortunately, I expected more and felt like I was constantly waiting for something else to happen.