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.

I think this fell a little flat for me. I felt the character and plot lacking and often drifted through the narrative without really taking much in. I thought there would be more supernatural elements and themes relating to witchcraft, and there was a little of that but it leaned more towards academia and toxic friendships. I try to review based on what was there rather than what wasn't but with this I think my expectations outweighed any of the content.
Some of the description was interesting and detailed, giving an idea of what Ivy was experiencing, but she was uninteresting as a character.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, the author and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. When I read the blurb, it sounded really intriguing. Dark academia, obsession and toxic friendship, but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy it at all. I would have almost DNF'd this at 50% if it wasn't an ARC and it took me well over a month to finish as I had little motivation to pick it up.

The book is very character driven and I didn't feel like there was any plot going on at all to keep me interested. The description was long and at times made my mind wander on to other things.

There is a feeling of anxiety and mystery running through the book with Ivy's ex friend, but this never amounted to anything which was disappointing and then the ending felt like it came out of nowhere.

I did enjoy getting to know the characters and the book at times gave me similar feelings to if Mean Girls met Saltburn, but overall just fell really flat and the relationships between everyone didn't feel very deep or connected.

This review will also be up on my Instagram and Tiktok @saraflowerbooks in the next few days.

Ivy leaves behind her childhood town, after her friend died in a tragic accident. Ivy is so desperate to fit in with the students at her new college, and is easily lead a stray. She becomes apart of a Sisterhood, which in my opinion leads her down the wrong path, where she makes the wrong choices. I enjoyed the links to the ancestral witches. That being said, I was left wanting more from this book. There were hints at Witchcraft - But nothing really came of it. I wish the mentions of the witches and their sisterhood could have evolved into something more supernatural, given the title of the book. I enjoyed reading this book, but wish it was less teen drama and heavier on the witch side of things. I hope to see another book, where Elspeth tells us more about the Witches mentioned.

My favourite quote from this book was;
"Leaves fall around us. We dance as they fall, knowing that we will see them in bud again soon enough."

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I really struggled with this one... Unfortunately I found the writing try-hard and boring. While the concept intrigued me with some familiar themes, overall I found this quite lacking with an unlikeable main character, weak narrative voice, and irritating use of non-specific settings and markers. I appreciate the ARC from the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

The characters were intriguing but perhaps lacking in detail at times, even Ivy as the narrator. The toxic friendship and obsession stuff is enjoyable, reminding me of things like The Craft in which there's a blurry line between this kind of obsessive female friendship and ideas of witchcraft. I loved the concept but but for me it lacked substance

The book was okay, I thought there was going to be more of a supernatural witchy element to it. It was filled with teenage angst and drama.
I