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Reviewed by Tanya Kays for Readers' Favorite
The Thirteenth Bell by R.D. Thorne is set in Lowmere, a town by the sea that is always blanketed in fog. Lowmere survives because of a dark bargain: each New Moon, a thirteenth bell rings, and someone vanishes. Ada Thorne, marked by the curse, survived when she was meant to die, which made the townspeople afraid of her. When another child disappears, Ada hears voices in the fog that lead her to the lighthouse, where she discovers the Channel. The object is unsettling and clearly tied to the curse. It shows her how her family was involved and why past efforts failed. As things worsen, Ada realizes she has to face it herself. Will she be able to stop what’s coming?
R.D. Thorne’s The Thirteenth Bell mixes dark fantasy with folklore, creating a world filled with old legends and unnerving supernatural elements. The writing is clear and direct, building tension through setting rather than fast action. Lowmere is tight and stifling, the fog masking everything the town keeps silent about. Ada’s path isn’t daring or heroic—it’s about making choices, accepting responsibility, and living with a difficult inheritance. The town survives through sacrifice, and that reality raises uneasy questions about guilt and who truly bears the blame across generations and long-kept silence. Ada grows a great deal as the story progresses. She learns to trust her instincts when others turn away from the truth. I was completely drawn in, turning the pages without pause. Readers who appreciate eerie atmospheres, steady suspense, and tales about overcoming old cycles will really connect with this compelling, thought-provoking story.
