This was a bit intense at first and I definitely think there was a lot more description than necessary. However I am blown away at the ambition of this novel and how well it was packed in. It flowed well and this was categorized as YA but I think this is a book that many would like. I think it lost some of its momentum towards the end but overall I really enjoyed this!

What Wakes the Bells was an absolute atmospheric delight, This was a vibe and a very fun read. I found the characterization to be a bit lacking, and the worldbuilding and magic system to be overly opaque, but I did enjoy the ride because of how Tesch writes and carries the atmosphere.

In the town of Vaiwyn, Mina and her family are the Keepers. They are tasked with making sure the city bells do not ring at certain hours of the day. These bells, if allowed to ring, would herald a long-slumbering evil. One afternoon, Mina's bell rings out of nowhere and suddenly, the town is thrown into darkness with stone gargoyles and statues coming to life to attack the citizens. A slumbering Saint has been released from the bell and is out to wreak vengeance. Can Mina continue to keep the townspeople safe?

This book was an interesting concept for a YA novel with a town turning against its people to attack them and centuries-old beliefs in Saints and traditions to protect them. The world-building felt very tell not show, and the female main character is painted as a punching bag for both her town and her family. It's a decent standalone good vs. evil for teens, but it's lacking substance. I wish there had been more development of the main characters especially.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Have you ever read a book and with every word, every page, every chapter, just had a VISCERAL need to see every aspect brought to life in front of you via artwork or movie or anything, just so you’d be able to get further into this world?! Elle Tesch brings to life a gorgeously gothic world where you can SEE Mina and her family struggle to balance a duty passed down through generations with their every day lives. The struggle Mina feels to connect with Max, the heartaching way she dances around her issues with her Mother, all leading to emotional breakthroughs that felt more authentic than any other book I’ve read lately.

Then you add in a setting that evokes cathedrals, jewel toned colors, and the way the Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney soundtrack made you feel when you listened to it the first time, and oh my GOD don’t forget the sprinkle of ethereal terror you’ll feel when you look at any kind of statue for the next 3 months, and you’ve only got the bare beginning of What Wakes The Bells.

I first heard about this and pre-ordered the book back in June of last year, and when I was approved for the ARC I SCREAMED in excitement. Then I got nervous - what if this isn’t the book I wanted? And it wasn’t - it was so much more. Tesch brings to life so easily a lore that I am aching to know more about, and a world that seems infinitely buildable. She brings up complex ideas about consent and what it means, and the inner struggles we see come to life are truly written so well.

If you are looking for a book that will whisk you straight into battle, will elevate your heart rate and make your heart soar, this is 100% the book for you. I am so grateful to have been able to read and review this!

Ugh there’s nothing worse than one of your most anticipated reads of the year turning out to be a complete disappointment :(

In theory, there’s a lot to love about What Wakes the Bells, especially in the YA genre: fascinating worldbuilding, complex religion, demisexual rep, and complex family dynamics. Unfortunately, I found the execution lacking with all of them.

The worldbuilding and religion, while conceptually interesting, is incredibly lackluster and severely under-explained. Although the first 15% is exposition heavy, the proliferation of names and proper nouns associated with the world (everything seems to have a name, from the individual bells to the overly-complex dual-named saints) made it incredibly hard to comprehend and differentiate the characters. There’s simply too many characters and names introduced in the first part of the book that they all began blending together in my head, especially because almost all of them lack personality and dynamism aside from one defining character trait. Conceptually, the idea of a living city turning against its inhabitants is so intriguing, but it’s handled in a very stereotypical way that stripped the deadly situation of any actual emotional stakes. Additionally, despite being centuries-old superpowered beings who have seen a lot of crazy stuff in their lifetimes, they felt weirdly distant and indifferent to the entire conflict, even though their entire livelihoods and purpose depended on the conflict.

Another thing that irked me was the surprising flatness of the characters and relationships. There’s so many characters that it’s hard to feel connections to most of them, especially characters who (theoretically) influenced the plot like Quinn. The main character, Mina, was frustrating and impulsive without reason, and I simply could not understand some of her complaints about her family when her self-isolation seemed to be the cause of most of the issues. The complex and at-times adversary dynamic between Mina and her mother was interesting in the beginning of the book, but it dragged on terribly and their reconciliation at the ~70% mark felt obligatory rather than earned. As a demisexual/demiromantic reader, I was also really enthusiastic to see the romance between demisexual Mina and Max, but I honestly felt that nothing happened between them. Max’s entire character centers around being nice, and his chemistry with Mina was entirely lacking. While it’s refreshing that they’re already in a relationship when the book begins, I felt that it weirdly diminished the demisexual rep since their romance is only told through brief memories/flashbacks and their intimacy was easier to achieve; I would have been more interested to see their relationship slowly unfold as Mina learns to trust Max and transition from friends to romantic partners.

Lastly, the prose in this book was simultaneously descriptive yet SO annoying. Tesch’s writing is descriptive without verging into flowery, and I thought many descriptions of actions artfully entwined unique imagery with emotional resonance. However, one thing that I simply could not look past was her overreliance on italicized words for emphasis. Almost every page of my ARC had at least one word on the page that was italicized for no reason. I cannot even begin to count how many times my internal monologue got tripped up because random words were italicized. I understand that it’s meant for emphasis, but the writing by itself was enough to convey the emotional stakes. My brain literally slipped into editor mode and began correcting every italicized word; I found that no italics had exactly the same effect as italics. While I can excuse some of the italics, Tesch relies on them so much that it’s a very obvious crutch.

However, despite my complaints above, What Wakes the Bells isn’t a bad book. It had so many interesting elements, but I personally found everything underdeveloped and flat, though the degree of severity may be in part because I’ve been anticipating this book since the deal was announced. The proliferation of names and haphazardly-explained worldbuilding, distracting writing, and heavy-handed plot foreshadowing really inhibited my enjoyment of this book, but I would still encourage readers to pick this one up if the synopsis sounds interesting.

2/5 stars
Thank you to Fierce Reads (Macmillan) for the e-ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What Wakes the Bells was a fantastic book. I had a great time while reading it, and enjoyed so much of it. The atmosphere was creepy and whimsical, the characters were easy to root for, and the world-building was so intriguing. Mina was a great character to be in the head of, and I found myself really connecting to her imposter syndrome and worries of not being enough.

In this book, the saints are historic figures who saved the city from The Bane. They entrusted Mina's family to be the Vespers, people who protect the bells around the city, because if the bells were to ring at 1 o'clock then The Bane would be released. For years, the vespers have prevented this from occurring. Mina was thrust into her position as a vesper at a young age, since her father died. But then the unthinkable happens: Mina's bell rings, and The Bane is set free.

I really liked Mina. She was clearly just trying her best throughout the book, and I loved her relationships to most of the characters (her brother, her love interest, etc). I wish we could have seen more from a variety of the side characters, but what we got was enough for the novel. I think something that might throw some readers off is that she is already in a relationship with Max, her love interest, at the start of the book. I didn't mind it, but I can see that some readers might not enjoy it.

The world-building was very well done. I loved how the city was alive, how characters could talk to it and request it to send letters. I wish we would have gotten more around how the city came to be though. I liked how creepy and grim a lot of the more magical elements were (like the Saints' true appearances, the statues coming to life, etc), but I felt like it wasn't creepy or weird enough for what the author seemed to be trying to do.

The plot was mostly where my disappointment lies, and why I rated this book a 4 star instead of 4.5. It was predictable from very early on, and I called pretty much every twist since the "hints" were glaringly obvious.

(SPOILERS NEXT!!!) I could tell immediately that Mina was or was connected to the Lost Alchemist, and that Max was possessed by The Bane. I just wish it was a little less obvious, and also that we got more depth to the ending where Mina becomes a saint herself. I also wish The Bane was a little more complex, instead of just being a villain for villain's sake. We were given no reasoning on why the Alchemist loved the Bane, only that she did, and I wish we got more depth to that.

Overall, I really liked this book and will be buying myself a copy sometime soon, I just wish that the author had dug in a little deeper on some of the choices they made in this book.

This was high up on my list of anticipated reads for 2025, so I was super excited to get to read this early. This story was very good at cultivating the gothic vibes it was going for, and I think that the lyrical and lush writing definitely added to that atmosphere and depth of description. However, from a comprehension and immersion POV I don't really enjoy lyrical writing--if I have to think too much about how the story is being constructed before me, it pulls me out of the story over and over. This happened a bit here, but not too much where I stopped reading. The concept of the city was super interesting and I did like the characters, especially Mina, though some of the other characters felt a little undercooked. The pacing was also a little...silly? sometimes. Some scenes were super quick/movement was quick, but some scenes were walking across the same city but it took the entire day somehow? That's just a weird nitpick, but since the story wasn't super long those moments did kind of stick in my mind.
Overall, I enjoyed this and I do think that it is one of the better ones I've read this year! I'm really excited to get our physical copies in at my branch!

4.5⭐️

Thank you so much to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!

Wow. This book had me intrigued from the very start. A sentient city that rebuilds itself and bells that release an evil if they ring thirteen times. It is an amazing concept and it was done beautifully.

Mina has felt her mother’s disappointment ever since she took on the role of a Keeper of one of the Vespers after her father’s passing. Now, with her lover at her side, she finally feels a tenuous peace. That is, until her bell tolls thirteen times and she her city remakes itself before her very eyes. Gargoyles and statues leap from their frozen states and wreak havoc on the city. The entity behind this? A spirit said to have been trapped in the bell for 1,000 years, now residing in a human host.

This book is utterly captivating. The pacing is incredible and it really keeps you engaged the entire time. Despite my ability to predict the out come rather early on, there was still enough suspense and intrigue to keep me engaged.

The family dynamics were incredibly interesting. We have a family grieving the loss of their father and despite him existing entirely off page, the loss is felt intimately through the characters actions. This is especially prevalent in Imogen, Mina’s mother. I think she is an incredibly interesting and well written character. Her actions are not excusable, but her motivations are understandable and that is a very important factor for a character that plays her role.

I also loved the romance element of this book. It is not a romantasy by any means, but there is an undercurrent of love and destiny that weaves its way through the entire story. I love the glimpses of Max and Mina’s love story that we get as the story progresses. Their love for each other is so beautiful and such a driving force for this story that I couldn’t help but love it.

Their writing style in this book is also very unique. I’m having trouble putting it into words but oftentimes, descriptions and actions are broken up with periods where they would be broken up with commas. This makes certain sections feel choppy but I personally enjoyed it. It was also stylistically consistent, which definitely makes a difference. If it was one or two sections that had it, I would wonder how far along we were in the editing process, but this didn’t feel like that at all.

The only thing I wish this book had is more world-building. The city and the Saints are established relatively quickly and are pretty simply, but the path to Sainthood is never clearly defined. This didn’t necessarily taint my experience reading this book, but I would’ve loved to know more about the world in general.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It feels like something I would’ve loved when I was younger and only reading YA, but I also enjoy it now.

Inspired by a Prague legend, the story follows a girl who is meant to keep out an evil from her sentient city as one of it's keepers... but when the bell peals the forbidden thirteen times, she knows that the evil has awoken... and its coming after her. Mina has spent her life training as part of the Strauss family duties to be a Bell Keeper, someone who is meant to prevent the Vespers from ringing or else it will wake the ancient evil. Yet when Mina fails to do so, an evil awakens and death and disease begin to take over her city. The evil is a long hidden secret and is closer to Mina than she could ever imagine. Only she can stop it but it might cost her everything. This book was marketed as a gothic fantasy, but it just felt... so lackluster if I am going to be honest. I am a huge fan of gothic fantasy stories but this one felt so YA, felt so much like nothing was actually happening, that the relationships were so underdeveloped, the romance was barely there, that the entire book just felt kind of boring to me. I really wanted to love this one but I just couldn't find myself actually liking it all that much. It's a forgettable read for me unfortunately. If you like slow "gothic" fantasy, give it a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: March 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

2.5 stars
I was extremely disappointed in What Wakes the Bells. The cover is gorgeous, the title intriguing, and the synopsis chilling. I was so excited to get the ARC, but as soon as I started reading it, I immediately wanted to DNF it but pushed through. The writing was superfluous. Pages and even chapters would go by with nothing happening. The book finally started getting interesting around 60% in. The world building was frustratingly unclear, and the characters were annoying. Mina acted like a child and never took the fault for what was clearly her actions. People die as a result of her stupid choices, and she thinks nothing of it. The bitterness between Mina and her mother was ridiculous and readers are constantly reminded of how Mina is proving her worth to her mother. Mina's relationship with Max is supposed to be integral to the book, however they hardly interact - it's mostly Mina remembering things. I'm glad others are enjoying it, but What Wakes the Bells was definitely not for me.

First off, that cover is gorgeous. And honestly, the author did quite a good job with the atmosphere and vibes of this one. It had a darker feel, and some good gothic vibes, which was a major plus. 

Unfortunately, there were several things that just didn't work for me with this one. The worldbuilding was severely lacking. There was barely enough incorporated to support the plot, but nowhere near enough to offer explanations for why things were the way they were or to make a meaningful setting or for the world to feel real. Similarly, the characters were quite weak. They were missing depth/development to make them feel alive or relatable, especially the secondary characters. 

I also really hated the reveal in the last fifth of the work and how the final showdown happened. It was predictable and very mediocre modern YA. My thanks to NetGalley and Feilwel & Friends for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you Elle Tesh, NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for this ARC


I had somewhat high hopes for this one; the premise and the aesthetic of the narrative caught my attention from the get go, but it wasn’t enough to make me enjoy the journey all that much. The world building was, somehow, too shallow and too elaborate. There were times where I would've liked a little more background — a little more context— but there was none given, other times it was the exact opposite.

The characters were there, I guess; I, unfortunately, didn't feel a connection with many of them. I didn’t care for the main character, or her relationship with her love interest or her family. To me, Mina, the main character, was immature and impulsive, with little foresight. I understand that she’s acting her age, and it doesn't help that she has a terrible relationship with her mother, but I thought that she would have a little more of a ticker skin, given the environment that she grew up in. Time and time again I wished I could grab Mina by the shoulders and shake her because, again, she was immature, impulsive, she lacked foresight and was, various times, plain dumb, like, what makes you think you could kill a Saint? Also, of course the higher-ups would have secrets regarding the Saints.

Her relationship with the main male character, Max, was kind of a let down as well; we are told that they care for one another, we are shown little moments of romance and kindness between the two, and yet, it fell flat for me. The ending can be seen from a mile away; it’s not an outlandish way to end the narrative, but it’s nothing to write home about.

What Wakes the Bells is a delightfully atmospheric gothic story and lyrical writing. The sentient city was such a cool touch to this fantasy world, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the history about the saints, it fleshed out the world nicely.

3.5 stars!!
Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and Elle Tesch for this ARC!!
I was on a roll to finish this before it’s publication date so i’m glad I did :)
This book had the VIBES. Like the gothic and serious, moody vibes took me away to another world
I loved the plot of this book, it was super interesting and felt fresh and I loved that
sometimes I felt like the writing confused me a bit (was very well written but sometimes i’d be confused on what was happening which could be a ADHD problem)
And Mina was honestly so relatable, she was always undermined, her mom was extremely tough on her and she felt like she had to hide herself from her or risk being hurt
I loved the dynamics of Mina’s emotions and I think that really made her a great character
The other characters were okay, they added to the story but overall i didn’t connect with them
I loved the parallel between Mina + Max and the Saints the most!! genuinely love when that happens
Overall I enjoyed this!! This is what YA should be!!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have many thoughts on this book and why I gave it the rating I did. (spoilers ahead)

This book caught my interest with a promise of a sentient city inspired by Prague. On this front, the book did not disappoint. The living city was easily my favorite part of the entire story. It was atmospheric to the story, even more so when the city turned on itself, lending more towards horror.

What the book has going for it in descriptiveness, it lacks in plot. The plot really disappointed me. It felt like any other YA novel. It was incredibly predictable. In fact the only plot point that surprised me at all was Quinn’s death.
A lot about the magic system wasn't explained well. Even this history of the city didn't have any depth to it. I felt like the explanation for the wounds mirroring on Bastian & Mina (Elora) was created as a last minute excuse, for the sole purpose of having the main character die and come back as a saint.
Another critique I have is more of a pet peeve but, Why do some scenes apparently take up the whole day? There is no way that a short walk not even halfway across the city takes up all the daylight hours. The timing was very inconsistent and at times very irritating.

Despite my critiques, I did enjoy the book. Mina’s relationship with each member of her family was done well. I especially loved how the relationship with her mother progressed throughout the book, and how it ended on a neutral but hopeful tone without needing any dialogue.

Ultimately, this book was a decent read and I think there is definitely an audience here for it.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

For fans of star-crossed lovers and doomed relationships, here is a dramatic, thrilling story of love, acceptance, and destruction.
Mina's family have been tasked with cutting the clapper inside the city's five bells every day to prevent them ringing and calling about a trapped fallen saint. For over 1000 years, they have fulfilled their responsibility, until one day, evil forces interfere and bring about the calamity. Only Mina and her family can stand between the city's destruction and the lost of thousands of people, though the cost may be their own lives.
Mina battles her own feelings of worth, loss, responsibility, and love throughout the story, making for a dynamic view of the dichotomy of human feelings. Not a light, fluffy romance, but a good read for exploring what makes us human and what makes us divine.

I deeply appreciate Tesch’s writing style. It's lush with description. The reader can easily imagine the picturesque city, the terrifying Saints, and the terror that the night brings. I can't fathom the imagination that comes with spinning the idea of a sentient city, where the only thing keeping an evil at bay is one family and five bells.

Where the ideas and the words flourished, the depth of the characters and the explanation of the city itself fell short. Mina was frustrating and the payoff at the end felt a bit undeserving. She wasn't a character I connected with, and while she is a new 18 year old, her mindset felt younger.

With that being said, I do believe it's because I’m an older audience who thinks differently than a teenager, and I pieced together the story early on. So being marketed for Teens & YA is perfect. I suspect if I read this when I was younger it would be a favorite. The representation of a deeply flawed Mother/Daughter relationship was refreshing and something I think many readers can relate to.

I would love to know what legend inspired What Wakes the Bells and I will also be keeping my eye out for more books written by Tesch. What Wakes the Bells is a solid debut.

3.5⭐

queer rep, amazing world building, and an immersive world, what more could you ask for??? my only gripe was that i couldn't really connect with the characters which is what lowerer my rating for the book

this was such a wonderful world to be in. so unique. lots of character development. the writing style was so emerson’s and felt so addicting! i couldn’t put this book down. not to mention the cover is stunning!!!

Elle Tesch’s What Wakes the Bells is a gothic fantasy that transports readers to the sentient city of Vaiwyn, where ancient bells act as a barrier against an ominous force. The story follows Mina Strauss, a young bell keeper, whose world is thrown into turmoil when her bell tolls an unnatural thirteen times, triggering eerie events throughout the city. As statues awaken and the city itself begins to turn against its inhabitants, Mina embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the source of the disturbance and protect her home.

The novel’s premise is unique, blending supernatural elements with themes of duty, legacy, and self-discovery. Vaiwyn is more than just a setting; it feels alive, almost like another character in the story. Tesch’s world-building is richly detailed, immersing readers in an atmospheric and haunting environment. However, the opening chapters are heavy on exposition, which may slow the initial pacing for some readers.

Mina’s character arc is compelling, showcasing her growth from a dedicated daughter to a determined protector. Her relationships, particularly with her mother and the slow-burning romance with Max, add depth to the emotional landscape of the novel. Additionally, the representation of Mina’s demisexuality is handled with care, offering a refreshing and meaningful perspective in the fantasy genre.

While the novel’s pacing fluctuates—moving between lush descriptions and moments of intense action—the immersive writing keeps the story engaging. Some plot twists may be predictable for seasoned fantasy readers, but the novel’s intricate world-building and strong character dynamics help maintain intrigue.

Fans of gothic fantasy and atmospheric storytelling, especially those who appreciate deep lore and richly developed settings, will likely find What Wakes the Bells an enthralling read. The novel’s exploration of family, identity, and responsibility adds further emotional weight to the narrative.

Areas for improvement include a smoother balance between exposition and action to maintain momentum and a deeper exploration of the antagonist’s motivations to add complexity to the conflict. That said, Tesch’s debut novel demonstrates her talent for crafting immersive worlds and emotionally resonant stories, marking her as an author to watch in the fantasy genre.