What Wakes the Bells is a haunting, atmospheric masterpiece that grabbed me from the first page and refused to let go. Inspired by a dark Prague legend, Elle Tesch’s debut is a mesmerizing blend of gothic horror, lush fantasy, and pulse-pounding suspense.

The city of Vaiwyn is a character in itself—sentient, mysterious, and steeped in the eerie weight of its past. Mina, as a Keeper of the bells, carries the responsibility of maintaining the city’s fragile peace, but when her bell tolls thirteen times, she unknowingly unchains an ancient evil. The way Tesch weaves mystery, tension, and rich worldbuilding had me completely enthralled. The idea of a city turning on its own people, with gargoyles and statues hunting in the night, is the perfect mix of terrifying and exhilarating.

Mina is a deeply compelling protagonist, torn between duty, love, and the creeping horror of knowing the enemy could be someone she trusts. The paranoia, the high stakes, and the moral dilemmas she faces kept me on edge. The writing is lyrical and immersive, painting each scene with a dreamlike yet visceral intensity. Fans of Adalyn Grace, Margaret Rogerson, and V.E. Schwab will absolutely devour this book.

I read What Wakes the Bells in one sitting, completely unable to put it down. If you love dark, gothic fantasies with razor-sharp tension, morally complex characters, and a city that breathes like a living thing, this book is a must-read. Elle Tesch has crafted something truly special—this is a debut you won’t want to miss.

What Wakes the Bells was an energetic, unique YA fantasy. Tesch is a writer with interesting ideas and I enjoyed how she built her world. We don’t see enough menacing bells in literature—not since Sabriel, and I could see shades of Nix’s book here in the best way. The plot of WWTB is very fast paced and it’s easy to get swept up into the action of the story.

Tesch notes she was inspired by Prague, and part of me wishes she’d just set it in a fantasy Prague because I think the setting would have been stronger. As it was, the gothic elements that the blurb makes sure to highlight didn’t really feel atmospheric enough for me.

Which leads me to my main criticism: most of the story elements didn’t feel ENOUGH for me: the characters were ok but I didn’t really love or hate them. The plot twists were present, but were pretty obvious and so I wasn’t surprised by any. The setting was interesting but felt washed out. Overall, I think a lot of the “color” of the writing was sacrificed in favor of keeping the plot hurtling along. It was a choice, just not the one I would have made (but I’m also not a published author, so take that as you will).

I think there’s good things here and I think Tesch will find her audience in the YA market with this more unique fantasy, but for me, it was just pretty ok.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

The bells dictate everything. The Strauss family legacy has been to guard the bells, but when the bell rings thirteen times on Mina’s watch, it sets off an ancient evil.

It has everything you’d want to see in a gothic fantasy: a sentient city, Saints, magic bells. Bonus since it’s also inspired by a Prague legend! I’m always down for fantasies inspired by mythologies and legends, but for some reason I did not find myself connecting with the characters. It admittedly took me a long while to finish this, despite my interest in the magic system and Elle’s atmospheric writing. Pretty predictable, but it’s a strong debut. I’d still look out for Elle’s future releases.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC :>

This was a solid story. 3.75 stars. I read it in one sitting, so it was paced pretty well. It could be a little too descriptive at times, sometimes I would get a little lost and have to reread cause I felt like I missed something. I really liked the plot, with the sentient city and the idea of the bells being a major player in the story. I think this story could have benefited from being dual POV, having both the FMC and the MMC POV. That was a lot of letters, sorry. I feel like the dual POV would have added more depth and more richness to the story.

Overall though, well done. I look forward to more of this authors work. These opinions are my own and reflect personal taste. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Billing a book as a gothic fantasy is a guaranteed way of getting me to pick it up. I found the blurb and the elements of the story intriguing, but they didn't quite come together for me. I loved the imagery and atmosphere but many of the reveals seemed obvious and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I also didn't like how Mina's relationship with her mom was resolved - her mom was terrible to her!

SCREAMING, this is my NEW FAVORITE book ever.
The concept and setting, the new and dangerously dark magical ecosystem of Saints, monsters and bell keepers kept me on edge!!
Mina is a fantastic character with so much depth and understanding for the world around her. While she navigates her doomed situation, love life (she is ace!) and difficult family relationships we learn about the city, legends, and magic with her.

It's dark, atmospheric and real. I couldn't put it down and looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you Elle, Fiercereads and Netgalley for the earc!

Firstly, thank you so so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read the ARC of this book -- it took me a while to actually sit down and read it, but I'm glad that I did. Goodreads rating is 5 stars, but my personal rating is closer to a 4.5, which I'll explain further down.

I think I saw another review go, "Oh, y'all are not read for THIS." And I agree. Elle Tesch's debut into gothic fantasy is incredible. The description states that What Wakes the Bells is perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson, and I also agree with that sentiment. Tesch did not put any shame on Rogerson's name or game, so if you liked one you'll definitely enjoy the other.

What Wakes the Bells is a story about many things, but what steals the spotlight every chapter, every page, is the city Tesch has crafted. Vaiwyn, the name of the city, is built upon the corpse of a fallen God, and protected by the Strauss family. The God is dead, but the city is alive, and Tesch describes the walls of buildings as pointed ribs and healing membranes. The city can absorb messages into its walls and spit them out to the correct recipient -- because the walls are still, somehow, alive. It has been a very long time (Honestly, probably since I read Rogerson for the first time) that I have been able to create an entire city in my head from scratch. You can see the bell towers, the cobbled steps. Tesch not only said that Vaiwyn is alive, but she showed it, and it was beautiful.

The setting was breathtaking, but the plot was great as well. We follow Mina Strauss, the newest bell keeper, as she tries to uphold years of family tradition. Every day, she must cut the clapper off her vesper before the bell rings 12 times, otherwise an ancient evil will be unleashed. And since there would be no story without conflict, Mina fails in her duty, and the bell eventually peals out 12 chimes, despite her best efforts.

I won't go too much into the story's details -- they're best read personally. Some of my favorite parts of this book were the magic system and the Saints themselves. It's revealed that 4 of Vaiwyn's saints are still alive and protecting the city, and they have both human forms and magical forms. They are all described beautifully, otherworldly, and in ways that sparked my imagination something fierce. At times the Saints appeared as abstract deities, and the concepts Tesch assigned to them were just so freaking cool.

The only thing I would say docks a half point off for me is that at points I didn't feel overly connected to the cast or the romantic subplot. The book was gorgeous in it's presentation, but I was never attached to Max or the Strauss family. I don't necessarily think this is a failing of the author -- I think it's me being picky. I loved the characters, just not necessarily their intertwining relationships.

Overall, an absolute joy of a book, and I wish it a very good release day!

3.5! The setting is SO good!! An alive city with magical bells, living statues, and saints from legends. The romance was surprisingly great and while the twists were kinda predictable, the fast pacing and unique world made it such an enjoyable read. If you like slow burn romance and imaginative worlds, this book is definitely for you :)

The premise of this sounded so fascinating and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat. Although I think that’s just my own personal preference. I’ve noticed that I’ve not really been reading as much YA over the last little bit but I really wanted to give this a shot because I’m a sucker for a gothic story. I do think this will appeal to fans of the genre, it just didn’t work 100% for me.

There was a lot I enjoyed about What Wakes the Bells, but there was also a lot I found lackluster, so this is a 3 star read for me. First, I wouldn’t call this gothic or recommend it to someone wanting a gothic story. There were some elements—such as the gargoyles, sickness, and much of the story taking place at night—but it misses the claustrophobia, melancholia, and self reflection most gothic tales have. What Wakes the Bells seems too fast paced and plot driven to really feel gothic.

What I liked: the city of Vaiwyn is incredible. It’s a sentient city that truly feels like a character on its own, which makes this book feel super unique. The magic system is intricate and well organized, and the way the characters interact with magic feels natural and interesting. I enjoyed the action scenes and felt like the overall pacing of the book is well done. This is a quick read that is also meaningful, with an enjoyable MC and a cause the reader can root for.

What I didn’t like: too much info dumping. There are entire chapters of side characters literally telling the MC (and therefore, the reader) everything she needs to know. It was not only hard to follow along with, but it significantly lowered the stakes. As our MC tries to find answers, she’s constantly asking hypothetical questions, which we know will be answered by one of the side characters in the following chapter. I found myself feeling much more interested in the history of these characters than I was interested in this current story.

This is a solid debut which I think will appeal to a lot of teens looking for dark fantasy that fits between younger YA and more mature Adult.

DNF at 5%.

Oof. 😅 I requested this arc and had no idea it would be be filled with SUPER flowery language and so “atmospheric” that I barely knew what was going on. Definitely NOT my thing. Hopefully it appeals to others.

What Wakes the Bells follows Mina, a Keeper in a city built by saints that is alive. Her family has kept the city alive for thousands of years by keeping the bells Vespers from ringing—if they fail, they will wake an evil saint. When Mina’s bell rings thirteen times, it unleashes the Bane from his prison and the city fights back. Stone gargoyles and statues hunt people through the streets for the soul of the corrupted saint. He hides in someone’s body and if Mina doesn’t find out who, she’ll risk losing more than just her city—she could lose her family and Max.

I loved Vaiwyn. The author crafted such a gorgeous, poetic city with such beautiful prose and descriptions. It is so fun that the city is alive and sentient—such a fun concept! I went to Prague this past summer and the author breathed the city into these pages. It felt so familiar, but so much more magical. While the twists are pretty easy to guess, I still had such a fun time following Mina figure everything out. And the statues coming to life to attack was so haunting and gripping—very disney’s hunchback of notre dame vibes in my head. The imagery is really knocked out of the park in this novel. The pacing is really engaging and keeps you invested. And the saints were so fascinating—loved the concept of them. The ending was just what I wanted for the characters.

This was such a unique romance. I don’t think I’ve read one quite like it, and if I have, its so rare I can’t remember. But I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was so refreshing to have the mc and her love interest already together at the start. And the lovers to enemies is a trope I wasn’t expecting to enjoy as much as I did. The author did such a great job at the romance—it was so wholesome and so heartbreaking. Mina is such a great main character. I loved the demi rep! She’s so headstrong and capable and going through so much. I loved the complicated relationship with her mother. Her whole family was so well developed, and Isaac was definitely my favourite family member. Max was such a sweetheart and a whole vibe honestly. His protectiveness of Mina was so sweet.

If you love the vibes of Prague and the Hunchback of Notre Dame and a lovers to enemies romance, please go give this book a try!!

Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

WHAT WAKES THE BELL has all of my favorite things - including beautiful, flowery writing. A perfect debut.

Oof. This was a dud for me. The writing is extremely flowery, and it often felt like it didn't fit the scene. I feel like the book just needed more build-up. I didn't care about the characters or their relationships that much. And, the end of the world didn't feel very, scary. I think if you want a book with flowery language and gothic settings, this one will be a good read. But, if you're like me and want to know the why behind the many miracles that happen, this may disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this arc!

I’m always amazed when an author can pull you into a world they’ve built from the ground up - complete with architecture, a governing and religious system, well-developed characters, and a compelling plot - where you truly feel like you are walking alongside the characters. That’s the experience you get in What Wakes the Bells. I was instantly transported into the world of Vaiwyn!

I loved the lore and history - a sentient city, humans who ascended into Saints, and the bell keepers who toil day and night to keep away the city’s greatest evil. Mina was the perfect flawed MC - the weight of her responsibility and the depth of her grief were so palpable. I adored her relationships with Max and Isaac, and the grit of her determination to save her city.

This was such a good read! It explores the ways grief is internalized, how unexpected responsibilities can both crumble us and force us to rise, and defining boundaries for love. The combination of myth, mystery, and atmosphere kept me glued to the pages - I needed to see how everything would come together. This is one you won’t want to miss!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch! Tesch's book has a gritty, visceral quality, with plenty of horror elements threaded through this YA fantasy about a corrupted god who has spent centuries caged in a bell. I thought the way the villain manifested his powers over the city was so unique. Looking forward to reading everything that Tesch publishes!

This is such a great story—the idea of a city being sentient is truly unique in its premise and I loved how the story unfolded around it. The city of Vaiwyn holds the power to shape the fate of those who dwell within its shadow, and is kept in balance by the Bells.

From the very start of the story, it is evident the burden of responsibility weighs heavily on our FMC, Mina. The Strauss family is entrusted with an ancient duty—to ensure the bells in their towers never toll. If they toll, an ancient and terrible power will awaken. But dark forces are conspiring against them, and it is Mina’s bell that heralds their downfall, ringing thirteen times and summoning a chaos they hoped would never return.

As the town is grappling with the buildings and statues wreaking havoc and destruction at night, Mina’s family is left to unravel the riddles of the town, as well as their own, desperately searching for answers to explain the return of the nightmare that once plagued their town and how they can stop it.

As they are thrown together and put under pressure, you can clearly see the intriguing dynamics of their relationships. The tension between Mina and her mother, Imogen is palpable, a raw undercurrent of disdain and unresolved conflict. I really didn’t like Imogen. Even when her and Mina attempt to reconcile, there remains a distance between them, a sense that the cracks run too deep to heal.

Mina and Max’s relationship was so cute!! Max is the epitome of a fiercely loyal puppy dog MMC. His steady presence and unwavering support, is like a balm to her fractured soul, a glimmer of hope in a world that threatens to consume her. The thought of losing Max or any more of her family are a catalyst for Mina’s inner rage to boil over and it is in this moment she searches the darkest corners of her soul, and becomes something far more formidable than she could have ever have dreamed.

Some parts of the story felt somewhat predictable but I felt the depth of the characters and the foreboding atmosphere of this awesome, sentient city more than compensated for any sense of familiarity. The gothic tone of the story had me in a chokehold… this genre is quickly becoming one of my favourites. It kept me turning the pages, eager to uncover all the moody, eerie mysteries. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and it’s beautiful, haunting vibes. 🩶

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for an eARC to review prior to release.

Very interesting premise. I like the focus on the Saint's lore. Captivating worldbuilding and main character making this YA a great fantasy mystery read. Sometimes, I got confused and double-checked, but nothing destructive.
The cover agrees well with the novel.

I was so looking forward to this Gothic fantasy, but I found the book lacking overall. We follow Mina, a young adult with a huge responsibility to her city, fraught family relationships, and a pretty great boyfriend. One day, the stories and warnings of the Saints that she grew up with come to life. While an interesting premise, the writing is overly descriptive in an attempt to give the world a seriousness that already exists. The language is so full of metaphors that when something did happen, I had to re-read the passage multiple times trying to figure out what it was. The characters are… not bright and a bit two-dimensional. I was always many steps ahead of them, and I never connected with anyone.

If you love YA adventure novels and gothic mysteries, this could be right up your alley. Something I really appreciated was the author’s attempt to tries to make the boyfriend really good and caring. But without full-fledged characters, I was looking for all the reasons something was wrong from the first time I met him. I didn’t have any idea who he was, so I second-guessed it and didn’t get to enjoy a healthy relationship as part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

What Wakes the Bells weaves a darkly enchanting tale of a city imbued with life, grappling with the looming threat of an age-old darkness. At its heart is Mina, a Keeper tasked with guarding one of the Vespers, a mystical bell that must remain silent to prevent the awakening of the Bane, a malevolent force subdued by heroic figures from centuries past. When fate takes an unexpected turn and Mina's bell tolls, unleashing chaos, she is thrust into a desperate battle to defend her home and the cherished ones in her life.

The novel boasts an intriguing concept and immersive world-building, leaving me hungry for more exploration within the pulsating city of Vaiwyn and its rich tapestry of mythology and spirituality. The gothic atmosphere is artfully crafted; it’s thrilling to see how this genre has flourished recently. As a devoted fan, I find myself excited for each new contribution, and What Wakes the Bells captures that haunting essence beautifully!

However, I did encounter some difficulty in relating to Mina, the story's protagonist. There’s a particular archetype of young adult characters that tends to rub me the wrong way, and regretfully, Mina fit that mold from the outset and maintained that demeanor throughout the narrative. She often seemed self-absorbed and somewhat immature. Yet, considering this is a young adult story, her character aligns with the themes presented, and I acknowledge that there will certainly be readers who resonate with her journey. In any case, the writing is strong, and the world-building is truly impressive. I’m eager to see what other tales this author has in store for us!