What Wakes the Bells is a great young adult Gothic fantasy written by Elle Tesch, published by Feinwel & Friends. A sentient city built long ago by the Saints, an ominous evil that will return after the Vesper Bells ring thirteen times, an immaculate atmosphere that perfectly captures the vibes and a female main character having to fight to stop the chaos from taking over the city of Valwyn after not fulfilling the expectations of her family are some of the elements that makes this such a ride of a book.

Mina is part of a long line of bell-keepers part of the Strauss family, having to take care of the Vesper Bells to keep the evil from coming back to the city of Valwyn; however, under Mina's watch, it's her Bell the one that marks the return of a long forgotten Saint. Mina will have to step up to protect her family and the city from the horror unleashed by the Bell, while unraveling the mysteries behind the city's foundation and its lore, becoming the saviour Valwyn needed, having to confront even those she loved.

If there's an aspect that Tesch has absolutely nailed is the worldbuilding, in terms of setting and atmosphere. We have a sentient city with a long history that has been twisted across the centuries, with many Gothic details and drawing into some religious aspects such as the Saints and how there's a cult around them (even we could say the Strauss' tradition is a sort of religion). There are some unanswered questions at the ending, but I feel it suits well with how Tesch is playing with the concept of how oral stories/traditions often hides the truth behind some garnishments.

It is true that in terms of characterization, What Wakes the Bells lands a bit on the weaker side, but still has some space to shine. Mina's character arc, while it is a bit cliched, works well as part of the plot, and I absolutely love a strong female main character that has to fight against disappointment, having to stand up from the lowest point and confront her fears. The romance was set from the start, but Tesch manages to give an interesting twist to it, suiting well with the general imagery.
The pacing is a bit slow at the start, using a small chunk to introduce us to the world, but once it picks, it never stops, keeping you as a reader in tension during the whole book.

What Wakes the Bells is a great novel, perfect if you are looking for a Gothic fantasy with a vivid imagery and immaculate vibes, a really enjoyable read that will pick your curiosity with the worldbuilding and give you a remarkable character arc. Really interested to see what will Elle Tesh have in the future!