What Wakes the Bells: A Gothic Fantasy Experience
When I first heard about What Wakes the Bells by A.G. Riddle, I was immediately intrigued. A gothic fantasy intertwining elements of The Hunchback of Notre Dame with a narrative about mystical bells and a sentient city sounded like a perfect escape. Elegant lore and atmospheric settings have a way of drawing me in, but alas, this journey left me both enchanted and frustrated.
Set in the magical city of Vaiwyn, the premise revolves around the haunting Vesper Bells, crafted by five saints to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing. The stakes are high for Mina Strauss and her family, tasked with guarding the bells to ensure they never toll thirteen times, awakening the darkness. Despite a premise bursting with potential, my excitement quickly switched gears into a series of frustrations.
Let’s talk about the vibes: A.G. Riddle nails the atmosphere. Vaiwyn feels alive—its gothic architecture drips with charm. I could almost smell the aged wood and candle wax in Lyndell Hall, where Mina watches over the bells. Iron chandeliers dangling amidst shadowy staircases, gargoyles springing to life—it’s like a gothic dream come to life. Riddle captures the essence of a dark academia aesthetic that had me fully immersed. However, beautifully woven atmospheric details can’t overshadow the narrative’s shortcomings.
The core issue for me was the lack of clarity in worldbuilding and character backstories. Characters and their motivations felt like loose threads in a tapestry not fully unrolled. For example, the villain, Bane, remained elusive—his descent into evil felt unearned and unexplained. Readers are left scratching their heads: why did he choose this path? Without deeper exploration, it’s just a tale of a villain who turned dark simply because. The same goes for the saints—their powers and histories are sketched with vague brush strokes, leaving so many questions unanswered.
Dialogue within the book often felt like riddles, leaving me perplexed rather than intrigued. Take the conversation about Elora, "the Lost Alchemist." Is she dead? Is she not? The schism between different interpretations left me in limbo, making me reread passages that should have been a joy to digest. The unclear layering of information detracted from the reading experience—context matters, especially in fantasy. I shouldn’t have to unravel complex dialogues like puzzle pieces.
My heart swelled with visions of elaborate worlds beyond Vaiwyn, yet I found myself confined to this singular city, almost as if the outside world didn’t exist. Why was leaving never mentioned? A broader scope could have greatly enriched the story, lending freshness to its confines.
Despite the frustrations, What Wakes the Bells succeeds in laying down a vivid atmosphere and intriguing premise. Its magic-filled world is one I would love to explore further—if only the foundational elements were more fleshed out. Readers who enjoy atmospheric settings without needing every detail neatly tied may find treasure in its pages. I, however, longed for greater clarity and character depth.
In conclusion, A.G. Riddle’s work splashes charm across a canvas yearning for more substance. While I appreciated the dreamlike experience, the dialogue and world-building left me wanting. Perfect for those who thrive on ambiance and mystery, but perhaps best enjoyed with a willingness to wade through unanswered questions. Thank you, NetGalley and Feiwel, for the chance to delve into this fantastical world; while not perfect, it certainly sparked a myriad of thoughts.