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A Whisper of Bells and Prayers
Not yet published
Expected 3 Apr 26Love was never her calling, until she heard her voice in the dark.
Hidden high within the towers of Notre-Dame, Mirela tolls the bells. Scarred by fire and kept under the control of her so-called savior, Master Ferron, she has learned that devotion can feel like chains.
Then she hears Claire, a young nun who awakens something in Mirela she had never felt before... Hope, desire and the aching need to be seen. Their secret meetings begin in whispers and candlelight, until forbidden touches turns faith into temptation.
But Ferron's eyes are always watching, and his generosity hides away a sickening obsession.
When passion and devotion collide, the walls of the cathedral will tremble and the two women must decide if love is worth the fire that will follow.
Hidden high within the towers of Notre-Dame, Mirela tolls the bells. Scarred by fire and kept under the control of her so-called savior, Master Ferron, she has learned that devotion can feel like chains.
Then she hears Claire, a young nun who awakens something in Mirela she had never felt before... Hope, desire and the aching need to be seen. Their secret meetings begin in whispers and candlelight, until forbidden touches turns faith into temptation.
But Ferron's eyes are always watching, and his generosity hides away a sickening obsession.
When passion and devotion collide, the walls of the cathedral will tremble and the two women must decide if love is worth the fire that will follow.
- GenresLesbian
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 3, 2026
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 18, 2026
3.5⭐️
I want to start off by thanking the author C.C. Gonzalez for providing me with this e-arc!
This is a beautiful sapphic retelling of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. We follow Mirela, a woman who's held captive in the bell tower of the cathedral. She's not allowed to leave and she must not be seen by anyone but Ferron, her captor. One day she hears the beautiful voice of a nun called Claire. Claire was forced by her parents to become a nun but all she really wants is just to be free. What happens when the the two lock eyes and are immediately drawn to each other?
The relationship between Mirela and Claire is so tender, precious and beautiful. The way they care for each other is just to die for. I love them so much.
However, that being said, I do think their relationship is
bit too insta-lovey for my personal taste. I would have enjoyed it more if it went a bit slower (I am a sucker for some good yearning so that's usually why I don't fully vibe with "insta-love").
I think overall I just wish there was a bit more of everything. But that being said it's a good, fast paced novella that's quick to get through. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the mood for something easy to read that is heartwarming and cute but also touch some heavier elements.
I can't wait to have a look at the authors other works!
I want to start off by thanking the author C.C. Gonzalez for providing me with this e-arc!
This is a beautiful sapphic retelling of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. We follow Mirela, a woman who's held captive in the bell tower of the cathedral. She's not allowed to leave and she must not be seen by anyone but Ferron, her captor. One day she hears the beautiful voice of a nun called Claire. Claire was forced by her parents to become a nun but all she really wants is just to be free. What happens when the the two lock eyes and are immediately drawn to each other?
The relationship between Mirela and Claire is so tender, precious and beautiful. The way they care for each other is just to die for. I love them so much.
However, that being said, I do think their relationship is
bit too insta-lovey for my personal taste. I would have enjoyed it more if it went a bit slower (I am a sucker for some good yearning so that's usually why I don't fully vibe with "insta-love").
I think overall I just wish there was a bit more of everything. But that being said it's a good, fast paced novella that's quick to get through. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the mood for something easy to read that is heartwarming and cute but also touch some heavier elements.
I can't wait to have a look at the authors other works!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Duel 3rd Person POV. 5🌟 2🌶️. 177 pages
1 devastatingly beautiful spice scene
This book was so heart achingly beautiful, I would give it 10 stars if I could. A Whisper of Bells and Prayers is a sapphic gothic retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and while the original inspiration was never a favourite of mine, this novella definitely is.
AWOBAP follows Mirela a woman kept captive in the bell tower of Notre Dame by a man that has lied to her and kept her pliant through fear. Until one day she hears the voice of an angel. Claire is a nun, forced into the habit by her parents despite just wanting to be free. When fate intervenes and the two meet, an instant connection of understanding and kindness blooms.
Honestly I adored absolutely everything about this book. The writing is almost lyrical in nature, it’s a heart warming and yet heart breaking story of the lust for freedom and desire to be accepted. Both FMCs are so adoringly written that you almost want to reach into the story and wrap them both in bubble wrap. You can instantly tell that the original inspiration has a special place in C.C Gonzales’s heart through the love and passion you can feel in the pages. This will definitely be a book I will re-read again and again.
A Whisper of Bells and Prayers will be released April 3rd. If you’re a fan of the original Hunchback of Notre Dame or even if you aren’t, pick this up. I can almost guarantee you’ll be a fan of this beautiful retelling!
Things to LOVE:
✨Hunchback of Notre Dame Retelling
✨Captive Bell Ringer + Rebel Nun
✨Slow Burn
✨Touch Starved & Virgin FMC
✨Longing & Yearning
✨Religious Iconography & Trauma
✨HEA
Duel 3rd Person POV. 5🌟 2🌶️. 177 pages
1 devastatingly beautiful spice scene
This book was so heart achingly beautiful, I would give it 10 stars if I could. A Whisper of Bells and Prayers is a sapphic gothic retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and while the original inspiration was never a favourite of mine, this novella definitely is.
AWOBAP follows Mirela a woman kept captive in the bell tower of Notre Dame by a man that has lied to her and kept her pliant through fear. Until one day she hears the voice of an angel. Claire is a nun, forced into the habit by her parents despite just wanting to be free. When fate intervenes and the two meet, an instant connection of understanding and kindness blooms.
Honestly I adored absolutely everything about this book. The writing is almost lyrical in nature, it’s a heart warming and yet heart breaking story of the lust for freedom and desire to be accepted. Both FMCs are so adoringly written that you almost want to reach into the story and wrap them both in bubble wrap. You can instantly tell that the original inspiration has a special place in C.C Gonzales’s heart through the love and passion you can feel in the pages. This will definitely be a book I will re-read again and again.
A Whisper of Bells and Prayers will be released April 3rd. If you’re a fan of the original Hunchback of Notre Dame or even if you aren’t, pick this up. I can almost guarantee you’ll be a fan of this beautiful retelling!
Things to LOVE:
✨Hunchback of Notre Dame Retelling
✨Captive Bell Ringer + Rebel Nun
✨Slow Burn
✨Touch Starved & Virgin FMC
✨Longing & Yearning
✨Religious Iconography & Trauma
✨HEA
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Sapphic retelling of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (Disney ver)
dual third-person narrative
135pg Novella, New to me author
Splash of spice - one intimate scene over a few chapters
As a Sapphic book lover and also The Hunchback of Notre-Dame being a story that really means a lot to me personally (I previously worked on the Musical adaption of the Disney version) I was very excited to read this one.
The story centres on the romance between Mirela, a reinterpretation of the Quasimodo with a new original backstory, and Claire, a nun gifted with a beautiful singing voice, loosely inspired by Esmeralda but reimagined in a new light. Before reading I was intrigued by the character background change for Claire but it quickly made sense upon reading the first few chapters.
The sapphic retelling gives a whole new light to the relationship between Mirela and Master Ferron (aka Claude Frollo) which I found very interesting but come with content warnings, something to note for potential readers.
The pacing is perfect. It is slow burn-ish but being a novella I feel it was normal. The character connection is fairly fast and the second half focuses mainly on the original unique storyline.
If you are a fan of the original like me, highly recommend listening to the soundtrack while reading!
dual third-person narrative
135pg Novella, New to me author
Splash of spice - one intimate scene over a few chapters
As a Sapphic book lover and also The Hunchback of Notre-Dame being a story that really means a lot to me personally (I previously worked on the Musical adaption of the Disney version) I was very excited to read this one.
The story centres on the romance between Mirela, a reinterpretation of the Quasimodo with a new original backstory, and Claire, a nun gifted with a beautiful singing voice, loosely inspired by Esmeralda but reimagined in a new light. Before reading I was intrigued by the character background change for Claire but it quickly made sense upon reading the first few chapters.
The sapphic retelling gives a whole new light to the relationship between Mirela and Master Ferron (aka Claude Frollo) which I found very interesting but come with content warnings, something to note for potential readers.
The pacing is perfect. It is slow burn-ish but being a novella I feel it was normal. The character connection is fairly fast and the second half focuses mainly on the original unique storyline.
If you are a fan of the original like me, highly recommend listening to the soundtrack while reading!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a sapphic retelling that completely surprised me. The original inspiration was never my favorite, but this version transformed it into something intimate, atmospheric, and deeply romantic.
The writing is immersive you can almost smell the cathedral stone and feel the weight of the setting around you. The descriptions are rich without being overwhelming, and the story is told in a way that feels concise yet complete.
And Mirela? Absolutely unforgettable. She’s the kind of character you can’t help but fall for.
The antagonist is easy to hate (which makes rooting for the girls even more satisfying), and the emotional stakes stay strong throughout.
If you love:
Sapphic retellings
Dark, cathedral-like atmospheres
Scarred but magnetic heroines
Slow-burn tension with payoff
…this one is definitely worth reading.
And yes, I might have wanted just a little more in the epilogue but I won’t say more than that. 👀
The writing is immersive you can almost smell the cathedral stone and feel the weight of the setting around you. The descriptions are rich without being overwhelming, and the story is told in a way that feels concise yet complete.
And Mirela? Absolutely unforgettable. She’s the kind of character you can’t help but fall for.
The antagonist is easy to hate (which makes rooting for the girls even more satisfying), and the emotional stakes stay strong throughout.
If you love:
Sapphic retellings
Dark, cathedral-like atmospheres
Scarred but magnetic heroines
Slow-burn tension with payoff
…this one is definitely worth reading.
And yes, I might have wanted just a little more in the epilogue but I won’t say more than that. 👀
Review of advance copy received from Author
Enthralling, captivating, fresh and touching.
These are the immediate words that come to mind when thinking of this beautiful sapphic retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The reimagining of the main characters, each unique yet clearly inspired by the well known and beloved original characters, is a breath of fresh air. Mirela and Claire will captivate you and make you root for them every step of the way. Their story will move you and the beauty of their connection will warm your heart. Judge Claude Ferron is the right kind of villain, not supernatural or someone with a fleshed out plan, but a monster made of flesh and blood and shattered/warped lens in which he looks at humanity and the immediate world around him.
This passionate slow burn, which had a beautiful pace as a novella, was exquisite. You will not be able to put down.
Cannot wait to see what else this amazing author has in store with her future stories. 5/5!!
These are the immediate words that come to mind when thinking of this beautiful sapphic retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The reimagining of the main characters, each unique yet clearly inspired by the well known and beloved original characters, is a breath of fresh air. Mirela and Claire will captivate you and make you root for them every step of the way. Their story will move you and the beauty of their connection will warm your heart. Judge Claude Ferron is the right kind of villain, not supernatural or someone with a fleshed out plan, but a monster made of flesh and blood and shattered/warped lens in which he looks at humanity and the immediate world around him.
This passionate slow burn, which had a beautiful pace as a novella, was exquisite. You will not be able to put down.
Cannot wait to see what else this amazing author has in store with her future stories. 5/5!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A beautiful interpretation of a classic. The author sets a beautiful scene, and manages to bring a sapphic angle to this much loved tale while making it feel refreshed.
Our villain is detestable, while our main characters are both unique and wholesome. The book is a novella, but the author packs in the love, history and drama for the characters so well. Sister Claire is a kindhearted woman, and who doesn’t love a lesbian nun!? While Mirela is desperate for kindness she’s never felt. While that dynamic can come off as a power imbalance, it doesn’t happen here. These women connect beautifully and their story is heartwarming! I love it.
Our villain is detestable, while our main characters are both unique and wholesome. The book is a novella, but the author packs in the love, history and drama for the characters so well. Sister Claire is a kindhearted woman, and who doesn’t love a lesbian nun!? While Mirela is desperate for kindness she’s never felt. While that dynamic can come off as a power imbalance, it doesn’t happen here. These women connect beautifully and their story is heartwarming! I love it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much for this ARC 🖤
This is a sapphic novella inspired by The Hunchback of Notre Dame featuring a hot, thick nun and a scarred muscle mommy who was being kept hidden from the world.
And I loved every page.
Y'all. Mirela and Claire are meant to be together in every life they live 😭 the way they both said "fxck it, I'm leaving everything behind for her" and just did it? The way the future they imagined together was enough of a motivation for them to give themselves a real chance together? 10/10. No notes 😭🖤
And Claire is so much more mature than me, because if I had found out Mirela could draw as good as she does, I would've told her to draw me like one of the french girls 🤣
This is a sapphic novella inspired by The Hunchback of Notre Dame featuring a hot, thick nun and a scarred muscle mommy who was being kept hidden from the world.
And I loved every page.
Y'all. Mirela and Claire are meant to be together in every life they live 😭 the way they both said "fxck it, I'm leaving everything behind for her" and just did it? The way the future they imagined together was enough of a motivation for them to give themselves a real chance together? 10/10. No notes 😭🖤
And Claire is so much more mature than me, because if I had found out Mirela could draw as good as she does, I would've told her to draw me like one of the french girls 🤣
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a lovely Sapphic retelling and I absolutely loved it! Both Claire and Mirela have backstory that tugged at my heart and made me fall for them instantly and root for them throughout. I felt like the pacing of the story was great, the spice was just right and the conflict kept me invested. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. I would definitely recommend giving this book a read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was absolutely wonderful!!
A bit on the shorter side compared to her other books but was still fun to read!
The critiques I have is that I wish we saw more conflict between Mirela and Judge Forren. I also wish we got a little more relationship building between the main characters. Overall the book was really good to the point I couldn’t put it down!
A bit on the shorter side compared to her other books but was still fun to read!
The critiques I have is that I wish we saw more conflict between Mirela and Judge Forren. I also wish we got a little more relationship building between the main characters. Overall the book was really good to the point I couldn’t put it down!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews