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The Gods Time Forgot
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5 copies available
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Irish mythology collides with Gilded Age New York in this sweeping debut enemies-to-lovers historical romantasy, perfect for fans of Outlander and A Fate Inked in Blood.
Manhattan, 1870. Rua knows only two her name, and that she has no memories. So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to a firmly off-limits the Lord of Donore, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.
Finn is new to this side of the Atlantic and knows that the best way to fit in as Lord of Donore is to make friends in high places and play by the rules of society. He knows he shouldn’t become involved with a mysterious, recently missing debutante, but he’s intrigued by Emma Harrington, and Finn has an uncanny feeling that this isn’t the first time they’ve met.
With societal pressures mounting on both sides, Rua is determined to discover the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. But when her memories begin to return, they’re of a world far stranger than New York and traced in dark magic.
As ancient secrets unfurl in Rua’s memory, Rua and Finn are forced to uncover the mystery of their past and try to save their future. In this gritty and glittering romantasy, nothing and no one is as they seem.
Manhattan, 1870. Rua knows only two her name, and that she has no memories. So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to a firmly off-limits the Lord of Donore, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.
Finn is new to this side of the Atlantic and knows that the best way to fit in as Lord of Donore is to make friends in high places and play by the rules of society. He knows he shouldn’t become involved with a mysterious, recently missing debutante, but he’s intrigued by Emma Harrington, and Finn has an uncanny feeling that this isn’t the first time they’ve met.
With societal pressures mounting on both sides, Rua is determined to discover the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. But when her memories begin to return, they’re of a world far stranger than New York and traced in dark magic.
As ancient secrets unfurl in Rua’s memory, Rua and Finn are forced to uncover the mystery of their past and try to save their future. In this gritty and glittering romantasy, nothing and no one is as they seem.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
October 30, 2024
3.5✨
⏱️ Irish mythology
⏱️ Swoon worthy romance
⏱️ Lots of banter
⏱️ 1870s era
⏱️ Manipulation and schemes
⏱️ Slow burn
⏱️ Amnesia/Confusion
⏱️ Historical romance/fantasy
This book made me go through a roller coaster of emotions. Isn’t it amazing how words on pages can do that?
This is set in 1870 ; where women weren’t allowed to have opinions or display any ounce of intelligence. It was definitely frustrating at times… and quite angering. I don’t remember the last time I was this angry. So I know the author did a magnificent job.
Rua wakes up in Emma’s body, 2 days after Emma’s disappearance. Since Emma was already considered *problematic* ; Rua’s weird temperament didn’t really ring bells for a while. Rua was an absolutely fabulous FMC. She rapidly grew on me.
The strong suit of this book is definitely the romance. The banter was chiefs kiss 💋. It was definitely swoon worthy.
There’s 2 points that could be worked on. The pacing and the ending. The ending is so abrupt! It just made me feel like when my partner is telling me a story and I feel there’s more to his story but he just stops there. I highly wish there was an epilogue.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!***
⏱️ Irish mythology
⏱️ Swoon worthy romance
⏱️ Lots of banter
⏱️ 1870s era
⏱️ Manipulation and schemes
⏱️ Slow burn
⏱️ Amnesia/Confusion
⏱️ Historical romance/fantasy
This book made me go through a roller coaster of emotions. Isn’t it amazing how words on pages can do that?
This is set in 1870 ; where women weren’t allowed to have opinions or display any ounce of intelligence. It was definitely frustrating at times… and quite angering. I don’t remember the last time I was this angry. So I know the author did a magnificent job.
Rua wakes up in Emma’s body, 2 days after Emma’s disappearance. Since Emma was already considered *problematic* ; Rua’s weird temperament didn’t really ring bells for a while. Rua was an absolutely fabulous FMC. She rapidly grew on me.
The strong suit of this book is definitely the romance. The banter was chiefs kiss 💋. It was definitely swoon worthy.
There’s 2 points that could be worked on. The pacing and the ending. The ending is so abrupt! It just made me feel like when my partner is telling me a story and I feel there’s more to his story but he just stops there. I highly wish there was an epilogue.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!***
March 15, 2024
I read an early draft of this and let me tell you: you are in for a ride. Kelsie crafts a glittering, glamorous world of gilded age New York and pairs it flawlessly with Irish mythology. Rua is such a compelling main character, and her journey of reemergence is one no time will compel me to forget.
Want to read
October 17, 2024the cover I'm deaddddd
December 17, 2024
3.5! i loved the fmc and the romance/banter was amazing but something was missing
November 5, 2024
The banter, the angst, the longing 👌🏻
I was unsure at first, but then got sucked in. I ended up really enjoying this debut.
I need to compose my thoughts. RTC
Thanks netgalley for an early review copy!
I was unsure at first, but then got sucked in. I ended up really enjoying this debut.
I need to compose my thoughts. RTC
Thanks netgalley for an early review copy!
November 3, 2024
Let me set the scene for you:
The year is 1870 in New York, and a woman emerges from the woods covered in dirt and blood and in someone else’s body, with no memory of her past, or who she is. To make matters worse she keeps feeling this pull toward a certain Irish Lord, but doesn’t know why. The Lord of Donore (aka Finn), also feels this pull but has no memory as to why they are feeling this way. As things begin to unravel around them, they soon discover why their love is so forbidden.
Now I am one of the people that have been frothing at the mouth for this book for years as Kelsie talked about and promoted it on her tiktok. The concept just sounded so incredibly cool and unique I couldn’t wait to read it. And, honestly, it lived up to my expectations. I could not put it down!! I loved the addition of Irish mythology in an adult romantic fantasy novel, it was so different from what I have read before, and combined with the time period, made for a truly captivating setting.
The Gods Time Forgot is a fantastic addition to the romantic fantasy genre! Rua is a very complex character, and seeing her thrust into this unfamiliar society where she clearly isn’t meant to be, was very engaging. And Finn? He put me through a rollercoaster of emotions and yet I still love him!
I would honestly read multiple books in this universe, and I’m excited to see where the author goes from here! Her writing immediately drew me into this world, and honestly made my historical romance and fantasy loving heart so so happy.
*I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
The year is 1870 in New York, and a woman emerges from the woods covered in dirt and blood and in someone else’s body, with no memory of her past, or who she is. To make matters worse she keeps feeling this pull toward a certain Irish Lord, but doesn’t know why. The Lord of Donore (aka Finn), also feels this pull but has no memory as to why they are feeling this way. As things begin to unravel around them, they soon discover why their love is so forbidden.
Now I am one of the people that have been frothing at the mouth for this book for years as Kelsie talked about and promoted it on her tiktok. The concept just sounded so incredibly cool and unique I couldn’t wait to read it. And, honestly, it lived up to my expectations. I could not put it down!! I loved the addition of Irish mythology in an adult romantic fantasy novel, it was so different from what I have read before, and combined with the time period, made for a truly captivating setting.
The Gods Time Forgot is a fantastic addition to the romantic fantasy genre! Rua is a very complex character, and seeing her thrust into this unfamiliar society where she clearly isn’t meant to be, was very engaging. And Finn? He put me through a rollercoaster of emotions and yet I still love him!
I would honestly read multiple books in this universe, and I’m excited to see where the author goes from here! Her writing immediately drew me into this world, and honestly made my historical romance and fantasy loving heart so so happy.
*I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
October 22, 2024
The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romantasy that I would compare to Bridgerton if it were set in New York City and had magic.
Rua, the female protagonist, has no memories and finds herself being taken in by the Harrington family, who think she is their missing daughter Emma. Rua / Emma was a social pariah, and by proxy, made her family the subject of gossip and scrutiny too. Rua knows nothing about Emma other than that she was dabbling in some form of dark magic and had been expelled from school, thus scandalizing and alienating herself and her family from NYC's elite families. Her parents (especially the mother) make desperate strides to try and reaffirm their place in society, which is how Rua meets Finn Donore, a mysterious lord from Ireland.
Both Rua and Finn feel a magnetic pull towards each other. Finn is trying to establish himself in high society, so he tries to convince himself many times not to associate or be seen with Rua because of her awful reputation (which obviously doesn't quite go to plan). I loved the beginning stages of their relationship, where Finn tries to resist Rua, and Rua brushes him off. With this in mind I would lightly classify it as enemies to lovers, because there is a pull between them from the moment they meet which got rid of a lot of potential tension. I did enjoy their banter though.
Rua is very sharp-tongued and didn't hold anything back. She had many hilarious comments to Finn and to condescending high society members - she was truly unbothered. That said, she could be abrasive/irritating at times and there wasn't much depth to her character. Mara, an important side character, had barely any substance. But Finn was a much stronger, more captivating character in my opinion!
Another thing I struggled with was the pacing; the very beginning drew me in but it starts to drag shortly after. I think I struggled with the lack of information we get - the secrets start to reveal themselves eventually and the plot picks up as the book goes on but I think it took a bit too long in getting there. The writing was also a little choppy at times.
I didn't fall in love with this book, but it was a mostly enjoyable read - I just wasn't fully hooked. I think it's definitely still worth checking out for all historical romance fans looking for a magical twist.
Thank you so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC! 📚
Rua, the female protagonist, has no memories and finds herself being taken in by the Harrington family, who think she is their missing daughter Emma. Rua / Emma was a social pariah, and by proxy, made her family the subject of gossip and scrutiny too. Rua knows nothing about Emma other than that she was dabbling in some form of dark magic and had been expelled from school, thus scandalizing and alienating herself and her family from NYC's elite families. Her parents (especially the mother) make desperate strides to try and reaffirm their place in society, which is how Rua meets Finn Donore, a mysterious lord from Ireland.
Both Rua and Finn feel a magnetic pull towards each other. Finn is trying to establish himself in high society, so he tries to convince himself many times not to associate or be seen with Rua because of her awful reputation (which obviously doesn't quite go to plan). I loved the beginning stages of their relationship, where Finn tries to resist Rua, and Rua brushes him off. With this in mind I would lightly classify it as enemies to lovers, because there is a pull between them from the moment they meet which got rid of a lot of potential tension. I did enjoy their banter though.
Rua is very sharp-tongued and didn't hold anything back. She had many hilarious comments to Finn and to condescending high society members - she was truly unbothered. That said, she could be abrasive/irritating at times and there wasn't much depth to her character. Mara, an important side character, had barely any substance. But Finn was a much stronger, more captivating character in my opinion!
Another thing I struggled with was the pacing; the very beginning drew me in but it starts to drag shortly after. I think I struggled with the lack of information we get - the secrets start to reveal themselves eventually and the plot picks up as the book goes on but I think it took a bit too long in getting there. The writing was also a little choppy at times.
I didn't fall in love with this book, but it was a mostly enjoyable read - I just wasn't fully hooked. I think it's definitely still worth checking out for all historical romance fans looking for a magical twist.
Thank you so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC! 📚
October 22, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️ ARC Read - releasing April 2025, as always a special shout out and thank you to NetGalley! I was immediately drawn to this book due to the beautiful, stunning, gorgeous cover art. The story is set in the 1800s primarily, focused on Rua. All that Rua remembers is crawling out from the earth in the dark woods. No past memories, no idea who she really is - but the people who find her are convinced she is Emma. Inserted into Emma’s life in high society, she feels wrong. Like nothing is familiar or hers. In time she starts to get memories of a past life, a time of gods, magic and guardians. She also meets Finn, who is also struggling to fit into high society as an Irish immigrant. Despite both their efforts, they are constantly drawn to each other. At the same time, Rua is trying to keep up her appearance as Emma and uncover the dark magic and secrets behind her life and current existence. Interesting plot, fantastic writing. I found the page quite slow, it dragged a little for me. I also found the end quite abrupt. I wonder if this is a set up for a sequel, it would definitely leave the door open for it.
March 15, 2024
I read an early draft of this book and when i tell you *chefs kiss*. Every time i thought i knew where something was going or what a plot twist was Kelsie always kept me guessing. Not to mention the romance!! The leading man is the leading man of my heart! ❤️❤️❤️ THE BANTER!!!
Also Rua is such a fun and interesting main character! She always has me laughing and knowing that i would think the same exact thing if i was her.
THE WORLDBUILDING IS AMAZING!!! The glitz and the glamor of the gilded age! absolutely spectacular!
I loved this book!! i can’t wait to own five and gift it to everyone i know!!
Also Rua is such a fun and interesting main character! She always has me laughing and knowing that i would think the same exact thing if i was her.
THE WORLDBUILDING IS AMAZING!!! The glitz and the glamor of the gilded age! absolutely spectacular!
I loved this book!! i can’t wait to own five and gift it to everyone i know!!
Shelved as 'gave-up-on'
October 23, 2024I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a read on this.
Welp. It was rough. It was like one thought running and running continuously - characters would be in different areas inside of a house without any action or description of how they got there. I felt like the character Rua and her situation was rushed from the get-go. Besides knowing that she has lost some memories, everything is very bland with her. Very point A to point B type writing. Nothing allowing you to understand who she is as a person. No real inner monologue or depth.
Finn had more depth than Rua, but still, the blandness of his character and the repetitive swearing / exclamations was strange to read.
I only made it 20% through and felt like this book required more editing and fluidity in the context. There is probably a story in here, but I'm too pressed to weed it out.
Out of respect for the author I will not be rating the title since I did not finish it.
Welp. It was rough. It was like one thought running and running continuously - characters would be in different areas inside of a house without any action or description of how they got there. I felt like the character Rua and her situation was rushed from the get-go. Besides knowing that she has lost some memories, everything is very bland with her. Very point A to point B type writing. Nothing allowing you to understand who she is as a person. No real inner monologue or depth.
Finn had more depth than Rua, but still, the blandness of his character and the repetitive swearing / exclamations was strange to read.
I only made it 20% through and felt like this book required more editing and fluidity in the context. There is probably a story in here, but I'm too pressed to weed it out.
Out of respect for the author I will not be rating the title since I did not finish it.
March 16, 2024
I had the honor of reading an early version of this book and it has been on my mind ever since!
The story swept me into the world and kept me on my toes the entire time.
enemies-to-lovers ⚔️
Bridgerton vibes 💎
Irish Mythology ☘️
The story swept me into the world and kept me on my toes the entire time.
enemies-to-lovers ⚔️
Bridgerton vibes 💎
Irish Mythology ☘️
November 5, 2024
I wanted to love this book so SO BADLY but my expectations were clearly too high. Something about the premise had me so intrigued and I honestly though that this was going to be a life changing kind of book you know??
The world building was stablished way too late and by that point I was already uninterested. The chemistry between the characters was alright but the mmc perspective made me roll my way too many times.
I am all in for soulmates finding each other again but it just wasn't executed the way I was expecting. New York gilded age mixed with Bridgerton vibes was a great setting but again, not enough for me to love the story. The ending came way too quickly and all I could think was "that's it? 🤨" I think there's still time to fix a few things in this book since release day is a few months away. Hopefully they'll do.
Thank you to Alcove Press for the advance reader copy.
The world building was stablished way too late and by that point I was already uninterested. The chemistry between the characters was alright but the mmc perspective made me roll my way too many times.
I am all in for soulmates finding each other again but it just wasn't executed the way I was expecting. New York gilded age mixed with Bridgerton vibes was a great setting but again, not enough for me to love the story. The ending came way too quickly and all I could think was "that's it? 🤨" I think there's still time to fix a few things in this book since release day is a few months away. Hopefully they'll do.
Thank you to Alcove Press for the advance reader copy.
October 20, 2024
Wonderful fantasy romance set to the sweeping and glamorous backdrop of the 1870s. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez delivers a refreshing fantasy romance standalone about the power of love across time and against all the odds.
The story throws the reader into the middle of the action with the disappearance of Emma and Rua's first moments. As both Rua and the reader scramble to make sense of what is happening, you are sucked into the harsh and glittering world of Gilded Age politics, society, and intrigue. Rua does her best to play the role of Emma, but she is thwarted by many at every turn. At the same time, the reader meets Finn -- the dashing lord -- trying to make his way in American society. While there is a tinge of dislike between the two, they feel drawn to one another.
Sheridan Gonazlez does a wonderful job of sprinkling in this past moments of faint memories for both Rua and Finn. Together, the main characters and the readers piece together to the moments that lead to New York in the 1870s.
I really enjoyed Rua's rough and tumble attitude as she crashes through polite New York society. The dual POV with Finn adds a little extra as you see the world through his eyes. Sheridan Gonazlez sprinkles in some truly heinous individuals that will cross out duo from time to time -- one of them had been yelling had her underhandedness.
This is a truly fun standalone that will sweep you away from an afternoon and take you on a worldwind adventure of Irish mythology, romance, and the right touch of fantasy! I am excited to read more from this author!
The story throws the reader into the middle of the action with the disappearance of Emma and Rua's first moments. As both Rua and the reader scramble to make sense of what is happening, you are sucked into the harsh and glittering world of Gilded Age politics, society, and intrigue. Rua does her best to play the role of Emma, but she is thwarted by many at every turn. At the same time, the reader meets Finn -- the dashing lord -- trying to make his way in American society. While there is a tinge of dislike between the two, they feel drawn to one another.
Sheridan Gonazlez does a wonderful job of sprinkling in this past moments of faint memories for both Rua and Finn. Together, the main characters and the readers piece together to the moments that lead to New York in the 1870s.
I really enjoyed Rua's rough and tumble attitude as she crashes through polite New York society. The dual POV with Finn adds a little extra as you see the world through his eyes. Sheridan Gonazlez sprinkles in some truly heinous individuals that will cross out duo from time to time -- one of them had been yelling had her underhandedness.
This is a truly fun standalone that will sweep you away from an afternoon and take you on a worldwind adventure of Irish mythology, romance, and the right touch of fantasy! I am excited to read more from this author!
March 21, 2024
I haven’t read it yet but the second it comes out I just know it’ll be amazing!! I love Kelsie and she deserves all the love and support in the world and she’s worked so hard on this ❤️
November 17, 2024
The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romance with Irish mythology, Bridgerton vibes, and characters I adored. The main character, Rua, wakes up in someone else’s body with little to no memory except her name. She is forced to live the life of a debutante in 1800s society so that she doesn’t get thrown in an asylum for having amnesia. I would say this is a low fantasy and heavily focused on the characters as the plot felt like an afterthought at times. The gods and flashbacks lost me at some points, and by the end I still only had a vague sense of what happened once they got their memories back. I almost wish this was just a historical romance book without the amnesia and gods plot because the characters, romance, and prose were all so amazing that it would have been five stars if the plot didn’t fall flat. There’s lots of tension and yearning and banter that I enjoyed, so I still think this is worth the read for the romance alone. After the ending, I’m pretty sure this is a standalone but there’s an open ended “what next?” question that could possibly make way for a sequel. I am not sure that question would warrant a sequel so I’m unsure if I would continue the series if there was. Overall, this was a strong debut with great writing and amazing romance so I’m looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
November 8, 2024
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.
We start off with Rua who is found in the woods with no memory of how she got there or who she is and is taken in by a family of upper class the Harrington's who believe her to be their daughter Emma. Rua has no idea about the life in which Emma lives and her "mother" Flossie tries everything she can to integrate her into high society as the original Emma has dabbled in magic which has put a stain of sorts on the family name.
We meet Finn, a lord from Ireland who quickly feels a connection towards Rua and vice versa, leading down a path of discovery and enemies to lovers romance. The pacing in the book was a little off, I feel like the beginning of the book was well paced and interesting, but then as we got towards the middle to the end, it slowed down significantly. I feel like things could have been summed up a little more quickly throughout the book.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. It does incorporate Irish lore, which I love, and the historical ambiance is set very well in the book. However, it is not a book I overall loved. It is definitely worth a read though.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.
We start off with Rua who is found in the woods with no memory of how she got there or who she is and is taken in by a family of upper class the Harrington's who believe her to be their daughter Emma. Rua has no idea about the life in which Emma lives and her "mother" Flossie tries everything she can to integrate her into high society as the original Emma has dabbled in magic which has put a stain of sorts on the family name.
We meet Finn, a lord from Ireland who quickly feels a connection towards Rua and vice versa, leading down a path of discovery and enemies to lovers romance. The pacing in the book was a little off, I feel like the beginning of the book was well paced and interesting, but then as we got towards the middle to the end, it slowed down significantly. I feel like things could have been summed up a little more quickly throughout the book.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. It does incorporate Irish lore, which I love, and the historical ambiance is set very well in the book. However, it is not a book I overall loved. It is definitely worth a read though.
November 19, 2024
From the very first page of this book I was completely hooked I found myself so intrigued by the mysterious beginning and the way the writing flowed across the page.
Rua is a fantastic character she is so complex and seeing her thrust into this unfamiliar society in New York during the Gilded age was so engaging, I loved her character so much. Finn the mysterious Lord who she feels this connection to was also such an interesting character and he put me through a rollercoaster of emotions seeing him also fight this pull he has no memory of towards Rua,the way the story progress around them as everything was revealed and they came to realise why their love is so forbidden was just so engaging.
Added in with the Irish mythology I really enjoyed this historical romantasy and though the ending of The Gods that Time Forgot feels like it is meant as standalone I would love to read more set in this universe.
Rua is a fantastic character she is so complex and seeing her thrust into this unfamiliar society in New York during the Gilded age was so engaging, I loved her character so much. Finn the mysterious Lord who she feels this connection to was also such an interesting character and he put me through a rollercoaster of emotions seeing him also fight this pull he has no memory of towards Rua,the way the story progress around them as everything was revealed and they came to realise why their love is so forbidden was just so engaging.
Added in with the Irish mythology I really enjoyed this historical romantasy and though the ending of The Gods that Time Forgot feels like it is meant as standalone I would love to read more set in this universe.
October 27, 2024
I loved this book! Have been excited to read this since it was The Ones Time Forgot. I could not put it down and read through it in a day. Rua and her story (and lack of) was such a fun mystery to parcel out while reading the story. While Finn is, in all things, the Perfect Nice Man, I did almost wish he had more of a flaw, though I guess his struggle between what he wants and should want is something that could work there. Really enjoyed the mythology and jumping into the Gilded Age. Would definitely recommend!
Thanks to Alcove Press & NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to Alcove Press & NetGalley for the ARC!
November 2, 2024
I cannot believe a tree was harmed in the making of this book.
✧ 2 stars, only reason I made it this far was because I just had to know what became of this goddamn story. I was promised Irish mythology and forgotten gods, but the first 3/4 of the book was just basically the new york gilded age version of bridgerton. the most fascinating premise with the most disappointing, pathetic execution.
thank you to Alcove Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review
✧ 2 stars, only reason I made it this far was because I just had to know what became of this goddamn story. I was promised Irish mythology and forgotten gods, but the first 3/4 of the book was just basically the new york gilded age version of bridgerton. the most fascinating premise with the most disappointing, pathetic execution.
thank you to Alcove Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review
November 5, 2024
Overall I enjoy this book!! It’s a fantasy romance set in old time NYC with Irish mythology woven in- a lot of my favorite things!!! Rua is goals, she’s got no filter and it was quite entertaining. Finn is the swoon worthy MMC we all love to read about!! I really loved their relationship and character arcs. Solid read and I’m looking forward to more books by Kelsie!!
March 22, 2024
I follow KSG on social media and love her journey of how this book has come to fruition. Super happy for her! I truly look forward to seeing and reading this much-anticipated book on the shelves around this time next year! Hoping she does a book tour in a New York setting!
December 1, 2024
(Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #TheGodsTimeForgot #NetGalley)
2.5 Stars - ⭐⭐✨
Rua knows only two [things:] her name, and that she has no memories. (Let us please note off the bat that there's even a typo in the Goodreads synopsis.) So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to [the] firmly off-limits the Lord of Donore, Finn, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.
With societal pressures mounting on both sides, Rua is determined to discover the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. But when her memories begin to return, they’re of a world far stranger than New York [that is] traced in dark magic.
As ancient secrets unfurl in Rua’s memory, Rua and Finn are forced to uncover the mystery of their past and try to save their future.
Noted as Outlander meets Bridgerton, this is Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez's debut book.
First, I'll start off by saying that I was initially very interested in reading this book because of Mrs. Sheridan Gonzalez's social media. Her enthusiasm and personality melted through her videos, making it near impossible to not immediately want to rally for her. I was all in when I learned about this book and jumped to request an ARC.
Unfortunately, I've been disappointed by my own impulses and expectations once again, making me think I just need to take a break from requesting ARCs.
This book needs way more editing before coming out in 2025, and by that I mean almost an entire overhaul to a point it's a new book, and I understand better than most how that's not helpful. As I pointed out, even the synopsis has typos. So did my ARC.
The very beginning is compelling, but then the next 60% of the book is spent going from place to place in an elementary "And then they went here and then we were there" structure that caused me to have overwhelming white room syndrome. There is too. Much. Telling. The craft is close to zero, but the hardest part is when it got close, it fades away immediately. It felt like reading a report.
The synopsis suggests that Rua wants to learn whose life she's adopted - quite the opposite, she barely investigates and we are left without answers for so long. Only glimmers of hints of the truth that are not very thought-provoking or thrilling.
It's so repetitive, too. They go to a party, Rua causes a scene, Finn swoops in to save her, Rua(Emma)'s mother Flossie is mad. It was more a lesson in etiquette than it was uncovering the secrets of their past or diving into a world of magic. I felt held hostage with Rua enduring elitist, flat secondary characters who could have been truly compelling, and I kept WAITING for that cycle to break and it took too long. The book doesn't start answering questions or makes you excited to read until the last 15%, and then it just ends.
Forget this book if you want actual magic. There is hardly any and that is perhaps my biggest gripe right now. How are you writing an Irish mythology re-telling without even traces of magical realism, let alone diving in to the opportunity of building a whole new fantastical world?
My recommendation would have been tale the ending, move it up to the early middle, and let the world, magic, and characters unfold from there. I'm disappointed in that this felt like such an amazing idea that was poorly executed, and that such an obvious plot line was missed. I hate saying that about other folks' work but it needs to be said.
If she sees this some day, my advice to the author is to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Because craft wise, that's more what I was hoping this would go for.
This missed the mark with me, and I wish writers would come back to writing what they enjoy and taking the time to suss it out rather than going to the "________" meets "________" tropes for marketing - which also telling of publishing and consumerism so don't get it twisted that I'm taking that all out on authors. I'm not. I'm coming at every review from the perspective of a writer as well as someone who just wants to be swept away while I read, not crabby because I'm contemplating all the ways a book's about to be published and wasn't as amazing as I know it could have been.
2.5 Stars - ⭐⭐✨
Rua knows only two [things:] her name, and that she has no memories. (Let us please note off the bat that there's even a typo in the Goodreads synopsis.) So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to [the] firmly off-limits the Lord of Donore, Finn, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.
With societal pressures mounting on both sides, Rua is determined to discover the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. But when her memories begin to return, they’re of a world far stranger than New York [that is] traced in dark magic.
As ancient secrets unfurl in Rua’s memory, Rua and Finn are forced to uncover the mystery of their past and try to save their future.
Noted as Outlander meets Bridgerton, this is Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez's debut book.
First, I'll start off by saying that I was initially very interested in reading this book because of Mrs. Sheridan Gonzalez's social media. Her enthusiasm and personality melted through her videos, making it near impossible to not immediately want to rally for her. I was all in when I learned about this book and jumped to request an ARC.
Unfortunately, I've been disappointed by my own impulses and expectations once again, making me think I just need to take a break from requesting ARCs.
This book needs way more editing before coming out in 2025, and by that I mean almost an entire overhaul to a point it's a new book, and I understand better than most how that's not helpful. As I pointed out, even the synopsis has typos. So did my ARC.
The very beginning is compelling, but then the next 60% of the book is spent going from place to place in an elementary "And then they went here and then we were there" structure that caused me to have overwhelming white room syndrome. There is too. Much. Telling. The craft is close to zero, but the hardest part is when it got close, it fades away immediately. It felt like reading a report.
The synopsis suggests that Rua wants to learn whose life she's adopted - quite the opposite, she barely investigates and we are left without answers for so long. Only glimmers of hints of the truth that are not very thought-provoking or thrilling.
It's so repetitive, too. They go to a party, Rua causes a scene, Finn swoops in to save her, Rua(Emma)'s mother Flossie is mad. It was more a lesson in etiquette than it was uncovering the secrets of their past or diving into a world of magic. I felt held hostage with Rua enduring elitist, flat secondary characters who could have been truly compelling, and I kept WAITING for that cycle to break and it took too long. The book doesn't start answering questions or makes you excited to read until the last 15%, and then it just ends.
Forget this book if you want actual magic. There is hardly any and that is perhaps my biggest gripe right now. How are you writing an Irish mythology re-telling without even traces of magical realism, let alone diving in to the opportunity of building a whole new fantastical world?
My recommendation would have been tale the ending, move it up to the early middle, and let the world, magic, and characters unfold from there. I'm disappointed in that this felt like such an amazing idea that was poorly executed, and that such an obvious plot line was missed. I hate saying that about other folks' work but it needs to be said.
If she sees this some day, my advice to the author is to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Because craft wise, that's more what I was hoping this would go for.
This missed the mark with me, and I wish writers would come back to writing what they enjoy and taking the time to suss it out rather than going to the "________" meets "________" tropes for marketing - which also telling of publishing and consumerism so don't get it twisted that I'm taking that all out on authors. I'm not. I'm coming at every review from the perspective of a writer as well as someone who just wants to be swept away while I read, not crabby because I'm contemplating all the ways a book's about to be published and wasn't as amazing as I know it could have been.
December 9, 2024
‧₊˚✧ 𝙏𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 ✧˚₊‧
𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞
ׂ╰┈➤ Slow Burn
ׂ╰┈➤ Enemies to Lovers
ׂ╰┈➤ Irish Mythology
ׂ╰┈➤ Forbidden/Star-Crossed Love
ׂ╰┈➤ 1870s Setting
ׂ╰┈➤ Historical Fiction
𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Waking in a body not her own, Rua is mistaken for the missing daughter of a wealthy family, Emma Harrington. In hopes to finding answers, she keeps up with the charade and tries to blend into this lush society of the upper class. Upon returning to Manhattan, Rua crosses path with and instantly drawn to, the handsome Irishman, The Lord of Donore, who is completely off limits.
As the charade continues, Rua’s memories begin to surface with awakening truths that raises more questions, especially since her memories involves Lord of Donore. However, there’s more to the story than her memories are allowing her to remember… ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
One meeting was all it took for an instant flame to ignite
“𝑺����𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐬' 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅'𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕'𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒅 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒉����𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑨 𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍-𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕”
I like how the story flowed, although in some parts of the chapters it threw me off a bit and it was a weird setting. For example, the flash backs to the story were in the chapter and the characters had a moment where they “zoned out” and remembered their past. Interesting set up but a touch weird.
The beginning of the story did feel a bit confusing and a little boring, but as the story progressed it became very interesting. I was a little spooked by the Irish mythology to do with the “Hellmouth” mentioned in the story. But it was very interesting and I love reading about mythology woven into stories.
““𝑹𝒖𝒂,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒔���𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑨 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆. 𝐑𝐮𝐚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝒊𝒏 𝑰𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉.”
I absolutely loved how sweet Finn was. And of course there’s another Finn to add to the list of fav love interests 😅
I’m not too sure if this will be a duology or not but the way this title ended left questions. It cannot end just like how it did surely? If so, that was a very weak ending - sweet, but weak.
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel and I’d love to see more from this author! Beautifully written and I loved the historical romance themes.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed reading this title.
4/5 ⭐️
𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞
ׂ╰┈➤ Slow Burn
ׂ╰┈➤ Enemies to Lovers
ׂ╰┈➤ Irish Mythology
ׂ╰┈➤ Forbidden/Star-Crossed Love
ׂ╰┈➤ 1870s Setting
ׂ╰┈➤ Historical Fiction
𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Waking in a body not her own, Rua is mistaken for the missing daughter of a wealthy family, Emma Harrington. In hopes to finding answers, she keeps up with the charade and tries to blend into this lush society of the upper class. Upon returning to Manhattan, Rua crosses path with and instantly drawn to, the handsome Irishman, The Lord of Donore, who is completely off limits.
As the charade continues, Rua’s memories begin to surface with awakening truths that raises more questions, especially since her memories involves Lord of Donore. However, there’s more to the story than her memories are allowing her to remember… ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
One meeting was all it took for an instant flame to ignite
“𝑺����𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐬' 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅'𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕'𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒅 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒉����𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑨 𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍-𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕”
I like how the story flowed, although in some parts of the chapters it threw me off a bit and it was a weird setting. For example, the flash backs to the story were in the chapter and the characters had a moment where they “zoned out” and remembered their past. Interesting set up but a touch weird.
The beginning of the story did feel a bit confusing and a little boring, but as the story progressed it became very interesting. I was a little spooked by the Irish mythology to do with the “Hellmouth” mentioned in the story. But it was very interesting and I love reading about mythology woven into stories.
““𝑹𝒖𝒂,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒔���𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑨 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆. 𝐑𝐮𝐚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝒊𝒏 𝑰𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉.”
I absolutely loved how sweet Finn was. And of course there’s another Finn to add to the list of fav love interests 😅
I’m not too sure if this will be a duology or not but the way this title ended left questions. It cannot end just like how it did surely? If so, that was a very weak ending - sweet, but weak.
Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel and I’d love to see more from this author! Beautifully written and I loved the historical romance themes.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, I enjoyed reading this title.
4/5 ⭐️
November 25, 2024
I love it when a book captivates me by its cover and then wins me over by all its other aspects! When I saw this book on Netgalley I simply couldn't resist and I was so pleased when my request was accepted that I started reading straight away. The beginning is a little slow and made me not get into the story right away, but it soon becomes so intriguing that is almost impossible to stop reading. Rua is a mysterious character, even to herself, as she has no memory of who she is. I loved to gradually unraveling her as she unraveled herself too. A strong and complex character, but also atypical, which is what I liked most about her. Thrown into the 19th century New York’s society, Rua has to unravel who she really is while pretending to be someone else and integrating into the high society of the time, which provides just the right amount of drama. But it's when the MMC, Finn, appears that the story really becomes addictive. The banter between these two, the way they tease each other, how they are gradually more affected by each interaction and how it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid the attraction, how they are true to each other even when they hide so much from the world, the chemistry and palpable tension, the author has built a romance that is impossible to remain indifferent to. But also the way Finn always treats Rua as an equal in a world that sees women as inferior, this made me love him on a whole new level! The fantasy aspect ends up taking more of a scundary role to the romance and character development and, although I would have liked to have seen it explored more, I didn't miss it too much. The story of these two and their evolutions as individuals shines on its own and the touch of gods and Irish mythology ends up being a touch of something more that affirms this book as part of the romantasy subgenre with immense potential to become a favorite for those who like the genre. The ending was a bit abrupt and I missed an epilogue that would have wrapped up the story better, but I loved the fact that it was more open-ended so as to leave room for a sequel, like a door sighly open. The kind of ending that leaves you longing for a sequel, but also feeling good if it doesn't happen.
This book turned out to be a very nice surprise, with kinda of lyrical writing, a sweeping romance, a mix of Divine Rivals and Bridgerton that was so engaging and addictive and that I loved to have the chance to read the arc. A read that captivated me, that ended up becoming a favorite and that I highly recommend!
Plot & World 4⭐
Characters 5⭐
Enjoyment 4⭐
Writting 5⭐
Overall 4.5⭐
This book turned out to be a very nice surprise, with kinda of lyrical writing, a sweeping romance, a mix of Divine Rivals and Bridgerton that was so engaging and addictive and that I loved to have the chance to read the arc. A read that captivated me, that ended up becoming a favorite and that I highly recommend!
Plot & World 4⭐
Characters 5⭐
Enjoyment 4⭐
Writting 5⭐
Overall 4.5⭐
November 21, 2024
I can’t say the book is genius or the best I read this year, but I definitely had a lot of fun with it. Thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with the ARC copy.
In the story, we deal with the memory loss. In the beginning, we meet a girl, who doesn’t remember anything except her name, Rua. But at the very beginning, she does not remember even that. She is in a cave, that isn’t bigger than a coffin, and some people outside are looking for a girl named Emma. And they claim she is the one they’re looking for. Even though she is 100% sure she’s not Emma - the demon-worshipping daughter of that wealthy family everyone seems to confuse her for, she will play according to their rules while trying to find the memories and figure out what happened to the real Emma.
On the other hand, we have a tall and handsome Irish lord trying to do business in Manhattan and place himself among the wealthiest. What will he do if he feels drawn to her like she is his long-forgotten love, even when he’s absolutely positive he sees her for the first time in his life? Will he ruin his perfectly calculated plans to find out what that feeling is?
I loved a lot of things here. The relationship feels natural and not pushed as it could be, given that they’re already in love when they meet for the first time. The setting of the 19th century frames the story very well, and some social problems within it allow carrying on with the conflict of the story. The forced proximity is smooth and gives us new details about the lord (well, I don’t know what to say else, but I was so happy with that turn of events that I thought I need to mention it in my review). The story seamlessly switches between two perspectives and, therefore is lively and complex. The most satisfying thing was to put back together again all the pieces. I loved how the Irish mythology was shattered and brought back again piece by piece beautifully embedded in the story
Every time I grew bored, new details surfaced and kept me reading. However, the story peaked for me at the end of the second third, and the remaining third was entertaining but didn’t keep me engaged at the same level.
In the story, we deal with the memory loss. In the beginning, we meet a girl, who doesn’t remember anything except her name, Rua. But at the very beginning, she does not remember even that. She is in a cave, that isn’t bigger than a coffin, and some people outside are looking for a girl named Emma. And they claim she is the one they’re looking for. Even though she is 100% sure she’s not Emma - the demon-worshipping daughter of that wealthy family everyone seems to confuse her for, she will play according to their rules while trying to find the memories and figure out what happened to the real Emma.
On the other hand, we have a tall and handsome Irish lord trying to do business in Manhattan and place himself among the wealthiest. What will he do if he feels drawn to her like she is his long-forgotten love, even when he’s absolutely positive he sees her for the first time in his life? Will he ruin his perfectly calculated plans to find out what that feeling is?
I loved a lot of things here. The relationship feels natural and not pushed as it could be, given that they’re already in love when they meet for the first time. The setting of the 19th century frames the story very well, and some social problems within it allow carrying on with the conflict of the story. The forced proximity is smooth and gives us new details about the lord (well, I don’t know what to say else, but I was so happy with that turn of events that I thought I need to mention it in my review). The story seamlessly switches between two perspectives and, therefore is lively and complex. The most satisfying thing was to put back together again all the pieces. I loved how the Irish mythology was shattered and brought back again piece by piece beautifully embedded in the story
Every time I grew bored, new details surfaced and kept me reading. However, the story peaked for me at the end of the second third, and the remaining third was entertaining but didn’t keep me engaged at the same level.
December 16, 2024
Thank you to Alcove Press for providing me with a digital ARC!
I know very little about Irish mythology, but mythology in general is one of my favorite things to learn about. So when I saw The Gods Time Forgot up on Netgalley, with that very interested synopsis, and that very beautiful cover, I thought I'd take a shot and requested it. Thankfully, Alcove Press pretty much instantaneously approved me, and I dived right in.
This book is written beautifully. I absolutely loved how fiery Rua was, how done she was with "polite society" rules, and being "accepted" into the higher classes. She wanted nothing to do with these people, and she basically let them know it. The Gods Time Forgot has a very interesting premise, one that I didn't really catch on to what was happening until about 75% of the way through. I had inklings but there was enough going on that I wasn't sure.
Finn was not as widely explored as Rua, unfortunately. I do wish we had learned more about his life before he was The Lord of Donore, and how he came to be. It's sort of handwaved at the end, but I was very interested in him. Even before we know who he is.
The romance is well done, in my opinion. There's enough steam, enough chemistry there that it's entirely believable. They sort of pick at each other to start, and then they really do fall in love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall for each other.
My one beef with The Gods Time Forgot is that it ends SO abruptly. The last chapter reads like there's going to be at least another few to follow, but nope. It just sort of...ends. I really would have loved to follow Rua and Finn as they figured out life together, but nope. We don't get to see that. I wouldn't even really say that it's a true happy ending. It ends before we get to see them happy, which really hurt how I feel about this book. If it had ended appropriately, The Gods Time Forgot would have easily been 5 stars for me. Instead, it's dropped down to a four star read. Still good, but not great.
I'd still recommend this book, especially if you're a fantasy-romance lover with an interest in mythology. Just go into it knowing the ending is a bit disappointing.
I know very little about Irish mythology, but mythology in general is one of my favorite things to learn about. So when I saw The Gods Time Forgot up on Netgalley, with that very interested synopsis, and that very beautiful cover, I thought I'd take a shot and requested it. Thankfully, Alcove Press pretty much instantaneously approved me, and I dived right in.
This book is written beautifully. I absolutely loved how fiery Rua was, how done she was with "polite society" rules, and being "accepted" into the higher classes. She wanted nothing to do with these people, and she basically let them know it. The Gods Time Forgot has a very interesting premise, one that I didn't really catch on to what was happening until about 75% of the way through. I had inklings but there was enough going on that I wasn't sure.
Finn was not as widely explored as Rua, unfortunately. I do wish we had learned more about his life before he was The Lord of Donore, and how he came to be. It's sort of handwaved at the end, but I was very interested in him. Even before we know who he is.
The romance is well done, in my opinion. There's enough steam, enough chemistry there that it's entirely believable. They sort of pick at each other to start, and then they really do fall in love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them fall for each other.
My one beef with The Gods Time Forgot is that it ends SO abruptly. The last chapter reads like there's going to be at least another few to follow, but nope. It just sort of...ends. I really would have loved to follow Rua and Finn as they figured out life together, but nope. We don't get to see that. I wouldn't even really say that it's a true happy ending. It ends before we get to see them happy, which really hurt how I feel about this book. If it had ended appropriately, The Gods Time Forgot would have easily been 5 stars for me. Instead, it's dropped down to a four star read. Still good, but not great.
I'd still recommend this book, especially if you're a fantasy-romance lover with an interest in mythology. Just go into it knowing the ending is a bit disappointing.
December 9, 2024
This was an okay historical romance that was very light on the magic, despite the synopsis.
The opening was promising, with the FMC POV setting up the mystery and conflict for the novel, but the plot slowed to a glacial pace through the middle. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found it hard to buy into the mystery aspect when the FMC didn't seem too interested in investigating the mystery. The MMC was better and more dynamically fleshed out, but I really couldn't comprehend the supposed instant attraction between the MMC and FMC... upon first meeting her, he accuses her of being a prostitute but their eyes lock and they couldn't look away from each other!!! The ending picked up pace considerably, but the ending was extremely abrupt. It didn't seem like the author was setting up the novel to be a series, but it really felt like a chapter was missing.
I kept waiting for the magic aspects to surface, but it was very minimal. The plot seemed to be stuck in a never ending loop of the FMC overhearing something about her at a party, causing a scene at the party, and the MMC rescuing her. The prose was straightforward, but there was a lot of telling and little showing. This is a debut novel for the author, however.
Overall, I think this just wasn't for me, but I could imagine folks who are interested in Gilded Age setting and era-appropriate social aspects might enjoy this book.
Thank you, Alcove Press, for the arc!
The opening was promising, with the FMC POV setting up the mystery and conflict for the novel, but the plot slowed to a glacial pace through the middle. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found it hard to buy into the mystery aspect when the FMC didn't seem too interested in investigating the mystery. The MMC was better and more dynamically fleshed out, but I really couldn't comprehend the supposed instant attraction between the MMC and FMC... upon first meeting her, he accuses her of being a prostitute but their eyes lock and they couldn't look away from each other!!! The ending picked up pace considerably, but the ending was extremely abrupt. It didn't seem like the author was setting up the novel to be a series, but it really felt like a chapter was missing.
I kept waiting for the magic aspects to surface, but it was very minimal. The plot seemed to be stuck in a never ending loop of the FMC overhearing something about her at a party, causing a scene at the party, and the MMC rescuing her. The prose was straightforward, but there was a lot of telling and little showing. This is a debut novel for the author, however.
Overall, I think this just wasn't for me, but I could imagine folks who are interested in Gilded Age setting and era-appropriate social aspects might enjoy this book.
Thank you, Alcove Press, for the arc!
November 30, 2024
⭐️Slow burn (ish)
⭐️Victorian era
⭐️Lots of banter
⭐️Irish mythology
First, I have to give credit to the beautiful cover—it is, to say the least, stunning!
The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romance set in the 1870s. During this era, women were treated more as objects than as individuals. They weren’t allowed to participate in society beyond looking good and getting married. Being different from the “norm” was often a one-way ticket to the asylum.
The story begins with Emma crawling out of the ground, with no memory of how she ended up there or where she is. All she knows is that her name is Rua, not Emma. She is later sent to the city to integrate into society and search for a husband. It’s here she meets Finn, an Irish lord. As time goes on, they realize they’ve met before.
This story had so much potential but sadly fell flat from about 40% of the book onward. I liked both the male and female main characters but felt a lot of details were brushed over or never fully explored. I wanted more of the Irish mythology and a deeper exploration of the love between the main characters. I also wish there had been an epilogue because the ending wasn’t what I expected.
Overall, it was an easy and fast read. I really liked how strong Rua was and how intelligent she was, especially for a woman in the 1870s.
**I want to say thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!***
⭐️Victorian era
⭐️Lots of banter
⭐️Irish mythology
First, I have to give credit to the beautiful cover—it is, to say the least, stunning!
The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romance set in the 1870s. During this era, women were treated more as objects than as individuals. They weren’t allowed to participate in society beyond looking good and getting married. Being different from the “norm” was often a one-way ticket to the asylum.
The story begins with Emma crawling out of the ground, with no memory of how she ended up there or where she is. All she knows is that her name is Rua, not Emma. She is later sent to the city to integrate into society and search for a husband. It’s here she meets Finn, an Irish lord. As time goes on, they realize they’ve met before.
This story had so much potential but sadly fell flat from about 40% of the book onward. I liked both the male and female main characters but felt a lot of details were brushed over or never fully explored. I wanted more of the Irish mythology and a deeper exploration of the love between the main characters. I also wish there had been an epilogue because the ending wasn’t what I expected.
Overall, it was an easy and fast read. I really liked how strong Rua was and how intelligent she was, especially for a woman in the 1870s.
**I want to say thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!***
December 15, 2024
4.5 stars. It’s been a while since I’ve had a book keeping me up into the odd hours of the night. The Gods Time Forgot is a beautiful historical fantasy romance with impeccable banter and the pining and yearning that so many other comparable books lack. The story leans more into the historical aspect than I’m accustomed to- but it was a nice change! Irish mythology was expertly woven into the story.
The story brings to light the darker side of New York socialites/business moguls in the late 1800s. Rua must pretend to be a woman of new money in order to figure out her past and how she ended up in her odd predicament. Finn is a wealthy Irish immigrant determined to climb the social ladder in order to help the less fortunate of Manhattan. They cross paths and cannot seem to stop running into each other- much to each other’s detriment. They both discover there’s a far greater power (and evil) at work. The intricacies of being a person in the Upper Tens are fascinating and well explained!
The beginning is a bit slow, but the plot really picks up at around the 40% mark. The last 30% was a whirlwind of scandal and revelations!
Thank you Alcove Press for the gifted egalley. I really enjoyed it!
The story brings to light the darker side of New York socialites/business moguls in the late 1800s. Rua must pretend to be a woman of new money in order to figure out her past and how she ended up in her odd predicament. Finn is a wealthy Irish immigrant determined to climb the social ladder in order to help the less fortunate of Manhattan. They cross paths and cannot seem to stop running into each other- much to each other’s detriment. They both discover there’s a far greater power (and evil) at work. The intricacies of being a person in the Upper Tens are fascinating and well explained!
The beginning is a bit slow, but the plot really picks up at around the 40% mark. The last 30% was a whirlwind of scandal and revelations!
Thank you Alcove Press for the gifted egalley. I really enjoyed it!
November 21, 2024
*4.5 stars*
Okay, I had no idea what to expect with this book. I went in completely blind and I've heard nothing about it which I'm kind of glad about. But gosh it surprised me with how much I enjoyed it!!!! It was a like a historical romance with angsty, "I don't want to like you, but I keep being drawn to you" moments that I just love but add in this mysterious fantasy element that keep me wanting more!!!!! It was so addictive and easy to read. I found myself just captivated by it.
The end felt a little rushed and like it was missing something. But I actually REALLY enjoyed this! The cover doesn't feel quite like the story but I still like it. The romance was such a good slowburn, angsty build that I was majorly rooting for and had me on my toes!!! What a pleasant surprise this was!!! Definitely recommend checking it out!!
I'm so curious if this is a standalone or if there will be more. Cause I'm content if it's a standalone honestly but wouldn't hate more.
Okay, I had no idea what to expect with this book. I went in completely blind and I've heard nothing about it which I'm kind of glad about. But gosh it surprised me with how much I enjoyed it!!!! It was a like a historical romance with angsty, "I don't want to like you, but I keep being drawn to you" moments that I just love but add in this mysterious fantasy element that keep me wanting more!!!!! It was so addictive and easy to read. I found myself just captivated by it.
The end felt a little rushed and like it was missing something. But I actually REALLY enjoyed this! The cover doesn't feel quite like the story but I still like it. The romance was such a good slowburn, angsty build that I was majorly rooting for and had me on my toes!!! What a pleasant surprise this was!!! Definitely recommend checking it out!!
I'm so curious if this is a standalone or if there will be more. Cause I'm content if it's a standalone honestly but wouldn't hate more.
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