I have tried reading this a few times and unfortunately, I just don't think this is for me. There wasn't anything necessarily "wrong" with it, I think it just didn't sit with me like it may with some readers. I had trouble connecting with the characters within it and thus their plight. Parts felt like they dragged on and as I wasn't really connected to the characters and thus the story, made it feel longer than it actually was. The concept was a fun idea with the whole "ground hog day" but it just was missing something that would have made me love this.

That being said, I know some of my friends who read this, loved it and as I know their "types" of read, I could see myself recommending it to readers who might fit that category of reader.

I utterly adored this book. Caruso does an amazing job of painting the picture of an entire world, magic system, and government, without the characters ever leaving the party.

The Last Hour Between Worlds was a chaos fest.
From the start, we watch as our main character, Kembral Thorne, has just arrived at a huge, luxurious gala for the New Year. Kembral has friends, and enemies at the party, and is caught between wanting to enjoy a night out alone, and wanting to get back home to her newborn, a 2 month old named Emmi. Things take a turn though when a mass murder event takes place at the event, an alternate reality grandfather clock gongs, and Kembral realizes all of the murdered partiers are alive once again, no one remembering dying just before.

This is a very fast-paced, fantasy version of Groundhog's Day.

I am a bit torn about this story. On one hand, the plot around this clock and the party was so interesting. I was there for it. I wanted to see how the party was going to be in each layer of reality, there are 12. Each time, the party theme changed and the Kembral was facing new challenges about how to use the guests who had no knowledge of what was going on to try and counteract events that would lead up to their deaths.

On the other hand, there was no world building. We were given bits and pieces of information about this world as the plot progressed, but it was either not enough information, or was given too late.

In addition, the main character is a new mom. And she will NOT let us forget that! I was so tired of hearing about Emmi, a character that we do not interact with at all. It was exhausting hearing about how tired Kembral was because ... she was a new mom. How no one understood what it was like for Kembral to want to do her job AND be with her child. The guilt Kembral had over not thinking about her daughter for a couple pages of plot.

The romance subplot was also a rivals-to-lovers trope. The two characters had a whole history that we were again fed bits and pieces that often were too little too late. But then suddenly by the end of the story, they're fully in a deeply committed relationship.

Throughout most of this, I felt like I was reading the 3rd book in a major fantasy series, where both characters had been given deep dives into their backgrounds, along with a substantial amount of previous worldbuilding.

While The Last Hour Between Worlds is the first book a new fantasy series, I will not be continuing with the rest of the series. However, I think perhaps someone who is a new mom, or is more invested in portal fantasy type plots, may enjoy this story more than I did.

What you’ll find in The Last Hour Between Worlds:
-rivals to lovers
-sapphic romance
-queer-normative society
-non-binary rep
-time loops
-locked room murder mystery
-magical tea
-alternative realities
-a mysterious clock
-sword fights
-political intrigue
-guilds

I had a good time reading this! The premise was unique and fun. I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of it. And of course I’m a groundhog’s day fan, so the time loops kept me on my toes while reading. I didn’t want to stop reading because I just had to know what happened. The alternative realities aspect was incredible and kept me extremely interested. I really enjoyed the animal theme naming as well, which I haven’t read before. My only slight complaint is that I wish there was a tad bit more world-building and character development. However, it was still a good read regardless. I’m excited to read book 2.

If you’re looking for a fantasy book with a mystery element, I highly recommend checking out The Last Hour Between Worlds!

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy!

I attempted to start reading this and found that the writing style was a lot more “telling” rather than showing and so I found myself losing interest and not feeling hooked in this story.

The Hour Between Worlds had such a cool premise—parallel worlds, timey-wimey twists, secret powers—but the execution didn’t totally live up to the hype. The vibes were immaculate at first: moody, mysterious, and just enough magic. But somewhere around the halfway mark, the plot started slipping through its own cracks like it couldn’t decide what kind of book it wanted to be.

The main character was giving “chosen one with commitment issues,” and while I was rooting for her… I also kind of wanted to shake her. Repeatedly. And don’t even get me started on the romance subplot that felt like it wandered in from a different book entirely.

That said, the concept still sparkled in places, and there were scenes that had me hooked. If it gets a sequel, I’d consider returning—but I’m not crossing realms to get there.

This book was cool and original, I have not read anything quite like it; I I could not put it down as I eagerly tried to solve the brewing mystery.
The characters are locked in a time loop of sorts and falling through different versions of reality. Not everyone remembers what is happening as they are pulled from one to another. At the centre of the story is a clockmaker and her clock. It felt like a Knives Out meets Inception or Dr. Strange; it’s actually hard to describe. At the beginning I had a bit of a hard time following as the plot and world building got started, but I was quickly drawn in by the uniqueness of the story and the connections between the characters. I really like both Kembral and Rika. I am eager to continue the series.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy, a closed door mystery, with a touch of sapphic romance.
Many thanks to Orbit Books and Netgalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. This review is given freely and the opinions expressed are honest and my own.
I debated whether to rate this as a 4 or 5, but I settled on 5 due to the sheer originality of the story.

I REALLY wish there was more attention paid to worldbuilding, because I got lost at times, and there was SO much that you just had to take at face value because there was no explanation or detail. Aside from that and some pretty melodramatic dialogue, this was such a fun read! A little different than what I'd come to expect from Caruso, but exciting and suspenseful and magical, just like her best work.

Can't wait for the next one in the series!



***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

I loved this book. The magic, world building, and characters were all so fresh and unique! Kembral is a refreshing character to follow and the story never felt boring even though the plot was a time loop. Even though I wanted Kembral to stop the loop before it was too late, I looked forward to seeing how each layer warped their reality. The ending wrapped up so well it could be read as a stand alone, but I was happy to hear it's the first in a series! I can't wait to explore more of this world!

In The Last Hour Between Worlds, Melissa Caruso crafts a captivating fantasy filled with intrigue and rich world-building. The story follows a determined heroine navigating a treacherous landscape of political machinations and magical threats. Caruso’s prose is both lyrical and accessible, effortlessly transporting readers to a realm where the stakes are as high as the tension.

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose resolve and growth are compelling. Supporting characters add depth, bringing their own complexities to the narrative. The plot unfolds at a satisfying pace, filled with unexpected twists that keep you guessing without overwhelming.

While the world-building is immersive, it occasionally feels overwhelming with intricate lore that may leave some readers needing a moment to catch up. However, the captivating story and emotional depth more than compensate for any minor pacing issues.

Overall, it is a thrilling read that balances action, emotion, and a touch of philosophy about destiny and choice.

Not great, not bad, just.....well, mid for me. The FMC could've used better development. I became exhausted continually reading about her exhaustion being a mother. I did enjoy the bits of humor and banter thrown in with all the chaos. It was a fun read but not something that will stick with me.

This book had me hooked for the first half. However, after 50%, I lost interest in this book and I did not feel the urge to pick it back up. I would recommend this book to others though because the plot and tropes might interest them even if I dnf-ed it.

2/5 stars! This story was hard to engage with. The writing style was lengthy and it dragged on at times but sped at others. It was exhausting trying to follow the plot.

⭐️: 4.25
I loved this world. Hella creative, hella ambitious, and helluva good time. Well, except for all the characters in the book as they fight celestial beings on different planes of reality.

Also, not that all books need to be adapted into movies, but I think this story would be visually stunning and the plot is tight enough for a movie format.

Also also, as a mom just out of the newborn stage, I found Kem’s side commentary on the plight of juggling motherhood with societal and work expectations humorous and relatable.

3,5 stars rounded up. This book really pulled me in for the first part and the premise was super promising. I found myself skimming a bit as the story went on though and felt like it could've been shorter. I liked the characters though and the main relationship was fun. The world-building and plot twists were also strong. I see this is the first in a series. I wouldn't say the sequel will be an absolute must read for me, but I am curious to see where the story goes next.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Hour Between Worlds! I absolutely loved the concept of this book: a new mom must work with her rival when a clock at a party sends them into time loops.

This goes beyond a basic Groundhog Day regurgitation; we deal with complex themes like the responsibility of parenthood and self-perception vs reality. I thought there was room for the characters to explore these themes a little bit more, but still enjoyed where it did dig in.

Overall, this was enjoyable and the resolution was satisfying if not a little too easy. I’m not sure I’d pick up the next one in the series, but I wouldn’t outright avoid it.

3.5/5 stars!

I was unfortunately disappointed by The Last Hour Between Worlds. The disconnected world-building in conjunction with characters that fell flat made for a read that I struggled to get through.

Magical and theatrical and definatly a fun time that is comparable to the night circus or starless sea in vibes

This book is a wild ride and I had a great time!! We love an MC that isn't 16 years old. I know it's not specified but Kembral is def an adult which is a refreshing change after reading a wreck of YA (which to be clear, I love!). The world is super cool and I loved how Caruso played with time and reality (seriously I'm such a sucker for a time loop). The plot moves at a break neck pace and the murder mystery of it all kept me hooked from beginning to end!

Engaging, hilarious and had me flipping through the pages at a maddening pace.
Getting to know Kem on her journey to solve this a case that has world changing consequences if she doesn’t solve it was an absolute trip. Throw in her will they won’t they romance with Rika was a treat especially when they banter back and forth working through their difficult past. This book was a pleasant surprise.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book, forever grateful.