A clever and imaginative, locked-room fantasy mystery with likeable characters and frequent moments where I laughed out loud. I loved the author's choice to make the main character a new mother who is struggling with how she will manage a return to a job she loves. This is not an easy decision for an author to make (since writing in a newborn is complicated and unglamorous) but because this book takes place in one evening, with the newborn "off stage," the reader gets to understand and empathize with the main character's emotional turmoil without actually having the newborn present. Smart writing strategy.

I gave this four stars only because the plot gets a little overwrought, and the sarcastic/Deadpool-type dialogue is sometimes a little off-tone. But all in all, so fun, so enjoyable, and I'd highly recommend.

Thank you, Melissa Caruso, Net Galley and Publishing for allowing me access to read the advance copy of The Last Hour Between Worlds in exchange for an honest review.

This was interesting for me. Initially, I felt immediately dropped into a world I didn’t quite understand and was trying to piece a lot of the context together for myself. I was quickly drawn to the storyline early on in this clever novel. I do think there were instances of repetition, particularly with inner monologuing. Overall this was a unique experience with instant engagement. I love strong, intelligent characters like the ones portrayed here!

Thank you. 3.5/5

So, while this technically wasn't a 5 star in my head, it was close enough (wish both Goodreads and Netgalley would allow for half-star ratings, but what're you gonna do?). This was just so much fun! Kem, as the protagonist, was just... the kind of protagonist you root for. She kept giving me vibes of shonen anime/manga protag, but that protag was also a tired mom who finally got a moment away from her baby and just wanted to relax (yet, also kinda needs to be near her baby again). If that doesn't quite make sense, then she's just the kind of bull-headed, lovable protagonist that feels compelled to do the right thing. To help people and save people, even though that can be a detriment to her life and health. She's a little reckless, but it's not always in service of her own gains. She just wants to do the right thing and I loved her for it.

The book dances around relationship with Rika, where at the start of the book you can't quite get the vibes of what kind of a person Rika is. This is for good reason and, by the time things really get into the weeds, Rika becomes a lot more flawed, but a hell of a lot more compassionate. By the end, their relationship--their romance--just really made me feel so warm and happy. It's enemies (or, technically just more like rivals? Sort of? The Cat/Hound dynamic is definitely a strange one because they're not enemies technically; they sort of work in the same... overall circle, but with very different end goals and often in contest with one another.) to lovers back to enemies (or jilted lovers) to friends to lovers and it's delicious.

The way this is written could be a tad dense sometime (part of why this wasn't technically a 5-star as such), but for the most part it was vibrant and really described the weirdness and horrors of the various Echoes. I'm always a visual reader, but Melissa Caruso's writing elevated what I was able to picture in my head by a lot. While the majority of the book is in a static location (the party in a big mansion), the way the appearance of the house kept changing each Echo kept things from feeling too stale. Add in the tenseness of a literal ticking clock and ritual murder and you've got a compelling read.

I will say that the actual plot explanations--especially in relation to the various Echoes and how things actually work--could be a bit confusing. Especially at the beginning, where you're kind of more lost than Kem is. However, I do think that the author did pull it together at the end. It's just that some of the initial explanations were either slightly confusing or slightly info-dump-y. I don't think it was in an egregious way; it just felt like there were moments in the story where a lot of information came at you at once and it didn't always fully make sense to me the first time around. That's part of why it's not fully a 5 star, technically, too. Again, I do think things came together in a way that made sense to me at the end. It just wasn't completely smooth, I think.

Overall, this was such a fun, unique, and weird read. The way reality changes each Echo starts out slow, but gets real weird and creepy by the end of it. It wasn't technically perfect, but it was close enough that I'm real excited to get the finished copy in my hands. And learning this is actually a series (or a duology?) was nothing short of a gift. Highly recommend!

I want to thank NetGalley and Orbit for approving me for my first ARC in exchange for my honest and genuine review.

This story was exactly what I needed. The detail captured in this story is beyond impressive, and I could not put this down. I loved the detailed world-building and the complexity of it all. I was fully immersed, and I found myself trying to solve the dilemma with the main and side characters. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Thriller are some of my favorite genres, and this journey perfectly encompassed all three. It did not shy away from serious topics, epic fighting scenes, and painful sacrifices but still found a way to soften the heart with softer interactions between characters. I didn't want the story to end, but I knew it eventually had to.

I’m excited and strapped in, eager to see where this story takes me! I can’t wait for book number two!

A fantasy murder mystery set at a glittering new year party, where new mother and skilled detective Kembral Thorne is the one person between the whole ballroom and a steady descent into hell.

I read this right after The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (which I LOVED), and this book hit a very similar spot. Excellently conceived fantasy with amazing characters that were real and hilarious and heartfelt, and a gripping plot. I loved Kembral as the main character, for her loyalty and intelligence, and also for all the things she can't see until they're right in front of her. My only complaint is that sometimes the worldbuilding was quickly done in dialogue (like the battle between the Moon and the Void, which could have been fleshed out more) but that is such a minor thing. Overall, the villains were uncanny and complex, the romance perfectly paced, and also the character names were just fantastic ... loved it!!

This was really great. I had a good time reading this and was never really quite sure what was going on (in a good way).

The main character Kembral was immediately endearing with a strong voice that made for a great single POV. Being a new mom still nursing a baby, raising the baby alone, and with a physically demanding job and role is a very unique main character profile for an action-heavy fantasy. (I can't think of another fantasy book with a new mom main character.) The author was realistic about the effect of lately having a baby while still letting Kembral be fearsome and compelling. The main character also didn't suffer from the current epidemic of the fantasy main character being the most inexplicably specialest, prettiest, powerfulest, and skinniest girl at school.

The relationship between Kembral and her love interest was surprisingly more involved and significant to the story than I expected given the premise. This is probably the best Sapphic relationship I've read and there's real depth to their relationship where I've found most others lacking. The male characters don't drive the dialogue or story and all of the female characters are fully formed and distinct. Really, in fact, the author seems to take great pains to not make the characters dependent on or bound to any gender rules or roles, but I'm always more cognizant of female characters.

Where fantasy books often fail is either not enough world building making the story flimsy or way too much lore weighing down the story to a trudge. The fantasy details and elements were gleaned through dialogue or purposely more opaque and learned through context throughout the story. I was confused enough to want to keep reading but never frustrated by the confusion. The world and magic was unique and complex enough to warrant a series, but I appreciate that this book could be read as a standalone.

The plot premise requires some repetition in details and themes to propel the mystery forward which might not be everyone's favorite but I think it's well-executed. If you found Inception, for example, aggravating because it was hard to follow what was going on and abruptly changed directions, this might not be for you. I would say overall, however, there were enough different plot dynamics going on (politics, murder whodunnit, and journey of magic trials) to interest most people.

I could see myself rereading this to catch the little bits I couldn't understand until the end and I will definitely be interested to read the next in the series and other books from Caruso.

Thank you Orbit for the arc!

I truly enjoyed this book! This was such an elaborate and well-executed story. The concept of Echoes, and the way reality gets more and more warped the farther you get from Prime was so cool. The characters were all so unique and fully realised - not a single character felt like a one-dimensional background character. Every character had substance and personality. The ending was satisfying, and there were lots of exciting twists and reveals throughout! This world is fascinating and I look forward to reading more books in it!!

As the clock ticks toward midnight, a group of party goers drop from one reality layer to the next in a repeating time story filled with horror, mystery, action, adventure, and romance. The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso is the newest review book from Net Galley that I just finished.

The two main characters, a Hound-someone who goes after people lost in the echoes of reality and a cat-a thief with a mysterious past, are the glue that holds a very complicated story together. While things start off a little slow, its not too long before the action gets rolling and things are revealed about the situation and the two main characters. The book is really well written. Melissa Caruso takes the reader from one startling revelation to the next and keeps us on the edge of our seats. How the heck will they get out of this situation?!

And while this is just the first in a series of books, let me assure you that it has a satisfying ending. No spoilers! But you will end up loving the two main characters just as much as I do and want to find out what will happen next with them.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is a really wonderful adventure. You should absolutely check it out when it comes out on November 19th, 2024.

Thank you to the publisher Orbit Books and Net Galley for providing me with an early digital copy of this novel.

Very interesting concept with an execution that got a bit lost in translation for me. It was a very interesting premise, but it is a book that requires you to really focus, and that's not what I really want from a YAish novel. I also thought the writing style felt a bit juvenile, so, overall, not my favorite.

I was obsessed with this book! The synopsis sounded really intriguing, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop, even though I had to read it on my phone, I had to know what was going to happen next to these characters-it was such a wild ride!

This is the kind of book that I hope gets made into a movie. It's so cinematic, the visuals of having this party descend, echo by echo, deeper into the crazy wildness that becomes increasingly difficult for humans to survive in-it would look so fantastic!

The first go round really introduced these characters and set up what was going on, and then the chaos of the evening-only for things to reset but be different? It was such an interesting idea, and I loved watching Kendal work to protect the party-goers, even though her friendly adversary now more leaning to adversary is there, and all the complicated emotions that brings up.

This book has an ode to new motherhood in it, since Kembral is currently on leave because she just had her baby girl. That she's a single mother, that the father just walked away, and she's not one to ask for help, well, that baby has been the one thing on her mind, and now that she's dealing with this situation, she's wondering what her future will look like, what she might choose, of how going back to work might look for her.

The way things ended, I'm so interesting to see what's going to happen with this big powers that are now watching her. And what effects that choice that she made will have. The possibilities and the scope are endless which has me teeming with anticipation for the sequel!

Loved reading this book, and I'm so excited for the sequel! And if we got a prequel novella, of the time that she went 6 echos deep to rescue that dog, to see what her life and job were like before the baby and now this game changer, I would absolutely love that!

This book was a hit hard to follow for me personally, I finished it and was kind of confused about 1/2 the time. That being a bit embarrassing to admit, I think it’s important to note. It takes a bit of paying attention in this one to fully understand what it’s asking of you.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I ate this!! I was so surprised by how much I liked this book, from the first chapter I was hooked and I stayed interested the entire time. The echoes, the main character, the pacing? It all just felt so magical to read. I will be reading more of the authors work and begging for an arc to book two 😭

This story is full of suspense, magic, and LGBT representation that will keep you interested until the last page. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC gift in exchange for my honest review.

Sci-fi fantasy alternate reality time travel murder mystery! Throw in a sapphic romance and I am SOLD

This was so delightfully original, I'm still in awe. We have a New Year's Eve party/mass murder event/universe-shaping competition through alternate realities, filled with delightful characters, meddlesome gods, and thrilling action. There's a bit of a Groundhog Day situation with the murders, but the clock is literally counting down on our heroes and they only have a limited amount of chances to get things right. The mix of genres was masterfully done. I gasped, I laughed, I loved.

"Is this the start to a series?" I asked myself, hoping, praying. I reached the last page and saw "The story continues in..." I wiped the sweat from my brow, relieved. I must live in a good Echo.

This was unlike anything I've ever read. The closest comparison I could make is to the time-loop mystery of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, except much, much more fantastical. The worldbuilding of Prime alone drew me in, with the various guilds and Moons. Add to that the worlds of the Echos, which were mind-bending without ever becoming incomprehensible. I'm in awe of the pure imagination in this book.

Kembral Thorne was a great protagonist. I absolutely loved her snarky voice and was rooting for her as she wrestled with her doubts and uncertainties about whether she could still do her job after she'd just had a child. And I also adored her relationship with Rika Nonesuch; the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc was so well done.

The pacing was top-notch, too; there was a great balance of reveals and escalation in stakes that made me fly through the pages. In a time when a lot of publishers are pushing out cookie-cutter fantasy novels with the same tropes and shallow romances, I'm so delighted and grateful to find one that breaks convention and does it so masterfully. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique, refreshing fantasy!

Thank you to Orbit for granting my wish! I had gotten denied this book once, and had resigned myself to the fact I would have to wait months on end to read this. Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley, that was not the case.

First off, is this an adult book? Yes, in how the plot unravels, and the complexity of it. However, it's written accessibly enough that I could feel comfortable recommending it to more higher-reading students. As a STEM teacher, I absolutely do love the focus on how while this is fantasy, technology's role is huge, and works with the magic.

There were many part that fully tugged at my heartstrings. There were some parts that I feel I did guess at, and felt rewarded when they were correct. I really liked all the relationships-- Kem and her absent baby, Kem and her co-worker, Kem and Reka, Kem and Hound allies, Kem and a little girl. And epecially some of the more important people. . . . but that's a spoiler for those reading! I do feel like people are characterized well.

One thing I thought extremely tricky was the fact that the book did not lose its sense of tension, even trapped in a Groundhog-like Day horrorscape. Resets didn't mean things were better, only that they were running out of chances. Too, I also like the fey creatures, and the workings oin them.

A mother on maternity leave finally gets some time away from her newborn to get some much-needed adult conversation, celebration of the dawning of a new year, and maybe a flirtation until the party goes horribly wrong. Kembral Thorne gets sucked back into work on repeat as she teams with Rika Nonesuch, her sometimes adversary and potential romantic interest to stop a supernatural crime. The story is told in first person from Kem's point of view as she delves deeper into the time loops, tries to figure out how to resolve the crime, and discovers a past connection with Rika all between chimes of a perplexing clock. This fantasy tale is a tad science fiction, a light romance, and even a bit cozy mystery all delivered in well-written prose that made it a pleasure to read. The characters are well thought out and interactions work to drive the plot forward into an enjoyable story. There is indication that this is the first in a series, but the story concludes satisfactorily that it could even be read as a stand alone, unless you delight in it as much as I did and can't wait for the sequel to find out what mischief Kem and Rika discover next. This would be a great read for anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery or fantasy.
I received access to this ARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.