I enjoyed this debut novel which I read as an ARC thanks to netgalley and publishers.
The character of Rua is well developed and I enjoyed the hints of backstory as Emma/Rua tries to regain her memories. The relationship building with Finn was good and I enjoyed their back and forth. NY high society was well done and though I HATED flossie she was a great character (not sure about her ending!)
Pacing a little off and the very end was rushed IMHO.
Solid 3 stars

The story shines in its vivid depiction of 19th-century New York, capturing both its glittering wealth and its darker undercurrents. The opulence of the Gilded Age is beautifully juxtaposed with Rua’s haunting, otherworldly memories, which hint at a deeper connection to Irish mythology. These flashes of Rua’s past add an ethereal quality to the story, creating a rich tapestry of lore and suspense that keeps readers guessing.

Recommendation: for lovers of romantasy and anyone who enjoys stories brimming with magic, mystery, and heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the chance to read and review an ARC of "The Gods Time Forgot" by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez.

It is really difficult to critique an author's debut. It is such a momentous accomplishment to finish a book, nevermind to get as far as the process of publication. I want to acknowledge that before I start, because I think that this book had so much potential and Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is definitely an author that I will be watching.

I also want it noted that this is my very first time reading an advanced reader's copy and I'm so thankful for the chance. I don't know how different the finished product will be, but this is my review of the book in its current state.

This is one of those books that has a brilliant premise but poor execution. The author clearly lost steam halfway through and then rushed headlong to a fairly unsatisfying conclusion in the last few chapters. There was so much build up that ultimately lead to nothing. The lovers averted danger because Finn Hulked out and... closed a hole with dirt? A GODDESS that has been controlling their lives from the start of the novel is defeated by... dirt?

The mystery presented in the first chapter hooked me in. After that, it was the love story. And then the mystery dragged on and on for hundreds of pages with empty clues and it felt like there was no reward. A whole lot of nothing happens.

I have to address the characters. For a character-driven rather than a plot-driven book, the characters are inconsistent and one-dimensional, especially where Rua is concerned. She is the main female protagonist and there's just not much to her beyond her rage. I get it, she is a war goddess at war with her instincts and her newfound humanity, but... that's it. She is just rage. She seems to have a soft spot for children, and deep down, she seems to crave the acceptance of the society that she is masquerading in, but it's not enough. It must be incredibly difficult to flesh out a character who doesn't know who she is, but regardless, Rua needs some work. She doesn't need to become good or even be likable, but she is an extremely flat character with no development whatsoever. It is impossible to understand why the kind-hearted Finn could love her beyond phantom memories from the past. There is no reason for him to love her now beyond the physical stuff. Finn is a much more fleshed out character. He had goals, ambitions. He had loves and hates and connections to other characters. This is why the romance falls flat, though. It's easy to see why Finn is lovable, but why does RUA love Finn? What drew her to him in their past life? What was it about him that made her want to give up immortality and power? We never find out. There has to be more there for it to be compelling and believable.

As for the side characters... they are written even more poorly than Rua. Mrs. Harrington is like a deranged Mrs. Bennett. The society women are insipid and extremely one-dimensional. I think that the author needs to do a bit more research about what the rules of etiquette were like for women in that era. They would never behave as her characters do in public or in formal settings; and especially not in front of men. I understand that this is fiction, but if you're going to represent a real historical period and an entire class of people, you have to try to do it right. I get what she was going for and I have a feeling that the finished product will be a lot better. This just really bothered me as I was reading this copy.

Lastly... I think when you are including mythology and religions in a story, you should do so with accuracy. They were, at one point, real religions that were practiced by real people and it's important to be respectful. Combining The Morrigan with Hekate by making them the Mother, the Maiden, and the Crone kind of wasn't cool. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a simplification or something, but that stuck out to me and bothered me as well. Again, I understand that it is mythology and many might consider it to be fair game for adaptation, but... what can I say? I majored in history.

To close this off, I want to reiterate that this book had enormous potential and I think it was pretty fantastic. I just think it really needs some work and some fleshing out. I'll be willing to give the published edition another go when it comes out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read the e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book surprised me. It was original and interesting. It kind of reminded me of a book I read when I was little, and that's probably one of the reasons why I liked it. I, also, loved the presence of flashbacks intertwined in the story and the dual pov. But the ending... I still don't think it's an ending, I was hoping for something different...

3.5 ⭐️

This title is going to be a DNF for me right now. I felt as though I was somehow both dropped into the middle of the story and also not given any plot at all? It's hard to explain. There were parts that I was fascinated with, but overall I felt like there was nothing truly happening at all. Perhaps when it goes to publication I shall give it a second try and it will better click in for me! The cover was lovely and the premises was great.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy to read in exchange for a fair review.

A unique twist to the romantasy genre, it was a wonderful exploration for traditional Irish mythology. The plot was well balanced between mystery, adventure, and magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This dark, atmospheric read had an interesting premise: Rua appears in the woods, knowing she herself is Rua, but those around her keep calling her "Emma." Who is Emma? What happened to <i>her</i>?? And why can't Rua recall any memories of her life before appearing in the woods?

At once gripping and transportive, this romantasy marries Irish mythology with Gilded Age New York in a clever, captivating way.

The romance part was slow, drawing out the longing and desire for full effect. The characters were intriguing and had promise, though I wouldn't have minded a bit more character development.

My biggest qualm was the ending. It felt rather sudden with a fast pacing that defied the book's pace and style up to that point. It was incongruent, which left me reeling and feeling let down. Given that, it dropped my rating from a solid 4 to 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book, the time period, the mythology, and the overall confusion of Emma's life was so incredibly interesting to me. I found it quite predictable once the dreams and folklore were mentioned, but that did not stop me from loving this book. It was a very easy and enjoyable read.

Rua, mistaken for Emma Harrington, was a fascinating and complex character. She felt real, and relatable, for this being fantasy and in the 1870s.

Finn felt real, and I loved that he also had a perspective in this book. It really added depth to the story. I really liked Finns character, he was nice but determined, and I enjoyed that from him!

Overall, I really adored the characters, I thought the story was well written, the plot was great, and I'm hoping the story will continue on in the future!

3.5 stars ✨

I think the premise behind this story is intriguing and overall, I did enjoy it. It’s some Irish mythology with a lot of Gilded Age thrown in.


Parts of the story could have flowed together more nicely, had some more world building or backstory, but I can understand parts were left out to lead towards the ending.

Rua wakes up remembering nothing and is seen as completely changed, because she’s supposed to be someone named Emma Harriginton, who went missing and is rumored to have killed a man who was searching for her. After trying to hide the whole incident, rumors begin to spread and she’s the witch or social pariah. Her parents are embarrassed because she doesnt follow society’s rules, especially during the 1800’s. She’s outspoken, doesn’t follow social protocol, isn’t polite when insulted… she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing, but she’s trying to stay alive. The Lord of Donore, an Irishman named Finn, comes into the picture and is drawn to her, but wants to have a higher social standing so he starts to court the daughter of his other business partner, Annette. Of course, she, like the others, hate Emma/Rua and know all of the rumors and try to divide themselves from her. However, Finn continues to find Rua in his path and wants to get to know her.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the cover of this book, I was really excited to get it. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time getting into it, I'm just not holding interest in the story.

I was unsure of this book at first but then I was sucked in! I loved the complexity of Rua and seeing how she handled being put into an unfamiliar situation. This is a fantastic debut novel with amazing world building… and THE BANTER. Unmatched! Will definitely be recommending to friends.

I will post this review on goodreads in March!

This book was intriguing. I felt like the story didn’t really get going until 80% into it, but that didn’t mean I had lost interest. I wish the Irish mythology it’s based on had been brought in a bit more strongly as I’m not very familiar with the original stories and would have liked a stronger link. I feel like there were aspects of the story that could have been built up more and I’m left with questions like where is the real Emma? It was hard to tell if this is going to be a series or not. Overall I did enjoy the book.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this until the last chapter. There was so much discovery and building that was fun to read. Then it just ended. I don’t know if the author didn’t know how to end it or if there was a word limit, but the ending needs some work. It’s very anticlimactic. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an easy read. I enjoyed the relationship between leads Rua and Finn as while having an instantaneous attraction, the progression of the relationship felt well paced and not too fast. It was also good to see characters who had other motivations than following their heart and how this impacted their decision making. Most of the time these characters made intelligent choices which is refreshing!

I do wish we had dedicated sections for past events rather than random paragraphs as the story progressed. Additionally adding more information of the referenced mythology earlier through the book would help link the two stories together more cohesively.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Gonzalez is an engaging mix of mythology and magic with a lot of heart. The world-building feels vivid and alive, and the characters are easy to root for, especially as the stakes get higher. It does slow down a bit in the middle, but the ending more than makes up for it with some really powerful moments. If you enjoy fantasy with a mythical twist, this one’s definitely worth a read!

This book was so fun but not what I expected. I loved the mythology in here but also fell flat with lots of description that I felt wasn’t needed like clothes and location. Over all the banter was my favorite between the characters and having the New York setting was super fun and interesting. I can see why others would enjoy it but fell a little flat for me.

This was a lovely debut novel set in the upper society of New York City. The Gods Time Forgot had so many of my favorite elements: Irish folklore/mythology, slight enemies to lovers, historical fantasy romance etc.

There were so many good moments in this book. I loved Rua and Finn’s banter and their disdain for each other initially despite being drawn together.
Plus something about Rua not being able to remember what happened to her and her struggle to fit back into a society that she does not like. Some of her remarks were hard to read too, as she spared no one with her opinions.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing more from this author!

I read this bodice-ripper courtesy of NetGalley -- I was promised Irish war goddesses and warriors and was a bit disappointed in the lack of "magic." I can kind of see where the author was going with all the New York Gilded Age build-up, playing out the battles and shifting alliances in a culture where women of certain social classes were more limited in their freedom and options. Why couldn't the main characters have been a school teacher and a construction worker? If the author had eliminated the 20% of the novel's text dedicated to describing outfits that could have been dedicated to actual plot or Irish mythology. I'm still not clear if they actually had sex or just got naked in the library.

Read this as a YA novel.

"The Gods Time Forgot" by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a nice blend of fantasy and romance set against the backdrop of 1870s New York. The story follows Rua and Finn as they unravel the mystery of the missing Harrington daughter and delve into Rua's own past. The world-building is rich and immersive, with a unique take on Irish mythology that kept me intrigued. I loved the multidimensional female characters and the unpredictable plot twists that kept me guessing. However, I found the pacing a bit slow at times, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Rua's character development didn't quite resonate with me, and Finn's decisions towards the end seemed out of character. Despite these points, the book's unique setting and mythology make it a worthwhile read. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!

"The Gods Time Forgot" by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a fantasy-romance set in the 1870's. It follows the story of Rua and Finn on a mission to fine the truth about the missing Harrington daughter and her own past. This slow burn will keep you turning pages. The two things I found that Gonzalez could've worked on was the pacing and the plot. While the plot was interesting, the pacing was slow, and the ending was abrupt.