This was something. New to Irish Mythology, but this was interesting to say the least. I just needed something more idk what it is tho bruh

Thanks netgalley for an early review copy!

What a bummer! The cover of this book and its premise is soo intriguing, unfortunately this was another case of high expectations for a book that did not deliver. The characters lack depth which made it extremely difficult to connect with them. The writing was good, but became too repetitive. I will say that I enjoyed aspects of the romance and their banter, but overall this book just wasn't for me. I still think this is a book that many others will enjoy.

Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez’s The Gods Time Forgot is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel that explores the boundaries of love, fate, and the intricate web of time. With lyrical prose, an immersive setting, and a richly crafted mythology, this book takes readers on an unforgettable journey through both the tangible and the divine. One of the strongest aspects of The Gods Time Forgot is the rich, vivid world-building. Gonzalez weaves together elements of mythology, spirituality, and fantasy into a tapestry that feels both timeless and grounded in reality. The gods are not distant, unattainable figures—they are raw, complex, and deeply intertwined with the human experience, blurring the lines between divine and mortal in a way that is both captivating and unsettling. The Gods Time Forgot is a beautiful, haunting exploration of time, fate, and the intricate dance between mortals and gods. It will appeal to readers who enjoy rich mythology, complex characters, and a plot that keeps them questioning what is truly real. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez has crafted a stunning debut that will leave readers eagerly awaiting her next novel.

I had a blast reading this debut novel by Kelsie sheridan Gonzalez. I loved that Irish mythology and the late 1900s. Rua is such an amazing and complex main character that i fall in love with them from the first page.

I love the banter, the angst and the longing, to the point where i want more of it right this very second. Please don't make it stop.

I love Finn, he brought such emotions that i don't know if i am suffering from emotional damage.

I’m giving this remarkable book a top mark of five stars! Thank you, Kelsie, for crafting such an engaging story. I am genuinely excited to witness the evolution of your writing as you continue on this journey. I can't wait to see where the story goes and what adventures lie ahead for the characters. Your talent shines brightly, and I’m eager to read more!

This was a wonderful read from start to finish!
Rua must masquerade as a debutante in the gilded age of New York to uncover her past and the reason for her mysterious memory loss. Finn, an up-and-coming businessman, Irishman and outsider, trying to avoid scandal in order to join NY's elite high society, crosses paths with Rua and their world(s) collide.
I absolutely loved the slow-burn romance blossoming between Finn and Rua, first destined to be enemies given Rua's background. And while this romance and playful banter between the two were definitely at the forefront, there were so many intriguing characters and elements to the story. There was a seamless blend between the romance, Irish mythology and life of high society in 1870's New York, and I would really enjoy immersing myself in this world even more. The plot is well-rounded and the writing style is descriptive and engaging without being superfluous.
I found Finn, the main MC, to be quite refreshing in his thoughts and ways, while still fitting into the category of "stubborn, ambitious businessman."
I loved Rua's wit and unexpected charm. And I really liked the idea of a hidden villain.
Definitely a must-read for the banter, the slow, satisfying burn, and the beautiful dark fantasy!

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 Stars | 0 Spice

What a refreshing and interesting take on Irish mythology! I really enjoyed reading this book, as the plot line was something extremely unique and new to me. The world-building was well-developed, and the setting of 1870s New York was a fresh and intriguing backdrop I hadn’t encountered in a literary context before. The female characters were very well-written, each with multidimensional personalities. At no point in the story could I predict what would happen next, which made the novel enticing throughout its entirety!
I also appreciated the approach to the POV writing style. The chapters weren’t strictly confined to a single perspective; instead, they shifted when needed, sometimes even from paragraph to paragraph. Although it was a bit tricky to get into initially, this technique was perfect for telling the story, as it provided a well-rounded mix of perspectives— even from minor characters like Emma’s parents or the Fitzgerald's.

The general pacing of the book felt nice and consistent, with the characters really longing instead of instantly being with each other, which is also a big plus in my books.

So what where my issues?

First, I didn’t quite connect with the main character, Rua. From the start, she came across as too naïve for my taste, and as the story progressed, I didn’t enjoy her character development—especially in terms of her increasing violence.

Finn, on the other hand, seemed to lack the depth I was hoping for. His persona as the wealthy, well-meaning, and endearing “orphan-helping beauty” felt a bit too perfect, almost too good to be true. I also struggled to understand his decision-making in the final chapter. It felt completely out of line with everything his character had stood for, leaving me with a bad taste.
Speaking of the ending, unfortunately, it was what ultimately sealed the three-star rating for me. I wasn’t satisfied with how it turned out; I would have wished for something a little less open.

Keeping all this in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and will recommend this book, especially for a younger audience of 14-and up, as there was no real open spice, which I also took in positively!

Thank you to Net-Galley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I loved this book! What a lovely and unique premise. Amazing romance, brilliant fmc!

Another popular romantasy title that will surely be a hit. We cannot keep these books on our shelves and this was such an inventive premise, I look forward to recommending it to library patrons.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
~
This was stunning! Definitely a different flavor of fantasy than a lot of what is currently popular. The pacing of all of the reveals/Rua’s memories coming back was well done. I was confused the whole time but in a good way - you, as the reader, are supposed to be, because so is Rua!

My only critique would be that the ending felt very abrupt. It was very tense and I loved what it had going on, but then it was just.. sort of over? I figured there would at least be a confrontation with Badb but there wasn’t.

Overall though, I really enjoyed it!

Interesting premise but not really for me. The pacing was off, maybe some editing would improve that and all of a sudden, the book ends. It was too abrupt for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a historical romantasy book filled with mystery and romantic tension set in the Gilded Age era in New York. Elements of Irish mythology were incorporated throughout the story. I loved the elements of Irish mythology that were weaved throughout the story and even wish more of the lore was explored in the book.

Rua is a strong female main character. She’s thrust into New York society, and has to learn to navigate the ins and outs of it. I enjoyed that she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind especially with the MMC, Finn.

Their relationship is filled with this connection that is bound in mystery, they feel this pull to each other, almost fated. Together they have to unravel the mystery surrounding them and their shared past. I really enjoyed the journey and their banter filled conversations.

The writing overall was engaging. So many twists and turns. I also loved the setting, I have always been fascinated with the Gilded Age!

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I am writing this review a little less than 24 hours after I have finished the book, so I am going to try my best to emulate the feelings I had during and immediately after reading. When I go from one book to the next with very little time in between, some books I genuinely enjoyed get lost in the stack. While I can safely say that this has happened before with books I have recently finished, I think I can still say that this was the best book I’ve read all year. I understand that this seems a little less impactful given my previous statement, but with so little time left in the year, I stand by it regardless.

For starters, I requested an arc for this book because I knew of the author from social media. I had seen videos about her writing for over a year, and while I loved watching her work, I would not have requested the novel if it weren’t for the intriguing plot and time period in which it was set in. I expected this book to be like the majority of the ones I had read this year – another story that fit the mood I was in at the time, but maybe would not have been as memorable if it were not a book I was in the mood to read.

When looking at the clothes on the characters in the cover and thinking of the overall setting of the novel, I pictured it to be a fall read, one that I unfortunately was unable to pick up at the time as a result of school. The year is coming to an end, and I knew that when January started, it would be back to spring/summer in my mind, and I would no longer feel that I could read books such as these because they would not fit the season. Determined to start and finish this book while I still felt a chill in the air, I began reading.

While I had favorites throughout the year, I don’t recall that I had a book so far that I was constantly thinking about as I did with “The Gods Time Forgot.” I don’t believe that there was a book that I sped through as fast, nor was there a book that I was so eager to get back to. Rua and Finn were a delight to read about. I read on my Kindle, and every time they were together in a scene, I had highlighted and tabbed every page.

In 1870 New York, Emma Harrington emerges from a hole in the ground, immediately grabbed by the townspeople. She is thrown into the world of America’s Gilded Age, being dragged from event to event under the stern watch of her mother, Flossie Harrington, and warned that the only way that she will be able to make up for her expulsion from boarding school is by winning over the affection of newcoming immigrant, Irish aristocrat, and Lord of Denore Finn. Finn is intrigued by Emma; she does not seem to fit into their society, and while he knows his reputation is at stake, he can’t help but fall for her; it feels as if he’s met her before.

Finn is right – there is something different about her – she’s not actually Emma Harrington, and she can’t figure out why she’s here.

This “Emma Harrington” is actually Rua, and no one seems to believe her. All she remembers is waking up and climbing out of the hole in the ground. She has no memories from before, but she knows that while Emma Harrington may look like her, there is no way they are the same person. Desperate to figure out what happened to her and get back to where she’s meant to be, she must navigate this foreign world of social etiquettes, prove she is who they say she is, and learn of the true Emma Harrington’s whereabouts – all while keeping her true identity a secret from everyone.

If only she could remember what that identity is.

I will say it one more time, I absolutely loved this book. If I could find anything bad to say about it, it would be that I felt it ended too abruptly. While this may deter others, it instills a sliver of hope for me, a belief that there may be the sequel that I so desperately crave. I cannot speak for the grammar or the plot structure and plot holes, because while I didn’t see them, I am not qualified to comment on whether or not they were there. All that I can say is that I was so glad to find a book that made me wish to read faster so that I could experience the world and plot all at once, and I am thankful that I could find a story that was so interesting that it didn’t require me to be in the mood to read it.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc and the privilege of reading this novel and thank you Kelsie for writing such a beautiful story for me to enjoy.

This dark and twisty novel clashes historical romance with fantasy as this Irish folklore retelling unfolds. Rua has turned up in place of a missing debutant, Emma, new to high society in New York City in 1870. Finn is also new to the scene, both without any memories of where they came from keep finding themselves drawn together. Emma's mother will do anything to find their place with their "new money" and Finn is trying desperately not to make waves as he integrates himself into his newly found lifestyle. What keeps pulling them together and how do the sparse memories they have connect their lives so deeply?

I loved this book, everything about it was magical and incredible with insane plots and lovable characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for letting me have a sneak peak at The Gods Time Forgot.

The story follows a young woman as she crawls out from a cave located on a grand New York estate. Everyone is calling her Emma, but she has no idea who that is. She knows her name is Rua, and has some flashbacks to a mysterious past. Deciding to just go with it, she takes on Emma's identity.

Emma's parents, Flossie and Ned, are a part of the new rich trying to break into the New York upper crust. Flossie threatens to send Emma to an asylum if she doesn't behave, and forces Emma to the city to uphold the family image and make a good match. Too bad everyone's heard the rumors, and is calling Emma a devil worshipper. More interested in understanding what's happened to her, Emma continues to make bad impressions.

Finn on the other hand is a lord from Ireland, doing business with top families, as well as Emma's father. Torn between the right match for his social climbing, and his undeniable desire for Emma/Rua, his efforts to balance his options sends high society into quite the tizzy. As Rua and Finn start remembering hidden memories of each other, will they overcome societal prejudices? And who are they really?

This book was categorized as a romantasy, however the more supernatural/ magical elements of this book were saved for the last 15% of the book. I actually think this book would have been better without the supernatural elements, as the New York Gilded Age world was fun enough on its own. The storytelling itself was a bit flat sometimes, and could have had stronger character development (ex: Finn had no backstory), and better subplots. The last chapter left me with some whiplash, and I didn't feel much closure on what would happen next for the characters.

Despite all this, I loved the cattiness of the Gilded Age parties, all the snipping and mean remarks. Flossie was incredible for her put-downs and drama, and Annette was a true society villain. Would have enjoyed even more time with them.

I very much wanted to like this, but the storytelling fell a little short overall. The worldbuilding really didn’t kick in until late in the story and, while I found Rua’s memory loss interesting initially, the story didn’t move quickly enough to keep me engaged. Less Irish mythology vibes and more New York Bridgerton, as others have commented.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

One of my favorite things about this book was the fmc, she was AMAZING! I loved her! I also really enjoyed the romance/banter, I thought it was done so well!

One thing I wished was explored further was their backstory/where they came from, it took a long time for me to fully understand the concept of what was happening.

I wished the ending was longer, or maybe an epilogue. When I reached the end it felt like the book dragged on only to be left with that ending if that makes sense.

Overall, I enjoyed, but it was missing something.

I really enjoyed this gritty, magical take on Manhattan in 1870. Rua, a young woman with no memories, is mistaken for the missing Harrington daughter and pulled into the glittering world of high society. As she tries to fit in and figure out who she really is, she crosses paths with Finn, the Lord of Donore, a newcomer who feels strangely familiar. The story’s blend of historical drama, mystery, and Irish mythology kept me hooked.

I really enjoyed the historical and mythological aspects of the book. The way Irish myths like the Morrigan and Cu Chulainn were woven into the story added an extra layer of depth and magic. I didn’t know much about Irish mythology before, so it was fascinating to learn about these legends through the characters’ journey.

I also loved the growth of both Rua and Finn. Rua may not remember who she is, but she doesn’t let that stop her from standing up for herself in a society that clearly doesn’t want her to belong. Finn, on the other hand, has to balance his desire to fit in with the reminder that staying true to himself matters more. Their relationship was fun to watch, with plenty of witty banter and tension, even if their chemistry eased some of the enemies-to-lovers edge I was expecting.

The only downside for me was the pacing. The buildup to the climax was so strong that the quick resolution left me wanting a little more time to soak it all in. Even so, the ending was satisfying and tied everything together nicely.

If you enjoy historical fantasy with a touch of magic and romance, I think you’ll love this one. The Gilded Age setting, paired with the mythological twists, makes it stand out as a unique and enchanting read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the eARC copy of The Gods Time Forgot.

Unfortunately after 3 chapters, this book was a DNF for me. The premise is fascinating and held real promise, however, the writing felt stilted, riddled with cliches, and simply not strong enough to hold my interest. From the start, when the heroine wakes up from amnesia the dialogue, the blurry disorientation, the flash backs of memory...we've read it before. I simply didn't feel compelled to continue much beyond that when there wasn't solid writing backing the over-done amnesia plotline. The characterization felt very one-dimensional too, which was only held up more by the flat dialogue.

I think centering a fantasy novel around Celtic gods is a brilliant idea, particularly since we've seen an interest in retellings such as Circe, A Thousand Ships, The Witch's Heart, etc. Most of this wave of historical fantasy fiction has centered primarily on Greek Mythology, so it's innovative to see someone approach deities lesser-known to American audiences. Americans already have such a weird attraction for all things Irish, it honestly feels like a no-brainer. The setting also felt exciting, Gilded Age New York is a place that's so solid in our minds, full of glitz and glam...but I didn't make it far enough to see if Sheridan Gonzalez did it justice.

This story could've benefitted from a heavier hand in the editing process. A lot more red ink could turned this book into something much more readable. I hope Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez continues working on her craft and we see more Irish-centric tales from her and others in the future.

Beach read. Fun throughout much of the book, however the end just stops with a major arc not resolved in any way. Just odd. Despite the ending, still a fun no brainer.