𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰. 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗻

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.

I’m still reeling. Imagine waking up in 1870s New York, no memory, covered in dirt and blood, and everyone insists you’re a missing socialite named Emma. That’s Rua’s reality. As she navigates the glittering yet suffocating world of Gilded Age Manhattan, flashes of ancient magic and forgotten gods begin to surface, hinting at a past far stranger than she could have imagined.

Enter Finn, the enigmatic Lord of Donore. Their chemistry? Electric. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. But as their connection deepens, so does the mystery surrounding Rua’s true identity and the dark forces at play.

Read this for:
🌀 Amnesia & identity mysteries
⚔️ Enemies-to-lovers tension
🗽 Gilded Age glam with a twist
🍀 rish mythology interwoven with history
💥 Slow-burn romance that sizzles

3.5 ⭐️
The Gods Time Forgot follows the story of Rua and Finn, characters who wove through time to find each other in a life that was never meant to be theirs.

Rua’s unbridled attempt to recapture who she used to be, armed only with her name and a deep longing to be known, entangled her in the duplicitous fringe of polite society. While the elite tried to define Rua before she could, Finn became charmed by her wit and yearned to find out why her feigned air of inconsequence made her shine brighter to him than those abiding solely by the hierarchy of societal class. As the two began to notice that the magnetic pull between them is not only attraction but familiarity, the paths they continuously crossed become blurred with who they once were to each other.

The refreshing take on magical realism in a high society setting was one that kept me invested in these characters finding the answers they were searching for, and their connection was one I was rooting for from the very start. However, the balance between present day and the ways that their past lives intertwined needed a bit more fleshing out, as some of the glimpses of their previous love story left me wanting more with some questions left with unsatisfyingly brief answers. Overall, this story felt very immersive and cozy with an interesting mysterious overlay, and I hope to read more from this author again!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

The premise of The Gods Time Forgot was very compelling, in particular the setting of 1870s manhattan really drew me in. However, there were some parts of the book that I felt could have really benefited from some further developmental editing.

There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed. I think that the setting was very well written throughout the book, it felt believable and well researched. I also enjoyed the time traveling aspect although I do wish we got some further explanation on it. I did also enjoy the characters of Rua and Finn and although there wasn't quite as much of a romantic plot as I had anticipated, I did enjoy what was there.

Where I struggled with the book the most was in the fantasy aspects and the pacing. Yes, there was the time travel but it didn't go in depth in the way I had hoped and the book fell so far into the Manhattan setting and drama that it felt more historical than fantasy. I don't necessarily have a. problem with that however it felt like it didn't quite match the way the book was marketed. The pacing I do think was the biggest issue, the ending felt very abrupt and I was left feeling like I had a bunch of unanswered questions.

I do think that that The Gods Time Forgot was overall an enjoyable read and I do think there is a market for it but I think that the blurb doesn't quite sell the parts of the book I enjoyed the most.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC!

An Irish folklore tale mixed with the gilded age in this romantasy. I really liked the concept here but felt the execution was lacking. The writing felt really choppy and the characters were just ok for me. I was so excited for this but it didn't live up to my expectations.

I really enjoyed this book. But I love Irish mythology. I felt the characters were well written and people I wanted a happy ending for. Loved the Gilded Age setting in New York. The descriptions of the era really made me see things in my mind as I was reading. Very well done for a debut. Would love to read the sequel to see what happens next.

I think the concept of this book was incredible, but unfortunately, the execution just didn't work for me. It occasionally felt like the author didn't have enough to say, and resorted to repeating small moments. This one just didn't work for me.

A solid story with great likeable characters! The Celtic lore really held my interest, and it was a really immersive read!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy! Opinions are my own.

Meh. Just meh.

The premise was amazing, there isn’t enough Irish folklore in books and representation. The execution itself needs work. I’m not sure if the authors style didn’t work for me, especially early in the book I was really pulled into the story but then would get jarred out of it by her memories. They didn’t seem fluid, and that’s not the only bits that didn’t seem cohesive. The characters themselves fell a bit flat as well and the slog through didn’t feel like a payoff at the end.

I don't care for leaving a poor review but I had some issues with this story. While the synopsis was really intriguing the story did not hold true. The book was way to long and half of it was the same thing over and over with Rua/Emma trying to fit into the upper ten in Manhattan with her mother leading the charge, her screwing it up, and repeat. I didn't feel any real connection between Rua and Finn. The ending also felt like the author had no idea how to end the story so lets slap together something and add The End. No bueno.

2.5 The title and synopsis had my expectations high but this book just kind of fell flat for me the story was fine but the romance never quite clicked for me. This book follows Rua who wakes up with no memory of who she was only that she knew her name was Rua but people kept calling her Emma forcing her to play along as she try’s to figure out who she is and how she ended up in someone else’s life. The story was interesting but the pacing was really off causing me to lose interest about half way in and I really struggled to stay interested in this one. The romance that was in this book never quite felt right it felt very surface level and the feelings were just not there. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I didn’t realize this book was written in third person when I started, which was a bit unexpected. The Irish mythology was interesting and the main male character being Irish definitely caught my attention. The story jumps right into the plot without much introduction, which can be confusing at first but fits the female main character’s style. I made it most of the way through, but near the last 15%, I found myself skimming to finish. Overall, it was an okay read but lost momentum toward the end.

The Gods Time Forgot is a deliciously romantic, fast-paced story filled with witty banter, Irish mythology and headstrong characters. It was everything I hoped for in a historical romantasy and more. I laughed out loud throughout much of the dialogue and was clutching my chest through the end. And that last sentence?! *chef’s kiss* I cannot wait to read everything Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez writes and would absolutely recommend this to readers who are fans of writers like India Holton, Heather Fawcett and Olivia Atwater!

I LOVED the premise of this book. I feel like we need more Irish mythology inspired books. I felt like the beginning was wonderfully paced, and it was very easy to get into, however the ending felt as if it was lacking something. I just needed a little bit more, but other than that this was a fun standalone fantasy.

The Gods time forgot had an exciting premise, and the potential to ne a unique read.
The opening chapter of the book is dramatic and throws the reader immediately into the plot. Emma, one of the primary features in the novel is a young woman who went missing. Although this is important, it is actually a different character that replaces her. Rua wakes up in a strange place and the only information she can recall is her name. After being returned to a strange home with an awful mother and an attentive maid, Rua attempts to piece together who she is and what has happened. With the threat of a forced admission into a mental institution looming closely and the unknown life she has taken over, Rua attempts to resolve this but a new society member attempts to disrupt this.
Finn, a mysterious Lord who popped up out of nowhere is implanting himself within wealthy and powerful men, with the potential to marry someone and secure his position. A thorn in his side appears from nowhere and after Rua and Finn meet, their connection is obvious, with the pair sharing the thought that they may know each other somehow.
As we learn more about Rua, Finn and what happened to Emma, the plot dissolves into a stream of drama.
Unfortunately I struggled to immerse myself in the story and characters. I felt bored at times and slightly lost.
I appreciate the eARC! Thanks so much.

2.5 rounded up. This was fine. I wasn't hooked like I was expecting. The premise sounded so good but hardly anything happened until the last 3rd of the book.

And the ending... it felt like a weird openending. An epilogue would have been nice. I also would have loved seeing more of the mythology.

Thank you so much to the publisher and nergallry for the arc I exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers historical romantasy! Thank you so, so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title!

Blurb:
Manhattan, 1870. Rua knows only two things: 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 man: 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.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

I was hugely anticipating this book but struggled to be sucked in, the characters felt a little flat and the story didn't grab me as much as I hoped.

I'm not going to lie, part of the reason I picked up the book is because the cover reminded me of Ten and Donna from Doctor Who. So perhaps I was expecting a little more than I got but I did enjoy the banter! The plot was a little convoluted and the time travel didn't make sense to me (sorry!) but overall a fun read.

19th-century New York, the Gilded Age. 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. Our characters don't remember anything until right at the end, but there is little worldbuilding with the supernatural elements which I found disappointing. The vibe with the 1870s was better, but the almost supervillain way the other high society women acted was laughable at times. The ending is a bit abrupt and left me feeling I missed something. Thank you so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley.

I'm sad this book wasn't better than what it was. I was so excited for this book to come out but it fell quite flat for me. Don't get me wrong it wasn't horrible but it wasn't spectacular either. My biggest grip was Rua's character. She was so utterly ridiculous and had no sense of survival in the slightest. I understand she had no experience in high society but she was being so abrasive and out spoken that it was ridiculous. Lady you have to survive and blend in. Survival instincts were just not there even with a very real threat of being throw into an asylum. Rua made me hate this book and the only saving grace was Finn and the Irish mythology. I love learning about different mythologies so for me this saved the book a bit. All in all the book was just fine and I don't know if I would read anymore from this author.