Unfortunately, this was not for me. I went into this thinking that the dialogue between the love interests would be my least favourite thing, and, surprisingly, it turned out to be quite good. I'm not usually a fan of all that 'banter' in romantasy books, it's often cringey and not very well written, but the banter in this book didn't feel like that at all. The writing style was also quite good, when we travelled to a new location I did feel like I got a good sense of what everything looked like and could picture it quite well in my head.
Some phrases and scenes in this book had me out loud laughing, and I think for the wrong reason. Our POV characters were *very* obsessed with each other, and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it did make for some annoying comments when we were in their heads. In one chapter the MMC remarks how clever and quick-witted the FMC is (and continues to do this in subsequent chapters) which I was just at a loss for. I didn't get any of her supposed intellect; she seemed impatient and snarky, sure, but she never thought things out in a smart way and tended to just bulldoze into things. Which would be alright, but it conflated massively with what he was saying she was like. It got a little 'tell, don't show' at points and I found it easy to point out.
I wish we had done more with the world as well. 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 comes on super abruptly, and had another bit to it that made me laugh and go 'what even is happening?'
Overall, not a hit for me.

This debut novel pulls on ancient Irish/Celtic mythology to create a complex narrative and a fantastic setting for our main characters, Rua and Finn. Rua, strong-willed and fiery, knows only her name and that she is not the person society thinks she is, but she has no memories of her past. I liked the fact that even with her lack of memories, she didn't just blindly follow along with folks telling her she was a missing debutante. I feel a lot of amnesia-trope stories take that as the easy road.

I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance with Finn. The heady pull towards each other, despite knowing it was disastrous for them to indulge themselves, lent a very satisfying tension to the story and added to the need to find out their history!

I also liked the twist at the end, and that we did get our HEA. Definitely will check out the author's future works!

I liked this book overall. I think that there are some issues that made it a little difficult to read. Gonzalez definitely needs to work on pacing the plot. The beginning of this book is long and drawn out. I could not figure out where the story was going. It appeared that there wasn’t a middle to the book. There was just a beginning and an end. The ending of this book wasn’t long enough. By the time that I really got into the story, about 60% into the book, the actual substance appeared increasingly rushed. The FMC wasn’t nearly as intelligent as she should have been. She had to look over glaring obvious things to keep the story going.

Gonzalez also did not give nearly enough information about Irish mythology. I found the mythology to be interesting, but I was left confused through a lot of the book trying to figure things out. I understand wanting to keep something things a mystery for suspense, but there was too much left out for me to follow anything.

Overall, I think if the book started at the middle it would have been much better. I still think it was a good read, and I think Gonzalez will be a strong writer.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Alcove Press.

i think what frustrates me the most is that i saw so much potential within this novel because of how much time was spent on it just for it to fail my expectations. everything i wanted in this book was what happened in the last ten percent and that was the only bearable if lackluster part of the book. the rest just bothered me. the rest was boring. just wish there was so much more. and there was not a female character on the side of our main character. like what do you mean she has no female friends?? idk this is stupid. i was v mad about it

I tried to read this first with only my eyes, but didn't get into it until was able to get the audiobook from my library.

The narrators were great, switching accents when needed. The story was interesting, but the pacing of how it was told seemed a little off to me.

I'd say it's definitely worth giving it a try, but I can't say I'll be picking it up for a re-read.

I loved the vibes, the time period, the banter and honestly so much of this book was done so well. But the pacing really through me for a loop.

This novel completely swept me away from the very first page. The pacing is masterfully done, with every chapter working for something. It never lags, yet never rushes, weaving historical detail and mythic magic together in a way that feels effortless.

Rua is a compelling protagonist. Sh3 is fierce and vulnerable. And Finn? The perfect brooding hero with secrets of his own. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is well executed and has great payoff.

With Irish mythology crackling just beneath the polished surface of 1870s Manhattan, this story delivers a lush and layered world where nothing is as it seems and I loved every twist. Perfect for fans of Outlander and A Fate Inked in Blood, this romantasy debut is not to be missed.

The premise behind this was pretty good. You have a case of mistaken identity and mythology. I think parts of the book were a hit and others not so much. I would be interested in reading more by the author because there is some great world building.

Thank you alcove for the gifted ebook.

Interesting premise and read. I had fun reading. Loved the romance. Will check out more from this author.

A unique and engaging fantasy read. The world building and intrigue left me hooked and wanting to zoom through the book to get my answers.
Rua and Finn are a pairing for the ages, the slow burn was to die for though I do wish that the final chapters were a little less rushed I very much enjoyed the book
This is a book I would recommend!

3.5 rounded down

I love that this was set during the Gilded Age in NYC, it's not a popular time period for historical romances but it's so oppulent and fun. I was also super excited for the Irish myrhology aspect as it's something that's used a lot, but not always well or true to the myths. However, the mythology wasn't as large a part of the story as I thought it'd be. The fantasy in general was a bit lacking until the end, it felt more like a society historical fiction for most of the story.

Overall I enjoyed this, but certain aspects kept me fron fully engaging with the story. (Also there's a love triangle which I didn't expect. I'm not a fan of those as it's usually obvious how it'll pan out)

DNF 24%

Unfortunately the story took too long to set up and wasn’t interesting to me. The pacing was very slow and the world building really slowed things down. I was interested in Rua’s situation, but her flashbacks were too disconnected to keep me interested.

I love books that use mythology to inspire a fictional world and was really excited about this book! It had everything I love on paper-mythology, gilded age setting, enemies to lovers romance-but in execution it didn’t work for me. The writing style wasn’t engaging me as it was too repetitive with telling over showing and I never felt fully invested in the story or the characters. So sadly this was a DNF at 20% but I have no doubt this will work for others readers!

THE GODS TIME FORGOT

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Read this book if you like:
•historical fantasy
•Irish mythology
•Gilded Age New York
•fated mates

My favorite part of this book was the Gilded Age setting. I love historical fantasy and I really felt transported to the time period! I liked the unique use of an Irish myth to carry the plot.

Overall I enjoyed this book but it fell a little flat. Unfortunately the ending was rushed and it felt like things wrapped up a little too conveniently. I’m also bummed because I think this would have been a great YA novel genre if not for the one graphic make out scene.

*Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!

Such a promising set-up but overall just a mid-level execution that left me wanting more. However, I think many readers will connect with this historical fantasy read.

The good:
-1870’s Manhattan setting
-Fiercely independent FMC, Rua, challenging the status quo of the period
-Swoony MMC, Finn, and Irish immigrant angling for social climbing
-Witty banter, a terrible mother, lots of society back-stabbing and schemes
-Amnesia/hidden identities/Gods behaving badly

The criticisms:
-Pacing challenges; great start, meandering middle, rushed conclusion
-A bit of Groundhog Day without plot movement
-Needed more flashbacks or context for the Gods

I read this in tandem with the audiobook, and the narrators did a wonderful job. I’m a sucker for Irish accents, and both narrators did a great job with the Irish folklore snippets as well as capturing the fierce personalities of the main characters and their hypnotic pull towards one another.
I really loved the banter, tension, and characterization so I will absolutely check out what this author writes next!

I really enjoyed this book! With so many fantasy books on the market, this one really stood out and stood on its own. I loved the mythology thrown in and varying perspectives.

When Rua wakes up wedged into the narrow entrance of a cave, her memories have vanished except for her name and fleeting images of a life she can’t recall. When the wealthy Harrington family insists that she is their missing daughter Emma, she doesn’t see another option besides going along with it while she struggles to discover her truth. She grows increasingly frustrated with attempting to fit in as a young woman under pressure to make an advantageous match in New York society, and especially under the harsh criticisms of her supposed mother Flossie.

Finn, the Lord of Donore, is also new to wealthy New York society, trying to make the right connections to build his name and fortune. He feels a strange connection and attraction to the mysterious and unpredictable girl known as Emma but knows he must make a more stable match in order to secure his position.

Tensions mount as Rua slowly regains glimpses of who she really is, and her increasingly volatile reactions to mistreatment by her mother and jealous rivals cause Finn to be torn between protecting and avoiding her.

I was completely engaged with this story, wanting to know who Rua actually was and how she came to be in the cave. I loved the banter between her and Finn, and all the lovely descriptions of their outfits and the settings. I liked the mythological connections but wish they had been explored earlier in the book. The ending was so quick and dramatic; I was hoping for more of an explanation, just an expansion of what was happening. The whole story was so cinematic though, and so much fun picturing it all.

Thank you so much to Alcove Press for this gifted book!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Alcove Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Romantasy, Mythology, Irish Mythology, Dark Fantasy
Spice Level: Nothing really on the page

THE GODS TIME FORGOT swept me into Victorian New York with its scintillating parties, overlaid with dark magic.

The opening scene is gripping with this feeling of being buried alive—and it made me wonder about what would be unburied as the novel progressed.

Rua is stuck with this horrible dilemma of not knowing who she is, which gave a coming of age vibe to me. She also felt young, and so even though this is classified as an adult fantasy, I would include it in young adult.

The magic is darker than I expected. I actually thought this was a bonus and added to the creepy vibe and untamed magic of Ireland.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read more.

Happy reading!

I was drawn to this for the promise of a fantasy romance with mythology set in the gilded age. I loved the setting of the gilded age New York with the clash of old and new money. I thought Flossie was a perfect side character and embodiment of everything the old money crowd hated about anyone with new money.
The mythology was very minimal. I felt there could have been a lot more. The weaving of the past and the present felt very choppy. I had a lot of questions about Finns past before he came to New York that were never answered. Rua was headstrong to the point of being obstinate a lot of times which I found annoying.
My biggest complaint about this book is the ending. There’s a ton of build up and then it just ends. It didn’t feel like things were truly resolved.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is billed as a romantasy, but reads more like a historical romance with a touch of fantasy. Rua emerges from a hellmouth in Manhattan during America’s Gilded Age knowing only two things: her name and that she is not Emma Harrington, a girl who is missing and looks exactly like her. With no memories. Rua goes along with the Harringtons, pretending to be their daughter and hoping to find answers to who she is. As she tries to blend into high society, Rua finds herself drawn to the Lord of Donore, but the question is why is he so familiar to her.

Rua is an interesting character. She is headstrong, feisty, and not at all what you’d expect from a high society young lady. Her mysterious appearance adds to the rumors as she discovers more and more about who Emma Harrington was before she disappeared. Rua’s inability to submit to her mother’s whims gets her into a lot of trouble early on with whisper of devil worshipping and witches. Her problems escalate when she catches the attention of Finn.

Finn is the enigmatic Lord of Donore, a wealthy and recent Irish immigrant to the States. He is building a hotel with Ned Harrington and the Fitzgeralds, who control the gossip and clout of New York’s high society. While he enjoys the work, he doesn’t enjoy the pretenses that come with it. When he meets Rua, he is intrigued and fascinated by her. Her, for lack of a better word, unfiltered opinions are a breath of fresh air compared to the duplicitous nature of the rest in their society. But more than that, he recognizes her on a soul deep level that he doesn’t quite understand.

I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it, thinking that we’d have a lot of mythology built into the book, but alas that wasn’t the case. While billed as a romantasy, the fantasy portion made up *maybe* a quarter of the book, if that. There were a few memories that Rua remembered throughout the book, set aside in the text with italics, that featured her past life, but they were few and far between until the last 20% of the book. Seriously, I looked at when it all came to a head and I was at the 82% mark in my digital copy. Then the ending….it just ends. There’s this big build up, and then it is over. Unsatisfying to say the least.

Overall, The Gods Time Forgot was just okay for me. It wasn’t the best book, but also not the worst. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d known going in that the fantasy was light, and it focused more on the historical aspects. The romance itself was ok, I wasn’t rooting for it to go either way. I think I was waiting on the fantasy too much to worry about the romance. If you are a fan of romantasy, be forewarned. If you are a fan of historical romance with a touch of mythology, I think you’ll enjoy it.