This book was romantic, historical with some great mythological aspects but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

It was lacking some aspect that draws you in to a story.
It was enjoyable but only to a certain extent.
Not sure if would recommend

3.5 stars

I can't pinpoint what this book lacked but it just did not stand out as anything other than average. If anything, I needed more, the ending just sort of ended.

If it wasn't for the audiobook I might have DNF'd.

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

This story has a lot of Irish mythology in it. A girl named Emma goes into this body of water but when she comes out, she feels like her name is Rua, and is confused but goes along with being someone else. She doesn’t act how a typically society girl would. Her family is always trying to impress the upper echelon and they meet the Lord of Dunore who Rua feels like she knows him for another life. Are they somehow connected in the past and present?

Soft DNF-ed at around 19%. Might come back to this story later, but for now I'm putting it aside. DNF-ing ARCs feels so bad, but I want to give this book a chance and pick it up again later on - because on paper it is right up my alley!

In "The Gods Time Forgot" we're thrown right into action as Rua wakes up in Emma's body after the latter disappeared. With the background of 1870s era and a touch of fantasy and historical romance we embark on a journey to uncover the truth about Rua's past and her trying to find her footing in this new reality.

I loved the setting - New York, 1870s Gilded Age, romance than transcends time, Irish mythology. Unfortunately, my reading experience did not live up to the expectations I had. I struggled to stay engaged, finding the pacing of the plot quite slow, with the writing not maintaining my attention.

Having said all that, I do want to come back to this story at some point in the future.

Thank you to Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez, Alcove Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Gods Time Forgot was an interesting story with historical background and romance, but it just fell a bit flat. It felt like nothing was happening even though, obviously it was, and I couldn't stay in the story or stay focused on what was going on. I did really enjoy the romance, I noticed some fun banter between them that definitely perked my attention for a bit.

I really enjoyed the characters, the world building, and the story. But I felt like it was wrapped up too fast, like a soon to be cancelled TV series that they didn't have enough time to flesh out, which was quite a shame. So 80% of the book was wonderful and then the ending was a bit of a let down.

There was a lot going on in this book. It felt dark and heavy to me. It was an intriguing storyline at being a god with no memories set adrift in a human world.

Rua has no memories, and she struggles to accept that where she is is where she is meant to be. Set in an alternative, yet Victorian world, Rua's very existence is threatened by a domineering society-climbing mother. She accidentally meets Finn and both know that there is some spark between them, yet they are both uncertain who and what that might be. Ancient myths begin to surface, and we learn that nothing or no one is who they seem to be.

Unfortunately I didn’t finish this one. I just couldn’t get into it. I might try again at a later stage

2.5 ⭐️
This book is a historical YA fantasy that takes place in 1800s NYC and is steeped in Irish Mythology. I had an interesting time with this book. I think my lower rating has a little to do with the fact that I am a mood reader and wasn’t really in the mood for a story like this and that it was finals week at school so I couldn’t focus on it as much as i would have liked. That being said, this book just fell flat. The plot had no arc and honestly didn’t pick up until 75% of the way through. I could only read around 3 chapters at a time before I got bored because it was honestly the same things over and over again until the climax. Rua would go to a party, embarrass herself or be embarrassed by others, fight with her mother, then Finn would maybe rescue her and then go back to the girl he was courting. It was that over and over again until the 75% mark. It was also so strange to me that Rua and Finn knew who they were and chose to do nothing about it or figure out why they were in 1800s New York. We never figured out why Finn was there at all. I hate to say it but this book was forgettable.

3 ⭐️ The gods time forgot is a historical fantasy romance with Irish mythology that gives major outlander and bridgerton vibes. The premise of this story sounded so amazing to me but unfortunately the execution just fell flat for me. I did really like the main character Rua but unfortunately the romance with Finn felt a little undeveloped and the pacing felt off. Overall I thought this book was just ok but I do think people who enjoy historical romance/fantasy may enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of this book.

I wanted to like this book as I looked forward to reading it for quite awhile. Unfortunately I did not. I love the idea and the overall concept of the plot but after the first few chapters the book dragged on and on then abruptly ended. I gave it a 3 to be generous and cant leave a 2.5 on goodreads but didn't post on my social media. I only post 4 or above as to be kind to the author and audience.

If you love historical fiction, mythology, and a touch of fated mates trope, boy do I have a treat for you! This book is the answer to your prayers! We’re talking reincarnated gods who fell in love in a previous life, re-meeting and trying to figure out their past in late 1800s Manhattan high society. A great premise, and so well executed! I really enjoyed this book! I was left with a few lingering questions about the inner workings of it all, but that may be due to how fast I zoomed through reading this to find out what happened. The Irish mythology was so unique in the sea of Greek, Roman, and other fantasy retellings we are inundated with (lucky us though, right?). There was so much packed into this book, and the aforementioned unfamiliar mythology, that I really wish this was spread out into a trilogy. I wanted more romance, more backstory, more pining, more compromising situations that are so well suited for histroms, just more everything!!! Definitely pick this up if you need a break from fae, it was a great read!

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

Rue wakes with no memory of who she is or where she came from. And when she’s mistaken for Emma, a woman who looks exactly like her, Rua is thrust into a life that isn’t her own. With Emma’s mother threatening to have her committed to an asylum, Rua is desperate to uncover the truth and return to her real life, wherever that may be. But things get even interestingly complicated when she meets Finn, a charming yet infuriating man she feels an undeniable, yet mysterious connection to.

This historical romance, dabbed with elements of fantasy, was a thoroughly enjoyable read. While the plot unfolds at a slower pace, I found this fitting for the genre. It allows the reader to sink into the setting and gives characters room to grow. That said, I do wish the magical and mythological aspects had been introduced earlier and explored more in depth. I was far more interested in Rua’s journey of self discovery than the tensions with the gossiping woman of high society. The slow burn between Rua and Finn was deliciously played out, and their chemistry was compelling. I only wish we had more scenes of them together beyond the final moments.

*Thank you to Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez, Alcove Press and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez's debut novel, is a historical romantasy interwoven with Irish Mythology and set in Manhattan in the 1870s.

Our FMC Rue awakes to find herself in Manhattan with no recollections of who she is or her whereabouts. Mistaken for the daughter of wannabe socialites, Rue assumes Emma Harringtons identity and begins her new life.

Rue/Emma rebellious streak is often highlighted in the book and becomes quite frustrating at times. She finds herself drawn to Finn, Lord of Donore and does not understand why such an attraction exists.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dramatic setting and the high society politics and the scenes with the two main characters were entertaining and held my attention however it did fall flat in some parts.

The usual Romantasy tropes are explored in this book and Rues true identity became obvious as the story progressed.

Overall an enjoyable novel and one I would recommend to peers who would enjoy the style of writing.

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for the copy of the e-arc.

DNF @ 33%

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

The Gods Time Forgot pairs a synopsis that promises so much with a story that doesn't deliver almost any of it. Romantasy, historical settings, and the amnesia trope are all things I love to read. All these can be found in the book, but the balance makes them hard to appreciate.

"Romantasy" seems to have gathered quite a few definitions, but every single one acknowledges the fantasy element. When reading this book, it was easy to forget that fantasy was supposed to be part of this story. What could've been an interesting use of magic was left behind so the romance plot could be pushed forward. I'm sure this would be a great way to introduce someone to fantasy, but it's not what I'm looking for.

The other issue I had with this book was the multi-POV element. While several POVs in one book was something I didn't love before, it's grown on me over time. However, the POVs in this book feel so similar that it was hard to tell there was more than one. Whether a book is in first person or third, different characters POVs should always feel a little different. I didn't get that in this one.

I also found that a lot of the dialogue felt stiff and unnatural. It was hard to stay in the story with how forced it seemed sometimes.

On a more positive note, the descriptions in this book were beautiful. Outside of the dialogue, there is prose that hooked me. I just wish I had found the actual story as wonderful as the descriptions.

Although I didn't enjoy this book, it isn't one I'd never recommend. I know there are so many specific things that bother me that plenty of other people love. The historical setting was fantastic and I'm sure so many people will love this romance. If you're new to fantasy, or if you like romance-heavy romantasy, this is still a book I'd tell some people to read.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 4/10/2025
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) as of 5/1/2025

The Gods Time Forgot has the kind of synopsis that captured my attention immediately.

I liked the story, and Rua and Finn had the best banter. I enjoyed their chemistry and growth, and the romance in this book really shone through for me.

I did find myself struggling a bit with the pacing, there were long stretches of time that were a real lull in the story. The whole book was building up to an epic conclusion, which was definitely epic, but also seemed to be over very quickly. I would've enjoyed it if it were paced a bit better, and not ending so abruptly.

I enjoyed this read, and I appreciate the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC.

I was so excited to get an arc for The Gods Time Forgot so thank you thank you! I’ve been following Kelsie’s journey on tik tok for years now and I’m so happy to say she did not let me down. This is one of the strongest debuts I’ve read in a while not just in plot but the setting. I find that the Gilded Age is such an underrated time period in fiction so to have a fantasy romance in New York in such a vibrant sliver of history was so refreshing. As a lover of time travel in all forms of media that is where this book sort of lost me but it was more solid as I kept reading! Rua was so easy to fall in love with and root for even if sometimes I wanted to crawl through this book and shake some sense into her myself. Although I’m not an expert by any means on Irish mythology I really enjoyed that aspect of this and it truly felt like the story’s backbone. It was so rich and immersive I ended up on an online deep dive into Irish folk stories so thank you Kelsie for giving me a new hyper fixation. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

The synopsis intrigued me with its mention of Gilded Age meets Irish mythology, with hidden/secret identity and memory loss. It definitely delivered on the Gilded Age and I did like being thrown into this era - I have a love/hate relationship with historical fiction but I did like how this was written.

I did find the book slow paced, I didn’t really get into it until about 75% as we spend so much time following Rua attending balls, not fitting in and being a very un-Gilded Age woman and the minor mentions of Irish mythology felt fairly out of place as they were too open ended. Annoyingly I didn’t find her character that lovable either because she just kept going with it and kept her rebelliousness secret. The interactions with Finn I didn’t find that engaging and I did find his character quite dull. Thankfully I did persevere with the story and from the 75% point the plot and pace really picked up. I did feel the romance quite lacklustre but towards the end the reveals of the mythology kept me much more engaged and then more invested in the couple too.

Overall I gave this book a 3⭐️ rating, I enjoyed the general setting but the slow pace and lacklustre romance had me not engaged in the book for the majority. The ending also just felt a bit rushed and I’d have liked to have more than what felt like the final 5% of the book have any real oomph to it.

In this unique and fascinating historical romantasy novel, readers arrive in Manhattan in 1870, where Rua gets mistaken for the Harringtons’ missing daughter Emma and must step into her life as a society heiress in a world she does not understand. Supposed to stay away from the newly arrived Lord of Donore, Rua has no idea why he seems familiar and can’t seem to avoid him, while Finn, Lord of Donore, wants to play by the rules to get by. As Rua discovers what really happened to Emma and why she keeps running into the Lord of Donore. Inspired by Irish mythology and weaving in some classic romantasy elements into this unique and high stakes historical fantasy novel, readers will love the mix of high society politics, magical mysteries, and forbidden romance. The characters are interesting and complex, and the many motivations at play really immerse readers in the novel because the different storylines are so complex and mysterious. Well-written, intense, and exciting, the world-building in this novel is absolutely fantastic, and the characters’ complexities and relationships really help bring this story to life. A great read for historical fiction and fantasy fans, the mix of magic and mystery will pull readers into this brilliant new novel.

This was both what I was expecting based on the synopsis and not what I was expecting at all, in the best way. I was so sucked in from page one and was just along for the ride. It did take me a min to get my bearings in the beginning but once I got a clear understanding of what was happening. I really enjoyed the characters, I liked Rua and found her to be a formidable lead in this twisty tale. Even the characters that we are meant to hate were written in a way that I still liked them for what they leant to the story. This will probably be a book that I will reread down the line as I feel like i may have missed a few things here and I would like to see what I can pick up on a second pass.