3.75 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

To be so honest, I have no idea why it took me so long to read this. I got the arc in october (OCTOBER) and only just finished it two days after release which I am very sorry for.

I’ve found it hard to form a concrete opinion on this one. I read the last 45% in one sitting and I did enjoy what I was reading. The ending built a great tension until the last chapter, which felt anticlimactic to me. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of golden age new york and the restraints that came with the social code of the time, but similarly, it bothered me how repetitive things started to get with Rua acting out and Flossie’s lack of social awareness. I think the premise is fascinating, I just wish that their memories were more of a thing before the last 20% of the book. The two leads had good chemistry, although it definitely felt a little insta-love in the beginning, which I was only able to forgive because of the indications that they’d known each other in a previous life. I appreciated some of the foreshadowing, but I think my biggest issue with this book lies first in the pacing, which felt uneven, and second in how unbelievable Finn was as a character. He’s saving orphans, running into fires, etc, with a frequency that made it difficult to suspend my disbelief. All of this too and needing money to help his charities is why the charade with Annette must continue (this back and forth and societal pressure was my favorite part of the book save for the moments of miscommunication) but then at the end he just gives it all up without a second thought. That part of his characterization felt a little underdeveloped to me.

Now I don’t mean for this review to be negative. I did enjoy this book. I found the line level writing to be good, the characters to be mostly likable, and this was one of those books that, even if I wasn’t enjoying things, I found myself thinking about it and wanting to read it, so that’s something. It’s also possible that, had I read this at a different time, I would’ve had more concrete or positive opinions. I would definitely give this a read, it is worth it, especially if you like the setting and the amnesia trope.

Apologies for such an inconsistent and non-concrete opinion, but alas that’s what comes to mind at the moment.

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was just okay for me. I loved the romance aspect, the banter between the FMC and MMC was great, but as for the plot/writing in general, I just feel like something was off for me.

The Gods Time Forgot delivers good world-building, chemistry, and plot steeped in mythology. I will always love a morally gray character and loads of banter. My only issue was that some pacing felt uneven, but it didn't take away from the overall thrill. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy.

This sounded like everything I’d love in a book: Irish mythology, Gilded Age New York, and a historical romantasy with forbidden romance, mystery, and intertwined fates. The thing I was most excited for was the Irish mythology, but it was hardly present. It was primarily a historical fiction book with a little bit of romance. Most of the storyline was repetitive and centered on Rua going to balls, her acting out against the strict societal norms of the time, and being ostracized by mean girl socialites. The romance between Finn and Rua didn’t really have a foundation, and was too insta-lovey for me. I needed more development and time spent together for their love story to be believable, especially since they were star-crossed fated soulmates. It had so much promise, but it just did not come together like I was hoping. I wanted a fantasy/romantasy set in New York, and this just wasn’t that.
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️historical fantasy
▫️Irish mythology
▫️gilded age New York
▫️previous life and forgotten memories
▫️forbidden love
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Thank you to Alcove Press, Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall, The Gods Time Forgot offers an engaging read for those who appreciate historical settings infused with mythological intrigue, despite some pacing issues and a conclusion that may leave readers wanting more.

I tried so hard to read this book and love it, but I couldn’t. Well, I did finish it, it was a struggle. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rua was such a great character and I loved the mystery that surrounded her. The chemistry between her and Finn was amazing and their banter couldn’t have been better.

I liked how with this book, little by little the author filled in information about the past. It kept me gripped and I had to keep reading so that I could understand who everyone was and their histories.

I’ve struggled with historical romances that I’ve read recently because I hate how women were treated back then and in all the ones I’ve read recently, even if the FMC is strong willed and goes against society’s expectations , the love interest usually agrees with society’s views on women. What I absolutely loved about this book was that Finn didn’t agree with the old fashioned views and it made this book so much more enjoyable for me.

Overall, this was a really fun read and I highly recommend it!

3 ⭐️ Thank you Alcove Press for the ARC!

An Irish mythology-inspired romantasy set in the Gilded Age with a delicious Enemies to Lovers dynamic. A disoriented Rua wakes up in the middle of the forest in the body of someone else with no recollection of how she got there and who she is, with the exception of her real name, that is. Forced to live in the shoes of a seemingly problematic young girl, Emma Harrington, Rua struggles to conform to the expected social norms. She soon meets the mysterious Lord of Donore and gets the uncanny feeling that they’ve known each other in another life.

While the beginning was a tad slow and the ending left me wanting, I DEVOURED everything in between. I loved the banter and tension between these characters. Gonzalez also lit a desire in me to learn more about Irish Mythology. This is perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Historical Fantasy Romance.

I could not put this book down. It was romantic and the mystery kept me reading, wondering how Finn and Rua knew each other, and who they really were. I loved the Irish mythology and was surprised by the ending and the answers to the mysteries. I would absolutely read another book by Gonzalez and can't wait for her next one.

I've been following Kelsie's writing journey since 2021 and she was the first writing tiktok account I followed. I'm so proud of her for her determination through everything and to finally get to see her published book out there.

I loved Rua and Finn and the beginning of this book was rife full of questions and drama and delightful character development. I love the Gilded Age setting and the historical backdrop. This definitely felt like it leaned more on the historical elements than fantasy. For most of the book, Rua feels trapped out of time as she has to deal with pretending to be Emma and the confines of being a woman in the extremely patriarchal Gilded Age. Her borderline villianess mother who threatens to send her to the asylum if she doesn't cooperate and the catty women determined to ruin her. All while she is trying to discover who she truly is.

The romance with Finn is the highlight and I wish we could have seen more of both timelines. The pacing felt a little off in so much as the main book is a series of Bridgerton-like social events until the last 20% where the more fantastical elements take over.

I'm so happy for Kelsie and excited to see what she writes next. Thank you so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early review in exchange for an early copy.

Thank you Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez and Alcove Press for this early copy of The Gods Time Forgot!

I loved the setting of this book, and I was really interested in the premise of the plot. The mystery of the characters felt like a fun way to keep the plot going, and there always felt like an edge of something more as you read.

But sadly, this book wasn’t for me :( As interesting as I thought a lot of the plot points could have been, the overall pacing of everything felt off, and I had a hard time getting invested in this story. More often than not, I found myself getting second hand embarrassment from some of the interactions, and it was tough. I will say that I do think that it came together, but it was a little rough getting there.

But that’s just me! I think that this has a lot of potential to be a fantasy lover’s new favorite book 🫶🏻

BOOK: THE GODS TIME FORGOT
AUTHOR: KELSIE SHERIDAN GONZALEZ
PUB DATE: APRIL 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book was wonderful until I reached the ending. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. Everything else? Perfect! But, I don't regret reading, it was a very good book.
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This book started on a very nice note, we have our FMC, Emma, not Emma who lost her memories and the MMC, rich lord trying to secure his place in the American high society. The MCs both meet at parties where Emma is an outcast while Finn is the guy everyone wants on their arms. In between the book are elements of Emma's lost memories.
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I liked the amazing storyline and the pace of the book. Don't even get me started on the chemistry sbd romance between the MCs even though the book is closed door. I kept turning the pages to see who was going to end up with Finn, Emma, the FMC or Annette, who was going to secure his place in New York so he could achieve all the good things he wanted to do.
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A few chapters in, Emma discovered that she was not really Emma, but another person, Rua. But, she must keep up with the charade if she won't be sent to an asylum. But, she worked hard to find out who she truly was through books of Irish mythology. Anyway, she was an outcast in the society and chafed at the rules of society.
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Finn finds himself drawn to someone totally different from his needs, Rua. He keeps thinking about her and even dreams about a past life with her. Finn was a nice MMC, a good man who tried to help others even though it was not seen as the 'thing' in society then. If there was something I wanted with him, I wanted more knowledge about his past. I don't know much about him except he landed in New York and partnered with the creme de LA creme of the society. I don't know about his life in Ireland, his parents, his title, and stuff.
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The MCs both had amazing chemistry, and I liked them until I didn't. I liked the pace of the book, too. It was perfect, I read in a day because I was really curious about who was who was who and what was what. It's a very good book. And I was disappointed at the ending. It was vague and had some morally grey elements that I didn't like. I was aboutvto give if five stars when I read the last chapter.
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However, it was worth it, and I liked reading it. I'd recommend it.
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This book seemed to have a good premise but ultimately did not deliver. In my opinion, too much time was spent trying to blend into the high society world, and the same was true of trying to build tension/ longing with the characters. There was so much more to explore with the Irish Legends and the main characters' history, Emma and Mara's history .... I could go on. This was very surface-level and rarely had anything to do with the couple's real story. Additionally, the ending was unsatisfying, which left many holes and questions for the sake of wrapping the book up with a happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Gods Time Forgot on April 8, 2025.

While the beginning of this book hooked me right away, I have to say that the rest was sadly disappointing. I knew The Gods Time Forgot took place in a historical period, and I knew that would play into the story and setting, but I didn't expect it to comprise so much of the book. I love a good historical fiction story when the mood is right, but I expected far more fantasy than what I received.

It felt like the magic was thrown in at the beginning and end just to wrap things up when I would've appreciated a more drawn-out approach through the middle of the story. The romance certainly helped keep things moving, and I did enjoy the banter and relationship between Finn and Rua. But when a story is pitched as romantasy, I definitely expect the magic to have more of an impact. This felt more like magical realism adjacent.

Do I think the premise has potential? Absolutely. But I fear the execution was a miss for me.

A woman wakes up in the body of someone else and finds herself trapped in 1870 forced to act and follow societies rules all the while scrambling to discover what happened to her and who she truly is.... all the while memories of a past lover and betrayal haunt her... and it doesn't help that a lord who looks eerily like her past lover is also here. Rua wakes up in the body of Emma, Emma the daughter of a lord who had disappeared for two days and a man was also killed searching for her. Rua has no idea who she is and why she is in Emma's body but she does not like it, nor does she like any of the societal rules that 1870s has on woman. Rua's inability to adjust has Emma's parents threatening to put her in an insane asylum and Rua has to learn what happened to Emma and to her if she wants to escape and go back to her own body... all the while she is getting flashes of her past life and clues of what has happened. Then the handsome Lord of Donore shows up and Rua feels connected to him in ways she can never explain... because he looks exactly like her lover.. the very one she killed. Lord of Donore or rather Finn is just trying to marry a wife who will help him find connections and make him rich... yet the moment he meets Emma/Rua he feels a connection to her he can't deny, a connection he knows that if he gives into will destroy all his plans and lead to a life of chaos... yet he can't resist. The more time he spends with Rua the more he begins getting glimpses of a past life with her that he can't explain... yet with societies rules closing in on Rua and pressure being put on Finn to marry someone else... can they find a way to be together or are greater forces at play and the truth of who Rua truly is only unravel everything? This was definitely an interesting book, I love the whole "woke up in someone else's body" and must unravel the mystery. The pacing was a bit off for me because the ending was literally so abrupt and just there, I truly wish there was like 5 more chapters to explain more or to at least give a bit more. The ending just feels like a door slamming in my face and I'm just sitting here thinking "is that it?" as an avid k-novel/manwhua reader, I love transmigration novels or novels where people wake up in other people's bodies and must adjust to the world. Yet Rua was a bit harder to like because she really did not find a way to fit in at all, like come on girl work it out, fake it, she really just sped run the worst ways to get everyone on her case and be sent to the asylum. I was hoping she would be a bit more resourceful and a bit craftier considering she was said to be a goddess who schemed... but like it really was just a : welp here I am situation. All in all it was an interesting read and I liked the romance, thought I was hoping for a bit more in both the romance department, in the character growth department, and in the end of the novel department. All that is to say, if you like fantasy mysteries, absolutely pick this one up.

*Thanks Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

So, I have very complicated feelings about this book. It was very compelling, engagingly written, and I really did want to know how it was going to play out. The dynamic between Rua and Finn was interesting and a lot of fun, I thought they had good chemistry and there were really interesting scenes between the two of them.

But, ultimately, I don’t think I liked the book that much. As a whole I found it quite confusing; the way the plot is set up is quite muddled and it was very hard to follow in the first few chapters exactly what was going on. I did understand why some of the book had to be like this, but I felt like too much was being obscured from the reader and it made it very hard to follow.

I also thought the plot didn’t quite work. I felt like the book couldn’t quite decide what genre it wanted to be, and the fantasy element didn’t work as well with the Gilded Age setting as I thought it would. The historical aspect needed tightening, I noticed a few inaccuracies that were distracting, which was a shame as I thought the social climbing aspect of the book was (to a point) entertaining. Ultimately, though, that plotline became a bit repetitive and the characters, particularly the villainous ones, were way too cartoonish and over-the-top. I’m not quite sure why they were so keen to draw attention to the scandals of the Harrington family when it was established early on this would be a bad thing for them, too, and there were a lot of very uncomfortable scenes that felt very similar in tone and content.

The fantasy plotline was very interesting and had some good ideas but I think it felt like an afterthought for much of the book. It didn’t really come into play properly until right near the end. The ending, also, was incredibly blunt and didn’t feel very satisfying.

It’s a shame, because I really wanted to like this book. I just didn’t think it was very cohesive and I considered DNFing a few times over the course of it. I kept on going because the writing is very engaging and entertaining, and I thought the main characters, Rua and Finn, were well-drawn and likable, especially in comparison to everyone else. Their romance had some really nice moments and I liked their chemistry. I just thought the book as a whole needed more work. Still, I can see it working for a lot of people – it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Death, murder, serious injuries, fire, bullying, controlling behaviour, threat of institutionalisation in an asylum, amnesia, blood, threat of sexual violence, public humiliation, on-page sexual content.

Three and a half
I really struggled to read this and I think that's because I found the way society and family treated Rua to be something that made me uncomfortable and well frankly annoyed. I did enjoy the romance aspects as the couple explored each other and for this reader that kept me wanting to continue reading. At times perhaps the pacing didn't keep me as gripped as I'd hoped but that's a tiny niggle. It's not a storyline that I've read before which was a joy and for me the standout character was without a doubt Rua. Yes I'd read more by this author but would hope for a different time period.
This voluntary take is I believe fair

"The Gods Time Forgot" by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a historical romantasy set in New York in 1870. Power and money mean everything, and family honor must be defended. So when the wealthy daughter Emma disappears and then reappears with no memory of who she is or what happened, it’s up to Emma herself to unravel the mystery. Her parents try in vain to reintegrate her into society, but Emma makes it difficult for them.

This is a slow-paced story. Don’t expect a book packed with action, excitement, or full-on fantasy. This is a true slow-burn, both in terms of the book itself and the romantic relationship between the main characters. The slow pace suits the story, and I enjoyed the background, characters, and language.

However, there was something missing. A little spark that would make this book extra memorable. Maybe I missed a stronger plot? I’m not sure. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are engaging, but the overall storyline felt like it needed a bit more drive.

Despite this, I liked the book, and it was exciting to see how the story would end. The historical setting is richly described, and the author does a great job of immersing the reader in the era. An entirely okay romantasy without spicy scenes.

3.5⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the early copy of this book!

I support women’s rights, but more importantly, I support women’s wrongs. And I am absolutely here for Rua in all of her glory.

The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romance with ties to Irish mythology and at times had some serious Bridgerton/regency vibes that I loved. Our main character, Rua, awakens in someone else’s body with absolutely no memory of who she is except for her name, which is definitely not Emma Harrington. Though that is who she will become to survive as a debutante in 1870s Manhattan.

The banter between Rua and Finn was top tier. I got some funny looks from people at the park as I snickered multiple times at some of their lines. And their chemistry was undeniable, even as Finn tried to reason with himself that a relationship with Rua could only end in disaster.

This is definitely a book that tends to be more character driven than plot driven. While the plot was there, it felt like the relationship between the characters was the much larger focus. The plot line with the amnesia and the gods felt like it took a backseat at times to focus on the characters, tho the end reveal helps that make a bit more sense. I also wish the ending hadn’t been so abrupt. Everything just wrapped up so suddenly, and it was a bit jarring to go from such high stakes to it being over. I would have loved more time settling the story.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! The banter was incredible and the premise had me hooked from the start. I loved the balls and the manipulation and scheming that made up a good chunk of the book. The fantasy part definitely had the backseat in this one, so if a reader looking for a historical romance with witty banter and a headstrong heroine with a hint of a fantasy element then this is the story for them!

In 1870 Manhattan old money struggles to make way for the new. Rua, who wakes up in a hole, covered in blood with no memory except her name, is mistaken for Emma Harrington. The daughter of an up-and-coming family hell bent on elbowing their way into society. As she struggles to fit into a life she knows nothing about, flashes of potential memories, and an abrupt, yet deeply felt attraction to the Lord Donore lead her on an adventure to find answers.

There were many strong aspects to this story that I appreciate. The cover is gorgeous, and the writing is great! The descriptions of dresses and balls were fantastic. Characters are believable (you really get a feel for Emma’s mother, who is the absolute worst. And Finn, who is truly wonderful). I was very interested in how Finn and Rua would end up, especially with all of the obstacles they faced.

My concern lies in the fact that it felt like two stories, which would have both been strong on their own, did not compliment each other well. The first, about a woman who lost her memory and has to figure out who she is AND figure out how to navigate society/get the man of her dreams? Perfect! The other, a story of sisterhood, war, love, and betrayal? Absolutely!

When combining the two the reader either got too little information of both, or one story was thrown in haphazardly, which left the other one to flounder. All of this is to say I really liked both ideas, however the execution made for a pretty abrupt and messy ending.

I am far more interested in the Gilded Age than I was before (if I'm being honest, I didn't remember it was a thing)! And also in Irish folklore. I might be on the search for more stories pertaining to those topics.