In 1870 Manhattan, Rua, who has no memories, is mistaken by the wealthy Harrington family for their missing daughter, Emma. She adopts the identity, hoping to uncover her true past while navigating a society she doesn't recall. Rua is inexplicably drawn to Finn, the Lord of Donore, who is new to Manhattan and feels a strange familiarity with her. As Rua's memories resurface, revealing a world of dark magic, both she and Finn must unravel ancient secrets to uncover their intertwined pasts and secure their future in a society where appearances are deceiving.

This book was incredibly intriguing, and the first few chapters had me hooked. However, the pacing slowed dramatically for about half of the book, which made it feel a bit sluggish despite containing vital plot points. Once the story picked up again, it became really enjoyable. I loved the mystery surrounding the characters and how we discovered information alongside them.

Regarding the characters, I adored Rua's sharp tongue and her fearless attitude, which added great banter to the story. Initially, I didn't like Finn because he never stood up for Rua, but as the story progressed, his behavior started to make sense. The banter between Finn and Rua was fantastic. Overall, it was a good and enjoyable read, and I would recommend it.

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5

Tropes:
Amnesia/Confusion
Irish mythology
Slow burn
Enemies to Lovers?
Banter

Thank you so much Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez, Alcove Press, and Net Galley for a chance to read this arc. All thoughts are my own.

3.5!

~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 the Lord of Donore, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.~

The Gods Time Forgot is more of a historical romance with bits of fantasy. I fear the term 'romantasy' is just being thrown around too much. The beginning of this book was so good, I was immediately immersed in the story and world. The society in which Rua is trying to be a part of was so believable, I enjoyed all the parties and events. However, this also made the pacing quote slow and the romance non-existent in places. I enjoyed the Irish mythology as I'm not very familiar with it but the ending seemed so so rushed and certain events very unexpected. There could have been another chapter or two to wrap things up considering the slow pace for 90% of the book and the last chapter seemed to go way too quickly.

I do wish we got a bit more romance between the two before the ending, i know why we didn't but i just found it a bit hard to believe?

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for this earc!

***ARC received from Rising Action Publishing Co and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

This book balances mythology and the rigid structure of the gilded age of New York. The Irish mythology is more of a backstory than the main story, this is definitely more about the structure of society and how it treats outsiders. Both Rua and Finn despite having the outward appearance of belonging they are mostly outsiders, welcome only because they have what mattes, status but more importantly, money. Rua is outspoken and that makes her odd while Finn is Irish dealing with the prejudice of the time. While I wished the mythology had been better fleshed out I did like how the author handled this historical aspect. It felt real, the rigid nature of what was proper, what good girl were allowed and not allowed to do. Rua is an absolute outsider to this and has to figure it out as she goes.

Character wise I really liked Finn and Rua, even liked all the backstabbing ladies of the era. Yes they are horrible but they are ruthless in keeping the outsider from taking their place. Is it a bit stereotyped, yes but it is to be expected from these type of characters and I didn’t hate them. They create conflict and have a balance compared to Rua who is learning the game. They know it, they have perfected it and I can’t help but be a little you go girl, get your place in society. Especially when you consider this is what they have been raised to be, there is nothing else for them in this time.

I honestly did enjoy the romance in this book. Although it is labeled as an enemies to lovers Finn and Rua aren’t really enemies, at most they are slightly annoyed at each other and their occasional inability to be honest with each other. Its a slow burn as Finn wants to establish his place in society by marrying the woman that will benefit his business ventures while Rua is begrudging going through the process while trying to figure out who she is.

One complaint I have is with pacing. There are times where it feels like the books is starting to meander around while major plot points still haven’t been discussed yet. Which means that a lot is crammed into the last few bits of the book making the last few pages not just the third act way to heavy. Too much happens right at the end and causes everything to feel way too rushed. I wish that this had been spread out a little bit more. There are already quite a few outside forces keeping Finn and Rua apart that could have been easily been used to cause some conflict. Speaking of conflict it never has any threat over the story because it happens right at the end. If the book had allowed this information to be brought forth sooner it would have created a more stronger conflict but because it just comes and goes so quickly there is no weight to it. I was never left feeling like the characters were in any danger, there are no stakes. Which can be fine at times but this book felt like it was building to something bigger than what we got only to just abruptly end.

Other than some of the issues with the pacing right near the end I found this a fun and easy read. I enjoyed both Rua and Finn and found myself deeply rooting for them and wanted nothing more than a happy ending for them.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book, but I’m not totally sure where to begin… first, I’ll say that this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I was so excited to receive an ARC of it, so thank you Kelsie and thank you to NetGalley. Now, for my honest review. I won’t give much plot, as you can read the description for the book, but I’ll give my honest thoughts here ☺️
There’s a lot to like about this book. If you like descriptive, glittering imagery descriptions, you’ll love the way all of the high society parties and activities were described. It’s very classic novel. The pining and slow burn was definitely slowly burning- I mean at times I wanted to knock some sense into Finn, but at others I could tell he felt trapped that he couldn’t act on his feelings. And I really do think there were some excellent characters in the wider group of society.
Now, there’s a bit I was let down by. The greatest of all was the ending- both the final conflict being sort of rushed to be created and fixed solely in the final 2-3 chapters, and the sort of “happy” ending after our main characters reunite. It just felt so sudden, and I wanted more. The other bits were how things felt disjointed due to us being kept in the dark, particularly when it came to the business stuff between Emma’s and Annette’s dads. Also, her mother was like the worst. I mean even for 1800’s forceful mothers looking for a match, she was nearly abusive at times and just plain dumb and pathetic at others (I guess more of a character flaw maybe?). I was hoping for her downfall to occur.
There were some major plot points I didn’t like- how could Finn be blackmailed about Rua being in a bad part of town without those people showing their hand that they set her up? Also As someone who only knew *of* the Morrígan but knew little of the other religion/mythology that inspired this story, I think there were just enough pieces to keep me confused- the ríastrad, for example, I had no clue about.
Anywhoo, I still think this is a very unique story and I loved reading something inspired by something other than other common fairytales. It was good, I just wanted mote in some ways, but a solid 3⭐️ read for sure!

I thought the premise of this was interesting and loved the Gilded Age setting. For most of the book it felt more like historical fiction with elements of fantasy, rather than romantasy, but that worked for me. Toward the end there was a strong change in tone and it ended quite abruptly. I feel like a sequel would really help and I would likely rate it higher if the story were to continue.

In 1870, Rua finds herself with no memories, and everyone believes she is Emma, the eldest daughter of a very wealthy family. Finn, the Lord of Donore, is an Irish Lord moving in New York social circles and meets Rua, finding himself drawn to him and feeling like he has met her before.

3.5 stars rounded up.

3.5 ✨

I had a great time reading this and I really loved the Victorian era vibes combined with the fantasy element!
What to expect:
🐦‍⬛ Victorian New York
🐦‍⬛ Irish Mythology
🐦‍⬛ Gods & Godesses
🐦‍⬛ Balls & Gowns
🐦‍⬛ High Society
🐦‍⬛ Mystery
🐦‍⬛ 3rd person narrative but from both main characters POVs

𝑹𝒖𝒆 was an interesting and strong character! She found herself bound in another life and as an outcast in the socialite circles of New York she endured a lot of difficulties. We see the cold relationship with her mother and the social standards she had to keep up with as well as woman's role in society at this time!
Our MMC, 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒏, is an Irish wealthy immigrant who tries to establish his presence in New York by making an investment in an new Hotel. His path will cross with Rue's and then, amongst the frenzy of matchmaking by the era's standards, secrets will start to unfold between them!

Now to more of my thoughts! I feel like I needed more from this book, maybe a sequel? I'm not sure, but I felt that some parts were underdeveloped or not properly touched upon. I must say at this point that I quickly saw where the story goes and guessed the plot twist but this didn't affect my reading experience overly negative. I feel like I wanted to see more on to how Finn appeared in New York at the first place and also a bit more on the past.
The writing was ok, the only think I noticed in one chapter is the constant use of the word Rue in the beginning of each paragraph, as it was used consecutive more than nine times to begin the sentence in this chapter.
I would still recommend this book for a quick, atmospheric read especially if you like the tropes I listed above!

The Gods Time Forgot is a romantasy set in Gilded Age New York where our leads, FInn and Rua, are the mortal reincarnations of Irish gods. As they make their way through high society in Manhattan, they have to fight their growing attraction to one another as well as the feeling that they've met before....


This premise had me so intrigued and somehow I ended up bored to tears by the end of the book. I am aware that this was an ARC that I read and I'm hopeful that it went through several stringent rounds of editing as they were desperately needed.

How do you make reincarnated Irish gods in Gilded Age NYC boring? Just how? So many of the scenes were repetitive that I found myself skimming the text just to get to the next chapter. None of the characters acted like actual human beings and were instead caricatures of various archetypes: 'bitchy controlling mother', 'the rich mean girl', 'the corrupt businessman', etc. The plot barely existed and seemed more like random events strung together with a hope and a dream. And there was no satisfactory conclusion, the book just ends and the final scene made no sense even in the context of the bare bones plot.

I wanted to like this but I feel the author needs further development of their writing skills prior to attempting another novel.

Reviews going live on Goodreads, Storygraph, Fable, and Tiktok on 4/6.

This book has a fascinating premise and some genuinely striking moments, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing. The worldbuilding is imaginative, and there are flashes of brilliance in the writing, but the pacing feels uneven, and some of the characters never fully come to life. It's clear the author had big ideas, and while some of them hit, others get lost in a tangle of exposition or underdeveloped subplots. Still, there’s enough here to keep you turning the pages, especially if you’re into Irish mythology and the Gilded Age, but it just might leave you wishing for a little more.

The Gods Time Forgot is a unique fantasy romance combining Irish mythology and the glam of Gilded Age New York.

Emma Harrington has been recently rescued after disappearing from her home. Unfortunately, since her disappearance, she has no memories of her life. She feels not at all like Emma, and instead like Rua, with glimpses into a mysterious past. When returning to New York City, she is expected to uphold all the rules of high society. Lord Finn Donore is trying to gain a foothold in New York, and making just the right acquaintances is the way to secure his reputation. When his business practices bring him in contact with the beautiful and mysterious Miss Harrington, Finn must put his personal preferences aside for the sake of his business. But the parent can’t seem to stay away from each other, and when they both start having visions of the past, they can’t help but wonder if they are reliving moments of another lifetime. With reputations on the line and a mysterious connection that cannot be ignored, will Finn and Rua give into temptation or will they be held back by high society’s rules?

This was a really intriguing and well written fantasy romance. I loved the gilded age setting, along with the mix of Irish mythology. The story was really intriguing, and despite my initial hunch, Rua’s lost memory made her somewhat of an unreliable narrator, the story kept me guessing. I like to see the relationship between Finn and Rua develop - there was great banter and tension. At times I felt the story moved a bit slower than I would have liked, and the end moved a bit too quickly. But in general, I thought this was an interesting story and was enjoyable. If you like the society and season vibes of Bridgerton, but would like more of a fantasy spin on things I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Alcove Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own..

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is an enemies-to-lovers historical romantasy that intertwines Irish mythology with the Gilded Age of New York. This debut novel by Sheridan Gonzalez features compelling characters, feminist themes, and sultry romance, creating an imaginative blend of Irish mythology and historical fiction that is sure to captivate readers.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

i absolutely loved this irish folklore/mythology inspired time travel romance, but i can understand why some people may not have enjoyed it.

i found the reasoning for rua’s and finn’s time traveling a little unclear, especially because it was explained very nearly towards the end of the book, but overall this was an enjoyable read!

i truly enjoyed the banter between rua and finn, and also highly enjoyed the insight to some irish folklore!

as for the narrators — they did a fantastic job! they truly helped transport me to the respective time periods

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 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.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this digital e-arc.*

My expectations didn’t live up to the synopsis and no one is more sad than I am.

The premise and Rua as a character were really intriguing. Her and Finn and have magnetic pull towards each other nearly immediately. I also loved Finn.

My main challenge with this one was the pacing. It really dragged for me. It’s also more of a historical romance with magical realism than a true fantasy, which was disappointing to me.

Thank you so much for an arc and a chance to read this early.

Scheming, manipulation, intrigue and historical romance abound in The Gods Time Forgot.. The pace was a bit off in parts and the ending rather abrupt, but perfect for fans of the enemies to lovers trope.

3.5/4

Okay, so the pacing was a little all over the place. The banter at the beginning was so strong, and then it kind of got lost when the drama took over. But honestly, the story is so unique, and I had to know what happened next. It’s got that Irish mythology, amnesia, historical romance vibe that totally gave Bridgerton energy which I loved. Even with the pacing issues, I was hooked and really enjoyed the ride.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Gilded Age collides with a Irish mythological world in NYC's high society. This story about two people trying to fit into world that less accepting of them.

A bit of a romance, a mystery with hints of time travel set in a city of opulence.

Thank you, Alcove Press

Thank you to @alcovepress for providing me with a copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

“𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚, 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙣?”
𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜.
“𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙡𝙮,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢, 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣.

Rua wakes up to find herself in someone else’s body, with no recollection of who she is or where she comes from. Unfortunately, the body she has woken up in is the “troubled” daughter of a family of new money, trying to fit in, and she is NOT helping their image.

I really enjoyed my time with this book. Very swoony. The pace was slow, but I feel like it was really leaning into the historical romance-ness of itself.

There was a magnetic pull between Rua and Finn, and so much yearning. I was living for the romance aspects, while also continuously curious about Rua’s true origins.

Unfortunately, the last 10% of the book was a whirlwind of answers?, that were often confusing, and I also wasn’t quite sure what happened in those final climactic scenes (and searching reviews it appears I wasn’t alone…). The ending was also rather abrupt, and I’m not sure I could really tell you where the characters ended up? (I *think* this is a standalone?)

But up until that last 10%, I was heading for a 5⭐️ rating, and even though the ending was a bit of a mess, I still overall really enjoyed the journey, so I decided to settle for 4⭐️. 🤷‍♀️

What this book is giving:
✅ Historical Romance
✅ Fantasy Elements
✅ 1870 Manhatten
✅ Irish Mythology
✅ Yearning
✅ Mystery

Sadly, this book was not for me. I felt that it was too heavily a romance, and the fantasy element more confused the plot then added to it. Before I get into the things that didn't work for me, I will say that I LOVED the villains in this book. I out loud said 'THAT B****' so clearly I was invested. I cared more about what they would do than the main characters.
The plot did not drag, which I really appreciated. I feel like for most of the middle of this book, we didn't hear much about this fantasy thread that is supposed to be moving the storyline forward. There is an insta love connection, which ultimately should be tied back to the fantastical element, but I felt that it fell really flat since the reader was not privy to the fantasy element early enough. Our main character, albeit in a pickle with having memory loss, was just not someone I actually rooted for. The varying view points were almost too sporadic for me to actually care about both POVs, and so the ending came very fast and I wish I was more engaged. The fantastical element I feel was dumped a little to earnestly into one chapter, and then the story nearly ends.

All that being said, I do feel that the writing was very quick and understandable, and I would try the next book by this author.

This one had a fun concept and a promising start, but ended up too long and too scattered. Lots of potential, not enough payoff.

The book opens as Rua awakens, buried alive. Everyone is calling her Emma, but Rua knows she's living someone else's life--and poorly, too. Rua is a terrible nouveau riche debutant in Gilded Age NYC. She has no idea how to act demure, falls for mean girl pranks, and basically ruins Emma's and her family's reputation at her first ball. She does meet Finn, an Irish nobleman. The two of them have an instant attraction, but he's practically engaged to another woman who will cement his reputation in NYC Society.

Upon until around 30% I was enjoying this book a lot. The writing wasn't super tight, but it wasn't terrible, and I was intrigued by the magical amnesia and mystery of Rua's identity. But as the book went on, there wasn't enough relationship building for me to believe that Finn and Rua were meant to be. The mythological plot was both overexplained and underdeveloped

I'm glad I gave this a try, but it was a miss for me.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez's *The Gods Time Forgot* is a mesmerizing blend of romance and fantasy set against the backdrop of 1870s Manhattan. The story centers on Rua, a young woman with no memories who is mistakenly identified as the missing Emma Harrington. This intriguing premise immediately draws readers in, setting the stage for a tale filled with mystery, magic, and societal intrigue.

Gonzalez crafts a rich, atmospheric world that beautifully captures the grit and glamour of New York during this vibrant period. Rua’s journey to uncover her identity while navigating the complexities of high society is both compelling and relatable. Her determination to discover the truth about her past and her connection to the enigmatic Finn, the Lord of Donore, adds layers of tension and romance to the narrative.

Finn is a captivating character, embodying the charm and social acumen required to navigate the elite circles of Manhattan. His growing fascination with Rua—and the sense that their connection transcends this life—creates a magnetic dynamic that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages. The chemistry between Rua and Finn is palpable, infused with both longing and an air of mystery.

As Rua’s memories begin to surface, the plot takes a thrilling turn into the realm of dark magic and ancient secrets. Gonzalez masterfully intertwines elements of fantasy with the historical setting, creating a fantastical atmosphere that is both enchanting and unsettling. The revelations about Rua’s past are surprising and beautifully crafted, providing a satisfying depth to the story.

Overall, *The Gods Time Forgot* is a captivating read that expertly combines romance, mystery, and fantasy. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez has created a spellbinding tale that will leave readers enchanted and eager for more. This novel is a must-read for fans of romantasy and anyone looking for a richly woven story filled with magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. You won’t want to miss it!