I didn't really have much of an idea of what to expect from this book but I wasn't expecting such a nostalgic throwback to my teens.
I can understand why this book isn't for everyone. It's quite different from anything else I've read. It feels a little more YA than adult and I also feel like it's being marketed as romantasy when it feels more like historical fantasy with a dash of romance. There was also quite the build up to an epic conclusion that for me fell flat. I was seeking more resolution and understanding around Rua and Finn's past lives just didn't happen.
That being said, I had an enjoyable experience listening along and suit readers who love mythology and are bridging between YA and adult.

And incredible narrations from Kimberly M. Wetherell and Matthew Forsythe! Their accents were spot on and transport the listener back in time.

I was really excited to give this a listen based on the blurb, however unfortunately it was not for me. The narrators were excellent and did a great job but the story just wasn't there. I found it hard to follow along and be interested and ended up speed reading/skimming through a good portion of it.

This book was a perfect example of how a narrator(s)can make or break a book.

In this case they made it without the outstanding work they have done with narrating it, this book would have been a much lower rating. I loved listening to their accents and they just pretty munch portaled you into that world.

That was about the only thing that was great. The rest was pretty meh.

Some mysteries were too drawn out, the romance felt off. I'm not sure if it was because I couldn't really connect with the characters or the romance itself.

Also, it was labeled Romantasy but the fantasy part didn't really show till the end.

The world was okay, I love anything gilded age so that was easy to love for me, it just seemed a bit over described at times.

It was a great book audio-wise but the rest left a bit to desired for.

Overall, I give it a weak 3 but only because the narration was 5 stars, the rest maybe 2

1 star
I love Irish/Celtics Mythology, so that's my main point when picking this one, but this was a mess.
I dislike most of it, plus Rua and especially Finn were.. not it.
this was a massive disappointment.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a historical romance with a Irish mythology and fantasy. Although the story was interesting, and the romance was undeniable, I found the pacing to be somewhat off. Some parts were slower and the ending felt rushed. This novel is adult but not spicy. Overall, a promising debut.

An ancient Irish love story forced to adjust to 1870’s Gilded Age New York upper class society. The location setting are lovely and vividly described. The clothing, hair and makeup details are enjoyable to imagine. The banter was entertaining. Being threatened with the insane asylum would actually be scary if I was in that time.
Quick plot: Rua finds herself in another woman’s body with none of her memories. Trying to pretend to fit in socially, she searches for answers. Then she meets the Lord of Donore and starts to feel things.
I think it would be better to read and process as a physical book. I felt it jumped to flashbacks rather suddenly in the audiobook.
The narrators had epic range. I loved the Irish accents.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in return for this review.

I think this book is being mis-marketed as romantasy, it is historical romance with a small fantasy twist at the end. I feel as though a lot of people are going to go into this book with certain expectations and be left disappointed, not because it's a bad book but because it's so different from what they are expecting. I really enjoyed Rua and Finn, their relationship was slow burn but I enjoyed their connection, there were times I wanted Finn to stand up for Rua more or communicate better but that's kinda a genre issue! You jump right into the story which leaves you a little confused but that's the point, I was very intrigued and wanted to solve the mystery of Rua! That being said, there were a lot of slow bits and then at the end all of a sudden everything is happening and it ends abruptly. They story is really solid though and I was so drawn in and immersed in the world! Shout out to Kimberly M. Wetherell and Matthew Forsythe, they did such a good job narrating, they were very alluring and helped draw you into the story. Matthew especially was just perfect, the Irish accent is everything!

This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed the characters and world building enough that I will likely read more from this author in the future.

If you love Irish mythology, historical romantic fantasy, and Gilded Age New York, The Gods Time Forgot should be on your radar. 

I was instantly pulled in by the amnesia story line and angsty romance. Despite some redundancies, my interest was maintained throughout the story. 

The morally grey characters were insightful and made me think. 
However, there was more focus on the mean girls than there was on the mythical elements and I personally would have preferred the reverse. 

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 3
Character Development - 4
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 3.6

I’m still currently listening to this one but it’s hi early taking me a really long time and that’s saying something since this is an audiobook.
The premise of the gods and the mystery behind why Rua can’t remember anything is what drew me in to this story at first, but it’s kind of gone stagnant for me.
The mmc is also constantly back and forth in his mind about why the fmc is not good for him, my god please just stick with one already.
The switch back and forth between multiple povs can also be confusing and even when staying in the same pov I feel like sometimes the quality is lacking, like they changed mics at some point and it audibly sounds different.
I will try and push through to finish this audiobook and maybe I can then change my rating but until then it’ll stay where it’s at.

I was lucky enough to read this ARC last year, and I loved it, so I was super excited to see it was available on audio now, and could do a re-read.
I can honestly say this is one of THE best fantasy stories I have read in a long time. It kept my attention from the very first chapter and never let go. I have patiently been waiting to read this one for over 2 YEARS. It was one of the first books I REALLY wanted to read when I first joined BookTok. It sounded right up my alley. I LOVE Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Historical Romantasy, whatever you want to call this. And it was most definitely worth the wait. It is truly a unique story, with Outlander and Bridgerton vibes but set in the Gilded Age of New York. I love Celtic mythology as well, and this was perfectly intertwined, with historical facts, throughout the story. It really is a one of a kind story. I absolutely loved it! Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025. I hope this book is a HUGE success. This author truly deserves it.

I have left reviews on Amazon, B&N, Books a Million, Instagram, TokTok and Goodreads and will continue to spread the love of this beautiful story. Thank you Netgalley

The Gods Time Forgot is a captivating blend of historical romance and Irish mythology, with a fate inked in blood vibe and Bridgerton-like charm and memorable characters. Rua, thrown into 1800s high society with no memory of her past, must navigate the world of debutantes while unraveling her identity.
While the romance and banter were fantastic, I found myself wishing the fantasy elements were explored more deeply. The hints of gods and mythology were intriguing but left me wanting more. That said, the gorgeous prose and chemistry between the characters made this an unforgettable read. With its open-ended finale, l'm excited at the possibility of a sequel to delve further into the world!
All that being said I read the arc and listened to the audio book and am looking forward to giving it another read!
My only complaint on the audio book is I wished they switched between the male and female narrators for the male and female characters.

I loved this book couldn’t put it down. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book. This is a historical fiction romance mixed with magic. forgotten memories and mysteries to unveil. This is a good book and the characters are very well developed.

I loved this audio, the narrators did an absolutely fantastic job of bringing this story to life. This story was so complex and multifaceted that having the narration broken up made it so much easier to follow the story line even in the more confusing part.

I received an ALC from netgalley.

First of all, I'm not a fan of historical romance, and I wanted to listen because I thought it was more fantasy than historical. I also like the cover. I gave this book two stars because I wanted to DNF the book early until the 80% mark. It's the fact that Rua's amnesia was dragged on for too long and also made the story drag. I didn't have a connection to any of the characters. This book was not for me. I hope my review does not deter anyone from reading it because I was hoping for more fantasy than historical.

the title was intriguing and suggested a story that would really pull me in. unfortunately, that never came true.

➸ the plot was flat and uneventful, and I struggled to stay engaged. the romance, which seemed like it was supposed to be a central, lacked depth and development. I never really got a sense of connection between the characters, which made it hard to invest in their relationship or believe in their love.

➸ the writing style didn’t stand out. It didn’t add much energy or emotion to it, it only added to lack of momentum. at times, it felt like the story was just drifting along without a strong direction. and the ending reveal was the most boring plots I’ve read in my whole life.

➸ the only one redeeming quality was the audiobook production. the narration was solid and helped make the experience more bearable, even though the content itself didn’t quite land for me.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a fun mix of historical romance and a bit of magic. It’s set in 1870s New York City and follows a girl named Rua who wakes up with no memory except her name. People mistake her for a missing rich girl, and suddenly she’s living the high-society life while trying to figure out who she really is.

There’s also Finn, a mysterious Irish guy with secrets of his own. The back-and-forth between Rua and Finn is super entertaining—they’ve got great chemistry, and the romance builds slowly in a satisfying way.

The book has cool mythology woven in, especially Irish legends, which adds a unique twist. It’s a little slow at times, especially when the fantasy stuff kicks in, but overall, the story and characters keep it interesting.

If you like historical settings, a bit of mystery, and some sweet romance with magical vibes, this one’s worth a read!

I got 87% in before the story stopped working for me (not the authors fault just technical problems) I loved the book what I did get read it was fun fantasy and has gods which is always fun

Omg yes!!!!!! This book was entirely captivating from start to finish. I was so utterly dialed in, desperate to know what happens next! Perfect for fans of Outlander and Bridgerton!! And the audiobook narrators were phenomenal!!!!!!! 10/10. No notes.

rua only knows two things: her name, and that she’s lost her memories. when the wealthy harrington family mistakes rua for their daughter emma, she reluctantly goes along with it. she has no means to get away from the harringtons, and hopes this charade will buy her time to figure out who she and emma really are. soon, she finds herself drawn to the lord of donore, finn, who is somehow familiar to her. as rua and finn work to uncover their shared past, rua is determined to find out what happened to the real emma.

i’m starting to think there are certain tropes/story elements that i only care for in fanfiction. i would normally consider myself a fan of the memory loss and (leaving out the second one since it could be a spoiler) tropes, but this is the second book i’ve read in the past month with those two elements that i really didn’t care for. unfortunately, for this book, not only did the plot not do it for me, i also didn’t absolutely get swept away by the romance, either. this did contain elements of irish mythology, though, which i did find cool, especially since i don’t see that in books very often. overall, this was just an okay read for me.

narration: kimberly m. wetherell and matthew forsythe narrated this audiobook. i liked the narration and thought it aligned well with the historical genre and slower pace of this book.