✨ARC Review✨

Big thank you to Silas Reames, Night Loch Publishers, and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

The premise of The Unseen Hour was unique, imaginative, and exactly the kind of story that immediately pulled me in. In the beginning, I was fully hooked and loved every bit of the setup, especially following Celia. Her tenacity, outspokenness, and refusal to conform to society’s expectations were right up my alley, and she was easily the strongest part of the book for me.

That said, once Orion entered the picture, my enjoyment started to slip. Their relationship felt very rushed, and I struggled to connect with their romance. The chemistry wasn’t there, and while the spice was present, it felt forced rather than natural. The dialogue and overall writing didn’t flow as smoothly, which pulled me out of the story.

Beyond the romance, the pacing overall was uneven. The storyline felt disjointed, leaving little room for depth. What descriptive detail there was failed to immerse me in both Celia’s inner world and the world around her. It felt like the emphasis was on inconsequential scenes—some scenes felt never-ending, and others I was left going “wait, what? Did I miss something?”. A late revelation near the end also landed poorly for me. It came out of left field and felt more like a convenient twist than part of a natural progression.

On top of that, the history of the gods and the clashes between them felt rushed and most of it was revealed right at the end, almost as if it was dropped in to set up a sequel rather than being woven into the narrative earlier. With such an interesting concept, I would have loved to see this mythology built into the fabric of the story rather than appearing only at the conclusion.

In the end, Celia herself was the saving grace. I loved her character, and while this book didn’t fully land for me, the creativity behind it shows that the author has real promise, and I’ll be curious to see how her future works grow and evolve.

The Unseen Hour was an enjoyable read with a really unique plot. I loved the idea of a god stealing souls as part of a bigger scheme, it felt original and refreshing. The story had a bit of a Bridgerton vibe with its setting and tone, but with more action and an FMC who actually fought against the expectations placed on her.

Cecila was definitely a highlight for me—strong, determined, and willing to risk everything to uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance. Orion was equally fantastic and added great balance to the story.

I also think this is a solid book for readers who are just stepping into the Romantasy genre. There’s plenty of world-building and time to settle into the setting. That said, for me personally, there was too much filler. The slower sections dragged the pacing down, and I found myself wishing some characters had more presence. A big revelation at the end involved someone who didn’t feel that significant throughout the book, which lessened the impact.

Overall, the story and plot were strong, and I loved the originality, I just wish it had trimmed down the fluff and given certain characters more page time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Silas Reames for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

The concept of this book was original and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The idea that there are a number of warring gods is not unusual, but how this was presented in the idea of the 'unseen hour', an hour in which anyone who is captured outside unawares is taken to further the agenda of a god, really captured my imagination.

I liked the main female character, how feisty she was in a society not built for feisty women! The romance element was just enough - not overdone and added to the plot, rather than just being a side-line. I also liked how subversive Death felt - another powerful women, who manages to combine her power with the expected element of nurturing, ensuring that the nurturing element of her character adds to her power rather than diminishing it.

I read this in several short sittings, and look forward to the next release to see what happens next!

I absolutely loved the premise behind this book.
The new year is not celebrated as any person caught outside in the last hour dies or disappears.

Celia's father is one that disappeared, so she has hope that he is still alive. When she discovers a journal he used that was written by one of the original men to go missing, she uses the information to go out in the hour and find him.

I didn't connect with Celia. I kept thinking she was closer to 18 than 24. At times it felt like everything else ceased to exist outside of what she was directly interacting with - she is having a conversation with two people and the dialogue makes it sound like the other person is no longer there, but then they start talking again.

I was interested in the history of the gods and the worlds they lived in.

I would have loved a flash back to Orion at the origins of the hour.

There was so much going on in the last few chapters that, after the middle of the book being quite slow, made the reveals feel rushed.

Great book to start a series with excellent world-building and characters that have you reading well into the night!

Publication/Outlet: Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Run Date: September 14, 2025

From the first page, The Unseen Hour drew me into a world that was both gothic and emotionally charged. The writing is atmospheric without becoming heavy, capturing a haunting tone that lingers long after finishing. Every scene feels alive with tension, beauty, and an undercurrent of dread that keeps the reader engaged.

Celia’s character is deeply relatable in her grief, resilience, and sharp determination. Her journey felt raw and human, grounding the darker, otherworldly elements of the story. Orion, with his unsettling magnetism, provides the perfect foil, and the chemistry between them is equal parts fragile and electrifying. Their relationship creates a sense of inevitability and danger that enhances the gothic tension throughout.

What stood out most to me was how well the novel balanced atmosphere, character, and pacing. The prose is evocative and immersive, the plot moves with steady momentum, and the twists are genuinely surprising. The emotional weight, especially in moments of stillness and heartbreak, hit even harder than the chaos. The ending was impactful, leaving me both breathless and eager for more from this author.

This novel will resonate with readers of gothic fantasy and dark romance, especially those who appreciate stories that explore grief, longing, and the thin veil between beauty and brutality. It is a book that lingers — not only for its atmosphere, but for the tenderness it finds in the shadows.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book, but did find the character ages did not really reflect their behaviour and dialogue. However I loved the world building and the romance throughout.

The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is a gripping, page turning fantasy with mystery and romance elements in it.

Once a year in Emrys there is a thing called the unseen hour that claims anyone and everyone who is outside during it. This has been going on for many years when we start the story. This hour has claimed the life of our main character Celia’s father and she is determined to find him and bring him back.

This story was very well written, I loved the descriptions and the depth the author went into things. The start of it really had me hooked, throughout the book it did lose me at some points, it was a little slow but it picked right back up and had me hooked again. I would say from 60% onwards it had me staying up late to read it.

I absolutely loved the idea of this book and the way this author wrote it. I am definitely excited to see where the next book goes, I am also excited to read any of the other books this author publishes.

Thank you so much to Silas Reames, Night Loch Publishers, and NetGalley for this arc. I had a great time reading it and cannot wait for more!

“The Unseen Hour” is a gothic fantasy romance by Silas Reames. It is the first book in the “Unseen Hour Duology.” In Emrys, New Year’s Eve is a day to fear. For the past 100 years, Midnight on December 31st triggers the “Unseen Hour”- an hour where time freezes, people lock themselves indoors, and bodies are left for them to recover in the morning. Having lost her father years ago to the Hour, she’s determined to bring him back. With the help of a 100-year-old diary, Celia believes she can save her father…and that she’s falling in love with its author.

Tropes: Meddling Gods, Curses, Bargaining, Strong-willed FMC, Golden Retriever MMC, Bridgerton vibes

🌶️🌶️: “The Unseen Hour” isn’t a majorly spicy book. It’s explicit to a degree, but the emphasis truly is on the mystery and romance rather than the spice of the romance. When she tells Orion she’s ready, he reads as though he won the Golden Ticket.

“The Unseen Hour” takes place between the country of Emrys and the diverse realm of the Dead. It is a gothic fantasy when we are in the land of Emrys, and it transforms into an adventure romantasy the moment we enter the realm of Shades. Our two MCs survive and thrive in the realm while homesteading, traversing deserts and canyons, befriending birds, and fighting ferocious beasts to meet their deadline. I had so much fun learning and experiencing the Shades realm, I didn’t want to leave. It’s a stark difference from Emrys, and I enjoyed the duality.

Silas Reames imbues the country of Emrys with a Bridgerton essence. Emrys boasts Social Seasons, dancing among the ton, engagements, opulent dresses, and confining gender rules. Still a fantasy world, magic whispers across the world like the Hipnosi family's pink eyes. The Gods of the world plot and meddle. Their origins alone are a mystery worth solving, and with agendas and a forbidden God in hiding, the story is far from over, leaving a plot twist that could double as a cliffhanger.

In Emrys, we meet Celia Hipnosi, who prefers reading, pants, and marriages for love over status and the ton, even at the risk of becoming an “old maid.” The Head Shade of his realm, Orion, is not a “rough and tough” MMC- he’s swoonworthy 😇. He swoops in to save her from the God, despite the cost if they’re found. He’s responsible, having taken care of his brothers. He’s from the same town as Celia and lived/experienced the same societal expectations that she has, and doesn’t rush her or push boundaries, having understood her. He’s immediately smitten, a natural provider, and he’s a writer.

I really appreciated seeing Celia shed her “Emrys” skin and adapt to the world SHE wants to live in now that there are no societal expectations. She adventures and loves like the characters of the books she reads. She wears her pants, wields weapons, climbs trees, and finds the man of her dreams. When she realizes returning to Emrys may mean social restrictions or condemnation for them both, she refuses to leave her freedom behind, even describing her dreams of sailing the seas. Although we don’t live in that time or world, readers can understand that desire for freedom.

I really didn’t want to dislike an ARC book, but unfortunately this one left me feeling disappointed.

I’ll start with the good things. I think the concept and like the overall plot was so good. I think I’ll just devour anything that has gothic undertones. The settings and the world building were cool, I liked that each country was distinct from one another and how each has their own independent mythology and religion.

I didn’t think I would, but I also really liked the love interest, he was written as a really sweet guy. And I prefer that over the “shadow daddy” trope we see a lot at the moment, which does my head in.

And now onto the things I didn’t like as much. I didnt care for the main character, Celia, at all. I thought she was very annoying and came across as a bit of a pick me girl. We kept hearing that she’s intelligent but I just thought she came across as an idiot sometimes. Also, seriously, pink eyes?

The romance went a bit fast for me, seeing as they had their first kiss on page 168 and were engaged 90 pages later, but that is just a personal preference. On the other hand, I also thought the plot moved a bit too slowly and that Celia and Orion shouldn’t have been stuck in the other realm for a whole year.

Final point, stop talking about how painful and uncomfortable and horrible corsets are. Decent corsets won’t hurt you and Celia was from a rich family, she’d have a decent corset. Every time a piece of media talks about corsets like that, an Angel loses its wings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Night Loch Publishers for sending me this ARC.

Everything froze at the Unseen Hour and so did I. I’m talking blanket over my head, Kindle clutched like a weapon, muttering prayers to fictional gods kind of froze. This book had me chilled, thrilled, and yelling at shadows like I was about to be Taken too.

Celia? Absolute chaos gremlin with a heart of gold. She’s not waiting around for some knight in shining armor.... nope. She’s charging into cursed fog, spitting in the face of fear, because her father needs her. That’s it. That’s the hill she’s willing to die on. I had goosebumps crawling across my skin when she was Taken. Usually it’s a man saving the woman, but here? The daughter said, “Not today, Gods, I’ve got work to do.” Iconic.

And Orion. Sweet, awkward, century-old Orion with those storm-grey-blue eyes? Ah! You had NO right to waltz in and steal my heart with your honesty and painfully slow-burn romance. The way he and Celia orbit each other: friends first, glances stolen, hearts burning under the surface it had me internally screaming: “JUST KISS ALREADY.” But the gods had other plans, because apparently mortals aren’t allowed happiness without a divine mess.

Speaking of gods.... outsmarting them was the wildest ride. I was clutching my Kindle like it could stop lightning bolts, muttering, “Don’t do it, Celia!” while simultaneously wanting her to do it. Silas crafted a world where ghosts linger, gods meddle, and time itself is cursed and I was living for every second.

Four stars because it’s different, daring, and gave me enough goosebumps to qualify as poultry. Forget gods, forget ghosts; the real curse here is how badly you’ll need the sequel

🌒✨ Book Review | The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames ✨🌒

Her country is cursed. Her father is missing. And she’s falling in love with a ghost. 👻💔

In Emrys, the most feared time of year is the Unseen Hour, a cursed sixty minutes between the old year and the new when doors are locked, prayers whispered, and lives are lost. But when Celia stumbles upon a forgotten journal, she finds more than answers and she finds Orion, the author whose words (and heart) have haunted her long before she met him in the realm of the dead.

What follows is a gothic-tinged, hauntingly original fantasy romance filled with cursed hours, shades born of grief, gods at war, and a love story that shouldn’t exist but burns all the brighter for it.

🖤 What I loved:
🌌 The Unseen Hour curse – such an original concept, eerie and fascinating.
🪞 The Ether – a surreal afterlife setting with haunting creatures & chilling beauty.
💔 The Shades – loved ones twisted into servants of Death… so tragic & compelling.
🔥 Celia & Orion – a slow burn so good it made my chest ache.
🐎 Pellix the horse – truly the goodest boy.
🌲 Tree Hoppers & strange creatures that made the world feel alive.
📖 The mystery of Celia’s father’s disappearance & the centenary build-up kept me turning pages.

This book gave me Bridgerton-meets-gothic fantasy vibes: lush, emotional, and unforgettable. It’s about grief, hope, sacrifice, and falling in love where you least expect it: in the shadows of death itself.

🖤 Favorite Quote:
“Those who say time lessens grief are wrong. Time creates space. It gives you more moments around the grief, to cushion you a bit. But the grief is always there, and anything can trigger it.”

📅 Release Date: September 9, 2025
🏷️ Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance
🔥 Tropes: Forbidden Love • Mortals vs. Gods • Curses • Sacrificial Love • Slow Burn

If you’re craving something darkly magical with aching romance and an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling, add this to your TBR now.

#TheUnseenHour #SilasReames #NetGalley #FantasyRomance #RomantasyReads #GothicFantasy #ForbiddenLove #SlowBurnRomance #DarkFantasyBooks #SpicyFantasy #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt #ReadersOfInstagram #FantasyRomanceAddict #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #RomantasyObsessed #UpcomingReleases2025

First of all i want to thanks to Silas Reames for giving me a ARC trought Net-Galley

I really liked the premisse of the story being a goth-mistery, the FMC looking for answers about her apparently deceaced father, and don't get me wrong because i really enjoyed the book, but i didin't feeled the goth vibe at all, was more like a YA.

Despite much people feeling the first part slow, i really enjoyed see how Celia prepared her plan, i prefer that than everything going fine just because, but after that i feel some parts being repetitive, most of all because for almost all the book we have just two characters.

I don't want to just point the bad things, for example i really loved the redaction, was a easy quick read that i really enjoyed.
That said i really want to read the next part and know what's going next 💖

I was thankful for being allowed to read an ARC through NetGalley, and this review is also posted on my Fable account since September 4th, my rating is 2.25 stars!.
The first chapters really intrigued me, the setup was giving dark Bridgerton vibes and that seems just perfect for this time of the year!
We are jumping from scene to scene in the beginning though which makes it kinda difficult to get to know the characters but that got beter around 25% in. The pacing is on the slower side and there is not too much plot happening, so I wasn't too invested in the story honestly and the romance felt a bit flat for me. The ending was good though. Overall, it was okay I guess, but maybe I'm just more into high stakes fantasy stories that are faster paced.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced eARC. I give this a 2.5 rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for a few reasons. I loved the idea and plot of this novel, the didn’t really love the way it was executed. It’s an adult romance, but the FMC and MMC came off as too immature for me to really believe that they were 25+. The dialogue wasn’t great, and I found myself quickly losing interest at about 30%. And the rest of the novel dragged for me instead of my interest picking back up.

Thank you Net Galley and the publishers for kindly providing me with an ARC of the book. I picked this up because the plot sounded incredibly intriguing - we follow our main character, Celia, who lives in a world where once a year there is a time period where people who do not manage to barricade themselves in their homes go missing. Celia’s father unfortunately is one of the people who goes missing and so begins Celia’s journey to find him by allowing herself be taken during the unseen hour. Celia enters an unexpected world with gods and villains, as well as the person who becomes the love interest in the book.

While the description of this book sounded incredibly intriguing, unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. I felt the first 50% of the book really dragged on as not much happened in the ether and while the slow burn romance between the characters was quite tender, I think we still needed a bit more dialogue between the two showing why they were falling in love. It could have done maybe with some banter between the characters to make them seem a bit more real and also help us buy into their relationship a bit more. I did enjoy the world within the Ether and thought that was well developed including with the animals, etc. But unfortunately, the story itself just did not develop as well as I had hoped. I found myself struggling to get through this as it felt like nothing was really happening because the pacing was off.

I see potential in the series and think I would give it another shot. There is a good foundation here so hopefully it picks up as the series progresses.

⭐️ Ranking: 2.5 (rounded up to 3)
🤓 Do I own the book? No – ARC
🎧📖 How I read it: E-ARC (thank you Silas Reames and NetGalley!)
🌶 Level: 3
📚 Would read again? Probably not

I had such high hopes for this one, a gothic-inspired fantasy romance with curses, gods, and even a ghostly love interest had everything I thought I would love for spooky season. While the premise is enchanting and the atmosphere had potential, the story ended up falling a little flat for me.

This book had such a strong start, but the middle is where it lost me. The pacing dragged, and I found myself struggling to stay connected. I also couldn’t get attached to any of the characters, which made it harder to invest in the romance or the stakes of the plot. Celia, our main character, is in her twenties, but the narration often read more like YA. Her inner thoughts became repetitive, and at times the world and plot were overexplained, which slowed down the momentum even further.

That said, I do think readers who enjoy slower, more romantic gothic fantasy will find magic here. The setup of a cursed country, hidden gods, and a ghostly love interest, and I can see how this could click for the right audience.

Thank you again to Silas Reames and NetGalley for the ARC.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC!*

I thought this book was very unique, which is great because a lot of books nowadays have similar concepts/storylines. I also really enjoyed the personification of Death throughout this book, and as always, the slow-burn romance had me wanting more!!

This book was amazing! I'd highly recommend this to readers who enjoy a gothic fantasy with slow-burn romance!

I was provided an e-arc through NetGalley to provide an honest review

"The parameters of society didn’t lend themselves to dashing, daring, or delinquent behaviors. Which was a shame given that nearly all of my interests fell in just those categories." (Silas Reames)

I felt so heard and seen by this quote and I think it covers a lot of ground to explain the vibe of this book with few words. The Unseen Hour is a book that bends expectations and explores a world that is equal parts dangerous and intriguing. I have to admit I am probably the target audience for this book, but I felt immediately drawn into the complexity of the world building. The premise of the Unseen Hour itself (an hour during New Years) is fascinating and mysterious and sets the tone well.

I enjoyed that the female main character is determined and fierce. She plans, plots and makes decisions even when the stakes are high and there is adversity. I also appreciated that although the attraction was there between the FMC and MMC, that the development of that relationship was slow burn.

I would be hard pressed to put this book in a corner when it considers genre; roughly approximated it is a gothic fantasy with romance, supernatural and mystery elements. I feel it gives the book a layered and textured energy, but if you are looking for a specific vibe it might not work for you.

And of course, a special shoutout to the horse sidekick, Pellix. I want to join his fan club!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gothic fantasy, political intrigue, supernatural elements, and slow-burn romance set against high-stakes worlds. It’s especially delightful to read in the fall, making it a perfect addition to your spooky season TBR.

As the first installment of an intended duology, I’m eager to see where Reames takes this world and these characters next.

⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)

The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is an imaginative, eerie tale with an intriguing premise, though it doesn’t fully live up to its potential.

The story begins with Celia’s father mysteriously vanishing during the fabled “Unseen Hour,” a hidden pocket of time outside normal reality. Determined to find him, Celia spends a year piecing together cryptic clues and experimenting with dangerous rituals until she finally pierces the barrier. Inside, she encounters Orion, the enigmatic head shade who rules over the hour’s shadowy inhabitants. The two form a fragile alliance as they spend the next year struggling to unravel and ultimately undo the God of the Ether’s dominion over this stolen hour.

Reames’s writing shines in atmosphere—his descriptions of the Unseen Hour are haunting, filled with strange beauty and unsettling dread. The relationship between Celia and Orion offers some of the most engaging moments, balancing tension, mistrust, and the flickers of something deeper. However, the pacing often falters: the first half lingers too long on Celia’s trial-and-error search, while the latter half rushes through the unraveling of the Ether God’s power. Secondary characters feel underdeveloped, leaving much of the emotional weight resting solely on Celia and Orion.

Overall, The Unseen Hour is an inventive and moody read with striking imagery and an original premise. Readers who love atmospheric fantasy tinged with horror will find much to admire, though the uneven execution keeps it from being truly unforgettable.