3 ⭐

The world-building in this is next level! Amy Avery's debut definitely delivered on this front, I just believe some of the expectations from the plot of the story did not deliver. I loved the concept of this book upon hearing it - a forbidden romance with heavy mythology roots who gets trapped with the god of Autumn.

In this world, Tirne is one of the fortunate few mortals who help escort the gods of the incoming season through the realms to transition. Tirne takes pride in her job as herald and loves it with her whole being. With this current transition, Tirne would take Autumn, the God of Death, through an enchanted mirror to cross the realms into the human lands.

however, the mirror shattered after passing through. There consequences spiraled and our story begins with Tirne being blamed for this tragedy. She is stripped of her duties and works her way to find the true answer to the mystery to clear her name.

This story was more of a whodunit rather than a fantasy-romance. The romance is what lost it for me. I suppose that was my own fault for my expectations, however the romance was entirely lacking. I didn't feel any chemistry between Tirne and Autumn while reading this. The only redeeming factor was the overall world-building and intrigue within the story.

Might change my mind in the future if I decide on a reread...

Interesting World-building
Character's Inner Journey
Whodunnit
Political intrigue
Chronic Illness rep (Debilitating Migraines)

For transparency - I did swap between the audio and ebook through the duration of my read and both were alright - neither truly made the experience better. The narration by Zura Johnson was lovely, but the story itself made it hard to be interested.

The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery released January 16, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and MacMillan Audio for the eARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very good debut fantasy! I loved the mythology and the religious servitude atmosphere, it felt really one of a kind. And I was a sucker for the very fluid relationships and love interests, in that way it kept me guessing the whole time. That being said, the mystery itself felt obvious from the start, so that made some of the fun die out quick. But the turn this book took about half way through was very surprising and pleasantly unexpected!
I do find that the main character was constantly helpless, not because of her chronic illness, but because she was constantly the victim of bloodletting, drugging, stabbing, you name it. It did get exhausting after a while but lol kind of reminded me of Stephenie Meyer so that was weirdly comforting in a nostalgic sort of way.
Overall a very original and intriguing story that had me interested the whole time. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Also funny note: I had pictured Sidriel as this crusty decrepit man [kinda like an old version of Randal from Monster's Inc] so LOL it was funny me trying to picture certain things a little bit into this book XD

I will include a review of this in my Monthly reading wrap up on my booktube channel and will link here when posted.

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

This is an adult fantasy/romantasy tale by debut author Amy Avery, and I was vibing along with it at around the four star range until the ending. Then I was upset enough with this book to drop the rating to 3.5 stars.

I will tell you this book made me sob heaps and heaps of tears. This is a very sad book. It’s an emotional book. I guess that’s fitting for a book about a very long autumn, but by the ending I felt emotionally manipulated, and not in a good way. When there’s great trauma in the read there needs to be an equally cathartic payout. The payout here wasn’t cathartic. It was a mess.

The writing itself was pleasant, and I think Avery has a great future in front of her as a writer. The plot, while marred at the end, was really great and written well. The characters were well-written and designed. The book was predictable in a lot of ways but no more so than any other fantasy book.

I just really wish the ending didn’t feel so devastating to me.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Fantasy/Romantasy/LGBTQ Fantasy

Beautifully written and atmospheric. I will say I was a fan of the representation in this book, but less interested in the overall mystery. That’s not a discredit to the book, more so of me not being able to hold my attention for the majority of the book with the mirror. The pacing lost my attention a bit after the first half of the novel.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “The Longest Autumn” by Amy Avery in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My review: The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery, a debut standalone, is a stunning play on mythology and is an interesting take on the subject. Usually, we see humans get stuck in the gods realm, and instead we see Tirne and Autumn get locked in the mortal realm after they pass through a mirror left shattered. Unable to return to his realm, Tirne slowly begins to lose his divine powers and grasping to find out who did this. The Longest Autumn is stunningly atmospheric and leaves you wondering about what more could happen in this world. My only complaint is the length and how the story could have been wrapped up in a better bow. I think this is an amazing debut and look forward to Amy's growth as a writer.


<b> Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes: </b>
- Mythology & Gods
Mortals and Diety
Trapped in another realm
Seasonal Gods
LGBTQIA+ Rep

The Longest Autumn is a complex story about a world where Gods walk the earth and the bad guy will do whatever it takes to win. Tirne is the Herald for Autumn. She has held the job for years and loves the work she does. When the mirror between her world and the world of the gods breaks, she must unravel the mystery of who destroyed the mirror in order to save her world and the god she serves.

The author does a good job creating a large, diverse world with friendship and intrigue. The character of Tirne is strong willed and has worked tirelessly to become Autumn's Herald. I understood what was driving her through the story and I felt her emotions as she struggled to understand what was happening around her. I think the way the author showed the relationship between Tirne and Autumn was excellent. I had a sneaky hunch who the bad guy was from the very beginning of the story, but I doubted myself a couple of times as I was reading. I thought the bad guy and his reasons for what he was doing were really good. There is a large cast of side characters. Each character served a purpose in propelling the story forward. I thought there was a lot of potential for side stories with the other characters, but the author chose to focus on Tirne and the plight of Autumn.

I have some issues with the story but I think that the issues are mine and a lot of readers won't notice them. For example, the end fell a little flat in my opinion. The only explanation I have is that it seemed like the author decided the core story was done so just called it quits. It felt incomplete. Otherwise, my issues are things that would give away story elements and no spoilers here.

This is a fantasy novel set in a world where gods walk the earth and the seasons are changed by the gods. This is a quiet story where a lot happens but it is not pulse pounding excitement instead it is a slow building of information to lead to the conclusion. I would recommend this if you like to read fantasy novels.

The Longest Autumn is about Tirne, a Herald of the god Autumn and a curse that prevents Autumn from leaving the mortal world. This tragedy causes the season of autumn to last longer than usually, causing crops to die and now the mortals are faced with starvation. Autumn is losing his powers because he is trapped in the mortal lands.

I enjoyed the book but I couldn't fall in love with the characters. The world building was great and so was the magic system but that was it. Tirne, was extremely submissive. I expected more from her character, especially since she knew she was wrongfully accused for causing Autumn to be trapped in the mortal world and shattering the portal (the Mirror) that connected the two. She just kept allowing herself to be used. I thought it would be more of a mystery, where she's searching for clues and ends up solving the crime, but that doesn't happen.

I didn't get hooked until chapter 29 but then the ending was rushed and disappointing. It was as if Tirne went in circles and went through so much pain, for nothing. There wasn't any romance in the book, just a lot of sex. No character development and the pacing could have been better, The beginning was slow and the ending was rushed.

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity, in exchange for an honest review.

I almost don't want to make this review. I just want to start off by saying books are subjective and because I didn't like it doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a shot. That being said, this fell so short for me. I was excited to read this because the plot sounded amazing. It a very solid plot but wasn't executed well. The story itself is so slow. I felt like the same thing happened again and again. It didn't pick up until 70% and then you get to the ending which was also a let down. the only reason I finished was because I generally was interested in finding out why the mirror broke, like I said the plot was interesting. I was very bored and found it hard to finish.

As a avid reader of Greek Mythology, my anticipation for this book was marked by high expectations. Unfortunately, while the premise promised a spellbinding tale of a human ensnared with the god of Autumn, complete with life-threatening danger and a forbidden romance, the execution left much to be desired.

One of the standout features of the book is the world-building and the magic system, painting a vivid and enchanting landscape, fantastical realm where gods and mortals collide. The depiction of the god of Autumn and the inherent dangers that accompany him adds a layer of mystique to the narrative.
Regrettably, the positives are significantly overshadowed by several drawbacks. The plot unfolds in a manner that feels both repetitive and tedious, failing to sustain the initial promise of excitement and intrigue. The pacing, too, struggles to maintain a consistent flow, resulting in moments of stagnation that hinder the overall flow of the story.
Moreover, the characters, central to any engaging narrative, lack the depth and development needed to fully captivate me as a reader. Their actions and motivations become predictable, making it challenging to establish a meaningful connection with them. The forbidden romance, a key element in the synopsis, falls flat due to its underdeveloped nature, leaving me yearning for a more compelling emotional journey.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had an interesting premise, and I liked the magic system involved, with the mirror and ceremonial changing of seasons. However, the plot seemed a little too slow, and I’m not sure the character had enough backbone for the things she had to do. This had potential, but ultimately fell short of what I generally look for and enjoy in a fantasy novel.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc. '


I have never wanted to rage quit a book so many times. the writing right off the bat felt like a very bad greek mythology fanfic and IT DROVE ME INSANE. the main character comes off like a Bella Swan esque girl in a fantasy setting and I hated the romance. I'M SORRY I TRIED.

The beginning read very slowly, despite there being action from the get-go. It wound up being an odd juxtaposition that was hard for me to recover from. Perhaps it was how things were described? I couldn't place why the pacing of the story didn't match the energy. It just didn't work for me. With that said, I really did enjoy the story. Unfortunately, the story didn't quite match the description of the book. It's why I'm leaving this at 3-stars. If the description matched better, then I would have liked it more. If the energy matched the pacing, then I would have liked it more as well. As it currently stands, it overall fell a little flat for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read / review this book, and I wish all the best as this was a wonderful twist on gods and mortals.

This book started off so strong! For a debut author, Amy Avery definitely knows how to capture her audience’s attention and keep them in the story. The premise was unique in my reading habits, as I don’t read much mythology or retellings. But once I was halfway in, the story started to fall flat. It was a chore to finish, and unfortunately, I found the ending unsatisfying. I’ll definitely give the author another chance, as I enjoyed the writing, but this story wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Longest Autumn is about a young woman, Tierne, who is accompanies the god of Autumn to the human world and back to the divine world every year for the changing of the seasons. Early in the book there is an accident (or was it sabotage?) that leaves her and Autumn stranded in the human world, and the other gods unable to come for the changing of the seasons.

I got to about 40% and I just couldn't push through any longer. The writing style in this book screams teenager despite the adult themes and its marketing being directed towards adults. The prose is overly descriptive. Everything concerning the gods and their seasons is too on the nose and obvious, like Autumn smelling like apples and his cape dropping leaves everywhere he goes (which we hear about in EVERY scene with him), and Winter being pale and cold (in personality).

Additionally, the narrator repeatedly discusses the trial to piecing the broken mirror back together, which they're literally putting together like a puzzle. Like, these literal WIZARDS (well, they aren't called wizards, but same thing) are literally hiring "puzzle masters" to help with this. At the 40% mark this has been detailed multiple times and I just hope that by the end, they figure out a more exciting way to fix the mirror. Overall the magic system and
world building are not strong in this book.

Overall there isn't a lot of action in this book despite is being a fantasy. We get a lot of Tierne trying to solve this mystery by sneaking around, and based on what I've read in other reviews, there are a lot of sex scenes, which I foresee being the most action-packed parts of the book. The lack of strength in the fantasy aspect makes this a confusing genre-merging with mystery and romance.

The one thing in this book I do like is the chronic illness representation. Tierne has chronic migraines and that was an interesting aspect that would have made for an interesting fantasy, if the overall writing style was different.

Tirne (don't ask how many times I read that as Time for some reason) is a Herald, a mortal who escorts one of the gods of the four seasons back to mortal realm through a mirror portal. While her duty has gone flawlessly the previous six years, this year as she escorts Autumn through the mirror it shatters behind them, leaving the moral realm stuck in autumn until it can be fixed and the seasons can get back to their normal cycle.
This was an interesting riff on the Hades/Persephone myth from Greek mythology but with a few tweaks to the original myth. Tirne, Autumn (the god she's herald for) and the rest of the characters are interesting to various degrees and the suffering both internal and external that's caused by months of autumn is well described. The story moved quickly in the beginning, had a bit of a bog down in the middle, and wrapped up quickly with a decent ending for all the characters without being overly happy ever after. A good read if you like myth retellings. Thanks to NetGalley & Flatiron books for the free e-book.

3.5 / 5 stars

The Longest Autumn follows Tirne, herald to the God of Autumn, as she becomes center to an investigation after the portal from the gods' realm shatters, trapping Tirne and Autumn in the human world.

The book was a web of mystery and scandalous relationships as the investigation unfolds. At times, I did find the book convoluted, with flashbacks, too many characters, and subplots which left me confused throughout the story, but they seemed to tie together well by the end.

I loved the chronic illness rep of our MC, who suffers from chronic migraines. As a chronic illness girlie, I am always pumped to see representation of badass and intelligent characters who also suffer from chronic pain. Whilst it was not made an aspect of her personality, it still affected her in many areas of her life, driving some of the choices she makes.

There is some romance in the book, though it is not a central point to the plot. I have seen some mixed reviews on this, some saying there was too much, some saying it was not enough. So I am here to say, it does exist, but it is not a romance book.

Overall, I thought the book was pretty good, but there was definitely stuff I feel could have been ironed out. Tirne is a beautifully flawed character, surrounded by other flawed characters, and I greatly appreciate Avery's commitment to making the people imperfect.

Book Name: The Longest Autumn
Author: Amy Avery

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an ARC of Amy Avery’s The Longest Autumn

Stars: 1
Spice: 4

Standalone
SLooooow Paced
FMC POV
High Fantasy

- Thoughts.
- First-Person Present
- Greek Mythology Vibes
- Great World Building
- Flat Characters
- Lots of Spice
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I expected to like this more than I did. The Synopsis and Concept are made for me however the execution was just not fully there. The spice was somehow unsexy and very unconnected to the overall plot which was lacking in my opinion. The FMC was passive with most of the action of the book being done to her rather than her reacting or moving within the world. This book was a debut so I would look into her work again at a later time but this one just didn't hit the mark.

- SPOILER

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*Not HEA which is a WTF for anything trying to market as a romance …. I was very disappointed

This complex high fantasy novel with a dark twist is a fascinating and immersive read. Tirne, the protagonist, is the Herald for the god Autumn and one of four heralds, but their latest trip through the Mirror from the divine realm shatters the Mirror and traps their world in a long autumn season.Tirne is blamed for the shattering of the mirror, an incident which throws her life into disarray, destroys her familiar routines, and leads her down a complex, treacherous, and unfamiliar path with new faces, the familiar old faces of her friends abandoning her along the way. Avery’s worldbuilding skills, from the different religious systems, mechanics of magic and other fantasy elements, and her settings and characters are incredibly detailed, complex, and well done. The characters have particularly complex personalities, with hidden motivations and characteristics, and their relationships with their religious order and their peers are also interestingly complex. Avery does an excellent job of subverting expectations and conclusions throughout the novel, especially regarding her characters, which adds another level to the novel’s complexity. This novel is particularly detailed and complex, and readers should enjoy the various aspects of this novel and Tirne’s perspective of the events and situations she finds herself in.

This was such a beautiful, enchanting book. It felt completely realistic and all characters were given appropriate depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was admissible at best. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the magic system and the world building. That was the best part of the book. It was really unique in its own right. The lackluster of the build up to anything: romance and plot, was just a huge let down. It was like OMG! Finally something going to happen and then it does happen and it’s just dull and ordinary. I felt like Tirne was just running around in circles not really accomplishing anything.