This was unlike anything I've ever read. The closest comparison I could make is to the time-loop mystery of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, except much, much more fantastical. The worldbuilding of Prime alone drew me in, with the various guilds and Moons. Add to that the worlds of the Echos, which were mind-bending without ever becoming incomprehensible. I'm in awe of the pure imagination in this book.

Kembral Thorne was a great protagonist. I absolutely loved her snarky voice and was rooting for her as she wrestled with her doubts and uncertainties about whether she could still do her job after she'd just had a child. And I also adored her relationship with Rika Nonesuch; the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc was so well done.

The pacing was top-notch, too; there was a great balance of reveals and escalation in stakes that made me fly through the pages. In a time when a lot of publishers are pushing out cookie-cutter fantasy novels with the same tropes and shallow romances, I'm so delighted and grateful to find one that breaks convention and does it so masterfully. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique, refreshing fantasy!

Thank you to Orbit for granting my wish! I had gotten denied this book once, and had resigned myself to the fact I would have to wait months on end to read this. Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley, that was not the case.

First off, is this an adult book? Yes, in how the plot unravels, and the complexity of it. However, it's written accessibly enough that I could feel comfortable recommending it to more higher-reading students. As a STEM teacher, I absolutely do love the focus on how while this is fantasy, technology's role is huge, and works with the magic.

There were many part that fully tugged at my heartstrings. There were some parts that I feel I did guess at, and felt rewarded when they were correct. I really liked all the relationships-- Kem and her absent baby, Kem and her co-worker, Kem and Reka, Kem and Hound allies, Kem and a little girl. And epecially some of the more important people. . . . but that's a spoiler for those reading! I do feel like people are characterized well.

One thing I thought extremely tricky was the fact that the book did not lose its sense of tension, even trapped in a Groundhog-like Day horrorscape. Resets didn't mean things were better, only that they were running out of chances. Too, I also like the fey creatures, and the workings oin them.

A mother on maternity leave finally gets some time away from her newborn to get some much-needed adult conversation, celebration of the dawning of a new year, and maybe a flirtation until the party goes horribly wrong. Kembral Thorne gets sucked back into work on repeat as she teams with Rika Nonesuch, her sometimes adversary and potential romantic interest to stop a supernatural crime. The story is told in first person from Kem's point of view as she delves deeper into the time loops, tries to figure out how to resolve the crime, and discovers a past connection with Rika all between chimes of a perplexing clock. This fantasy tale is a tad science fiction, a light romance, and even a bit cozy mystery all delivered in well-written prose that made it a pleasure to read. The characters are well thought out and interactions work to drive the plot forward into an enjoyable story. There is indication that this is the first in a series, but the story concludes satisfactorily that it could even be read as a stand alone, unless you delight in it as much as I did and can't wait for the sequel to find out what mischief Kem and Rika discover next. This would be a great read for anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery or fantasy.
I received access to this ARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.