I went into this hoping for a mythology-esque fantasy with a tiny pinch of romance. Instead, I got smut heavy romance with a tiny pinch of fantasy. Objectively, the writing wasn’t bad, but I wanted more of the plot and less of the random sex scenes. Things happen so fast that there isn’t really any time for the reader to feel the emotions as the MC moves through the book. It left me feeling a bit disconnected. All in all, this story had promise, but lacked a bit in execution.

The Longest Autumn was not what I expected at all. It took a bit to grasp an understanding of Tirne and the world she lives in, but once I did I couldn’t wait to finish it. There are gods for each season and with the help of a select few humans they are ushered into the human world. The balance of the seasons is extremely important to the human world. When the god Autumn is ushered into the world by Tirne the mirror and portal are broken. Those in the temple work to fix the mirror in order to prevent an endless Autumn. As the seasons drags on Tirne is working to find who has cursed her to bring an end to the season.

"The Longest Autumn" is a spellbinding journey into the realms of fantasy that deserves a place among the classics of the genre. With its masterful world-building, compelling characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this novel is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess. For those who seek an escape into a world of magic and wonder, "The Longest Autumn" is an absolute must-read that will leave a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of all who venture into its enchanting pages.

I absolutely love the beautiful narration. I felt that performance. The story was okay. It was maybe too long. I like it though! I can't wait to see what Amy Avery does next!

3.5 Stars

I really got swept into this mythological fantasy world revolving around the gods of each season and the humans gifted with their powers that help usher in their season.

While it felt a bit slow as we got into the world building, the mystery starts almost right off the bat. I kept forgetting that we had a curse and a mystery and illnesses that we had to worry about because I felt like we were pulled into so many directions. Once I got a handle on it, I really started to enjoy this unique story and setting!

The last quarter let me down, but not in a way that ruined the whole book for me. It just left me wanting more and didn’t go in a direction I personally would have like. With that said, for a debut stand-alone fantasy, this story is impressive!

If you are into audio, the narrator is incredible and really does an excellent job with the audiobook!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

- This felt like a very unique fantasy world, and I was so interested by the magic system!
- I struggled a bit with the pacing. It's on the slower side and there is minimal action to push through that. The audio helped with this a lot!
- I was frustrated by Tirne often. She, along with many of the other characters, comes across as very morally gray. She did not feel like a very active MC, and a lot of the plot feels like it washes over her.
- The last 3rd of the book picked up a lot, and I did love the growth shown by Tirne. Her choices at the very end of the book really redeemed her as well.

Excellent debut! I don't think everyone will love THE LONGEST AUTUMN, but it genuinely captivated me. I like being surrounded by hope and melancholia, and Amy Avery ensured I felt every emotion Tirne felt. She also did an exceptional job of writing about Tirne's migraines, and as a chronic migraineur, I felt so seen in this book. I only wish I could get some of those potions to help me!

The reason why I thought this would be a book for specific audiences was that it's not your typical fantasy novel, i.e., the romantic leads meet, there's a problem or a villain, the hero/ine fixes it, smushy kissy faces for the romance, all was well. THE LONGEST AUTUMN does not follow that pattern. Some people would not be happy with it veering the typical off-course, which makes Tirne's story fascinating.

It has female empowerment, magic, romance, mythology, and the theme of pushing through pain to survive daily life. It was a winner for me.

Also, Zura Johnson is an excellent narrator who brings Tirne to life.

Thanks, Macmillian Audio, for the gifted audio!

Content Warnings: toxic relationship, familial death, death, blood, chronic illness, ableism, grief, addiction

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!
The audio narration was very good, and definitely helped with my enjoyment. The narrator's emotion was phenomenal *clap emoji* some of the best emotion I've heard! It sounded so genuine and really added to the experience.
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.

A captivating and original fantasy debut that had me enthralled right from the start. Great on audio and highly recommended, especially if you enjoy stories filled with strong female characters, magic and mythology. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more by Amy Avery!

I’m so glad I read this.

Amy Avery’s debut is a dreamy, heart-provoking fantasy about - well, a lot of things. There’s the story of how a person’s faith can evolve without breaking, how old friendship can still change as you get older, and how you can achieve your childhood dreams and realize you have other desires. It’s fitting that a story with the word “Autumn” in the title is so much about change.

In the LONGEST AUTUMN, Tirne is a herald, one of the rare humans granted magic so she can lead her chosen god, Autumn, between the divine and human realm. But at the beginning of the book, the mirror they travel through breaks, leaving Autumn - and the world - stuck in perpetual autumn until they can find a way to fix the portal. Everyone suspects Tirne, who is desperate to figure out who really broke the mirror before the world starves to death.

Avery tells the story in achingly sad, beautiful prose with an emotional thrum that reminds us that myths are not just stories about how we got here but also the mirror that reflects who we are. Get it!

The narration was appealing. The story started off interesting but the pacing soon into the story really dragged on and the character development seemed lacking. It was almost like the MC was diving into all these relationships that never built. I did not feel invested in any way. I really wanted to like this one but just could not get into it.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to read this great novel.

I really, really loved this book. This had everything I love in a story. There is mythology, romance, friendship and love. Tirne has the great honor of escorting the God of Autumn to for his three month stay until Winter makes her entrance. As they walk through the mirror it breaks which begins the long Autumn. Tirne herself is suspected of causing the break. I don't want to go too deep into what happens but let me just say that this is great. The world building is fantastic. The narrator was amazing.

Thank you Flatiron and McMillan Audio for this ALC.

I have mixed feelings about this fantasy, enemies to lovers plot. To be transparent, I do not usually like this genre, however, I am always on the look out for excellent examples of fantasy.

What Avery does best is create an atmospheric setting. The reader is transported through Avery's detailed descriptions of scents and vibrant colors. You ARE in this world, along with Tirne, Autumn and the other characters. I also liked the integration of concepts that allude to Greek Myth, but that also seem to be revisions of other cultures. For example, Tirne is a herald, but there are other characters whose roles deal with magic, alchemy, and overseeing traditions etc.

This novel is very much a quest, in that Tirne is on a journey to first find out who is responsible for "poisoning her" and thus causing her removal as herald, but she is also on a quest to find her new self - who she really is, and what she really wants from her life.

Throughout the novel there were times when I could not understand why loving what you did, as Tirne loves being a herald so much that she becomes fixated on regaining her position, was portrayed in such a negative way. At one point her best friend calls her a monster because of this, but there is some truth behind that idea. Tirne risks it all, including her friendships and her beliefs to regain her position and it is only when she can come to understand this, that she realizes she does need to think about how her desire to reveal the culprit is actually harming more people than just herself.

I do really like the way this novel ended and that it was not your "traditional" boy gets girl/girl gets boy ending. Tirne makes a decision that, though somewhat selfish, was also liberating.

Overall, fantasy readers will love this one. Someone who does not normally seek this genre will appreciate the Avery's writing style.

As this was an audiobook ALC, I do want to make a note that the narrator did a great job of portraying emotion in her performance. There were many parts of this book where characters felt immense emotion and the narrator helped the listener experience that.

I want to start by thanking @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for providing this ARC via audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not gonna lie, I was super excited about this one. Autumn is my FAVORITE season. If I could live somewhere that was autumn 365 days a year, I would do it. Between the theme of autumn, this gorgeous cover, and the unique magical synopsis of this book, I really thought this would be a 5 star read for me.

However, I found it lacking. Maybe it’s just because it was an audiobook and I didn’t find the narrator very dynamic which made me feel bored. I was frequently finding myself confused and couldn’t read back a few pages to figure out what I missed. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters in this book, including the FMC. Sex was a huge theme in this book (too much, imo) but it lacked spice. That being said, the world building and magic system was super unique and I do feel that if I read this instead of listened to it, it would maybe get a higher rating from me. I also always appreciate LGBTQ+ representation in stories with was another positive for this story!

Synopsis:
Tirne is one of 4 human “harolds” chosen to usher the turn of seasons into the mortal world. She has been chosen to usher Autumn between the godly and human realms. However, this year, after Tirne and Autumn enter the human realm, the mirror between realms shatters, trapping them in the human realm and delaying the change of seasons, leading to crops failing and starvation throughout the realm. Autumn starts to become mortal and Tirne begins to struggle with debilitating headaches, which becomes a major theme in the story. Tirne attempts to dig into the temple’s secrets to find a way to reassemble the mirror and find the truth.

An overall good debut story for Amy Avery and I would definitely pick up another one of her books in the future!

I wish I could give partial ratings because I’d give this audiobook 3.25 stars. The narration was easy to follow and the story started off strong. I loved the idea of seasonal gods and a magical world Avery builds. I was quickly hooked in by the romance and secretive games unfolding.

This book had all the elements I look for in fantasy/romantasy but unfortunately I felt like the pacing dropped off about midway through the book. The storyline started to drag for me, and I grew frustrated with Tirne’s inaction.

I’d likely recommend this book to someone starting out in the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

One of the most engrossing Fantasy debuts I've read in a long time. I'd heard about this book and decided to give it a shot, and after I started I couldn't stop listening. The narrator was great, all the characters sounded very unique and specific. And the plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. And for those who like their fantasy a little steamy...there's more than enough of that to go around. I can't recommend it enough, and am looking forward to seeing this author's future work!

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The story follows Tirne, a priestess for the god Autumn, who gets entangled in a web of secrets and betrayals after the enchanted mirror separating the human and god realms shatters, throwing the world into an endless autumn and trapping her and Autumn in the human realm.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and think the narrator Zura Johnson did an amazing job. I liked the fantasy setting the author created and the poetic and beautiful prose. The relationships between the characters are also very well-written.

The story's tone is very melancholic, to the point that it gets monotonous. It primarily focuses on how Tirne's life falls apart as tragic things befall her one after the other, without any respite. It gets a bit frustrating seeing her make the same mistakes again and again. The mystery plot is very slow-moving, and the ending isn't the strongest.

Overall, it is a well-conceptualized and well-written book, but I didn't like it as much as I expected to.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was originally on the fence between 2 or 3 stars, but upon more reflection I realize this book is definitely a 2 star for me. I don’t give 2 stars often, if at all, so allow me to explain my review as thoroughly as possible.

The Longest Autumn focuses on Tirne, a devoted human to her god “Autumn.” Responsible for guiding souls back to their divine realm through a portal-mirror, her role is her entire identity. However, when the Mirror shatters, trapping Autumn in the mortal world and hindering the changing of seasons, the world is now at the mercy of hunger, death, and loss. Blamed by everyone, Tirne must identify the culprit to avert banishment.

The book is marketed as a forbidden romance with a comparison to the beloved "Ariadne" (a book I rated 5 stars), I anticipated a tale of a woman accused, showcasing her strength and love. Unforuntely, 80% of the book was overwritten, rendering Tirne's conclusion seemingly purposeless. Lacking a substantial story or character arc, her ending felt abrupt and disjointed, with unclear emotional transitions. Rather than engaging in a meaningful investigation, the story is cluttered with odd intimate scenes. The sequence of events felt oddly paced, random, and there is little to no payoff for the reader.

The romance itself was completely absent. I don’t have to have romance in my books, but this book is advertised as a forbidden romance. I had a real problem with Tirne’s constant hookups, being used, but the plot not moving forward at all. I wouldn’t call the romance “spicy” either, just constant, odd, and misplaced. (I’d like to note I’m not opposed to ‘spice’ or rate low if it’s often, but this book was straight strange and felt so odd). Right when I thought we finally had depth and a love plot for our MC, it’s wiped right away. I was left wondering why we went through all this trouble for nothing; and by trouble, I mean forcing myself to read through repetitive scenes for 80% of the book. The romance lacked depth and felt forced, erasing any semblance of a meaningful plot. The main love interests barely communicated, leaving their connection feeling more like a god fixated on bedding our MC than a genuine romance, as Tirne claims.

The pacing was a critical downfall. Despite the potential for enchantment like the spirit world in A River Enchanted, the story was repetitive and had a lack of action or plot progression. By 60%, the story remained stagnant, with a thematic upswing only occurring at 80%, and then ending abruptly in an unsatisfying way. I wanted to DNF way too many times to give this book a higher rating.

I hate leaving a low review for a debut book, and I hope this detailed review clarifies my star rating. I sincerely thought I’d enjoy this book more than I did.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Initially, the author's writing style grabbed my attention and drew me in. However, as I read further, I found myself disliking the main character and felt that the pace of the story was too slow with little plot development. Despite this, I appreciated the representation of individuals with migraines and invisible illnesses. The romantic aspect of the book was not to my liking. The main character's choices gave me the ick. Overall, I think the author had a great concept and her writing was well done, but for me, the book was disappointing.

Thank you, NetGalley for an opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.