Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez's *The Gods Time Forgot* is a mesmerizing blend of romance and fantasy set against the backdrop of 1870s Manhattan. The story centers on Rua, a young woman with no memories who is mistakenly identified as the missing Emma Harrington. This intriguing premise immediately draws readers in, setting the stage for a tale filled with mystery, magic, and societal intrigue.

Gonzalez crafts a rich, atmospheric world that beautifully captures the grit and glamour of New York during this vibrant period. Rua’s journey to uncover her identity while navigating the complexities of high society is both compelling and relatable. Her determination to discover the truth about her past and her connection to the enigmatic Finn, the Lord of Donore, adds layers of tension and romance to the narrative.

Finn is a captivating character, embodying the charm and social acumen required to navigate the elite circles of Manhattan. His growing fascination with Rua—and the sense that their connection transcends this life—creates a magnetic dynamic that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages. The chemistry between Rua and Finn is palpable, infused with both longing and an air of mystery.

As Rua’s memories begin to surface, the plot takes a thrilling turn into the realm of dark magic and ancient secrets. Gonzalez masterfully intertwines elements of fantasy with the historical setting, creating a fantastical atmosphere that is both enchanting and unsettling. The revelations about Rua’s past are surprising and beautifully crafted, providing a satisfying depth to the story.

Overall, *The Gods Time Forgot* is a captivating read that expertly combines romance, mystery, and fantasy. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez has created a spellbinding tale that will leave readers enchanted and eager for more. This novel is a must-read for fans of romantasy and anyone looking for a richly woven story filled with magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. You won’t want to miss it!

4 stars / This review will be posted on BookwormishMe.com

Bring on Irish mythology in the 19th century! The tales of Cú Chulainn and the Morrigan are shifted into New York in the 1870s. The shift is nearly seamless, with our two main characters having dreams of previous lives. Such a great take on the myths, though when you read this, you wonder, were they really myths?

Emma Harrington has disappeared from the family summer home in upstate New York. When she reappears, she is not the same Emma who left. Apparently that Emma, beautiful but troublesome, at least could pretend to be upper class. This Emma who has returned not only cannot behave as though she is part of the nouveau riche, but wants to antagonize and turn the world upside down.

The Lord of Donore is a mystery as well. He has embedded himself into the upper crust of Manhattanites, courting the daughter of his business partner. He is not drawn to her for any reason other than to cement himself into society’s elite. To ensure that his place will allow him to continue to support the Irish families that daily arrive on ships to America.

When the ‘new’ Emma and the Lord meet, the worlds collide and each is drawn to the other like magnets. But Emma, rather Rua as she prefers to be called, would be the downfall of Finn’s hard work. How can he make sure that she’s safe and cared for, but still maintain his dignity and place? The more they are thrust together, the harder this becomes. Especially with the memories of their former lives haunting them in their sleep.

Such a beautiful story about a love affair that crosses realms and time. Finn and Rua are the perfect match for one another. Rua/Emma is to be admired for her strong will. Cú/Finn is her foil, wanting to make sure that she is not ostracized.

The book is wonderfully written and captivating. These are not myths that I was familiar with. While I knew of the Morrigan, Cú Chulainn is not a character I’d heard of. But what a warrior he was. His bravery and dignity shine through Finn. I was hoping, as I reached the end of this novel, that it might go on for a while, perhaps a series? Although it does seem to be a standalone. This is one of those novels to be savored again and again.



Reviews will also be posted to:
LibraryThing: BookwormishMe
The StoryGraph: BookwormishMe
Goodreads: BookwormishMe

Reviews will be posted after publication to:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

I absolutely loved the plot of this book. The title fits perfectly, and it took me to a world I’d never experienced before. I’ve never read anything about Irish mythology, but this book gave me such an intriguing glimpse into it. I’ll definitely be diving deeper into that world after this. The way it blended 1800s New York with the rich history of Irish myths just worked so well for me. Honestly, I can’t think of anything I’d change about how the past and present were woven together—it was an incredible reading experience.

That said, I do have to mention that it took me about four tries to get through the first chapter. It was super confusing at first. I had no idea whether I was supposed to follow Emma or Rua, and I found myself getting lost. But once I made it past that first chapter, everything clicked, and the rest of the book was smooth sailing.

Rua and Finn are such lovable characters. From the moment they met, I was rooting for them to be together. I wouldn’t really call this an enemies-to-lovers story, though, since I didn’t really sense any true animosity between them. It felt more like they were torn between what society expected and how they really felt about each other (spoiler: they’re totally crazy about each other).

As for the rest of the characters, I think every single one was there for a reason. They all played a part in pushing Rua and Finn’s story forward, and that’s something I really appreciated. Not every author does that, and it’s part of what makes this book so special (though, of course, this is just my opinion).

I did take off half a star because I really wish there had been an epilogue. The ending felt rushed, and I was left with this sense of “wait, that’s it?” There was so much action building up, and then—boom, it was just over. I actually screamed at my Kindle for a minute because I was in total shock!

It’s taken me a minute to process this book. I got back and forth on how I feel about it. While I loved the mythology/folklore side of the story that’s pulled into a different century, some of it just felt rushed. I don’t know if it was me not getting the timing between events in the story, or just because it was a standalone (I think?) and the pacing needed to be faster. When we finally got to the conclusion thought, it felt SO abrupt with very little closure or even an epilogue. I would have loved to see how things progressed past the ending for many of the characters and the fall out.

Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for the eARC

What I liked:
✅ The concept: who remembers the movie Hancock? It popped in my mind (I am exposing my age here lol) the moment I saw the blurb. And one of my problems with Hancock is that there was no proper explanation of the characters’ backgrounds so I hoped this will scratch the itch for me.
✅ Irish mythology as the foundation of the fantasy elements: Irish mythology deserves more representation in current literature, just saying.
✅ Gilded age NYC as the setting: this is a perfect period to create a historical story.

What I didn’t like:
- Character development was lacking, especially the MMC, Finn.
- The book fell into the same problem the movie Hancock did, not enough details about the characters backgrounds.
- Some parts really dragged for me.
- The dialogue felt a bit too modern for the time period. Emma/Rua talks like a modern girl instead of an ancient being or even a Gilded Age socialite.

The book could have been shorter and tighter.

In a literary period where romantasy rules the shelves, and at a time in history where the need for escapism is at an all-time high, sometimes the premise of a book can capture your attention and help enable your maladaptive daydreaming before you ever even turn the first page. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez’s promise of two portal-hopping, amnesia-suffering, separated-by-centuries-and-lifetimes, ripped-straight-from-Irish-mythology main characters had me hooked.

In The Gods Time Forgot we are introduced first to our female main character, who reappears after a mysterious vanishing suddenly convinced that she is not, in fact, the Emma Harrington that everyone insists she is. But besides recalling the name Rua, her true identity is a question even to herself, as she has no memories of her life before she crawled up out of a pit in the earth, covered in blood that may or may not be her own. While navigating her unusual circumstances, she also has to sort out the rest of the vexations she finds on her plate: a verbally abusive mother, a community who loathes the very sight of her, and a mysterious Irishman named Finn who seems to awaken parts of her that she doesn’t yet understand. We are sent straight into the plot with no backstory or information, which is fitting with the amnesia of it all - it makes sense for us to be just as in the dark as Rua is.

I love that Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez chose to use Irish mythology as the backdrop to her story. It is a section of history and storytelling that I feel is underused in fantasy, and I was happy to learn a bit more about the Irish gods and legends. The use of wealthy and elitist 19th century social circles made for a fun narrative, as if Gonzalez made a book from a mash-up of Bridgerton and Gossip Girl (with a bit of magic and Old Gods thrown in). Our main characters are at their best when bantering - be it lustful or loathsome.

Unfortunately, The Gods Time Forgot fell short for me in key areas. First off, I would hardly categorize this as a fantasy/romantasy, seeing as only about 10% of the book had even a whisper of magic present. For the vast majority, this is a historical romance. Rua goes to social events. Rua contends with her mother and various members of upper class society. Rua tries to care less about the tall, mysterious man that she’s become instantaneously infatuated with. Even most of that 10% is magic talked about, not magic shown (and “show, don’t tell” is perhaps the core tenet of writing). And speaking of things not shown, I was shocked to get to the (incredibly, almost infuriatingly abrupt) ending only to realize…we never got to see the Big Bad. For a book about gods, I expected…well, gods.

Both the plot and the characters became repetitive fairly quickly. The middle 50% of the book consisted of a rotating sequence of events: Rua attends a social affair, gets in momentary trouble that seems to be asylum-worthy, runs away when she’s not supposed to, Finn finds her, she suffers little to no consequences. Over and over, ad nauseam. Finn’s character is also on a loop: he is obsessed with Rua to the very core of his soul, he needs to remain in her orbit for his life to be worth living. And then he walks out of her direct line of sight, and suddenly he “didn’t know why he was worrying so much about Rua when he was marrying [redacted for spoilers].” Over and over…and over. Finn is a toddler lacking object permanence. He has such little character growth that this continues at least until the 85% point.

The general swath of characters is underdeveloped, and lack the depth necessary to make an audience care deeply about the cast. Aside from Finn’s lack of object permanence, we know nothing about him except for the fact that he wants to make it big in America, and he’s extremely “good,” almost comically so (see also: Finn saving orphaned children; Finn literally pulling women from burning buildings). Our Big Bad is so underdeveloped that we don’t even get to meet her, but Rua’s mother (arguably Big Bad #2) is a caricature of a villain. Her motivations aren’t sound enough for the extent to which she abuses Rua, especially in her final scene. I was struck by a sense of uncanny valley from the way that these characters *almost* seemed human, but not quite.

Lastly, there were a handful of inconsistencies I couldn’t ignore (if Mara writes in her diary every day, how does she not realize it’s missing? Who was knocking on the library door? Why was Finn suddenly on horseback when we had previously been talking about trains? What’s up with this massive expositional dump?), strange priorities (Rua and Finn uncover their identities and still focus on trivial topics that should no longer matter), and bad motifs (even worse than the miscommunication trope is a NO communication trope).

The Gods Time Forgot had such a strong premise, and so much potential, and I wish it could be given a few more rounds of character and structural development to really give it what it deserves: less ballrooms and repetition, and more Irish mythology, bad guys, and actual magic. That being said, I will read what Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez publishes next, because I think she had a fantastic idea with this one.

Movies and television shows to watch after you read this book: Bridgerton, Ondine, Wolfwalkers, The Witcher, Outlander (if you squint a little).

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for sharing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually decided to not finish this book. It just wasn’t connecting for me. The synopsis sounds so good. But the beginning just didn’t grip me like I was hoping it would.

When I tell you I was going feral trying to read this early--I wanted it so badly. While it didn't *quite* live up to how excited I was for it, it was still good. I enjoyed the Irish mythology, I've always been fascinated by that area of myth. The setting of this story was great, and was clearly well-researched which I applaud the author for. It helped the setting and the world really come alive for me. The characters and the plot were also compelling, I was sucked into the romance and the tension was delicious. I don't usually love a dual POV (I'm just bad at focusing and once I'm focused it's jarring to switch gears) but that's just a me thing and it was objectively well done in this book. It took me a little bit to get into this story, but once I pushed through the beginning I really started to love the book. And that cover? *chef's kiss*

He watched her looking up at the moon, wishing he could tell her that the orange of her gown made her look like his favorite part of a sunrise, the part that burned the brightest. But he wouldn’t dare. She had no need for his reassurances.

Emma. That's what they keep calling her but yet it doesn't feel right. That cannot be her, but the Harrington's are adamant that is their daughter. Rua plays along when the threat of being locked up in an asylum becomes a very real threat. Emma had been missing for a whole day before Rua was found coming out of a Hellmouth coated in blood, and with no memory. She is forced to quickly adapt as they make the Harrington's do their best to make their place in society. Enter Finn Donore.

There is a connection there, an unexplainable one. A feeling as though they have met before.

What to Expect:
📖Dual POV
📖Standalone
📖Irish Mythology
📖Murder
📖Gilded Age Fashion
📖New York Setting
📖Bridgerton meets Fantasy

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't immediately invested. My brain was having a hard time with the memory loss bits and it took me a decent chunk to get my barings straight and understand what was going on. Once we meet Finn I could not put down the book. The tension between the two was so palpable; I didn't want it to end. I nearly finished it that very day, but I had to go to bed at some point. I was so excited to find out how it all came together, but I did find myself a tad disappointed. The ending could have been so much more and I was left with a million questions. I think this would have made a fantastic duology. Where first we learn the secrets and then we live through the resolution. The characters deserved an ending worthy of their story.

Overall, I gave this book 3.5 ⭐. It was the ending that made me fall less in love because the story deserved just a bit more. It was all over too fast.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

As always my review will include my thoughts on the book as a whole not the entire plot.

It's a solid 4/5 for me.

I did finish reading this a couple of days ago so please forgive me if my review seems all over the place.

I absolutely loved the plot. The name is very fitting and it took me to a world I've never been to. I've never read anything about Irish Mythology but this book gave me an insight into it and I will be reading more about it for sure. The blend of the 1800s New York with the past of the Irish Myths just really worked for me. I wish I could give you more but I saw no fault in how well the back and forth of the past and the present were written in the book. It was an experience it say the least.

I do however have to point out that it took me about 4 tries to actually get past the first chapter. It was very very confusing. I didn't know who I was supposed to follow. Emma or Rua? But once I got past that first chapter it was smooth sailing from there.

Rua and Finn are very loveable characters. Right from the moment they met, I wanted them to be together. I honestly wouldn't categorize this as a enemies to lovers. Since I didn't really sense the enemy part. It felt more like they're conflicted about how it should be (societal expectations) vs how they actually feel about each other (spoiler alert - They're crazy about each other).

The rest of the characters, were all meant to be there. I don't think there was a charcter out of place. They all had a reason to be there. To serve Rua and Finns story. To take the story ahead. Not all authors do this and that is something that makes this worth the read itself. (Of course this is just one persons opinion)

I did knock a point because I wish there was an epilogue. The end was way too hurried and I felt slightly robbed of "a perfect ending". All this action was happening and then just BOOP THE END. I did scream at my kindle for a minute straight because I was in shock.

Anywhoo. Can in good concious recommend this book? Yes. It an interesting read. It warmed my heart. And for me, that's all that matters sometimes.

When I first started reading The Gods Time Forgot, I wasn't quite sure what type of story I was about to become immersed in. The book's described as a "romantasy," but personally, I feel a better description of the book is "historical romance with fantasy elements". And I think that so long as readers go into this book expecting that, they'll come away really impressed.

Before even falling for the characters or plot of this story, I'd immediately become immersed in the setting. The Gods Time Forgot follows Rua, a stifled woman living in gilded-era New York. She's plagued by missing memories and strange dreams, but cannot investigate them without being reprimanded, as her life is full of restrictions. I thought that the author did a fantastic job in making the reader feel just as trapped in upper-echelon society as Rua is. I also really enjoyed the author's writing style. I felt that the connection between the main characters was quite palpable. And finally, I really loved how this story wrapped itself up. The fantasy plot line, though more minor than expected, was incredibly engaging and really added a lot to the romantic plot.

My only major complaint of this book is the pacing. Many sections of this novel felt incredibly slow, and then the final chapter moved at lightspeed. But overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Despite some quirks, I kept reading this book because I really loved the world the story takes place in, both in terms of the glamorous New York setting, and the glimpses of Irish folklore we get. The romance and writing style are quite alluring. If you can get past the pacing issues, and let yourself slowly follow the plot instead of asking when things will pick up, I think you'll really love this story.

Thank you to Alcove Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this idea, of a blend of historical fiction and romantasy is combined! The writing style didn't draw me in though, and I had a hard time getting into it. Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, but I'm grateful for the chance to read ahead of release!

Rua wakes up buried in a cavern, with no idea how she got there or who she is. She's told her name is Emma, the daughter of a wealthy family that's trying to climb higher in society. They've been given a chance, but Emma's recent behavior has been troubling, and they'll have to do their best to hide it before the rumors spread.

When they move to Manhattan to make their debut, Rua is stuck between finding out who she really is, and behaving in a way that's expected of Emma, with the threat of being sent to an asylum hanging over her. She's sure at one point she'll have to run, and she's going to prepare to do so... until she meets Finn.

There's something about the man that draws her in, and she can't seem to leave. Finn, a wealthy Irish Lord, has come to carefully make his way in New York society, so that he can use his wealth and influence to help poor immigrants who are struggling. He's building a hospital and a partner in a hotel that will be sure to bring on even greater wealth. His business partner has a daughter, and a marriage to her will be sure to grant Finn the access he needs to everything he's working for. Until Rua comes along.

Star crossed lovers, both given another chance to be together. They'll have to remember their past, and make their choice before time runs out. A deal neither of them can remember, and their last chance.

This one was good, but a little slow. The backstabbing of the New York society was a bit grating for me, and it seemed so unnecessary to what our goal was in getting these two together. At times the story lost momentum for me, and I found myself putting this one down a little more often than I expected. I'm glad I tried it, and I'll give the author a shot in future books as well.

This book has quite the interesting premise and setting of New York City’s gilded age. However, I ended up DNFing about a quarter into the story. I think someone else would definitely find this enjoyable, but I couldn’t connect to the characters or story in the end.

This book is a good historical romantsy book. I enjoyed the characters and the story but felt it dragged a bit at times. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review this novel.

Rua finds herself blasted into Gilded age New York. Filled with old money, balls and scheming mothers. While trying to gain her memory back she meets a man, a man she just can’t quite shake. Everyone soon realizes Rua is not the same woman she used to be, she is no wilting flower.

This novel had everything I personally love in a fantasy romance. A fantastic setting, research clearly done on the era. Don’t get me start on the tension, not only between the characters but there were plenty of times that my heart was pounding not knowing what the outcome would be. The Irish mythology was the cherry on top!

If you are a fan of The Gilded age, Outlander and dual point of views, you will love this book!

3.5 (spoiler free)
Release date: April 8th

I loved the Irish mythology in this book! Rua and Finns banter and connection was also fantastic. I did enjoy the time period it was set in as it did feel Bridgerton-esque with the balls and high society. But the mystery and plot in the first half of the book moved too slowly and by the time we started learning more about the mystery I was no longer interested. The ending also felt pretty rushed.

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

i’m so sad to say this one is hard to get into! i was beyond excited from the premise and have been following the authors journey on bookstagram but unfortunately i got about 30% through and do not feel connected to the story/characters and am dnf-ing for now. i would recommend for fans of bridgerton, though!!

The Gods Time Forgot follows Finn and Rua as they navigate the 1870s Socialite scene and trying to find out who they once were and who they are now. This is something unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I do think it succeeded in telling the story of its main premise. The book is full of mystery, romantic tension, and social politics. Yet, I did find myself yearning for more magic throughout the story. I found that often times magic was often spoken about but never shown, which made the book’s tone read more as a historical romance than a fantasy.

I think readers who are fans of bridgerton as well as the 2012 movie The Host would also enjoy this story.

Thank you to Alcove Press for providing this arc!

I had fun time reading this one! The first half of this book was quite slow, but when things finally picked up, I found myself enjoying reading about the high end society of Manhattan and the iris mythology. I haven't read a lot of Irish mythology, but even without earlier knowledge the book was quite easy to get into.

I was a bit disappointed that there weren't any close friend relationships for Rua, and most of the other characters besides Finn, were a bit two dimensional. This was also more of a historical romance, than fantasy romance, and I would have loved to see more of the fantasy elements earlier in the story as well. Still, I enjoyed this book a lot by the end.

If you want to read historical romance, set in the 1870 Manhattan, with little hints of Irish mythology this book is perfect for you!