An interesting concept that fell short of its potential.

The main characters were infuriating. Saying the same thing over and over. Little to no character development. And the romance plot, arguably my least favorite part of the book, was a case of insta-love poorly disguised as slow-burn. The main plot was revealed too late. Then a big info dump, an oddly placed final conflict/resolution, the words "THE END" and it's over.

I think the most painful part about reading this book was recognizing how much potential it has, and realizing that it would not deliver.

3.5.


This was truly an incredible start to something. I'm not sure what wasn't working for me because the build up was well done, I liked the characters and the plot was keeping me amused but it didn't all fit together seamlessly.

2 Stars
One Liner: I shouldn’t forget to avoid books with old gods

Manhattan, 1870
Rua remembers nothing but her name. However, when the wealthy Harrington family claims she is their missing daughter, Emma, Rua is more than ready to play the part. She needs to find out who she is and what happened. When Rua meets the mysterious Lord of Donore, she feels a sense of familiarity.
Finn knows being Lord of Donore is his best chance to fit into the high society. Despite his reluctance, he is intrigued by the mysterious Emma Harrington, wondering why he feels as if he knows her.
Rua is in for a shock when her memories start to return. The secrets are as ancient as time and there’s dark magic at play. Can Rua and Finn uncover the truth in their memories to save their future?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Rua and Finn.

My Thoughts:
Well, what do I say? After having a bad time with YA Fantasy in 2024, I still grabbed this book since it was not YA. Stupid me!
The good things first –
The beginning is cool. We go right into the plot without any introductions or details. This creates a sense of confusion which aligns with the FMC’s feelings. I like that we have to sort things out along with her.
The book is dark throughout though not to the extent of being too uncomfortable. It doesn’t feel like Gilded Age but okay. The atmosphere feels oppressive, reminding us that the stakes are high.
Quite a lot of build-up for the conflict (good so far) but…
What did work for me –
Most of the book is wasted on setting the stage for the showdown. And when get there, it’s over in a blink. In fact, there is no real face-off. It’s just… over. Not even an epilogue. We are left with so many questions. Grrrr!
The main characters start well but end up boring. For someone who knows even a slight mistake could put her in an asylum, Rua does everything she can to cause trouble. Half her rebellion doesn’t make sense, especially the one that led to her meeting with the MMC the first time. That was plain stupid (sorry can’t sugarcoat).
Now Finn; what do I say? He starts well – a poor rich Irish guy with ideals. But then, he spends too much time unable to decide what he wants. Then, he becomes a puppet in others’ hands.
When I read books when the characters have to decide between duty and love or safety and love, I have a cutoff point at 75%. They should more or less know what they want by then even if they don’t reveal it until later. It gets stretched longer than that here.
The bad guys (of all genders) are so blatantly bad that there’s nothing else to define them. That’s still okay but they aren’t even discussed or dealt with afterward.
While I could read fast without skimming, the plot as such doesn’t have much development. It’s the same thing in different settings.
The dreams have been underutilized, and let’s not even talk about the use of Celtic mythology. It could have been such an intense plot if we got more of the past and less of the ballroom nonsense. Wasted opportunity!
To summarize, The Gods Time Forgot has a good concept by the execution, unfortunately, is severely lacking. This book needs to go back to the developmental edits stage and work on structuring and rewriting. The only saving grace is that I finished it faster than I expected.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Alcove Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This book had so much potential, but really fell flat for me. Star crossed, second chance romance, slow burn, immortal gods turned mortals with amnesia in the 19th century? Wonderful. The passion for the story was definitely there by the author, but the relationship itself had more intense sexual attraction (no on screen spice) rather than romance and the plot lines didn’t quite coalesce the way it could have.

I really enjoyed this story. I’m not familiar with Irish folklore so it was interesting to read about it. The chemistry between Finn and Rua was off the charts - to the point where you were deeply rooting for them to find each other. Honestly, their chemistry is the best part of the story and is so well written you can’t help but love them. My only qualm with the book is the abrupt ending. I would’ve loved to see an epilogue or something. It just felt so quick compared to the rest of the story. Definitely recommend and will read more from this author in the future

Ok, I went into this expecting far more Celtic mythology since it was marketed on social media as 'an Irish Goddess' type story. That being said, I did enjoy the Gilded age setting which was refreshing compared to a lot of historical fantasy/romance which is often set in Edwardian England. I did struggle picking the book up every other day as the plot just wasn't hooking me. Overall it was a good read, and I think this author is talented, but perhaps her best work is yet to come.

The Gods Time Forgot is an amazing debut historical romance. It is set during the Gilded Age in New York, which I absolutely loved. I was transported back in time with the portrayal of society and its pressures.
Within this vacuous society our main female protagonist is a misfit and has lost her memory. I think the memory loss was done well, I am not usually keen on this troupe but here we saw her character shine and stand out from the others. The main male character is also a bit of a misfit, but he is also charming, rich and seemingly more important…a man.
The romance between the characters is done well, with hearts and heads saying two different things. There is definitely an enemies to lovers vibe. The two different points of view are presented and I loved this as a format to get into the romance.
The weaving in of Irish mythology is interesting, there was definitely a mystery element that kept me intrigued till the end.
The ending is abrupt, this could definitely have been extended out or some additional chapter added. Sometimes having all the build up and then lack of a full conclusion can be frustrating.
This is ones for fans of historical romances who enjoy some high society drama.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

3.5⭐️ Irish mythology combined with Guilded Age New York?! Sign me up! I was really looking forward to this book, especially having seen it all over my TikTok. I think it’s a wonderful concept and really enjoyed the read. I personally would have preferred more of the Irish mythology. It’s touched on slightly through the book and more heavily in the last 25%. The focus was mostly on the lives of the upper echelons of New York society in 1870s. Having lived in the neighbourhood where a lot of the book takes place (albeit in much less luxury😆) made this read especially special.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the chance to review this ARC.

A modern-day Irish mythology historical romance retelling, with the vibes you would get from outlander but with a Manhattan gilded age twist.

Rua is our FMC who is suffering from an unfortunate bout of memory loss, all she can remember is her name. While Rua is searching for answers on why she cant remember anything a wealthy family mistakes her for their missing daughter Emma. While she is playing this role of the lost daughter to further find answers on her missing past and the real missing daughter she is out in society meeting and mingling hoping to find clues. One night she meets a mysterious new gentleman, the Lord of Donore who is strictly off limits, yet she feels as if she has a connection with him.

Rua is very differently than the other ladies in high society, making her some what of an outcast and the family who took her in threatens to send her to the asylum. Finn steps in and saves her from her fate. Finn ( the lord of Donore ) and Rua come to discover pieces of their past and fight to save their futures. https://lexariffe.com/the-gods-time-forgot/

This is a gritty and enchanting fantasy romance mixed with the right dose of mythology. This book almost checks all the boxes. However it felt like something was missing. The banter with the MCs was great, and i really did enjoy them both. I think the supporting characters irked me more than anything , however i feel as if some of them were intended to. I do wish that it was a little more on the fantasy side as well. Over all I really did enjoy this book and will be looking at others written by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez and will be buying a copy of this for myself for my bookshelf in hopes that this may be a series.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the Digital ARC
#TheGodsTimeForgot #NetGalley

3.5 rounded down to 3

A young woman wakes in the forest with no memory of how she got there. All she knows is her name isn't Emma, like everyone else insists it is. It's Rua. Emma's social climbing mother gives her an ultimatum: behave or it's off to the sanitorium. Only it's next to impossible to comply when Rua doesn't know who to navigate Emma's world. And then there is Finn, a young man intent on making a name for himself. Only he finds himself torn between the path he set himself on and the mysterious Rua.

Read if you like:
-The Gilded Age
-Irish Mythology
-Reincarnation

I really enjoyed the Gods Time Forgot. While the pacing was a little off, overall it was the type of book that kept me engaged. Though I do wish that some revelations/realizations had come just a little bit earlier so they could have been explored more. The Gilded Age setting added so much to the overall experience. I would definitely read more from this author.

🤍 Irish Mythology
👗 Banter
🤍 Bridgerton Vibes
👗 Fierce FMC
🤍 Slow Burn

I *really* wanted to love this, but it just didn't hook me.

Rua finds herself *awoken* in a body that is not her own, with a name she doesn't recall, in a world that feels foreign to her. She is now Emma Harrington, and she is in a world of trouble with her family and with their high society peers for practicing witchcraft. She knows she is not who they say she is, but with the threat of being sent to an asylum and no other means of escape, she tries her best to blend into her newfound circumstances.

This book felt snail-paced. Outside of some fun banter and trying to unearth how the heck Rua ended up in a body that is not her own, the story wasn't that intriguing. I found that whenever we got a morsel of information, as readers, it was very info-dumpy, spanning pages of suddenly unearthed mythological connections. The plot feels repetitive, and the characters feel a little underdeveloped if I'm being honest.

The romance was just... lacklustre. The banter was fun, but Finn's continued drive to dismiss Rua and do what *society expects from him* was irritating. I think the author was trying to build in a slow burn and forbidden love element, but it just felt frustrating when the same situation kept repeating itself every few chapters.

I loved the unique roots of Irish mythology. I definitely felt there was a great historical fantasy and an almost Bridgerton-like vibe to the story, and Rua is definitely a fun character. She is sassy, confident, and intelligent.

Some readers will definitely love the unique premise and delivery here, but this one unfortunately fell flat for me.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.

I really enjoyed this book! The premise was so intriguing and I felt immediately pulled into the world and time in history.

Thank you to NetGalley, alcove press, and Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez for providing this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me. I loved the concept and the idea, but the execution was lacking. Nothing really happened for 75% of the book, and everyone was talking in circles. Rua kept saying to herself that she knew she needed to play nice with the Harringtons and society so that they wouldn’t send her to an asylum, but quite literally every interaction she had with them was the exact opposite of that.

I needed more action and plot from this book. We had a few flashbacks from the two main characters, but they didn’t do anything with them? It seemed like it WANTED to have them try and unravel the mystery of their identities but took so long to get there, I wasn’t invested by the end.

I had fun until I didn’t and wow did it all turn so fast.

The set up was so fun (1870s NYC? Tell me more!!) but the execution fell by the way side at about 75/80% and the ending was so abrupt that the moment I saw the words “The End” on the page I just starred into the distance trying to reconcile all the hours I wasted.

I’d skip it if I were you. 3 stars for the ambiance and the initial set up but this was not nearly as romantasy as you’re led to believe, the myths and magics are either not explained at all or are explained in such a rush you feel lightheaded.

I would have read 150 more pages for a better ending.

Thanks to the publisher for the earc! Pub day is 4/8!!

In 1870, being a woman means living under constant restrictions: intelligence cannot be displayed, personal opinions must remain unspoken to avoid causing offense, and life itself unfolds within rigid, oppressive boundaries. It is within this stifling atmosphere that The Gods Time Forgot takes shape, weaving together Irish mythology with the decadent allure of Upper Manhattan.

The plot is compelling and well-structured, guiding the reader through an engaging narrative centered on a love story that is both carefully crafted and sharp enough to feel genuinely authentic. The characters are vividly drawn, with depth and charm that allow them to resonate with the reader. At the same time, the novel is enriched with evocative details of 19th-century New York, skillfully balancing opulence with an underlying darkness, adding layers of complexity to the text.

The Gods Time Forgot stands out as a refined and confident debut, showcasing the author’s talent for crafting immersive and well-balanced narratives. A novel that undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression.

DNF at 28%

The blurb sounded interesting, and something I would enjoy, but unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me.

The pacing was so slow, and honestly I felt like falling asleep while reading. The beginning and first few chapters were promising, but after those, there was basically nothing happening. To me, the characters felt “flavorless” and flat (especially the FMC, Rua), and I would have hoped to see a bit more world-building.

I think the story has potential, but it would need more work and editing.

“The Gods Time Forgot” tells the story of Rua, who wakes up in the body of socialite Emma Harrington without any memories. Finn, lord of Donore, has traveled from Ireland and is working on integrating himself into New York society. The integration of Irish mythology with Gilded Age New York just really didn’t work for me, I found the plot uninteresting, and the characters uninspired. Not exactly a bad book, but so boring that I just don’t have much else more to say about it.

In this house, we support women’s rights but moreso we support women’s wrongs. Rua will continue to hold onto my heart for years to come. The plot was fantastic, the action was gripping, and watching Rua find her way was breathtaking. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez will be a must by author for me moving forward. This book was utterly captivating.

It was a beautiful tale of two beings who are meant to be together, who are soulmates in every lifetime but they are met with a tragic ending. But despite everything they oppose fate and find their happily ever after.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this pretty book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was described as "perfect for fans of Outlander and A Fate Inked in Blood." Because of this premise, I was excited to read this book. After a promising start, the story's pacing slowed. The characters no longer held my interest, and I struggled to read it past the first act. For a book being marketed as a fantasy, there was not enough magic and mythology to hold my interest. Therefore, I will not be finishing this book.