This dark and twisty novel clashes historical romance with fantasy as this Irish folklore retelling unfolds. Rua has turned up in place of a missing debutant, Emma, new to high society in New York City in 1870. Finn is also new to the scene, both without any memories of where they came from keep finding themselves drawn together. Emma's mother will do anything to find their place with their "new money" and Finn is trying desperately not to make waves as he integrates himself into his newly found lifestyle. What keeps pulling them together and how do the sparse memories they have connect their lives so deeply?

I loved this book, everything about it was magical and incredible with insane plots and lovable characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for letting me have a sneak peak at The Gods Time Forgot.

The story follows a young woman as she crawls out from a cave located on a grand New York estate. Everyone is calling her Emma, but she has no idea who that is. She knows her name is Rua, and has some flashbacks to a mysterious past. Deciding to just go with it, she takes on Emma's identity.

Emma's parents, Flossie and Ned, are a part of the new rich trying to break into the New York upper crust. Flossie threatens to send Emma to an asylum if she doesn't behave, and forces Emma to the city to uphold the family image and make a good match. Too bad everyone's heard the rumors, and is calling Emma a devil worshipper. More interested in understanding what's happened to her, Emma continues to make bad impressions.

Finn on the other hand is a lord from Ireland, doing business with top families, as well as Emma's father. Torn between the right match for his social climbing, and his undeniable desire for Emma/Rua, his efforts to balance his options sends high society into quite the tizzy. As Rua and Finn start remembering hidden memories of each other, will they overcome societal prejudices? And who are they really?

This book was categorized as a romantasy, however the more supernatural/ magical elements of this book were saved for the last 15% of the book. I actually think this book would have been better without the supernatural elements, as the New York Gilded Age world was fun enough on its own. The storytelling itself was a bit flat sometimes, and could have had stronger character development (ex: Finn had no backstory), and better subplots. The last chapter left me with some whiplash, and I didn't feel much closure on what would happen next for the characters.

Despite all this, I loved the cattiness of the Gilded Age parties, all the snipping and mean remarks. Flossie was incredible for her put-downs and drama, and Annette was a true society villain. Would have enjoyed even more time with them.

I very much wanted to like this, but the storytelling fell a little short overall. The worldbuilding really didn’t kick in until late in the story and, while I found Rua’s memory loss interesting initially, the story didn’t move quickly enough to keep me engaged. Less Irish mythology vibes and more New York Bridgerton, as others have commented.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

One of my favorite things about this book was the fmc, she was AMAZING! I loved her! I also really enjoyed the romance/banter, I thought it was done so well!

One thing I wished was explored further was their backstory/where they came from, it took a long time for me to fully understand the concept of what was happening.

I wished the ending was longer, or maybe an epilogue. When I reached the end it felt like the book dragged on only to be left with that ending if that makes sense.

Overall, I enjoyed, but it was missing something.

I really enjoyed this gritty, magical take on Manhattan in 1870. Rua, a young woman with no memories, is mistaken for the missing Harrington daughter and pulled into the glittering world of high society. As she tries to fit in and figure out who she really is, she crosses paths with Finn, the Lord of Donore, a newcomer who feels strangely familiar. The story’s blend of historical drama, mystery, and Irish mythology kept me hooked.

I really enjoyed the historical and mythological aspects of the book. The way Irish myths like the Morrigan and Cu Chulainn were woven into the story added an extra layer of depth and magic. I didn’t know much about Irish mythology before, so it was fascinating to learn about these legends through the characters’ journey.

I also loved the growth of both Rua and Finn. Rua may not remember who she is, but she doesn’t let that stop her from standing up for herself in a society that clearly doesn’t want her to belong. Finn, on the other hand, has to balance his desire to fit in with the reminder that staying true to himself matters more. Their relationship was fun to watch, with plenty of witty banter and tension, even if their chemistry eased some of the enemies-to-lovers edge I was expecting.

The only downside for me was the pacing. The buildup to the climax was so strong that the quick resolution left me wanting a little more time to soak it all in. Even so, the ending was satisfying and tied everything together nicely.

If you enjoy historical fantasy with a touch of magic and romance, I think you’ll love this one. The Gilded Age setting, paired with the mythological twists, makes it stand out as a unique and enchanting read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the eARC copy of The Gods Time Forgot.

Unfortunately after 3 chapters, this book was a DNF for me. The premise is fascinating and held real promise, however, the writing felt stilted, riddled with cliches, and simply not strong enough to hold my interest. From the start, when the heroine wakes up from amnesia the dialogue, the blurry disorientation, the flash backs of memory...we've read it before. I simply didn't feel compelled to continue much beyond that when there wasn't solid writing backing the over-done amnesia plotline. The characterization felt very one-dimensional too, which was only held up more by the flat dialogue.

I think centering a fantasy novel around Celtic gods is a brilliant idea, particularly since we've seen an interest in retellings such as Circe, A Thousand Ships, The Witch's Heart, etc. Most of this wave of historical fantasy fiction has centered primarily on Greek Mythology, so it's innovative to see someone approach deities lesser-known to American audiences. Americans already have such a weird attraction for all things Irish, it honestly feels like a no-brainer. The setting also felt exciting, Gilded Age New York is a place that's so solid in our minds, full of glitz and glam...but I didn't make it far enough to see if Sheridan Gonzalez did it justice.

This story could've benefitted from a heavier hand in the editing process. A lot more red ink could turned this book into something much more readable. I hope Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez continues working on her craft and we see more Irish-centric tales from her and others in the future.

Beach read. Fun throughout much of the book, however the end just stops with a major arc not resolved in any way. Just odd. Despite the ending, still a fun no brainer.

It was tough to get into at first, but then… it was awesome. Irish mythology this time—old beliefs, rituals—all set in an era when women had zero rights and their only “goal” in life was supposed to be getting married.

I loved the concept, the courage of the characters, breaking out of the norms, and how the story was handled. The second half? Had me up all night.

Really interesting and definitely worth checking out!

I am begging BEGGING to anyone who would listen to please give this book an epilogue. Please, I really enjoyed this book throughout most of it. I loved the characters, the setting, and just the overall story. But the ending is truly so abrupt it almost ruins the entire book for me. Unless the plan is to give this book a sequel, than it desperately needs a epilogue to tie up some of the loose ends and to give a more satisfying ending to Rua and Finn. Just that change would easily earn a star back from me because I truly was so close to loving this book, but can't because of the ending.

What an interesting read.  There's mystery and intrigue, glamour and poverty, generosity and manipulation, romance and murder.  I loved the banter and chemistry between Rua and Finn, the glittering luxury of the world she suddenly wakes up in, the intrigue of where things were going to go and what recovered memories would reveal.  The writing was great too - it kept me engaged the whole way through, wanting to know what was going to happen next.  My only real gripe is the ending!  What a disappointment.  It was too abrupt and unfinished after all the build up.

Great book overall though; I really enjoyed it.  Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review it.

This one really grew on me! Things started a touch slow, easing us into the time period and world, but by the end I was really rooting for Rua and Finn. Would love to see a more fleshed out ending, but overall, this was an enjoyable read and I’m eager to see what Gonzalez writes next!

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

If you like time travel, Celtic mythology, the Gilded Age, and romantasy, this might just be the book for you.

The book starts off with the FMC climbing out of a literal hole in the ground (a hellhole) in the Catskills of Upstate New York. She's covered in dirt and blood and has no memory of her life. All she knows for sure is that her name is Rua. Except everyone is calling her "Emma" and telling her that she's an outspoken member of Manhattan's wealthy. Rua struggles to adapt to the societal demands and expectations while she desperately tries to remember her life before. Things only get worse when Lord Finn Donore, a wealthy Irish man, enters the picture. Trying to climb his way up the ranks in Manhattan, he struggles with what's right for society and what will help him get what he wants. When he meets Rua for the first time, he can't help but feel like they've met before. As Lord Donore and Rua get to know each other, their memories of life before 1870s Manhattan return, and nothing is what it seems.

The book started off very strong. I loved the flashbacks of Rua's life, and the imagery was uncanny. I felt like I was there in the beginning. The characters for the most part were very well-developed, though I wish I knew more about Rua's sisters. I was also a little confused about the villains and towards the middle I had assumed some characters weren't what they seemed only to be proven wrong at the end. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I think a little more deception from certain characters would have made for a more interesting, engaging read. I found the pace a little uneven. The beginning was hard to put down, but the middle felt like it dragged. The ending was a little too abrupt and a bit confusing. I had to reread the last 3 chapters to make sure I didn't miss something. I was hoping for a little more.

Overall, I think this is a pretty strong book and give it 4/5 stars!

4.5 stars! The Gods Time Forgot is a beautiful historical fantasy romance with impeccable banter and the pining and yearning that so many other comparable books lack. The story leans more into the historical aspect than I’m accustomed to- but it was a nice change! Irish mythology was expertly woven into the story.

The story brings to light the darker side of New York socialites/business moguls in the late 1800s. Rua must pretend to be a woman of new money in order to figure out her past and how she ended up in her odd predicament. Finn is a wealthy Irish immigrant determined to climb the social ladder in order to help the less fortunate of Manhattan. They cross paths and cannot seem to stop running into each other- much to each other’s detriment. They both discover there’s a far greater power (and evil) at work. The intricacies of being a person in the Upper Tens are fascinating and well explained!

The beginning is a bit slow, but the plot really picks up at around the 40% mark. The last 30% was a whirlwind of scandal and revelations!

Thank you Alcove Press for the gifted egalley. I really enjoyed it!

I think this is one of those books that I would have loved had I read a physical copy but I just struggled with the Kindle version. The amnesia and fantasy mixed with reality threw me a bit and I struggled with wanting to flip back to previous chapters and look at something as I read (which is not the easiest to do with kindle).

I did really enjoy all of the characters and the charm in this book. The atmosphere, banter, vibe, was all just so good!

I didn't love the amnesia element and struggled with pacing but overall a decent read.

This one took me a little while to get into. I didn’t completely understand what was happening at first and it made it difficult to get engaged. I think it would have been more helpful to have the conversation between Macha and Nemain at the beginning of the book to at least set the stage.

With that being said, I did enjoy the story once it picked up and I sort of figured out what was happening. I’ve never read a historical romantasy before and I really enjoyed the wealthy society setting.

The side characters were written so well. I absolutely hated Anette, Flossie, and Richard…and I was supposed to.

Rua’s and Finn’s relationship came on fast and it took a little while for me to be invested in them. Again, I think it would have helped to have a little more context of their history before we met them.

A really unique read. I loved the premise.

A big thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I ADORED this book... until the end. The story itself, taking place in high society New York was perfection. Someone out of time having to figure out how to navigate balls and society. I loved it. I loved Rua. I loved Finn. The mythology was so great... but then the end. I was going to give this book 5 stars until then. The end felt rushed and unfinished. I needed more. I needed to understand more. I needed to see why. I needed more answers than I was given.

Really great story, fairly disappointing ending.

4.5⭐️

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

This book was so amazing, I’ve quickly become so obsessed with it! I am a huge fan of books set in the 1800s, and I loved this book being set in 1870s Manhattan. It was a beautiful romance with Irish Gods, memory loss, and a little bit of magic.

The romance between Finn and Rua was something to swoon over, they really were quite adorable. It did feel like it dragged on a bit towards the end and it took too long for them to get together, like there was a bit too much back and forth of them falling in love and then fighting again.

There were so many characters in this story to hate, I loved it. Knowing the characters’ reasons for their actions and still disliking them regardless was enjoyable, I don’t know why 😂

The flashback memories of Rua and Finn’s past lives were great to read about but it was not quite enough. I was too confused for so much of the book and it was only more understandable towards the end. But I look forward to learning more about their past in the next book!

It was interesting and I really enjoyed reading it! Love the slowburn and yearning and how Rua standing up for herself. I also the the victorian/regency setting and how things play out with the old myth.

let me set the scene for you: nineteenth century New York meets Irish mythology in a romantasy novel.

Rua wakes up without any memories of who and where she is. The people around her believe her to be Emma, the missing daughter of the Harrington family, and she goes along with the charade as she sees no other way to save herself. Mind you, in 1870 women were not allowed to have opinions, though as Emma was already considered to be a social pariah due to her weird behaviour, Rua can adapt to the role fairly quick. She meets Finn and feels some sort of connection right away, yet social restrictions do not allow them to be together - though they long for each other desperately.

and this is what I enjoyed about the book: the longing, the desperation, and the tension. Rua and Finn had chemistry right from the beginning, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.

what I didn't enjoy so much, unfortunately, was the pacing of the story overall. while it was great for the romance, I sometimes felt like there wasn't really anything going on for pages on end and I had to force myself to keep reading. the ending, in comparison then, felt quite rushed and I was left wondering if this could just be it. the vital backstory that is needed to understand the mythology of it all came in too late for me personally, and I suspect it might have kept me on the edge of my seat if we had seen more of it earlier on.

overall this is a good read if you love mythology and historical romantasy.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!