Review of "The Gods Time Forgot" by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez

⭐ 5/5 Stars (can I give it more??)

It’s official: Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez has made me a fan of historical fantasy. From the very first page, I was hooked on Rua's mystery - who she was, where she came from, and what secrets her lost memories held. As she navigates the glittering but treacherous world of Gilded Age Manhattan, her chemistry with Finn crackles with tension, longing, and a deep, fated connection that kept me obsessed.

The way their love unfolds feels so natural yet utterly inevitable. The glances. The tension. Every piece of their past slowly slotting into place. It all built toward a romance that felt both timeless and unshakable. And the longing? Absolutely unmatched. Rua and Finn’s story is filled with that delicious ache of two souls meant for each other but kept apart by forces beyond their control.

Beyond the romance, I loved the story's pacing. The mix of present-day intrigue and flashbacks revealing their Celtic pasts kept me fully invested. Every revelation added another layer to the mystery, and I was just as desperate as Rua to uncover the truth. The blend of mythology, history, and love created a world that was both enchanting and dangerous.

This book is about love, destiny, and the hope that no matter how much time passes, some bonds can never be broken. If you love historical fantasy, fated romance, or just a story that will completely sweep you away, do not miss this one. I’ll be waiting with bated breath for every book Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez writes next!

I was generously provided an ARC by Alcove Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ♡

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7308491135
And StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/6bcd4552-8a36-469c-9fcd-4ba7c636b206

The blend of Irish mythology and 19th century New York society was such an intriguing and unique mix. This definitely leans into the romance aspect of the story and has more of a Bridgerton vibe mixed with myth and magic. The story did start to unfold slowly for me, but still the ending felt rushed and abrupt which was somewhat unsatisfying. I would have loved an epilogue to have a bit more closure, but the main storyline is nicely wrapped up. Despite the abrupt ending and slow start, I did really enjoy the story and its unique premise.

While I loved the premise of this book and adored the tension between Ryan and Finn, something about it just didn't hit the mark for me as much as I'd hoped!

(3.5 stars).

I enjoyed the premise of this book, which read like a (ya version of a) Mills & Boon/historical romance set in a fantasy world. The middle section was the strongest, as the author built the tension and romance between Finn and Rua well. However, I found the world-building in the beginning a bit clunky. For me, Rua knew too much about Manhattan, and the modern world for a goddess newly arrived from a parallel version of Ireland. Likewise, the novel's ending felt slightly rushed and confusing, but I am glad that it was predominantly happy. Furthermore, whilst I do like standalone fantasy books, I think that this story could have benefited from being a duology. The author would then have been able to base more of the story in Rua and Finn's home realm, and address/resolve the conflict between Rua and Madb upon Rua's return return.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Gods Time Forgot was one of my 2025 most anticipated releases and I'm super grateful I got an ARC for it. I'm a sucker for anything that's a retelling of any culture's mythology or mythology-inspired, so once I heard that this was 1870s New York City meets Irish mythology, I knew I couldn't pass it up. I feel like there aren't enough stories out there that are set during the Gilded Age so I knew this was also something I wanted to read about.

While I did enjoy some aspects of the story, there's also a lot that I felt was missing or I needed more of. The story felt very repetitive at times when Rua would go to a ball/social event with her "family," she acts out because she's the only person in the room with more than 2 brain cells and thinks that the customs and rules of NYC high society are stupid, everyone shuns her and gives her the stink eye, Flossie Harrington (ugh, I hate that nickname) threatens to send her to an asylum, her family gets embarrassed to then get her ass saved by Lord Donore and no one wants to disappoint Lord Donore because he's a rich, eligible bachelor that people want their daughters to marry.

There were parts of the story that seemed more drama-packed because of Manhattan's high society culture and lifestyle and Rua struggling to fit into a life that wasn't hers to begin with rather than the fantasy part of the romantasy (more on this later), but I personally didn't mind it at all because I like books where we get to sneak a peek at the happenings of the upper class and see how they live with their frivolous customs and mannerisms. They're so out of touch that I can't help but find it somewhat amusing to read about but I can see how people would easily get bored of reading about Rua going to another ball or going to the seamstress to get gowns made for her. The Harringtons remind me of the Featheringtons from Bridgerton if you've watched the show at all.

Now, my biggest gripe with this book is the fantasy portion, or lack thereof. I didn't feel like there was a whole ton of "fantasy" in the "romantasy" that this book was marketed as. There's aspects of Irish mythology woven throughout the story and it does tie in with Rua and Finn, but it didn't become a major aspect of the story until literally the last 20% of the book. I remember hitting the 80% mark and thinking to myself, "So...where does the fantasy aspect come in?" I know a big part of this is because Rua shows up with no recollection of her past life and has to impersonate Emma Harrington, the Harringtons' missing daughter, but once Rua starts finding out more about Emma's life, it all felt like a historical fiction book where a girl tries to fit in with NYC upper society by going to balls and keeping up with public appearances with a side of "she finds out that the girl she's pretending to be dabbled in the occult and witchcraft." Sure, there are brief flashbacks here and there once Rua starts to gain her memories back but they weren't long or frequent enough for me to feel like there was a prominent fantasy aspect in the story.

The entire ending of the story felt extremely rushed and ended abruptly. I feel like the author got so caught up in trying to have Rua fit in with society that she almost forgot to explain why Rua got there in the first place and how Finn ties into it all. I don't know if this is a new trend with books now because I felt this happened with 3/4 of the most recent ARCs I read or if this is just because I'm reading and reviewing the ARC so there's no guarantee that this is how the actual published work is going to end, but the ending felt as if the author tried to tie everything up in a nice little bow and used a ton of oh-so-convenient plot devices to make the ending feel complete. There was a lot more action in the last 20% of the book than there was in the first 80% but it also ended as quickly as it came which was disappointing, to say the least. (The reasoning behind Emma going missing is also really stupid, too. I won't say how or why but I couldn't roll my eyes any harder.)

The romance was definitely there, and there was a lot of drama to go with it, too. There is a love triangle involved so if you like love triangles more than I do, you might enjoy reading about Rua, Finn, and Annette. I don't like love triangles because most of them aren't really a true triangle per se and it's somewhat obvious who the main character and/or main love interest is going to end up with and this was one of those situations. This is NOT a spicy romantasy if anyone was looking for that, so if you read clean romance or like closed-door books over open-door, this might be the romantasy book for you! I don't mind either way, but I did like Rua and Finn's connection and that deja vu feeling they had with each other.

Overall, I would say I enjoyed it and I liked the writing, but I felt the fantasy aspect of the story could've been more prominent. It's marketed as a romantasy, and while both aspects were there and the romance between Rua and Finn plays a large part in the plot, the fantasy aspect of it didn't really play a huge role until the last few pages and then abruptly stopped. While I did enjoy the Irish mythology woven through the story and the decadence of the upper class throughout the story--this isn't a topic I know a whole ton about so I enjoyed learning more about it!--the lack of fantasy aspects up until the last bit of the story sort of offsets everything.

DNF around 30%

This book was described as a Romantasy and for fans of A Fate Inked in Blood. Everything sounded perfect for something I would enjoy but the book was way too focused on high society New York. There was a lot of repetitive focus and statements. Rua constantly thinking about being someone else and Finn always talking about making sure he keeps his spot in society. They are comments you only need on occasion but they felt so repetitive. After 30% of the way through the book, I felt like there was no growth, no new information about their past and found myself nodding off.

3.25⭐

LIKED:

- The setting and the infusion of Irish lore. More on the mythological aspects later, but I do think that Gilded Age New York is a really intriguing and enticing time period for a historical romance.
- I did like the characters. I thought they weren’t terribly grounded in many ways, but that’s fine. They’re not really supposed to be. Especially Rua
- I liked the dialogue between the two MCs. I wish we had more of it, honestly
- I enjoyed the prose. While slow at times, it flowed quite well and made it a pretty quick read for me (I’m a very fast reader so that may not be the case for everyone who picks this up - more on that later as well)
- The cover is really beautiful. My only critique on it is why they made Finn so scowl-y. It’s…a choice. - But it’s still gorgeous that aside
- The flashbacks were honestly the most interesting bits for me. I was usually pretty pleased to see those italics show up

LOATHED:
- Alright…my biggest gripe for this book is its marketing. Why is it being marketed as a fantasy first and foremost? The amount of actual fantasy in this book is next to nothing. There are some mythology elements, yes, but it’s not a fantasy or a romantasy. It’s a historical romance with some minor fantastical elements. That’s not to say that it BEING a historical romance is a bad thing, it’s absolutely not. I think it does quite a good job of being a historical romance. It not being a fantasy/romantasy/etc. IS going to disappoint people who are expecting more fantasy going in
- All that said, I was very disappointed SPECIFICALLY that I was promised Irish folklore and mythology in a fantasy setting and got barely a taste throughout the whole book. I am Irish and I know quite a bit about Irish mythology, so maybe for folks who are less aware this is enough. But there are are so many wonderful stories and characters and just bits of folklore in Irish mythology that I think I was just hoping for and never got
- The beginning is painfully slow to get into. Rua’s start is very confusing and questions to help you get into her headspace are not really written into her inner monologue. I’m not sure I have an answer as to how to remedy that, but this book didn’t pick up for me until like, nearly 20% of the book. Which isn’t great for the “average” reader
- The ending is very rushed. I liked it up until the last couple of pages, and then it’s just…done. That’s it. We get this culmination of everything that we’ve been asking questions about for the majority of the story and then…tada neat and tidy except not really don’t ask more questions everything’s fine

LONGED FOR:
- More Irish mythological elements
- More fantasy in general
- More flashbacks to connect the romance
- A more satisfying and less abrupt ending

Will I read the next one? : Maybe. Depends on the topic and if it’s actually a fantasy (I’m not the biggest reader of historical romance in general so that’s a me thing)

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me in every way.

The writing style was fine, but never managed to really suck me into the story. With the story set in the Gilded Age in Manhattan, I would expect a lot more flair and atmosphere, but unfortunately that never happens. The setting also never felt really fleshed out, the characters don't speak time appropriately nor do they really behave in the way I would expect.

Which brings me to my next issue: The characters just don't feel real. I can suspend my disbelief for a lot of things, but these characters never behaved like people. The protagonist is the worst offender by far. She doesn't want to be sent to the asylum, but all she does is antagonize the woman that thinks she is her daughter. Meanwhile Finn is portrayed like a saint of a person and honestly at some point I was just rolling my eyes at his inner dialogue. Holier-than-thou on a whole other level, but still does whatever all other rich people do because "he just has to".

I had high expectations for this one, as I actually love historical fantasy, but this was just really not it.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Historical fiction, mythology, and romance is really a winning combination overall. The Irish mythology was a nice change (even if I couldn’t pronounce most of the Irish words) and was a really interesting turn. Rua’s memory loss was incredibly frustrating, which was the point, we (as the reader) know exactly what Rua knows and nothing more. The Morrigan was a nice touch and the realistic portrayal of womanhood during the 1800s was as well. Remember, they didn’t burn witches, they burned women.

That’s not to say that there were no issues with the book. The sentence structure at times felt choppy and repetitive, almost juvenile. I also think that the plot with Mara was left hanging, and the ending was rushed with Rua and Finn just barely riding off into the sunset together.

No spice, nice clean romance. 3.75 ⭐️ rounded to 4.

The Gods Time Forgot is what we get when Irish mythology collides with Gilded Age New York - a historical romance, enemies to lovers, fated mates story wrapped up into one. Manhattan, 1870. Rua knows only two things: her name, and that she has no memories. So when the wealthy Harrington family mistakes Rua for their missing daughter, Emma, Rua goes along with the charade, hoping for answers about who she really is. As she tries to blend into a society she doesn’t remember, she’s drawn to a firmly off-limits the Lord of Donore, a newcomer to Manhattan society who is somehow familiar to Rua.
This was an interesting take on what I'm used to in the historical romance world - it felt Bridgerton-esque but with an added touch of amnesia. "New money" trying to make their place in society only to be snuffed out by the snobby "old money" families, match making and courting and engagements that only serve to help the business, and then the outcast daughter that causes a stir at every event. Definitely loved Rua and Finn's interactions, only wish we had had more time with them together at the end.The pacing of the story was a little off for me - the beginning was so slow for me and by the end I wish we had had a few more chapters - there was so much build up in the last chapter alone and the ending felt a little abrupt, but maybe after I do a little research of my own into Irish mythology, it might make a little more sense. Definitely recommend this one if you like a little fantasy in your historical romance 
Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars

All in all, I enjoyed the book. It does incorporate Irish lore, which I love, and the historical ambiance is set very well in the book. However, it is not a book I overall loved. It is definitely worth a read though.

The idea of a goddess with amnesia is such a great idea but the story didn’t pick up until about 70-80% into the book. The characters were likable and the setting was great. The Irish folklore, I think that was unique and not something I had read about before. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters

An Irish Mythology meets a Slow Burn Historical Romance Fantasy that you’re sure to love! Strong Female Character, Rua, unable to remember her past, wakes in a body not her own. We follow Rua unraveling her faithful bond to the Lord of Donore, Finn. Backdropped in the gilded age of 1870s New York, we, the readers, unravel at the hands of this fantastic historical romance fantasy, The Gods Time Forgot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was genuinely really excited about this book, and the beginning was promising. It started off a little rocky to me but I was very intrigued as to who Emma/Rua was and what (and why!) she couldn’t remember. But then it just went on and on and on and on….. the pacing was incredibly slow and unchanging. We would move locations, but nothing enticing would happen. Emma/Rua’s personality fell flat as well. By 60% in, I was shocked there wasn’t any more depth to her.

Well it kept going it kept going and it kept going and then BOOM really quickly it was the end. And I thought…. What????? The antagonist???? The reasoning?? The very basic love interest that lacked any real depth??? I was pretty disappointed.

The Gods Time Forgot is a historical romantasy that blends the lavish world of high society with a touch of magic, set in 1800s New York City. If you've ever imagined Bridgerton with a mystical twist, this might be the book for you. With its complex characters, rich setting, and a slow-burn romance, the novel has a lot to offer, even if it stumbles a bit in pacing and character depth.

The story follows Rua, a woman with no memory of who she is, but who is mistaken for Emma, a missing daughter from a wealthy family. Emma was ostracized from high society for dabbling in dark magic, and now Rua, as Emma, is forced to navigate the complex world of New York's elite, pretending to be someone she's not. This setup allows for some intriguing tension between Rua's sense of identity and her attempts to fit into Emma’s life.

Rua's journey to uncover the truth about herself and the magic that ties her past to the present is gripping, but what truly stands out is the romance with Finn Donore, an Irish immigrant trying to make a name for himself in high society. The attraction between Rua and Finn is palpable from the start, even though Finn repeatedly tries to resist the pull due to Rua’s infamous reputation. This creates an enemies to lovers dynamic, albeit with a bit of a twist. While the romantic chemistry is strong, I did wish for more of the tension that often makes this trope so satisfying. Finn’s attempts to keep his distance from Rua are quickly undermined by their undeniable connection, which, while cute, feels like it skips a few beats in building that dramatic push and pull.

Rua is a sharp-tongued, unbothered protagonist, which was fun to read at first. Her witty barbs aimed at Finn and the snooty members of high society bring much-needed levity to the otherwise high-stakes narrative. However, as the story progresses, Rua’s sharpness can become abrasive. Her character lacks depth at times, and though she's entertaining, she doesn’t always feel fully realized. A more fleshed-out backstory would have helped me connect with her on a deeper level. Mara, an important side character, is another example of this issue—her presence feels underdeveloped, and I found myself wishing there was more substance to her role.

Finn, on the other hand, is a far more engaging character. His internal struggle as an outsider trying to make his mark in high society is well done, and he feels more nuanced in comparison to Rua. His motivations and hesitations are more clearly defined, and I found myself rooting for him as he navigated the challenges of his new life and his growing attraction to Rua.

The pacing is another area where the book falters. The beginning hooks you in with Rua's mysterious past and the intriguing magic element, but the middle section of the book starts to drag. While the secrets and revelations eventually come to light, it takes a while for the plot to pick up steam. The slow burn is probably intentional, but for me, it felt a little too slow at times, with the tension between the characters and the larger mysteries not advancing as quickly as I would have liked. The writing can also be a bit choppy at times, which detracted from my overall immersion in the story.

The ending, too, left something to be desired. It feels somewhat abrupt, and while it ties up some loose ends, there’s a sense that the story isn’t quite finished yet. This could very well be setting the stage for a sequel, and I’m curious to see where the author takes the story next.

In conclusion, The Gods Time Forgot is a promising read for fans of historical romance with a twist of fantasy. The setting and premise are intriguing, and the romance between Rua and Finn has its moments. However, the pacing issues and lack of character depth in certain areas held me back from fully loving the book. It's still worth picking up, especially for readers who enjoy magical historical romances, but don’t expect it to fully sweep you off your feet.

The Gods Time Forgot is a novel set in the late 19th century New York where old money and new money collide. Emma is a girl of marriagable age with a crazy mother and no memory of her life before crawling out of a hellmouth in the countryside. Unfortunately, part of that memory loss is the fact that she isn't Emma, she is Rua, who looks almost exactly like Emma but is a different person stuck living Emmas's life. Enter Finn, a young Lord trying to build up his business so that he can help the less fortunate. Finn is supposed to be courting the perfectly respectable Annette, but can't help but be drawn to Rua.

Include some mysterious worshipping of the Morrigan and hints at old Irish Lore and we are left trying to figure out just who and what Finn and Rua are to themselves and to each other.

I loved this so much! The Irish mythology the enemies to lovers and the overall plot was just so excellent! I was drawn to the characters immediately and it was one of my favorite recent reads. Will 100% add to our library collection and will be recommending this to everyone.

3.5 rounded down to 3 stars

I had a pretty good time with this one, despite having some slight complaints about the pacing and the ending.

I loved(!!) the romance and the mythology weaved into the story. I felt like I could almost picture a world where these stories came to life, and that I was experiencing it myself. However, this immersion was slightly hindered by the fact that the pacing throughout the story was relatively inconsistent. Some parts felt too quick, some parts felt like they took absolutely AGES to occur. I think that this is definitely something that is learned with time, and I have no doubts that the author will improve on this in her next book (which I'll be sure to pick up).

However.... the ending was SO abrupt. I felt like suddenly I blinked and the story had ended, and I was like "Surely there's an epilogue or something to tie this up?" but sadly there was not. In the future, I think an epilogue would be a great benefit if the author foresees herself doing this style of ending again -- this just felt a little too sudden.

All my thanks to both Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

I originally saw a post about this book several months ago and saved the title to keep an eye on when it released. Because of that, I was so excited to have the opportunity to review it early through NetGalley.
I really liked the setting of this book, and how the reader drops into story along with Rua without any backstory. The timelines coming together and the two MCs realizing who they might be to each other was really fun along with the gilded age NYC setting.
I kept expecting the book to end on a cliff hanger setting up the next book, so was a little surprised and disappointed with the pacing at the end which left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
Overall, I LOVED the concept of the book and absolutely devoured it in an afternoon. I wish that the pacing had been a bit different.

I can see why many others enjoyed this story, though I personally found the pacing a bit slower than I had hoped. The beginning caught my interest, but the middle felt like it lacked a bit of momentum. While the premise is definitely intriguing, I was hoping for a deeper exploration of the Irish lore, That being said, I can understand why this book resonates with others and I think others will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.