The Gods Time Forgot as an intriguing take on Irish folklore with a bit of mystery and romance involved. This was a slow start that took me some time to get into, but once I understood where the story was going I needed to know how it ended. It was a fun ride following Rua as she discovers who she is and how she ended up in the Gilded Age in New York City, trying to stay away from Finn and trying to be near him all at the same time.

If you are a fantasy lover or intrigued by different retellings of folklore, this one is a great book to pick up!

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by this book from the very first chapter. If you like Bridgerton and Outlander, read this!

I enjoyed the fancy dresses and balls. It was fun to have a main character that spoke up and didn’t just cower at the mean girls of high society New York City.

Mixed with a little fantasy and Irish Mythology it was definitely unique!
I enjoyed the romance aspect!

The middle of the book got a touch repetitive and I would have liked a little more of the fantasy aspect added during that part, but I still enjoyed it over all!

(Will add my video review link soon).

2.5*

I was pretty disappointed in how this one turned out as it started off pretty interesting and the chemistry between the characters was so good. They had such good banter scenes and the slow build was well done. I just did not connect to the main character Emma/Rua and felt that the plot was clunky and did not flow well. There were pacing issues and the structure of the novel felt off to me, I would have structured it in a different way to have more emotional impact and more connection to the two main characters.

I received an eARC courtesy of Alcove Press and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is more a Gilded Age romance between Rua and Finn than a romantacsy but no matter, it's still a good read. The promised Irish mythology takes a back seat to the historical fiction aspects.. Rua and Finn, however, have good chemistry (and banter). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fun,

I couldn't wait to start this book! After reading its description (and falling in love with its beautiful cover), I had high hopes that I'd found a 5-star read. Unfortunately, that didn't end up being the case. While I decided to DNF this book at 40%, I can see this story appealing to readers who like the amnesia trope and strong female protagonists.

When I saw the words, "Irish mythology collides with Gilded Age New York", I knew I had to get my hands on this book. The last Celtic-inspired fantasy romance I read ended up being one of my favorite books of 2024. Unfortunately, this book has almost no fantasy or Irish mythology in the 40% I read. It might come into the story later on.

I also have some issues with the romance. I love an enemies-to-lovers relationship. It's my favorite trope! However, I don't think it's done well in this book. Rua and Finn's relationship comes across as insta-love/insta-obsession. I cringed every time I read one of their conversations. I don't think it's fair to call this book an enemies-to-lovers romance if the characters are already pining for each other during their second meeting (and at 20% of the book, no less!).

Moving on to what I like, I think the author does an excellent job of bringing the book's historical Manhattan setting to life! I can tell the author spent a lot of time researching the 1870s period. I also appreciate that Rua calls attention to the prejudice women faced. I think she's a great narrator for readers who like strong female protagonists.

I also think this book will appeal to fans of the amnesia trope. The story follows Rua as she attempts to fit into high society and recover her missing memories. I think Rua's shadowy past is a great way to raise the stakes and add a mystery subplot to the story.

While I didn't love this book as much as I'd hoped, I still think "The Gods Time Forgot" will find a receptive audience among historical fiction readers. Overall, I'm rating it 2/5 stars. This book comes out on April 8th!

I received an eARC courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

DNF at 10%. I just wasn’t hooked by it; the characters were reading a bit flat to me, and it just wasn’t pulling me in. Could definitely see others loving!

Really enjoyed this book. It was a little confusing at first, since the FMC didn't know what was happening with her. However, all of the questions that are brought up during the story were answered. The ending left it open for a potential next book, but no cliffhanger.

The Gods Time Forgot is a historical fantasy romance in which the gods of Irish mythology are transplanted to turn of the century New York City. It will appeal to lovers of Celtic mythology, readers of Outlander and viewers of The Gilded Age.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and the characters. It was a fast paced read that combined elements of historical fiction, women's literature, fantasy, mystery, romance, and suspense. My only issue is that the ending of the story fell a bit flat for me. The why of these two gods coming to earth and meeting again in New York was very base romance novel when I was expecting something much more epic based on the first 2/3 of the book. Still a good read and I would read more if it turned into a series.

I wanted to read this book for the cover and it did not disappoint! This was a fantastic romantasy that really had me gripping the edge of my seat. The characters were great and the plot was super interesting.

Such an intriguing read full of Irish mythology (absolutely loved that!), schemes, witty banter, and an absolutely swoon-worthy romance. I'm an absolute sucker for retellings of mythology and was beyond grateful to receive this ARC. The NYC setting in the 1870's just added to my intrigue about this novel and I have been so very excited to read it.

Considering the fact that this book is being marketed as a fantasy - that just doesn't sit entirely well with me. We do get small tidbits of the mythology woven within the story but it's not until around 80% when we really get a bit more than just a brief mention, or a brief flashback so overall this entire read was more along the lines of a historical fiction set in the Gilded Age. That alone would be fine, but I also just felt that a lot of scenes were repetitive - especially every scene with a party, I got to where I was just skimming those scenes as they always came about the same way.

I enjoyed the drama within the books - Rua struggling to fit into the NYC high society type of life and I got a lot of similarities between the book. and Bridgerton which I did enjoy!

The story did end nicely, although abruptly but I was pretty grateful for it!

Thans to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book!

This book has the most beautiful blend of the regency era & fantasy.

This book takes place in New York in 1870 when a young woman emerges from a cave in the woods confused, muddy and covered in blood... with no recollection of who she is or how she ended up there. She gets thrust into gilded age Manhattan society, and accidentally runs into an extremely handsome Irish man... who she comes to find out is the most eligible bachelor, Lord Finn Donore.

She feels an incredible pull towards Finn... and lets just say Irish Mythology and Folklore play a giant role in this love story.

The tension between Finn & Rua was absolutely *chefs kiss* & every single scene of Rua being a bad ass towards the people who were treating her horribly.. made me fall more in love with her character.

(The cover is also GORGEOUS.)

This is a book I will definitely be recommending, and I already can’t wait to read more books by Kelsie in the future 💖

Thank you so much Alcove press for the arc!

This was an entertaining historical romance/fantasy. Rua and Finn were fun characters with lots of banter. Although, the ending was very abrupt. I felt that the fantasy component could have been explained more thoroughly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!

ARC REVIEW - thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!

Rua wakes up with no memories in 1800s Manhattan. When she is mistaken for the Harrington's missing daughter, she must navigate through society while trying to piece together who she truly is.

This was an interesting blend of historical fiction with fantasy - it leans further into the historical aspect than fantasy. The setting is beautifully creative and intricate!

The banter between Rua and Finn was elite! I love squealing, giggling, and kicking my feet!

The final 20% kicks up the plot, but I felt there was something more needed to tie the story in with the journey.

If you are a fan of historical fiction with a splash of fantasy, such as Divine Rivals, this may be a good recommendation for you!

This book was the perfect mix of American Bridgeton, Irish mythology, and a sprinkle of Outlander. I enjoyed the suspense and the flashbacks about the memories. I did wish for a little more spice. I enjoyed the plot overall, and the character growth was noticeable. Hoping for another book to see what happens!

I think this book had a really good premise but the follow through was lacking. So much of the plot seemed like it was build up only to be very anti-climactic at the end. I was left with a lot of questions that felt very unresolved and poorly plotted. Also, the romance kept flip flopping between slow-burn and insta love which was really irritating at times. Overall, I think it could be a good story with a bit of re-editing and plot structuring.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

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.