I love it when a book captivates me by its cover and then wins me over by all its other aspects! When I saw this book on Netgalley I simply couldn't resist and I was so pleased when my request was accepted that I started reading straight away. The beginning is a little slow and made me not get into the story right away, but it soon becomes so intriguing that is almost impossible to stop reading. Rua is a mysterious character, even to herself, as she has no memory of who she is. I loved to gradually unraveling her as she unraveled herself too. A strong and complex character, but also atypical, which is what I liked most about her. Thrown into the 19th century New York’s society, Rua has to unravel who she really is while pretending to be someone else and integrating into the high society of the time, which provides just the right amount of drama. But it's when the MMC, Finn, appears that the story really becomes addictive. The banter between these two, the way they tease each other, how they are gradually more affected by each interaction and how it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid the attraction, how they are true to each other even when they hide so much from the world, the chemistry and palpable tension, the author has built a romance that is impossible to remain indifferent to. But also the way Finn always treats Rua as an equal in a world that sees women as inferior, this made me love him on a whole new level! The fantasy aspect ends up taking more of a scundary role to the romance and character development and, although I would have liked to have seen it explored more, I didn't miss it too much. The story of these two and their evolutions as individuals shines on its own and the touch of gods and Irish mythology ends up being a touch of something more that affirms this book as part of the romantasy subgenre with immense potential to become a favorite for those who like the genre. The ending was a bit abrupt and I missed an epilogue that would have wrapped up the story better, but I loved the fact that it was more open-ended so as to leave room for a sequel, like a door sighly open. The kind of ending that leaves you longing for a sequel, but also feeling good if it doesn't happen.
This book turned out to be a very nice surprise, with kinda of lyrical writing, a sweeping romance, a mix of Divine Rivals and Bridgerton that was so engaging and addictive and that I loved to have the chance to read the arc. A read that captivated me, that ended up becoming a favorite and that I highly recommend!


Plot & World 4⭐
Characters 5⭐
Enjoyment 4⭐
Writting 5⭐

Overall 4.5⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove press for providing this advanced reader copy. This book was super interesting! It was definitely out of my normal reading comfort zone, and unlike anything I have read before. In this book, which I believe is a standalone, you follow Rua/Emma who wakes up in the woods after being lost for 2 days - the catch? Rua/Emma doesn’t remember her past at all, and is unsure of who she is. This book is set during the gilded age in NYC, and in many ways could be classified as a historical romance. The romance is definitely a slow-burn, which I do believe was the right choice contextually. Rua’s love interest Finn is drawn to her, as she is to him from day one despite societal expectations that have cast Rua as a witch and evildoer. There is a strong connection to Irish folklore throughout the book, and it is done in a way that is easily explained and doesn’t require any prior knowledge. However, I wish there was an even stronger inclusion of Irish folklore throughout the book, as the fantasy element only picked up in the second half. Thus, I would classify this book as more of a historical romance with a fantasy sub-plot. That being said, that is just my personal preference, and I don’t think that hindered the plot or the book in any way. Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez’s expertise really shines through her excellent dialogue. The dialogue and interactions we got to see between Rua and Finn were absolutely amazing, and Rua’s sharp wit had me laughing every few pages! The writing was definitely breathtaking at times, and I found myself highlighting quotes every second chapter or so. An unexpected factor of this book was how dark it turned, particularly in the last 30% of the book. This was definitely done to fit in with the folklore aspects of the book, and I do think it complimented the vision, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it and while I enjoyed the depth it created, it is worth noting some of the darker themes before starting this book. This book had so many strong elements, and is an amazing debut from Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez! I recommend you pick up this book in April of next year if you are looking for a unique historical romance with strong ties to Irish mythology and darker themes.

Favourite Quotes:

“I thought as much. A man of your stature could never stand to listen to the wicked things I might say”

“I daresay you wouldn’t like it. Far too many thoughts and considerations for a man to keep pace”

“He was a moth and she the flame, and he was going to get burned. There was no doubt about it”

“He was familiar and forbidden. Her own personal paradise. Nothing would ever compare. He belonged only to her”

This one was not a favorite for me, unfortunately. I love the cover, the premise sounds super intriguing, and the author is a great tiktok personality, but I just found myself bored with the story. I really wanted to like it but the pacing was just too slow for the majority of the book; it felt like a romance novel with the fantasy portion just an afterthought packed into the ending.

The Gods Time Forgot is an engaging romantasy set in 1870s New York that captivated me with its complex characters and intricate plot. The story centers around Rua, a strong-minded and intriguing protagonist who has no memories of her past. Mistakenly identified as the missing daughter Emma by the Harrington family, Rua tries to adapt to her new life, but unfortunately, the real Emma’s scandalous past that has caused strife within the family and distanced them from society.Finn Donore, an Irish lord striving to establish himself in business, feels an irresistible pull toward Emma/Rua, despite knowing he should maintain his distance. The delightful banter and tension between Rua and Finn make their interactions compelling and enjoyable.

As the narrative progresses, the magical elements of Rua’s past and her mysterious connection to Finn are revealed, blending seamlessly with the historical setting. This mix of history and magic adds depth to the story, making it a captivating read. I found myself rooting for Rua and Finn throughout the book, and their evolving relationship was a highlight.Overall, The Gods Time Forgot is a compelling tale of love, mystery, and magic, with a richly developed world and characters that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

I wanted to love this story but I didn't. I didn't get the plot for the first 35% of the book and there where a lot of times that I wanted to dnf it. I didn't, but I wished I did. It dragged a lot and the the characters were undeveloped.

This was a great concept, it took me a bit to get into the book but around the 20% mark it picked up and drew me to the point I couldn't put it down!

There were a lot of great things about this historical romantasy. I was really intrigued by the premise at first. The way the story began, the introduction of the characters and the fun banter between Finn and Rua. I initially thought this was going to be a 5 star read for me.

As I got further into the book, it started to drag. There were aspects of the characters I loved, but the story became fixated on women competing for one guy’s attention. The indecisiveness of Finn made him extremely unappealing to me. By the end of the book, I wasn’t really invested in the characters.

The cover is gorgeous and I have a feeling this will help attract interest in the book. I would still be curious to checkout future books from this author.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Recipe for this book: mix two cups of dark and tragic irish mythology, three cups of glittering gilded-age New York high society, a tablespoon of romance, and a dash of murder. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was a fun one! There were some familiar tropes, but well-executed. I enjoyed the progression of the story and think readers will be able to invest in this easily!

The Gods Time for Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is marketed as a historical fantasy set in the glittering Gilded Age with an undercurrent of mystery and romance. Unfortunately, it was actually a whole lot of nothing. For transparency, I had to DNF at 30% of the way through because I was falling asleep reading it.

I am a reader who tends to enjoy character-driven stories, but this novel has not a single character of note, despite an intriguing premise. We begin the story with our main character, Rua, climbing out of a dark hole. The servants sent to retrieve her refer to her as Emma, but she knows she is not. This should make for some interesting tension, but Rua never believes she’s Emma for one moment. And while she constantly asks herself, “Who am I, really?” there is no real conflict internally about the fact that she could be Emma. Rua is a flat, one-dimensional girl who is rebellious for the sake of being rebellious despite the fact that she should be terrified. She is consistently told she’ll be sent to an asylum if she acts out of turn, but she continues to do so without any consideration of her fragile position.

The other perspective, Finn, is not much better. He is an Irish Lord who has come to America to make his name and create a money-making hotel. He is portrayed to be a kind and considerate man, who wants to help the poor and destitute. He has to rub elbows with rich men in order to be accepted into society, but he’s never tempted by the glamor of their lives. This leads me to one of my biggest problems, all of the villains are mustache-twirling and lack any nuance or interesting complexities. They’re easy to root against because it’s so obvious they’re terrible people. Rua’s mother is outlandishly cruel and abusive, for no real reason. One of Finn’s associates hates poor people simply because they’re poor. There is no discussion of anything meaningful and they have no personality traits beyond wanting power. Boring, boring, boring.

When Rua and Finn meet they have an instant connection, even though Finn calls her a prostitute because she’s running around a construction site before the break of dawn in nothing but a nightgown. I’m confused by this choice and there is something icky about this being their meet-cute. Especially since Rua is immediately abrasive about being called a “prostitute”. It didn’t need to be written this way and it was the final straw for my reading experience.

All of these problems with the characters I could look past, if the plot was intriguing and moved forward. Unfortunately, the plot is nonexistent and the pacing is so slow that it’s hard not to think this book is a waste of time. The main character, Rua, doesn’t know who she is and it takes so long to actually get to New York and do anything but wander around and look at things. That is not a plot, nor is it atmosphere. In the beginning, Rua goes back to where she climbed out of, despite the fact that it could get her sent to an asylum, and while this could’ve been a great opportunity for reflection, the narration skips over it and says she stands there thinking for a few hours.

The writing style leaves much to be desired as well. The sentences and dialogue are stilted. No character has a distinctive voice. This is a book about the Gilded Age, and yet the atmosphere is nonexistent. The story lacks any flavor or flare. I believe this story could’ve been well executed with much more time and crafting. So, this book unfortunately fails to craft characters, entice me with any semblance of a plot, or even transport me to this rich historical period.

Hmmmm. what to say other than I found this quite difficult to get into and had to commit to finish it.
The first half of the book had some vague references to what should have been the main storyline, i.e. the three crones.
There was also some references such as 'someone was knocking on the door" and then....nothing.
Lots of potential but not one that I loved.

I can’t say the book is genius or the best I read this year, but I definitely had a lot of fun with it. Thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with the ARC copy.

In the story, we deal with the memory loss. In the beginning, we meet a girl, who doesn’t remember anything except her name, Rua. But at the very beginning, she does not remember even that. She is in a cave, that isn’t bigger than a coffin, and some people outside are looking for a girl named Emma. And they claim she is the one they’re looking for. Even though she is 100% sure she’s not Emma - the demon-worshipping daughter of that wealthy family everyone seems to confuse her for, she will play according to their rules while trying to find the memories and figure out what happened to the real Emma.

On the other hand, we have a tall and handsome Irish lord trying to do business in Manhattan and place himself among the wealthiest. What will he do if he feels drawn to her like she is his long-forgotten love, even when he’s absolutely positive he sees her for the first time in his life? Will he ruin his perfectly calculated plans to find out what that feeling is?

I loved a lot of things here. The relationship feels natural and not pushed as it could be, given that they’re already in love when they meet for the first time. The setting of the 19th century frames the story very well, and some social problems within it allow carrying on with the conflict of the story. The forced proximity is smooth and gives us new details about the lord (well, I don’t know what to say else, but I was so happy with that turn of events that I thought I need to mention it in my review). The story seamlessly switches between two perspectives and, therefore is lively and complex. The most satisfying thing was to put back together again all the pieces. I loved how the Irish mythology was shattered and brought back again piece by piece beautifully embedded in the story

Every time I grew bored, new details surfaced and kept me reading. However, the story peaked for me at the end of the second third, and the remaining third was entertaining but didn’t keep me engaged at the same level.

Irish mythology?! Slow burn?! Give this all the stars.

This was set in 1870 when women were meant to be calm workers and have no opinions or zest at all. Rua woke up in Emma's body after a disappearance and it was a ride after that! I highly recommend this book! It will make you mad to see how women were treated and how it might not be as much of an escape from today's society as it might have once been. I am here for the female rage though!

*4.5 stars*
Okay, I had no idea what to expect with this book. I went in completely blind and I've heard nothing about it which I'm kind of glad about. But gosh it surprised me with how much I enjoyed it!!!! It was a like a historical romance with angsty, "I don't want to like you, but I keep being drawn to you" moments that I just love but add in this mysterious fantasy element that keep me wanting more!!!!! It was so addictive and easy to read. I found myself just captivated by it.

The end felt a little rushed and like it was missing something. But I actually REALLY enjoyed this! The cover doesn't feel quite like the story but I still like it. The romance was such a good slowburn, angsty build that I was majorly rooting for and had me on my toes!!! What a pleasant surprise this was!!! Definitely recommend checking it out!!

I'm so curious if this is a standalone or if there will be more. Cause I'm content if it's a standalone honestly but wouldn't hate more.

For Fans of Hancock
Rua emerges from a hellmouth, stuck in the body of a young New York socialite. She has no memory and the vaguest hints about old gods from her maid. Yet she has to pretend or end up in an asylum. The line about a developer throwing in his daughter to sweeten the business deal was both funny and set the tone of the era well. When the main characters meet, the large Finn mistakes her for a prostitute, both offending and exciting her. Once they dance, his attraction becomes obvious, but the surges of superhuman strength puzzle him. The physical parts of the romance were well done, and the second half flowed much better.
The grammar and spelling were fine. However, the dialog in the first half conveyed little and some scenes felt pointless or filled with redundancies. Without the blurb, I would have been lost because the first few chapters of the book provide few hints about the common Irish angle or the year 1870. We find *no* mention of major world events of that era. Rua claims to have “far too many thoughts and considerations in her head for a man to keep pace,” but I saw no evidence of this. Even after a descriptionless, settingless dream referring to her by name and to Badb as her sister, she somehow doesn’t draw a conclusion. She has to literally trip over a clue.

The Gods Time Forgot is a captivating blend of historical romance and Irish mythology, with a fate inked in blood vibe and Bridgerton-like charm and memorable characters. Rua, thrown into 1800s high society with no memory of her past, must navigate the world of debutantes while unraveling her identity.

While the romance and banter were fantastic, I found myself wishing the fantasy elements were explored more deeply. The hints of gods and mythology were intriguing but left me wanting more. That said, the gorgeous prose and chemistry between the characters made this an unforgettable read. With its open-ended finale, I’m excited at the possibility of a sequel to delve further into the world!

I fell in love with this book from the very first page!

The Gods Time Forgot is an amazing addition to the romantasy genre! Rua is such a compelling main character, and her journey is one I won’t forget.

I can see myself reading multiple books in this universe, and I’m excited to see where the author goes from here!

Her writing immediately inspired me, and made my fantasy loving heart so happy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an eARC!

Set in 1870 Manhattan - Rua wakes up in a dark cave with no memories of who she is other than her name. Found by the Harrington family who believe her to be their missing daughter Emma, Rua is forced to play the part. She does her best to fit into the wealthy socialite circle for the Harringtons sake, but Emma’s past transgressions rear their head at every turn. Rua fights to uncover the truth while facing the rumors and hateful glares from the prominent families in their inner circle. Fin is an Irish lord who has come to New York to help people and is willing to play the game to achieve his wants and desires. His off chance meeting with Rua one morning on the streets of Manhattan seems to set divine plans into motion that threaten to crumble the life he has built. Secrets and memories start unfurling and Rua and Fin are forced to face painful truths that will alter their lives forever.

This story was so good, it hooked me immediately. Rua is such a strong and bold FMC. The chemistry between Rua and Fin was electric and magnetic. I couldn’t read fast enough to get to their next encounter. My only issue is the book ends very abruptly. I wish there was an epilogue or a couple more chapters to wrap the story. Hopefully we will have a sequel! It’s a little bit of Outlander mixed with Divine Rivals and Bridgerton. Worth the read!

- Strong FMC
- Charming MMC
- Slow burn
- Murder, mystery, intrigue
- Irish folklore

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
On Sale Date - April 8th, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for a copy of the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Such. Great story that honestly the dynamic between the two protagonists was believable, tragic at times, and made me keep guessing. Highly recommend this one!! Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC!

I was really excited to read this as I haven’t read much of Irish folklore. The overall story is interesting. Our main character wakes up without any memories being told she is a daughter within a family trying to enter high society. The weaving of the morrigan into this story is well done. I do feel the pacing is a little off as not much truly happens or is uncovered until the last 40% of the book.

I do really enjoy Rua and Finn as characters and believe that they are the strongest element of this novel. Rua is a headstrong, goes against the crowd type of character and I was truly rooting for her, Finn is a good hearted person who’s just trying to make it in the world. Their banter is so much fun and I love the trope of finding each other in different lifetimes. Sadly every other character in this book is so deeply unlikable which they are meant to be but it still irked me. I also feel that the sexism was laid on extremely thick which i know is true to the time era but I could have done with less of it.

I like how it ended although it did feel a little anti climatic but overall this was a fun read.