This has got to be the most chaotic 24 hours that someone could endure. This book had everything…complex politics, Inception like mind/worldbuilding, sprinkles of humor while shit is absolutely going down, and two sapphics that pine over each other while also being oblivious.

With that ending, I definitely can't wait for book two!

For fans of:
- S0rcery and Small Magics

This book includes:
- rivalry
- Groundhog Day-esque reliving of an event over and over
- more mature FMC (shes a grown woman with a child!)
- LGBT protagonist

Imagine the world's worst Groundhog Day. You end up at a cursed New Year party where you are forced to watch your friends, rivals, and acquaintances be brutally murdered over and over all night, oh and you just had a baby and this was your first day for yourself and your crush is totally avoiding you. Kembral Thorne is a detective who gets stuck in an endless time loop where paranormal forces are hunting the attendents of a New Years party and she is the only one who is awake to the schemes. This book is challenging and fun, and brings a whole new context to the classic clue-style "who done it" party. The pacing was a little odd to me, but I think that is in the nature of the plot. Overall, great book.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Caruso, Hachette Audio, and Orbit for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Kembral Throne is at a party, two months after giving birth to her daughter. She's ambivalent about being out on her own; she needs some time for herself, but is worried about leaving her daughter alone with a sitter.

Kembral is in the corner, unsure if she can even make conversation with other adults, exhausted from too little sleep, when she sees her rival, Rika Nonesuch. Kembral is a Hound, a good investigator with lethal skills, while Rika is a Cat, a burglar. The two are rivals, and are uncomfortable with each other, particularly after something that occurred between them some time before, the content of which we aren't told about till later in the book. Kembral is qualified to travel to different echoes (multiverses) of Prime, their world, where there are similarities, such as magic, but also increasingly disturbing and unusual beings and creatures.

Kembral notices a large, unusual grandfather clock in the big room, and an intriguing young girl by it. But she's more concerned by Rika's presence, and is sure something bad is likely to happen, consequently. But what actually happens is not anything she envisaged, when everyone starts dropping dead around her.

Then, the grandfather clock bongs, and things reset, but a little bit different from their world, and everyone is alive again. Only Kembral realizes what has occurred (they're in an echo). She tries to awaken others to their situationbut with no success, as again violence happens, then resets. Each time the cycle repeats, Kembral realizes that they are in a different echo and it's with some difficulty that she manages to awaken Rika to their plight, at which point the two begin arguing constantly and working together to find a way to save everyone from the increasingly perilous echoes and return them all to Prime.

This was such a fun, fast-paced and funny story. The pacing is breakneck, and there's lots of amusing dialogue, abrupt violence, intrigue, a bunch of mysteries, including why this is happening.

Kembral's fatigue and ambivalence are so well rendered, and the realization that functioning with little sleep is just part of her life now. She's physically slower, but she's forced to think through her actions, and consider their effects on her daughter's wellbeing. Very real and well considered, and very welcome to see a main character as a new mother who has to balance saving the world while feeling incredibly vulnerable.

I found the dialogue clever and loved the banter between Kembral and Rika as they work together. The romance was wonderfully well balanced with the action by author Melissa Caruso, and I'm looking forward to what happens next, particularly with all the realizations and revelations.

I listened and read this novel. I am a longtime fan of Moira Quirk's voicework, so this novel was such a pleasure to listen to. Quirk embodies Kembral's exhaustion and stubbornness, while rendering Rika's words with an undercurrent of sly humour. I loved Dona Marjorie and Pearson's voicings also, with Pearson's cluelessness about the rigours of new motherhood coming through with humour but also with the fondness Kembral has for him. I am anxious to read/listen to the next installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books and to Hachette Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

While this story had a really interesting premise, I just could not get into it. I was not able to connect with the characters and honestly felt like the story went on for a bit too long. I wish we knew more about the characters on a deeper level. Similar to other reviews, I was pretty annoyed about how the FMC, Kembral, made being a mother her whole personality. I really like the world that was created though and thought it was really cool. I love a good sapphic romance and a rivals to lovers trope, but felt that the relationship could have been developed a bit more.

I didn't hate this book, I just didn't love it. But if this sounds good to you, I absolutely recommend giving it a shot!

Additionally, I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a really good job. I probably would have DNFed it if I didn't enjoy the narrator as much as I did!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Audiobook

This book is like a wild ride, kind of like Groundhog Day but with some serious fantasy vibes! It’s got a ton of action and a bit of magic mixed in. The main character, Kem, is a new mom and a total fighter, and she finds herself stuck in this crazy time loop at a fancy party. Every time the clock hits midnight, everything resets, and she dives deeper into these layers of reality called Echoes, but she’s the only one who remembers what happened before.

Her only help in this bizarre situation is Rika Nonesuch, who is her enemy, their history is a bit messy. As they fall through these wild Echoes filled with powerful foes known as Empyreans, they’ve got to figure out how to save everyone at the party and themselves too. Did I tell you it was SAPPHIC?! so good!

Sure, there were parts where I could see what was coming, but it was still super fun to read! I totally didn’t see that ending coming, though!! Sometimes it got a little confusing with all the different characters popping up in each chapter, but I liked how different they were. Plus, it does a great job representing new moms and all the challenges they face.

I’d totally recommend this book to anyone looking for something different!!

While this was slow to start, I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the echoes through time/space. I found the narrator kept me engaged, and I loved her inflections! Four stars simply due to the slower than anticipated start, the constant reminder she's a new mom, and for not quite fleshing out the world and magic as much as they could. Over all I would recommend though!!

The Last Hours Between Worlds explores what happens when an office New Years party turns dangerous in a world with alternate realities

Kembral is a special agent and new mother out for the first time since the birth of her daughter Emma. The night takes a turn when party guests start to die and they descend into alternate realities.

I found this book slow to start, but once the action started it was quite interesting and unique. The stakes felt very high and lighthearted at the same time, similar to a Marvel movie. I really like Kembral and loved that this story was told from the perspective of a new mother who is also a bad ass FMC. The love story I felt was a bit forced. I did love the twists and turns of the story and the reveals along the way.

The narration was overall well done, but some of the voices irked me. I liked they were distinct, but the high pitch whine of a couple characters made some scenes very hard to get through. Luckily it wasn't the main characters voice.

Tropes
* Time loops
* Rivals to Lovers
* Murder Mystery
* Sapphic Romance
* Alternate realities

3.5 stars

To be quite honest, I really didn't think that I would like this book/story. The beginning of The Last Hour Between Worlds was definitely slow. It was a bit irritating at times when the FMC/protagonist kept mentioning that she's a new mother, has a newborn at home waiting for her, and how she was NOT ready for hire/ready to go back to work. The pace eventually quickened as the plot thickened, despite the FMC continuously driving home she was a new mom and doing things for her daughter.

Now, I really did enjoy the world building and the character development. The concept of time and alternate universes as "echoes" (layers) upon each other was fun to explore. As the characters fall further down the alternate timelines (not even sure if I am doing this concept justice), the supportive characters and journeys slightly change. It is very much groundhog day, but different clothes, different challenge, but all leading to the ultimate end boss/climax.

As for the FMC protagonist? I really did like her. Again, the beginning was a bit peevish how all that came out of her mouth was "oh I just had a baby, and need to go back home to her after this party." How she eventually and reluctantly decided to be proactive to the situation felt a bit "John Wick," as in "I guess I am back." However, I really did enjoy her back story of why she spent time developing her skill/magic. Very human element touch there. The exploration into her romantic life is quite interesting as well. That's all tied into her back story, as well.

I would recommend this book to others who enjoy rivals to lovers, time loops, mystery, murder, a dash of political intrigue and alternate realities. 4 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Hachette Audio | Orbit, and the author/narrator for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun book, I've never listened or read a book with this type of magic system before, I really enjoyed it. I couldn't stop listening to it, I listened in the car and at home instead of watching tv or doing things I was supposed to do haha.

The narrator was amazing at capturing my attention from the beginning and I felt like I was watching a movie. Her ability to change her voice to match each character was great.

All in all I would recommend this audiobook to everyone.

I had high hopes for this book—it’s such a fascinating concept with so much potential. Unfortunately, the story didn’t fully deliver on what it could have been, leaving me feeling like it might’ve worked better as a movie or a series. Big thanks to Hachette Audio, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for giving me the chance to listen to this one, though.

Let’s start with the positives. The narration was fantastic—engaging delivery and excellent pacing made the audiobook a standout. However, the story itself felt underdeveloped. For a book that’s essentially a spin on Groundhog Day, with characters revisiting the same scenarios through different echoes of reality, I was hoping for more variety and creativity in each descent. There were only a few moments where the progression felt truly wacky or unexpected, and I wanted to be pulled deeper into the madness each time.

The idea of the protagonist being a new mother juggling her job as a magical special agent added an interesting layer, but in execution, it distracted more than it enhanced. While I appreciated the attempt to explore themes of sleep deprivation and adjusting to parenthood, it didn’t feel integral to the plot or the stakes. Instead, it sometimes pulled me out of the narrative.

This book’s tone also didn’t quite land for me. It straddled a line between lighthearted action and something darker, but I think it would’ve been more gripping if it leaned harder into horror or thriller elements. The action was fun, but I wanted a greater sense of danger, something more serious to heighten the tension and stakes.

That said, the premise is undeniably creative: a work nemesis turned ally at a magical office party spiraling into chaos and reality-bending adventures? That’s gold. I just wish the execution had been tighter, the world-building more immersive, and the story more thrilling.

While The Last Hour Between Worlds wasn’t entirely what I hoped for, it’s an intriguing concept that others might enjoy, especially if they’re looking for something lighter with a bit of magic and action.

this was SO good. i went in completely blind and had no idea what to expect, but truly i would recommend it up down and all around.

This story follows main character Kembral Thorne, who is an investigator for the Guild of Hounds. She recently had a baby and is on leave from work, but gets out for an evening for a work function at an influential city elder’s mansion. They live in a world where there are different levels of reality (Echoes), and slipping into another layer changes the reality in big and/or subtle ways. In the beginning I felt a slight comparison with the movie Groundhog Day. The first few times she slipped into another Echo and time seems to restart and we see the same characters not remembering talking to her in the previous Echo that I was listening to the same thing on repeat. That did not last long, though, as the deeper she moved, more significant changes started to be displayed. I was trying to describe this to one of my friends and I was thinking it has elements you see in murder mysteries, heists, and high stakes fantasy. I will definitely continue this series as it comes out, because I think there are some really fun ways this story could continue. We’ve seen a little romance (very small part of the story), and I would like to see that explored more in the future. There is also really good banter between the characters, especially Kembral and Rika, which made for some really cute scenes. Highly recommend this, it was a really fun time.

Also, side note, I listened to the audiobook through Net Galley and really liked the narrator too, she had a really great tone and loved the accent. It did take me a few chapters to feel fully engulfed in the story, and I wish there was a little more that went into the world building in the beginning. I hope that we can see a little more of the world building and some more info on the different Guilds in the next book.

This book is so much fun. Great world building, likeable characters, sarcasm that is not overdone, interesting monsters and villains. Kembral as the hero and Rika as the foil are a great duo. There are touching times, fights, and some really cool magic in here. I am so glad to see this will be a series!

The Last Hour Between Worlds
The Echo Archives Book 1
By Melissa Caruso
Narrated by Moira Quirk
4.5 ⭐️

I am not a big time travel reader; so I was nervous picking this one up. Clearly I loved it.

Mini world building breakdown: The time travel in this is more of a pause in “real” time while time continues in the “echo”. An echo is a time/place that mimics reality but is its own place - like a realm overlap. The deeper the echo, the more removed from reality it is. Shadows walk on their own, creatures become the norm, and physics don’t exist. I thought of the echos as a building where each echo was a floor.

I enjoyed the main character in so many ways. She’s a new single mother navigating how to keep her career priorities (or if she wants to) while prioritizing her baby and all that comes with that as a nursing mother. She’s capable. She’s vulnerable. She read as very dynamic to me as I related to her a lot.

The audiobook was great for me. I’m not sure how I would’ve found this story via an eyeball read. I enjoyed Quirk’s performance. I felt they added life to the story in places that could have come across as dull. I’d fully recommend the audio for this one.

Thank you NetGalley, Melissa Caruso, and Hachette audio for this audiobook ARC.

**4.5/5 Stars**
*The Last Hour Between Worlds* by Melissa Caruso is a breathtaking blend of intricate world-building, high-stakes adventure, and heart-pounding emotion. Caruso’s mastery of weaving magic and politics shines, creating a story that feels both epic and intimate. The characters are richly developed, their relationships and struggles adding layers of depth to the gripping plot. While the complexity of the world may require careful attention, the payoff is more than worth it. A dazzling tale of courage, sacrifice, and the ties that bind us across realms.

I absolutely loved this first book in Melissa Caruso’s Echo Archives series of high fantasy. It’s so well written, I felt completely immersed in the story. There are no info dumps here, and the author doesn’t spoon-feed you information, so you have to be patient and pay attention to understand the world, the characters, and the plot.

Our main character Kembral Thorne is a Hound—a powerful member of the guardian’s guild, and also a new mother. That’s such an unusual trait for a lead character in a fantasy story, and I liked how it shaped Kembral’s thoughts and actions.

I adored Kembral’s past love interest turned adversary, Rika Nonesuch, a sassy and extremely talented Cat—a member of the thieves’ guild. Rika’s such a fun character, with many secrets and a long and complicated history with Kembral that we slowly learn about throughout the course of the story. The story was also filled with many colorful side characters, and I loved how it was often unclear whether a particular character would be an ally, an enemy, or some murky blend of each.

This world has layers called Echoes, with each deeper layer becoming an increasingly strange and distorted version of the Prime reality. There are also scheming creatures called Echoes, who reminded me of various dark and scary tales of the fae. When a New Year’s Eve party starts sinking deeper and deeper into these Echoes, creating something like a time loop, Kembral and Rika are the only attendees who have any recall of previous loops. In each new Echo, they face increasing danger as they try to understand what’s happening and how to get back to Prime without a large death count.

The story easily held my attention with all of its twists and turns, and I enjoyed the mix of magic, mystery, action, suspense, humor, and a slow-burn Sapphic romance.

The audiobook production was excellent, and Moira Quirk’s fantastic narration really contributed to my enjoyment of the story. She’s so much fun to listen to, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.

This story has a satisfying ending and could be enjoyed on its own, but I want to know more about these characters and this world, so I am eagerly awaiting Book 2. I highly recommend this book for fans of time loop stories and epic fantasies involving scheming fae-like beings.

Thanks to Hachette Audio for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is a great fast pace and mysterious sapphic read. Caruso did an amazing job at creating this fantastical world with parallels and we can feel the stakes rise as Kembral and Rika find themselves falling into deeper echoes as they try to make sure everyone can return to prime alive.
Moira Quirk especially did an amazing at bringing the characters to life, giving each character a unique and easily distinguishable voice. These voices fit well with the characters, and overall enhance the reading experience.

I loved this book! It has some Groundhog Day vibes, if the stakes were much higher. I'm always a fan of humor in fantasy, and this had a campy tone that worked perfectly for me!

I loved how it’s a completely different world than I’ve been reading lately. It is written in a way that we can imagine the primary world as something similar to our own, but it isn't specifically implied. This was really effective in keeping the creative juices flowing in my brain throughout the whole book. They have layers of echo worlds that get increasingly dangerous the farther down you go. The FMC is a new single mom who is trying to enjoy her first night out since the baby at a Year Turning Ball (basically New Year’s Eve). When people start dying she realizes that she’s the only person who can tell they are in an echo. Even though she’s on leave, her job as a hound, saving people and sometimes pets from echo worlds, means she is the best equipped to figure out what is going on and save everyone. I love a smart and capable FMC that doesn’t have to flaunt how awesome she is, because she just takes charge and gets things done!

I listened to the audiobook, because if Moira Quirk narrates it, I will listen to it! She is my favorite narrator. She brings a loveable snarky quality to the FMC, and always has fun voices for the supporting characters! I can pretty much guarantee I'll laugh when listening to a book she narrates!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Hours Between Worlds is the first book in a new fantasy series by Melissa Caruso. Although I’ve never read her work before, I was pleasantly surprised by how well written and thought out her novel was. I can already see the mysteries in this book creating future adventures. I look forward to seeing where Kem and Rika go next!

I was lucky enough to have access to the audio version of this book on NetGalley and I have to say that I loved the narration. There is only one narrator (which made it much easier for me to follow along with the story as I wasn’t confused by a cacophony of voices) and she does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. She does some accents to differentiate characters but nothing over the top. I also thought that her natural accent was quite soothing. I am quite picky when it comes to audiobooks, and I can’t stand when an accent is too annoying or doesn’t match with the genre but luckily the narrator was able to add enough gravitas to her voice for this kind of fantasy book.

As for the novel itself, I loved the concept of the magic system, and the world set-up. The idea that you could get accidentally pulled into a world is both thrilling and terrifying. The only thing that I couldn’t take seriously were the names for the different operatives. ‘Hounds’ is a little silly but the fact that their rivals (a group of thieves) were called the ‘Cats’- that I just found ridiculous. I think that if you can accept that though and just allow yourself to enjoy a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’ll have fun.

I would recommend this book to fans of portal fantasies and well-written queer fantasy books.

Holy heck this was a good read! A wild story with engaging characters and an incredible world-building.

It's a time loop, mass-murder mystery, where the time loop opens on progressively more terrifying timelines and the murders happen differently each time. My heart was pounding the whole time!