A fast-paced, exciting, and tension-filled adventure where the stakes continue to rise with each toll of the grandfather clock. This is such an interesting take on the locked room mystery, where the room is a house that continues to fall through different layers of reality in the middle of a deadly game. Even though we are experiencing the same period of time over and over again, it is still exciting and different each iteration. Our main characters are interesting and capiable, making them interesting to follow. The tension comes both from the external forces threatening their lives and their own history and internal problems they aren't willing to speak about with each other. I'm excited for book 2!

The audiobook was a great way to experience this story.

That was super interesting it had twists and fun characters magic portals violence and more I really loved this book

Set in a world where our reality is known as "Prime" and there are 11 other sub-realities under this one, each weirder and more dangerous than the last, a New Year's Eve house party is dragged into a game between immortals and mischief makers. Kem is a hound, basically a detective who investigates missing people (or dogs) that sometimes fall, or are pulled into other worlds, she goes and retrieves them. The setup for each hour of the story is the same, Kem arrives at a party, various outside forces try and enter the party and kill somebody, chaos ensues. Then the clock resets and the whole things starts again but with influences from the new world they are situated in as the entire party is dropped through layers as the clock strikes.

I loved the slow unfolding of the background of the characters and general world building that occurred over the course of a very protracted party. Although the general setup was the same, there was so much nuance and intrigue and breadcrumbs being sprinkled that made me want to keep reading to try and get to the bottom of what was going on and why.

I thought Kembral was a fantastic protagonist, it made a really nice change to see somebody over 25 being the main character and as well as being a total bad-ass at work and having rare abilities and skills, she had real life worries she was constantly dealing with. The other characters felt well fleshed out and how they interacted with each other and their various back stories being revealed was excellent.

As always Moira Quirk can do no wrong and her narration was exceptional, really adding another dimension to these characters.

I absolutely enjoyed this novel.

Kembral is a new mother who takes a tiny break from motherhood to join and hopefully enjoy an end of the year party. She used to work as retrieval agent, but has been on maternity leave. When the party turns into a "Groundhog Day" scenario Kembral seems to be the only one who recognises that the party/the mansion is slowly sinking into the echoes (parallel worlds that are similar, but not the same as the "prime" world).

I liked Kembral as the main character. She seems fully fleshed out. She knows her strengths, but also her weaknesses, especially after having had a baby only two months before the party. She doesn't shy away from confrontations and has a deep desire to help - or to paraphrase the story: She's the one to get the dog and bring it home when no one else dares to.

The story could have become repetitive, but each repetition of the party has higher stakes. Kembral needs to find allies, who help her puzzle out how to get all of the people attending the party back to their world without any of them dying, but who will believe her and who can she trust?

The ending of the book is written in a way that it could work as a standalone. Yet, it's a bitter-sweet ending and I am curious to see where the sequel takes Kembral.

I had the chance to not only get an eARC for this novel, but also received the audiobook ARC. Moira Quirk narrates the audiobook and she does a wonderful job, I didn't want to take my earbuds out.

I don't even know where to begin with this review. Just start shouting about how absolutely brilliant and consuming it its? The world building in this story is so lush and intricate without being overbearing. It also is ever changing, I was super drawn into the different layers of echo and the way that the landscape and the beings that lived there changed. I also loved that the party was ever changing in small subtle ways in some echos and more noticeable ones in others. The characters i felt were well fleshed out and written. There is a noticeable arc and development with our FMC Kembral. She went through so many emotions and had to face so many things that she had been keeping buried down and I found it cathartic to watch her slowly let go forgive and forge on. I really did like Rika even tho sometimes she puts her self out there as being cold and withdrawn. Blair was a gem and I wish that he had gotten more page time, I hope that he returns in the rest of the series. I also loved the clock maker and the earnest way that she tried to help and make things right. The magic system in this book is fascinating, I love the different guilds and their roles, the echos and echo born. I think that Kembral's blink stepping is a super cool skill. The entire concept of the game and the time loop as they descend from echo to echo. I really cannot wait to see what is next for this series.

Moira Quirk did a phenomenal job of bringing this book to life. Her narration really made you feel as if you were in the middle of the drama instead of just an outsider looking in.

The Last Hour Between Worlds follows Kembral Thorne, who goes to a party and ends up stuck traveling through layers of reality. People start turning up dead, and her (sort of, but not really) nemesis appears. What can she do to get out of this loop alive?

Unfortunately, this story wasn't for me. It might be best to read as much at once as possible, because due to the ground hog's day, world within worlds timeline of it all, it can be very confusing to jump in and out of. I also struggled to keep track of characters and wished that the main character had a wider range of traits. We know she is a new mom, an investigator, and has confused feelings about Rika, but who is she beyond that? There are more books planned in this series, so maybe that question will eventually be answered.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narrator has a nice voice and speaks clearly enough that it can be sped up without issue.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

To be honest I had little desire to read this book before I saw the audiobook on NetGalley and saw who it was narrated by. And honestly I’m so happy I requested it and I had the opportunity to listen to it early. Moira Quirk is the perfect fit for this book and in my opinion only made it beter. They embodied Kembral so well and I honestly this just gave the book the perfect finishing touches.

I really liked the fact that it basically started mid action and not too much backstory at the beginning. We know the basic facts and we slowly add to those. The world was very intriguing and the time loop held up well. Any predictability was satisfying instead of annoying and the romance just the right amount without it feeling forced.

I loved both Kim and Rika and I liked seeing the chaos increasing along with their complicated relationship.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is the first book in the Echo Archives where we’re introduced to Kembral, Kem, who’s simply trying to find her way with a two month old at home. I loved that Caruso added this take to the story since those initial months can be really difficult to navigate your identity. I also loved the banter and tension between Kem and Rika. I also really enjoyed the different distinctions between the Hounds and Cats. In terms of plot, I was hooked pretty early on with wanting to understand the time loop especially after what happened in the first iteration. I will say, it got a little repetitive after a while. We certainly learn new things in the loops, some of which were absolutely shocking, but I didn’t feel like there was enough at times to keep my attention. By the end, though, I was fully drawn back into the story especially as all the threads started tying together. I combo read the ebook and audiobook. I will say, the audio is definitely the way to go. Moira Quirk is an incredible narrator, and her narration helped me get through the slower parts of the book. Quirk brings so much energy and emotion to the role that you want to keep listening. Overall, I ended up enjoying the story, and I’m curious to see where the next one goes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Narration
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Story

Moira Quirk did an absolutely phenomenal job as narrator of The Last Hour Between Worlds.
I can’t think of another narrator better suited for this story.
She brought to life every single character in this story, giving them unique voices and personalities. It felt like an entire cast in one narrator, which is SO difficult to find.
She fully immerses you into the story.

The story itself was fast paced, unique and such a fun read.
My full review on the story will be on the ebook page for this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Last Hour Between Worlds was a cool concept, kind of like Groundhog Day with a fantasy/magical twist. Each time loop drops the characters deeper into a dangerous alternate reality, adding a strange and unique twist to the ongoing mystery. The world-building is solid and unfolds without spoon-feeding, which keeps things intriguing, but some elements, like the magic system, could’ve been more fleshed out.

Kembral, the main character and a new mom, is likable but falls a bit flat with repetitive mentions of her exhaustion and work-life balance, you don't really get to learn much about her other than who she's dated in the past and that she is a mother. The cast of supporting characters is interesting, but the dialogue can get campy, and the plot felt very repetitive. While it’s a fun setup this one just fell flat for me.

I found myself absolutely captivated with this story, it’s fast paced and the world building is so vibrant you can’t help but be sucked into the story. This book isn’t science fiction but it had a very similar vibe. I was really impressed by the amount of world building Caruso was able to do considering 85% or more of the book takes place in a single room. I really like Kembral’s character, she just comes across as very human and relatable. I also liked that she wasn’t the best at her job because she was born special/different. She became the best through a sheer stubborn refusal to quit.

I think that Moira Quirk did an excellent job narrating the book. We meet a wide range of characters throughout the story and Quirk did a great job at giving each character a distinct voice that fit their character. This made it easy to follow conversation and events, it also just helped bring the story to life in my mind. I was also impressed by her vocalization of the various non-human sounds in the book. (clock bongs, animal growls, etc.) This world is really visually intricate and I think listening to the audiobook allows you to sit back and let your imagination go.

I enjoyed this book and I’m interested to see where the sequel goes. This book is great for people that enjoy sci-fi, murder mystery, enemies to lovers, sapphic romance, and complex fantasy.

Okay, first of all, I will listen to any audiobook that Moira Quirk narrates. She is probably my favorite narrator in the audiobook game right now, and she brought so much to this story with a stunning array of voices for different characters that made it SO easy to identify each one by sound alone.

In terms of the story itself, this was such a pleasant surprise. A sapphic enemies to lovers story with a time-traveling, universe-bending mystery to solve, I didn't know what to expect going in but I was so invested I had the audiobook running during every free moment I had. Kembral Thorne, Hound known for her amazing ability to slip between steps of reality and new mother, is trying to enjoy herself on her first outing without her newborn at the turning of the year ceremony. It would be easier if her one time-maybe-romance-turned-enemy, Rika Nonesuch, a Cat, wasn't also present. But then guests start getting brutally murdered in a game played by ancient lords of the Echoes (the other levels of reality), and Kem can't help but doing her job - even if she keeps telling everyone she's on leave. And she'll need Rika's help to solve it before it's too late.

Seriously, the overall plot of this book was SO good. I was invested from the first hints of something nefarious at play, and following Kem as she fights to save the other party-goers and solve who is behind the murders, is so fascinating. She's snarky and overtired and so much fun to follow. And how often do we genuinely get books about new moms as heroes? Rita is equally fun - and snarky - and even though her plot reveals were largely predictable, they were still fun to follow along with.
Genuinely the only thing I think was a sticking point was the romance itself. It just felt like it lacked depth at its conclusion - though I could hope that this is built upon in sequels... But I would love to see stories focusing on some of the other quirky side characters we saw in this first book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

What a book! I immediatly fell in love with it - with a blend of political intrigue, mystery, sci-fi and fantasy elements, delightful characters and amazing worldbuilding, it was the perfect read for me. Definite 5 stars!!

Ok audio wise , this was amazing, loved the voice. The character felt relatable by this narrator 100%.

Now for the book, I like it is a huge mix of adventure with romance. More heavy on the adventure side. The plot was interesting and fresh . Doesn’t feel like everything that is out there right now. Definitely will recommend

I would definitely recommend the audiobook. This story is build on a groundhogs-day effect, so I found it much easier to stick with the the audiobook than reading it on my own. Melissa Caruso covers the ensemble cast perfectly and gave the most entertaining depiction of a new mother being pushed back into work.

In this fantasy world, demon-like "echoes" can pull you down into lower levels of reality. Kembral Thorn is the city's top retrieval expert, sinking into the echo layers to bring people back. She's on maternity leave but you wouldn't know it with the way the rich and powerful keep trying to recruit her for new jobs. She attends a New Year's Eve party that turns into a massacre when powerful echoes pull the entire ballroom into a lower level of reality. Kembral recruits her fellow partiers to fight the monstrous echoes that are toying with them. But every time the clock strikes midnight, the party is pulled down again, everyone forgets what happened, and the fighting starts again. It's like Alice in Wonderland with the tone of The Golden Compass.

The characters have sharp and hilarious personalities. Gild members like Kembral all have some sort of echo-training: Hounds like her specialize in protection, Cats like her ex are spies and illusionists, Butterflies entertain the politicos and Ravens learn to manipulate echoes themselves. I love the lore that is revealed step by step. It's easy to follow again but keeps introducing loopholes that entertain and build into a satisfying conclusion. Kembral goes head to head against a hot shadow daddy echo who just won't die.

I love that the hero is a mom, but it slow the plot in the beginning. Kembral is really hung up on being post-partum and explains many times that her abdominal muscles have barely rejoined since birth. But stick it out, because with each round of mayhem, she steps back and reveals more about her life than the last few months. From jumping through echoes as a kid to her jumbled love life. All of the characters really grow on you. I quite enjoyed this.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso was not a bad book, but it wasn’t for me. I did enjoy the way the characters interacted with each other, especially the two FMCs. I spent a large portion of this book wondering if I was stupid because things were happening and I had no idea why or how. The author did give us the info eventually, but I just don’t think this style of book is my favorite. To be fair though, I also don’t love mysteries!
The pacing was a little weird. Some parts of this book felt like they really moved along and others were a bit of a slog. I wouldn’t say I was ever bored, but there were definitely parts I didn’t have a good time with.
All in all I can see why someone would LOVE this, I am just not that person.
2.5⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! A cross between a locked room murder mystery and a sci-fi romp through parallel realities with an added time loop - and it all works.

Kembral Thorne is a 'hound', an investigator who can travel through different realities. She's also a new mother who takes one night off from caring for her newborn to attend a New Year's party - except, everything goes wrong at midnight, and she finds herself back on the job way before her maternity leave is over. Things get progressively more and more otherwordly, creepy, and weird, as we plunge deeper away from our own reality and into more fantastical ones every time the clocks reset. What's worse, Kembral's only ally is Rika, her professional rival/past friend/potential love interest - if only they can both sort out their complicated relationship's past.

What immediately won me over in this book was Kembral herself - from the first page, I loved her voice. She's absolutely hilarious, in addition to being loyal, principled, and brave to a point which occasionally bordered on stupidity. I enjoyed exploring the world of the novel through her eyes, both the mundane parts - like the party with all its colourful characters, her friends and colleagues, and Rika - as well as the strange realities we end up travelling through. Very possibly my favourite read of 2024.

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ARC! Moira Quirk was, as usual, brilliant.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

it seems like time traveling-esque sci-fi with a dash of romance (this time sapphic!!) is very popular recently, and i’m not entirely mad about it. don’t ask me to explain the science/logic about time travel, though (lol). i did think that caruso created a unique concept with “echoes” being the foil to the “prime”/original world kembral is from, and each echo being more chaotic and unstable the further away from prime one travels.

a few of the twists i had guessed before they were revealed, but were still interesting nonetheless.

the audio narrator did an excellent job, and hopefully they return for book two!

The Last Hour Between Worlds follows investigator Kembral Thorne as she unknowingly enters a dangerous game full of murder and monsters. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise, the setting, and the characters and found this book to be unique. I am SO excited that this is the start of a series, because I think there is so much room for expansion in this world (the end wraps up without a cliffhanger).

Moira Quirk's narration is perfection as always.

I received an ARC and ALC from Orbit Books | Orbit and Hachette Audio | Orbit via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ALC review: Investigator and inter-reality traveler Kembral Thorne (I couldn’t stop thinking of Kethric Thorme) is attending an extravagant ball with all the city’s political players as her first outing after giving birth and spending a few months taking care of her newborn. And NO she is not done with leave. Her friend-turned-romantic-interest-turned-enemy is also here and it’s weird. It gets weirder when suddenly everyone at the ball starts dying. Even weirder when the entire building falls down a layer of reality and all the people who just died are alive again. Then begins a murder mystery taking place across realities.

This was delightful and SO FUN. The layers of reality built on top of each other felt unique and the descriptions of the deeper layers were horrific and wacky at the same time.

While the world-building was great, the real focus of this book is the character and relationship developments all encased in a murder mystery. All of the characters have a unique voice and are so interesting, even those with only minor roles. The relationships and conversations felt authentic and the tone of the book is goofy despite all the murders and unthinkable horrors.

The only thing that kind of lost me was the book’s standpoint on corruption. A theme that comes up later is essentially, “You should never resort to violence to root out corruption because, even if your opposition is actively killing people for their own benefit, it’s better to fail with non-violence and let the corruption remain than harm people in your effort to destroy it.” That really left me scratching my head because seriously??

Also, MOIRA QUIRK voiced the audiobook and she was phenomenal as always. Her voices for the characters may have contributed to how much I adored this book. Our main character likes to charge into situations sword-first, evoking Gideon the Ninth in my brain the whole way through.

Overall this is a strong 4.5 for me, truly a great read the whole way through.