There were things that I enjoyed in this story, such as the representation of a mother’s love and how it permeates every facet of your life, the relationship between Kimbral and Reeka, and the back story of the celestials. I also enjoyed the imagery of the world and how the echos change, but there were also parts of the book that seemed to loose my attention. I feel like some places could have been a bit more concise. Overall this was an enjoyable read and as always Moira Quirk does and amazing job bringing a story and characters to life!

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbitbooks for a free copy of this audiobook.

Do you know that feeling, when you look at a book and feel like it's something you would enjoy, but it's not something you usually pick up, so on the other hand you're not really sure about it? I had this exact thought process for The Last Hour Between World by Melissa Caruso, and from experience, I can say it's worth picking up the book you're on the fence about.

Kembral Thorne has finally gotten a few hours for herself during her maternity leave, and she’s determined to both relax and enjoy the new years party she’s been invited to. Unfortunately it’s hard to keep from working, when you’re a hound and your work ethic is impeccable, so when the other guests start dropping dead, and time resets, it’s time to do something about it. As reality slowly destabilizes around Kembral, she is forced to involve her nemesis Rika Nonesuch in the mystery to keep the blood massacres from happening.

The Last Hour Between World is a well-paced and fun read. While the book gives the impression of being a murder mystery in the first few chapters, it's quickly settling into just being a time-loop mystery, which focuses a lot on the characters and an exploration of the mechanics of the world. This is an absolute treat, if you like a unique and strong cast of characters - both likable and unlikable types, and some witty dialogue.

The world-building is unfortunately forced to be part of the backdrop to the events happening, this is understandable, given the heavy duty job this book has gotten of both introducing a massive cast of relevant characters, a new unique setting with a lot of finer details and a time-loop plot on crack as the setting is both the same and forever-changing, as reality shifts around the characters. The pacing is _very_ good, especially given the space everything happens on, so it’s hard not to be forgiving of the things I miss, because Caruso is an expert in working with the things the book does have. Fortunately The Last Hour Between Worlds does an amazing job in setting the scene for the rest of the series, which hopefully will have more space for the finer details, that this book lacks.

I would recommend this to someone who likes time-loop mysteries, unique worlds, wlw themes and a more light-hearted read.

I really wasn’t expecting to like this very much but I was pleasantly surprised! This is quite a heavy fantasy which I usually struggle with, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a sapphic adult fantasy with an entirely original plot and magic system.

Although it was incredibly complex and often disorienting, I really liked the magic system created by Caruso, and I found her descriptions and writing style delightful. My overall impression of this book is that it was just very well done. The writing, the characterisation, the magic, all of it.

It was great to see some representation of a new mother, and I felt that this added some depth to the story. Additionally, the romance plot weaved into the plot well and felt natural. I do wish it had been a little shorter, as towards the end I did find myself a little overwhelmed by the plot.

I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy readers, and even readers like me who don’t usually love this kind of thing because this book is a real standout.

3.25

Our main character, Kembral Thorne, who is one of the Hounds (some type of policeman/investigator) and who is also on maternety leave finds herself at a party where she and all of the guests, including the woman she likes (who is a member of the Cats), are starting to slip from this reality to another.

First half of the book was immaculate. I loved the vibes, and it kind of reminded me of The Locked Tomb series that I also happen to love very much. The narrator is amazing according to my standards (I listened to a two audiobooks in my life), she brought to life every character and it made listening experience more enjoyable.

Second half was were the story kind of lost me, because it was a bit anticlimactic. Especially the “Big Bads”. I mean it should be like “deeper echo = weirder things” but I must admit that descriptions of shallower echoes were much more creepy and interesting than later on, than our main villains. I also didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between FMC and her love interest. World building could also be better,or more like THE PACING of world building could be better, but it’s far from awful.

I don’t know if I would’ve liked it more if I read it but I do have a feeling I didn’t catch all the details because I sometimes wandered while listening, but it was a pleasant experience nevertheless!

Thank you NetGalley, as well as @HachetteAudio, for an ARC of this audibook in exchange for an honest review

An excellent book if you enjoy alternate realities, single POV, a large cast, and what is essentially an escape room-esque murder mystery. Kembral Thorne is a detective (Hound) on maternity leave, finally on a night out for the first time since having her baby. She attends a NYE party but only it turns out to be part of a grander scheme both against her and including her, with many players each with their own motivations. Kembral must determine who she can trust and who will retain their memory in order to survive this 'game', pulling in characters from different guilds and backgrounds.

This book includes frantic pacing and witty banter to set the environment, setting a sense of urgency while relationship building. There is an element of Groundhog's Day with each reality turning back a few hours giving readers (and the FMC) a certain amount of repetition. I would consider this book more of a mystery with fantasy elements, vs. fantasy, as the world building comes as the story develops but it isn't the main focus like the urgent issues at hand are.

The narrator was excellent, Moira Quirk did a great job setting the urgent pace of the life-or-death situations while maintaining the witty banter and incorporating the romantic aspects of the book. I recommend this for those who enjoy books that span multiple genres (mystery, fantasy, romance) and want a conclusion to wrap things up. While this book is intended as part of a larger series, the end does provide enough closure if readers don't continue on.

This was an interesting read. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I found the main character to be very compelling and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. I would say over all this was a solid fantasy. It wasn't the absolute best book I've ever read but I enjoyed it.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is a fun sapphic Sci-fi story that follows a woman at her company party that is continually being attacked. But then the whole party keeps shifting to another dimension, and there is some weird timey-wimey stuff. I definitely wanted a little more character building, and felt a little lost at some points... but the world-building was awesome! I really loved all of the different echo dimensions.

Thanks to NetGalley, Melissa Caruso, and Hachette Audio for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own

I found this book to be fun, fast-paced, and intriguing. I never got bored with the story and kept wanting to come back to it to see where it would take me. The writing was well done, the characters were lovable and fun, and the plot was unique (multiverse meets Groundhog Day). The world building was thorough but never confusing. The narrator for the audiobook also did a wonderful job. I love Moira Quirk and think she always does an incredible job, and this was no exception.

4/5 Stars.

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

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.