I absolutely love the cover. It is what made me look into the book. The book was good but not really for me. Very interesting characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A Time of Nines by Lissy Porter is a frosty mystery full of intrigue and character development.

Snowed in at a bar in a far northern inn, our innkeeper protagonist is perplexed as guests keep arriving who know him- but he doesn’t know them.

Perfect for if you love stories featuring:

❄️ wintry settings
⏳ long lifespans / time loops
🪄 a unique magical ability
🧔🏻 male protagonist POV
🔎 mysterious identity / amnesia

Minor criticisms:

🕜 pacing-wise, there was a sense that at any moment, something was about to happen. A big portion of the story takes place while snowed in during a blizzard, which gave the plot a bit of a cabin fever vibe for awhile
⌛️ I wish we learned a little more about the backstory - I wanted to know more about the Nines and the Nones!
📝 I lost count after a dozen typos, however they didn’t take me out of the story

Overall the premise was fascinating and I really enjoyed the wintry setting and mystery surrounding the protagonist.

Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Lissy Porter for this Advanced Reader Copy of A Time
Of Nines. This was my first ever ARC and I was very impressed!

I wanted so bad to love this because the concept was so unique but I just couldnt really get into it. The plot seemed kind of disjointed which made it confusing and hard to follow. A think a lot of the pages can be cut out as it got very redundant and had a lot of filler. The concept of being able to summon whatever you want and live forever while simultaneously living in a time loop is so compelling. I would read more work by this author

Just finished this one, and I’m honestly still sitting with all the feelings it left me with. It was such a different read from my usual, and that made it all the more intriguing. The world-building? So vivid—I could practically feel the warmth of the inn and picture every little detail.

Mann’s journey had me invested, even when things got a little confusing. But in a way, that worked—I was piecing things together right alongside him. The pacing dragged in spots, but the atmosphere and the slow unraveling of the story made up for it. Definitely a book that lingers with you after the last page!

I struggled to follow the plot of A Time of Nines. While the premise had potential, the storyline felt disjointed and hard to navigate, which made it difficult to fully engage with the characters or the events. The book’s description mentioned a steamy scene, but I found it to be a bit too much for my taste. While some readers might enjoy it, it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Author Lissy Porter for the Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of A Time of Nines.

The tagline reads: “Featuring a hero you’ll come to love. Or hate. (It’ll be a little steamy, too).” Honestly, it’s an incredibly accurate description.

This book’s beginning was a bit slow to sink its claws in me. However the second half slowly did, and I found myself picking it up often to finish.

The first 25% of the story feels a touch more juvenile, as if the character's frontal lobe is still developing. Mann's choices are more impulsive and have an instant gratification layer as noted with the 'erotica' scenes. As this story progresses, so does Mann. His needs and the mystery remain throughout but his journey, choices and wants seem to grow with him as a character through his very long life.

This low fantasy features a MMC with a magical gift that causes ripples through an otherwise normal, very northern world. The story’s descriptive nature and rich world building had my imagination fully transported to the snowy, quaint landscapes from start to finish!

A Time of Nines is a gripping fantasy novel that masterfully blends mystery, time loops, and existential dilemmas into a story filled with intrigue, humour, and surprising depth. Lossy Porter introduces us to Mann, an enigmatic protagonist with two pressing secrets: his ability to summon anything at will and his inexplicable immortality. While Mann has spent his unnaturally long life indulging in pleasures and avoiding deeper introspection, the arrival of strangers at Slutet’s Inn threatens to unravel everything he thought he knew about himself.

Porter’s worldbuilding is rich and immersive, with Slutet’s Inn serving as a fascinating hub of mystery and revelations. Mann’s witty and often self-indulgent personality makes him a compelling lead, but beneath his devil-may-care attitude lies a deeper struggle—one that slowly unfolds as he is forced to confront his forgotten past and unfulfilled duty. The novel’s nonlinear structure, with Mann revisiting the past to piece together his fate, adds an intriguing layer of complexity, keeping readers engaged as they attempt to unravel the puzzle alongside him.

One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its ability to balance humor with existential weight. Mann’s sharp dialogue and his reputation as a legendary lover provide plenty of entertaining moments, yet Porter never lets the humor overshadow the emotional depth of the story. As Mann’s immortality begins to feel more like a burden than a gift, the narrative shifts into an exploration of purpose, memory, and fate.

While the pacing can be a bit meandering at times—much like Mann himself—the novel rewards patience with a satisfying, thought-provoking conclusion. Fans of time-bending fantasy, morally complex protagonists, and richly woven mysteries will find A Time of Nines a compelling and unique read.

Final Verdict: A witty, immersive, and thought-provoking fantasy that blends humor with deep existential questions. Mann is a protagonist you won’t soon forget, and neither is his journey through time.

The book promised a hint of steam but delivered an overwhelming amount of erotica instead. I expected a different story but was met with repetitive narrative and excessive sex scenes that overshadowed everything else. Not what I signed up for.

I’ve just finished the book. I loved so many parts. It was very refreshing to read a book that was so unlike my usual read. I was intrigued with where it would go and as I got closer to the end I was sad to be leaving Mann behind. I enjoyed the warm and cosy inn and thought the world building was done well and I could see the world clearly.
I did find it confusing at times but that’s the point I suppose you’re finding your way through just as much as he is. It sometimes was a little slow and things could have moved in a little quicker.

not good. Not well written, felt so messy and sloppy, and also felt like a kid was writing this one. Not good at all for me, I wasted time reading this


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Okay, so from the first page all I read was Mann this, Mann that—like, his name was everywhere! 🫠That being said, once I got past the Mann overload, the story itself? Super unique.

The beginning had me kinda confused😕, not gonna lie. I was trying to piece 🧩 together what was happening, and the mystery around Mann’s past and powers took a while to settle in. But once it did, it was interesting. The whole "summon anything" ability is such a cool concept, and the way it plays into the plot is actually really clever. The whole living forever but not knowing why? Adds a nice layer of depth. 🤔✨

Compared to It Ends at the Wall, this book definitely stepped up its game. The worldbuilding is more refined. The story is a whole lot More engaging.

Thanks Netgalley and the Author for the ARC!!🍥🥳💯

I LOVED this book!! This was my first download from NetGalley, and I was not disappointed! The premise and story were really compelling, and I agree with some of the other reviews that it has the same magical, mysterious feel that Invisible Life of Addie Larue had, except with a different twist. I thought the pacing was great throughout until a little towards the end, but overall, that did not cause me to lose any satisfaction here.

I think some of my favorite parts were Mann's character development and honestly the drive to find out more?! This was a book that hooked me early on and will be loved by readers far and wide when it comes out!

4/5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a fantastic new release.

It has a compelling plot and leaves you asking questions. It reminds me of reading The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, only this time instead of no one remembering you: you remember no one.

I love the cozy inn vibes and all the twists!

This is definitely one you should check out :)

I’m not sure this is the book for me. Part 1 really captured my attention. I loved the mystery behind the Nines and the Nones. The bickering between the group at the inn plus the reveal of Mann’s ability to summon was so cool and I enjoyed it! But several chapters into Part 2 and the pacing seems to have faltered. Mann’s escapades and misadventures throughout these chapters neither endear me to him or make me entirely dislike him. I’m just indifferent.

The summary caught my attention and the writing style itself is good. But as I wasn’t able to finish the whole book, this review should be taken with an immense grain of salt. This was not my cup of tea but could be someone else’s.

A Time of Nines by Lissy Porter is so so good. I couldn't stop reading this book for a bit. A masterpiece in book form. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.