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A review by thelitraccoon
The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez
4.0
⭐️⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars | 0 Spice
What a refreshing and interesting take on Irish mythology! I really enjoyed reading this book, as the plot line was something extremely unique and new to me. The world-building was well-developed, and the setting of 1870s New York was a fresh and intriguing backdrop I hadn’t encountered in a literary context before. The female characters were very well-written, each with multidimensional personalities. At no point in the story could I predict what would happen next, which made the novel enticing throughout its entirety!
I also appreciated the approach to the POV writing style. The chapters weren’t strictly confined to a single perspective; instead, they shifted when needed, sometimes even from paragraph to paragraph. Although it was a bit tricky to get into initially, this technique was perfect for telling the story, as it provided a well-rounded mix of perspectives— even from minor characters like Emma’s parents or the Fitzgerald's.
The general pacing of the book felt nice and consistent, with the characters really longing instead of instantly being with each other, which is also a big plus in my books.
So what where my issues?
First, I didn’t quite connect with the main character, Rua. From the start, she came across as too naïve for my taste, and as the story progressed, I didn’t enjoy her character development—especially in terms of her increasing violence.
Finn, on the other hand, seemed to lack the depth I was hoping for. His persona as the wealthy, well-meaning, and endearing “orphan-helping beauty” felt a bit too perfect, almost too good to be true. I also struggled to understand his decision-making in the final chapter. It felt completely out of line with everything his character had stood for, leaving me with a bad taste.
Speaking of the ending, unfortunately, it was what ultimately sealed the three-star rating for me. I wasn’t satisfied with how it turned out; I would have wished for something a little less open.
Keeping all this in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and will recommend this book, especially for a younger audience of 14-and up, as there was no real open spice, which I also took in positively!
Thank you to Net-Galley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
What a refreshing and interesting take on Irish mythology! I really enjoyed reading this book, as the plot line was something extremely unique and new to me. The world-building was well-developed, and the setting of 1870s New York was a fresh and intriguing backdrop I hadn’t encountered in a literary context before. The female characters were very well-written, each with multidimensional personalities. At no point in the story could I predict what would happen next, which made the novel enticing throughout its entirety!
I also appreciated the approach to the POV writing style. The chapters weren’t strictly confined to a single perspective; instead, they shifted when needed, sometimes even from paragraph to paragraph. Although it was a bit tricky to get into initially, this technique was perfect for telling the story, as it provided a well-rounded mix of perspectives— even from minor characters like Emma’s parents or the Fitzgerald's.
The general pacing of the book felt nice and consistent, with the characters really longing instead of instantly being with each other, which is also a big plus in my books.
So what where my issues?
First, I didn’t quite connect with the main character, Rua. From the start, she came across as too naïve for my taste, and as the story progressed, I didn’t enjoy her character development—especially in terms of her increasing violence.
Finn, on the other hand, seemed to lack the depth I was hoping for. His persona as the wealthy, well-meaning, and endearing “orphan-helping beauty” felt a bit too perfect, almost too good to be true. I also struggled to understand his decision-making in the final chapter. It felt completely out of line with everything his character had stood for, leaving me with a bad taste.
Speaking of the ending, unfortunately, it was what ultimately sealed the three-star rating for me. I wasn’t satisfied with how it turned out; I would have wished for something a little less open.
Keeping all this in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and will recommend this book, especially for a younger audience of 14-and up, as there was no real open spice, which I also took in positively!
Thank you to Net-Galley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!