A review by lktx
The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery

mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery is a fantasy standalone novel about Tirne, Herald of the god, Autumn, who gets stuck in the human realm when the mirror, the connection with the realm of the gods, breaks.

The official description says that Autumn brings with him life-threatening danger and a forbidden romance. I have mixed feelings because I thought it would be more mystery and more romance. Tirne has several romantic pursuits throughout the novel and I wasn’t sure which was heading towards being end game, but I actually liked that the romantic elements felt more realistic than a HEA of romance genre books.

Avery lays the foundations of the mystery early, from the first chapter, though it’s not a traditional mystery in which Tirne investigates, but rather an add on while she’s trying to survive stuck in the human world with her debilitating migraines. I appreciated the representation of someone with chronic illness, but Tirne as a character didn’t have much growth nor much in the way of agency. Everything happened to her, nearly to the very end when she made one choice for herself.

Overall, it was an interesting standalone with a satisfying resolution. I’m interested to see what else this author may have coming.

Favorite quote: I hesitate. “I’d be a heretic.” Almost a whisper, his reply. “Then be my heretic.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pros:
- Interesting world building.
- Quick read.
- Satisfying conclusion.
- Good representation that felt realistic.

Cons: 
- The first person POV is rough at first and Tirne is quite passive.
- The other characters weren’t well developed.
- Yet another rendition of the young woman/ancient man trope with Tirne and Autumn.
- Tirne’s strained relationship with Laereda is told but not really shown. In Chapter 8, Tirne says everyone will see Laereda’s true colors, but as a reader I wasn’t shown what those were so I didn’t understand Tirne’s dislike of her and vice versa.