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The Echo Archives #1
The Last Hour Between Worlds
A whip-smart adventure fantasy packed with rival guilds, reality-bending magic, and sapphic pining, The Last Hour Between Worlds is the brilliant launch of a new series from David Gemmell Award-nominated author, Melissa Caruso.
Kembral Thorne is spending a few hours away from her newborn, and she's determined to enjoy herself at this party no matter what. But when the guests start dropping dead, Kem has no choice but to get to work. She is a Hound, after all, and she can't help picking up the scent of trouble.
She’s not the only one. Her professional and personal nemesis, notorious burglar Rika Nonesuch, is on the prowl. They quickly identify what’s causing the a mysterious grandfather clock that sends them down an Echo every time it chimes. In each strange new layer of reality, time resets and a sinister figure appears to perform a blood-soaked ritual.
As Kem and Rika fall into increasingly macabre versions of their city, they’ll need to rely on their wits—and each other—to unravel the secret of the clock and save their home.
Kembral Thorne is spending a few hours away from her newborn, and she's determined to enjoy herself at this party no matter what. But when the guests start dropping dead, Kem has no choice but to get to work. She is a Hound, after all, and she can't help picking up the scent of trouble.
She’s not the only one. Her professional and personal nemesis, notorious burglar Rika Nonesuch, is on the prowl. They quickly identify what’s causing the a mysterious grandfather clock that sends them down an Echo every time it chimes. In each strange new layer of reality, time resets and a sinister figure appears to perform a blood-soaked ritual.
As Kem and Rika fall into increasingly macabre versions of their city, they’ll need to rely on their wits—and each other—to unravel the secret of the clock and save their home.
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2024
405 people are currently reading
29019 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Caruso
10 books1,001 followersMelissa Caruso is the author of THE TETHERED MAGE, first in the Swords and Fire trilogy, out now from Orbit books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,218 reviews
November 26, 2024
2.04!
I wanted to love this book so so so much!!! I just couldn't really connect to the writing style and I was so excited for this because the premise and the cover were was so interesting and Orbit always releases books that I end up liking so this one not being up to that level hurt. I just feel like whenever I sat down to read it I would pick up my phone or zone out and I would often feel like reading other books but that was like after the 30% because it made me dizzy honestly but before that I enjoyed it, I was liking it and I saw the potential but it just didn't deliver overall!!
I don't even want to talk about the characters because what is there to say, I thought I would get some dysfunctional dynamic between them but it was just so shallow and boring so I'll just talk about the worldbuilding and the plot. So, if you actually hear the idea of the world building, the whole concept and the way it's thought off, I would say that it is very well thought but the overall execution was not it and I feel like we needed more, we needed to get that basic foundation laid and move on from that. It is one of the few important things of a first book so I was bummed out :(
I felt like plot was interesting enough, it was captivating but the pacing it was laced with was poor for it, it was so slow that the whatever interest that I had vanished into thin air. It's not a bad book, it was just okay.
__
I've been reading the arc for this one slowly and it's fun so far + the title and the cover are 🤌🏻
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher- Orbit books for an arc of this book*
I wanted to love this book so so so much!!! I just couldn't really connect to the writing style and I was so excited for this because the premise and the cover were was so interesting and Orbit always releases books that I end up liking so this one not being up to that level hurt. I just feel like whenever I sat down to read it I would pick up my phone or zone out and I would often feel like reading other books but that was like after the 30% because it made me dizzy honestly but before that I enjoyed it, I was liking it and I saw the potential but it just didn't deliver overall!!
I don't even want to talk about the characters because what is there to say, I thought I would get some dysfunctional dynamic between them but it was just so shallow and boring so I'll just talk about the worldbuilding and the plot. So, if you actually hear the idea of the world building, the whole concept and the way it's thought off, I would say that it is very well thought but the overall execution was not it and I feel like we needed more, we needed to get that basic foundation laid and move on from that. It is one of the few important things of a first book so I was bummed out :(
I felt like plot was interesting enough, it was captivating but the pacing it was laced with was poor for it, it was so slow that the whatever interest that I had vanished into thin air. It's not a bad book, it was just okay.
__
I've been reading the arc for this one slowly and it's fun so far + the title and the cover are 🤌🏻
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher- Orbit books for an arc of this book*
November 7, 2024
a campy, sinister locked room murder mystery that takes place in different layers of reality on the brink of the new year. and an agent/new mother tries to stop the murders which grow increasingly violent the further they wade into the planes of reality.
+ a sapphic cat and mouse game between two rivals who team up to solve the case (and save the world)
sounds simple enough. got it?
can confirm picturing greta lee as rika made this 100% gayer
so impressed with all the twists and how deeply layered this is.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc.
Read my full review
Bookstagram | Blog
+ a sapphic cat and mouse game between two rivals who team up to solve the case (and save the world)
sounds simple enough. got it?
can confirm picturing greta lee as rika made this 100% gayer
so impressed with all the twists and how deeply layered this is.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc.
Read my full review
Bookstagram | Blog
September 21, 2024
Three Reasons to Read:
1. If frantic pacing x Groundhogs Day feels like a vibe you want. Also, shorter chapters FTW!
2. You prefer relationship building over world building.
3. You want a “Modern family” but with your coworkers.
Three Reasons to Pass:
1. If campy dialogue is an immediate no.
2. If you need an answer behind every “but why” question. Also, I really wanted a cast list and a glossary. Anything to explain the world building.
3. If you’re looking for a deep read in the fantasy genre.
My thanks to @netgalley & @orbitbooks_us for this ARC.
While I appreciated the new-mom POV (As a parent, I found it accurate), it didn’t capture my heart enough to want to go to the next book.
2.5/5
1. If frantic pacing x Groundhogs Day feels like a vibe you want. Also, shorter chapters FTW!
2. You prefer relationship building over world building.
3. You want a “Modern family” but with your coworkers.
Three Reasons to Pass:
1. If campy dialogue is an immediate no.
2. If you need an answer behind every “but why” question. Also, I really wanted a cast list and a glossary. Anything to explain the world building.
3. If you’re looking for a deep read in the fantasy genre.
My thanks to @netgalley & @orbitbooks_us for this ARC.
While I appreciated the new-mom POV (As a parent, I found it accurate), it didn’t capture my heart enough to want to go to the next book.
2.5/5
November 30, 2024
« Of course it’s not easy. You never do anything easy. If it were easy, you’d figure out a way to make it hard. »
Absolutely brilliant! I’ve never read anything like this. The characters age isn’t specified but they’re the senior in their fields… so older side. Which was SO REFRESHING. One of the FMC has a baby too. I never read anything like this and I want more of those types of books!
This book was more plot driven than romance driven. The world, the magic system, the complex plots… wow. On my knees!
« This is probably the worst night of my life. The only gleam of light has been what’s happened with us. But I’d rather live with all the bad memories forever than lost what we gained tonight. » ❤️🔥
Absolutely brilliant! I’ve never read anything like this. The characters age isn’t specified but they’re the senior in their fields… so older side. Which was SO REFRESHING. One of the FMC has a baby too. I never read anything like this and I want more of those types of books!
This book was more plot driven than romance driven. The world, the magic system, the complex plots… wow. On my knees!
« This is probably the worst night of my life. The only gleam of light has been what’s happened with us. But I’d rather live with all the bad memories forever than lost what we gained tonight. » ❤️🔥
December 16, 2024
Absolutely wonderful. Had a blast from start to finish. Immediately pre ordered book 2 and bought a copy of book one.
November 14, 2024
The Last Hour Between Worlds
by Melissa Caruso
The Echo Archives #1
Science Fiction Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
Orbit Books
Ages: 18+
After caring for her newborn alone over the last couple of months Kembral Throne takes a night off to attend a party, but within the first few hours, people die of what seems to be poison, except her. But when the large clock tolls, everything goes back to how it was, except there are some differences. And that was when Kembral realized the entire mansion and its occupants had fallen into an echo. Basically, a mirror world of the first (Prime) with differences and monsters.
There are twelve(?) layers and the deeper they fall, the more dangerous it becomes, and the less likely they will make it back to the first (Prime).
While this sounds interesting, I was already thinking about DNFing this because it started off slow as Kembral was introduced, rambling on about her newborn and the guilt she felt attending a party while leaving her daughter at home.
Sure, I get it, I felt it also the first I left my son at the sitters, but this felt a little overly done, rambling on about her love for her job and daughter, which I felt took away from the introductions of the minor characters in the story, because when they were involved with the story, I didn't know who they were or why they were important.
I also didn't feel as if the layers, the world, the history, or the consequences were very well explained, and that is the reason I don't think readers under eighteen would enjoy/understand this. Personally, I hate not knowing a world because I can't immerse myself into it. If I don't feel as if I'm a part of the world, I have nothing to care about.
I'm not saying this was a bad story or poorly written; it's an interesting plot with a unique world and characters, but it lacked depth in the characters and more especially the world.
Even though this book had a great, uncliffhanger, ending, it looks as if this is the first of a series, but I really have no interest in reading the next book.
2 Stars
by Melissa Caruso
The Echo Archives #1
Science Fiction Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
Orbit Books
Ages: 18+
After caring for her newborn alone over the last couple of months Kembral Throne takes a night off to attend a party, but within the first few hours, people die of what seems to be poison, except her. But when the large clock tolls, everything goes back to how it was, except there are some differences. And that was when Kembral realized the entire mansion and its occupants had fallen into an echo. Basically, a mirror world of the first (Prime) with differences and monsters.
There are twelve(?) layers and the deeper they fall, the more dangerous it becomes, and the less likely they will make it back to the first (Prime).
While this sounds interesting, I was already thinking about DNFing this because it started off slow as Kembral was introduced, rambling on about her newborn and the guilt she felt attending a party while leaving her daughter at home.
Sure, I get it, I felt it also the first I left my son at the sitters, but this felt a little overly done, rambling on about her love for her job and daughter, which I felt took away from the introductions of the minor characters in the story, because when they were involved with the story, I didn't know who they were or why they were important.
I also didn't feel as if the layers, the world, the history, or the consequences were very well explained, and that is the reason I don't think readers under eighteen would enjoy/understand this. Personally, I hate not knowing a world because I can't immerse myself into it. If I don't feel as if I'm a part of the world, I have nothing to care about.
I'm not saying this was a bad story or poorly written; it's an interesting plot with a unique world and characters, but it lacked depth in the characters and more especially the world.
Even though this book had a great, uncliffhanger, ending, it looks as if this is the first of a series, but I really have no interest in reading the next book.
2 Stars
March 7, 2025
This is one of the most original, brilliant, colorful fantasy storylines I have read in ages. I am so impressed! I have tried very hard to avoid any obvious plot spoilers, but I did need to explain a few concepts just to be able to discuss the plot.
First and foremost, The Last Hour Between Worlds takes place in a world much like our own in many ways except one. In this world, there is a Prime dimension for reality and many, many Echo dimensions of that reality which exist beneath the surface. It is very possible to fall into such an echo, and the deeper one falls, the more dangerous the echo reality tends to be. As such, governments have developed guilds of highly trained, highly qualified individuals who offer "retrieval" services to help those lost to echoes return to the prime reality. There are guilds which deal with illegal goods smuggled up from echo realities. And basically guilds to deal with all such issues that these echo realities can create. If this sounds complicated to you, it's probably my fault for not explaining it better. Melissa Caruso does an absolutely amazing job of building this bizarre, weird and wonderful world. And it's completely intelligible when you are reading along.
The crux of the plot takes place all on one night, the hours leading up to midnight, New Years. But this is no ordinary New Years Eve party. Twelve times over, in the 3-4 hours just before midnight, the party goers must deal with murder and mayhem until a mysterious, echo-made clock chimes and tolls the entire ballroom and all of its guests into a different dimension, one echo lower down from prime reality. Every time the party falls to a deeper echo, the setting becomes more dangerous.
The guests at this party are made up of government officials and special agents from various guilds whose primary purpose is to deal with these various dimensions, referred to as Echoes. The two primary characters, Kem and Rika, identify with the Hound Guild and the Cat Guild respectively. They have an absolutely delicious love/hate flirtation. Seeing how their relationship grows and changes throughout the course of this one very dangerous evening is one of the greatest joys of reading this book. Their romance is a beautiful, alluring thing to behold. They also become the only two members of the party to fully understand why the party is sinking into lower echoes each time the mysterious echo-made clock chimes. Essentially, Kem and Rika become the detectives who must unravel this mystery and get everyone to safety, including hopefully themselves.
Ms. Caruso describes each new layer, or echo, of reality in such rich, fascinating detail (without ever becoming wordy or purple). I found myself more and more in love with this book the deeper the party goers fell. I have never read anything like this book--it really is so innovative and unique--and that's so rare for me to find as I read constantly. This one is truly new! Fantasy lovers, this one is not to be missed. The Last Hour Between Worlds is my definition of a must read in every particular.
First and foremost, The Last Hour Between Worlds takes place in a world much like our own in many ways except one. In this world, there is a Prime dimension for reality and many, many Echo dimensions of that reality which exist beneath the surface. It is very possible to fall into such an echo, and the deeper one falls, the more dangerous the echo reality tends to be. As such, governments have developed guilds of highly trained, highly qualified individuals who offer "retrieval" services to help those lost to echoes return to the prime reality. There are guilds which deal with illegal goods smuggled up from echo realities. And basically guilds to deal with all such issues that these echo realities can create. If this sounds complicated to you, it's probably my fault for not explaining it better. Melissa Caruso does an absolutely amazing job of building this bizarre, weird and wonderful world. And it's completely intelligible when you are reading along.
The crux of the plot takes place all on one night, the hours leading up to midnight, New Years. But this is no ordinary New Years Eve party. Twelve times over, in the 3-4 hours just before midnight, the party goers must deal with murder and mayhem until a mysterious, echo-made clock chimes and tolls the entire ballroom and all of its guests into a different dimension, one echo lower down from prime reality. Every time the party falls to a deeper echo, the setting becomes more dangerous.
The guests at this party are made up of government officials and special agents from various guilds whose primary purpose is to deal with these various dimensions, referred to as Echoes. The two primary characters, Kem and Rika, identify with the Hound Guild and the Cat Guild respectively. They have an absolutely delicious love/hate flirtation. Seeing how their relationship grows and changes throughout the course of this one very dangerous evening is one of the greatest joys of reading this book. Their romance is a beautiful, alluring thing to behold. They also become the only two members of the party to fully understand why the party is sinking into lower echoes each time the mysterious echo-made clock chimes. Essentially, Kem and Rika become the detectives who must unravel this mystery and get everyone to safety, including hopefully themselves.
Ms. Caruso describes each new layer, or echo, of reality in such rich, fascinating detail (without ever becoming wordy or purple). I found myself more and more in love with this book the deeper the party goers fell. I have never read anything like this book--it really is so innovative and unique--and that's so rare for me to find as I read constantly. This one is truly new! Fantasy lovers, this one is not to be missed. The Last Hour Between Worlds is my definition of a must read in every particular.
October 26, 2024
As always, thanks to Hachette Book Group and Orbit for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
My heart is heavy...this will be the 2nd book I have ever DNF'd. I trudged to the 50% mark but I just couldn't do it anymore. I set this book down twice to read another book and I never do that. When I thought about picking up this book for the 3rd time, I realized I just didn't care what would happen in the second half.
Kembral is a field agent in a magical equivalent to the CIA. She had a baby two months prior and her first night away from the baby is for a company party...that ends up turning into a job.
She is CONSTANTLY (and I mean like every few pages) complaining about how tired she is from lack of sleep after the birth of her newborn (yea we get it, now shut up and be the a** kicker you are suppose to be).
The house the party happens in is under a thin layer of reality. There are 12 layers of reality and as the story progresses the house slips further and further from the reality they know as their prime reality. As the house slips into a different reality, the same things happen over and over and over AND OVER just a slightly different setting. I was so bored reading essentially the same thing each chapter.
There is just no way I was willing to keep reading the story to continue to read the same thing with the only progression being the enemies to lovers romance that was tossed into the mix that should have been left out.
My heart is heavy...this will be the 2nd book I have ever DNF'd. I trudged to the 50% mark but I just couldn't do it anymore. I set this book down twice to read another book and I never do that. When I thought about picking up this book for the 3rd time, I realized I just didn't care what would happen in the second half.
Kembral is a field agent in a magical equivalent to the CIA. She had a baby two months prior and her first night away from the baby is for a company party...that ends up turning into a job.
She is CONSTANTLY (and I mean like every few pages) complaining about how tired she is from lack of sleep after the birth of her newborn (yea we get it, now shut up and be the a** kicker you are suppose to be).
The house the party happens in is under a thin layer of reality. There are 12 layers of reality and as the story progresses the house slips further and further from the reality they know as their prime reality. As the house slips into a different reality, the same things happen over and over and over AND OVER just a slightly different setting. I was so bored reading essentially the same thing each chapter.
There is just no way I was willing to keep reading the story to continue to read the same thing with the only progression being the enemies to lovers romance that was tossed into the mix that should have been left out.
March 13, 2025
3.5 stars
Fun and a great audiobook read. I really liked the multidimensional locked room mystery vibe. Started to drag on for me in the second half because I didn’t care as much about the characters. Also found some of the plot resolutions overly convenient.
Fun and a great audiobook read. I really liked the multidimensional locked room mystery vibe. Started to drag on for me in the second half because I didn’t care as much about the characters. Also found some of the plot resolutions overly convenient.
January 13, 2025
A reality-bending high fantasy murder mystery that takes place entirely during one New Year's Eve party. This was the perfect book to start the year with!
I'm actually a little surprised it took as long as it did for me to pick this one up, considering it's sapphic, read by Moira Quirk, and fantasy murder mysteries are a niche favorite genre of mine. This book was genuinely a delight - it's light and fun, packed with over-the-top camp and melodrama and theatrics. Expect scheming politicians, multiple ladies with swords, abyssal horrors that insist on talking about feelings, magical costume changes, and increasingly sinister twists on the setting as the characters plummet through layers of reality. I especially loved the quirky horror-comedy elements when the characters explored alternate versions of their city, which gave me really strong Boiling Isles vibes. (Owl House sapphics come get your food.) The fae-like/demonic echoes were so intriguing, familiar and intuitive enough to pick up quickly while also getting me really excited to explore more of this world and its echoes in the next books.
I could definitely poke some holes here if I wanted to - in certain ways, the plot and worldbuilding were overly simplistic; in others it got way too convoluted. I have a few remaining questions that may or may not be plot holes. The romance was also not terrible, but not outstanding. This book suffers from having made the odd decision to give Rika and Kem a major falling-out before the events of the book. We're TOLD that they're longtime rivals with a complicated cat-and-mouse relationship, but all of that happened off page. On page, we have them dealing with the fallout of a betrayal we didn't actually get to see, which involves a lot of petty sulking and bickering that gets slightly annoying. They did win me over by the end, though.
Altogether - fun and silly and fast paced, with a great mix of familiar and creative worldbuilding and a lot left to explore. Loved. Can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I'm actually a little surprised it took as long as it did for me to pick this one up, considering it's sapphic, read by Moira Quirk, and fantasy murder mysteries are a niche favorite genre of mine. This book was genuinely a delight - it's light and fun, packed with over-the-top camp and melodrama and theatrics. Expect scheming politicians, multiple ladies with swords, abyssal horrors that insist on talking about feelings, magical costume changes, and increasingly sinister twists on the setting as the characters plummet through layers of reality. I especially loved the quirky horror-comedy elements when the characters explored alternate versions of their city, which gave me really strong Boiling Isles vibes. (Owl House sapphics come get your food.) The fae-like/demonic echoes were so intriguing, familiar and intuitive enough to pick up quickly while also getting me really excited to explore more of this world and its echoes in the next books.
I could definitely poke some holes here if I wanted to - in certain ways, the plot and worldbuilding were overly simplistic; in others it got way too convoluted. I have a few remaining questions that may or may not be plot holes. The romance was also not terrible, but not outstanding. This book suffers from having made the odd decision to give Rika and Kem a major falling-out before the events of the book. We're TOLD that they're longtime rivals with a complicated cat-and-mouse relationship, but all of that happened off page. On page, we have them dealing with the fallout of a betrayal we didn't actually get to see, which involves a lot of petty sulking and bickering that gets slightly annoying. They did win me over by the end, though.
Altogether - fun and silly and fast paced, with a great mix of familiar and creative worldbuilding and a lot left to explore. Loved. Can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
August 14, 2024
Melissa Caruso’s “The Last Hour Between Worlds” might be my favorite book I’ve read so far this year.
The main character, Kembral Thorne, lives in a world where there are different layers of reality, called echoes. One echo down isn’t that different from normal reality. The further you go, the more strange and dangerous things become. At a year end party, Kembral finds herself a part of a sadistic game, where powers larger than herself are fighting against one another to win. If they do win, Kembral and the party attendants, some of her closest friends, will be doomed.
There are SO many things I love about this book. A main character who is a mother! Lesbian love. High intensity. Characters who are easy to adore.
I am often intimidated by fantasies where I have to understand a lot of characteristics about the world. I feel like Caruso did a great job of explaining the intricate world she has created.
My one main complaint I would say is that it did feel a little long? But nothing that really made the book less enjoyable.
I cannot wait to read the next one! I think that this will be a book I think about often.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, Kembral Thorne, lives in a world where there are different layers of reality, called echoes. One echo down isn’t that different from normal reality. The further you go, the more strange and dangerous things become. At a year end party, Kembral finds herself a part of a sadistic game, where powers larger than herself are fighting against one another to win. If they do win, Kembral and the party attendants, some of her closest friends, will be doomed.
There are SO many things I love about this book. A main character who is a mother! Lesbian love. High intensity. Characters who are easy to adore.
I am often intimidated by fantasies where I have to understand a lot of characteristics about the world. I feel like Caruso did a great job of explaining the intricate world she has created.
My one main complaint I would say is that it did feel a little long? But nothing that really made the book less enjoyable.
I cannot wait to read the next one! I think that this will be a book I think about often.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Orbit for the ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
Firstly, this is way more fantasy than it is sci-fi, for those who want the proper expectations. There are time loops and parallel universes, but they function on what feels like magic much more than science. And this is a book with a fantasy heart.
This was a really fun time. There are some good characters and character work here, but this is a fast-moving, action-centered book. Each time loop is an hour long, and things change and go wrong differently each time. We also learn more about Rika and Kembrel's past, and watch them come together again as they try to solve the wacky shenanigans going on around them.
This wasn't a perfect five star read for me. It was pretty important that Kembrel was a new mother, but often I just felt her telling me about loving her baby, when I feel like there could have been ways to show me instead. That said, there was a little twist involving her newborn daughter (ish) that I absolutely loved, and that sort of pulled the rest of it together, though it did still feel shaky.
Mostly, I just had a lot of fun with this book. Moira Quirk does the audio narration, and always, she does a stellar job. I very much recommend this one!
Firstly, this is way more fantasy than it is sci-fi, for those who want the proper expectations. There are time loops and parallel universes, but they function on what feels like magic much more than science. And this is a book with a fantasy heart.
This was a really fun time. There are some good characters and character work here, but this is a fast-moving, action-centered book. Each time loop is an hour long, and things change and go wrong differently each time. We also learn more about Rika and Kembrel's past, and watch them come together again as they try to solve the wacky shenanigans going on around them.
This wasn't a perfect five star read for me. It was pretty important that Kembrel was a new mother, but often I just felt her telling me about loving her baby, when I feel like there could have been ways to show me instead. That said, there was a little twist involving her newborn daughter (ish) that I absolutely loved, and that sort of pulled the rest of it together, though it did still feel shaky.
Mostly, I just had a lot of fun with this book. Moira Quirk does the audio narration, and always, she does a stellar job. I very much recommend this one!
December 1, 2024
DNF na 65%, bo na myśl o tym, że mam tego dalej słychać, chciało mi się jęczeć. Niestety niewypał i straszna nuda.
August 9, 2024
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
So, while this technically wasn't a 5 star in my head, it was close enough (wish both Goodreads and Netgalley would allow for half-star ratings, but what're you gonna do?). This was just so much fun! Kem, as the protagonist, was just... the kind of protagonist you root for. She kept giving me vibes of shonen anime/manga protag, but that protag was also a tired mom who finally got a moment away from her baby and just wanted to relax (yet, also kinda needs to be near her baby again). If that doesn't quite make sense, then she's just the kind of bull-headed, lovable protagonist that feels compelled to do the right thing. To help people and save people, even though that can be a detriment to her life and health. She's a little reckless, but it's not always in service of her own gains. She just wants to do the right thing and I loved her for it.
The book dances around relationship with Rika, where at the start of the book you can't quite get the vibes of what kind of a person Rika is. This is for good reason and, by the time things really get into the weeds, Rika becomes a lot more flawed, but a hell of a lot more compassionate. By the end, their relationship--their romance--just really made me feel so warm and happy. It's enemies (or, technically just more like rivals? Sort of? The Cat/Hound dynamic is definitely a strange one because they're not enemies technically; they sort of work in the same... overall circle, but with very different end goals and often in contest with one another.) to lovers back to enemies (or jilted lovers) to friends to lovers and it's delicious.
The way this is written could be a tad dense sometime (part of why this wasn't technically a 5-star as such), but for the most part it was vibrant and really described the weirdness and horrors of the various Echoes. I'm always a visual reader, but Melissa Caruso's writing elevated what I was able to picture in my head by a lot. While the majority of the book is in a static location (the party in a big mansion), the way the appearance of the house kept changing each Echo kept things from feeling too stale. Add in the tenseness of a literal ticking clock and ritual murder and you've got a compelling read.
I will say that the actual plot explanations--especially in relation to the various Echoes and how things actually work--could be a bit confusing. Especially at the beginning, where you're kind of more lost than Kem is. However, I do think that the author did pull it together at the end. It's just that some of the initial explanations were either slightly confusing or slightly info-dump-y. I don't think it was in an egregious way; it just felt like there were moments in the story where a lot of information came at you at once and it didn't always fully make sense to me the first time around. That's part of why it's not fully a 5 star, technically, too. Again, I do think things came together in a way that made sense to me at the end. It just wasn't completely smooth, I think.
Overall, this was such a fun, unique, and weird read. The way reality changes each Echo starts out slow, but gets real weird and creepy by the end of it. It wasn't technically perfect, but it was close enough that I'm real excited to get the finished copy in my hands. And learning this is actually a series (or a duology?) was nothing short of a gift. Highly recommend!
So, while this technically wasn't a 5 star in my head, it was close enough (wish both Goodreads and Netgalley would allow for half-star ratings, but what're you gonna do?). This was just so much fun! Kem, as the protagonist, was just... the kind of protagonist you root for. She kept giving me vibes of shonen anime/manga protag, but that protag was also a tired mom who finally got a moment away from her baby and just wanted to relax (yet, also kinda needs to be near her baby again). If that doesn't quite make sense, then she's just the kind of bull-headed, lovable protagonist that feels compelled to do the right thing. To help people and save people, even though that can be a detriment to her life and health. She's a little reckless, but it's not always in service of her own gains. She just wants to do the right thing and I loved her for it.
The book dances around relationship with Rika, where at the start of the book you can't quite get the vibes of what kind of a person Rika is. This is for good reason and, by the time things really get into the weeds, Rika becomes a lot more flawed, but a hell of a lot more compassionate. By the end, their relationship--their romance--just really made me feel so warm and happy. It's enemies (or, technically just more like rivals? Sort of? The Cat/Hound dynamic is definitely a strange one because they're not enemies technically; they sort of work in the same... overall circle, but with very different end goals and often in contest with one another.) to lovers back to enemies (or jilted lovers) to friends to lovers and it's delicious.
The way this is written could be a tad dense sometime (part of why this wasn't technically a 5-star as such), but for the most part it was vibrant and really described the weirdness and horrors of the various Echoes. I'm always a visual reader, but Melissa Caruso's writing elevated what I was able to picture in my head by a lot. While the majority of the book is in a static location (the party in a big mansion), the way the appearance of the house kept changing each Echo kept things from feeling too stale. Add in the tenseness of a literal ticking clock and ritual murder and you've got a compelling read.
I will say that the actual plot explanations--especially in relation to the various Echoes and how things actually work--could be a bit confusing. Especially at the beginning, where you're kind of more lost than Kem is. However, I do think that the author did pull it together at the end. It's just that some of the initial explanations were either slightly confusing or slightly info-dump-y. I don't think it was in an egregious way; it just felt like there were moments in the story where a lot of information came at you at once and it didn't always fully make sense to me the first time around. That's part of why it's not fully a 5 star, technically, too. Again, I do think things came together in a way that made sense to me at the end. It just wasn't completely smooth, I think.
Overall, this was such a fun, unique, and weird read. The way reality changes each Echo starts out slow, but gets real weird and creepy by the end of it. It wasn't technically perfect, but it was close enough that I'm real excited to get the finished copy in my hands. And learning this is actually a series (or a duology?) was nothing short of a gift. Highly recommend!
October 28, 2024
This wasn't bad or anything. It was just very Marvel with its high stakes while still feeling light-hearted in between those life and death moments.
Despite being a mishmash of my favorite things (Inception meets Marvel multiverse with a Final Fantasy-esque villain, and it even gave me Kingdom Hearts vibes at times), I didn't really find it all too exciting. And I feel kinda bad about this tbh because it has everything I love.
I liked the FMC and her "will they won't they" sorta love interest. Their fun (and baggage filled) dynamic actually kept me going. The FMC by herself wasn't all too interesting, but paired up with Rika, she became a lot more interesting. I did think the new mom POV was unique. You don't really see that too often in fantasy adventure stories. For once, I actually didn't care about the FMC complaining about new mom problems.
I've seen other reviewers say they disliked or hated the groundhog day premise, but I actually really liked it! It's very multiverse plus Inception, and each world became progressively more whacky that I wanted more.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book. Maybe if I need a lighter fantasy read in between darker books, I might put it on hold at the library.
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc.
Despite being a mishmash of my favorite things (Inception meets Marvel multiverse with a Final Fantasy-esque villain, and it even gave me Kingdom Hearts vibes at times), I didn't really find it all too exciting. And I feel kinda bad about this tbh because it has everything I love.
I liked the FMC and her "will they won't they" sorta love interest. Their fun (and baggage filled) dynamic actually kept me going. The FMC by herself wasn't all too interesting, but paired up with Rika, she became a lot more interesting. I did think the new mom POV was unique. You don't really see that too often in fantasy adventure stories. For once, I actually didn't care about the FMC complaining about new mom problems.
I've seen other reviewers say they disliked or hated the groundhog day premise, but I actually really liked it! It's very multiverse plus Inception, and each world became progressively more whacky that I wanted more.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book. Maybe if I need a lighter fantasy read in between darker books, I might put it on hold at the library.
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc.
October 14, 2024
Rounded up from 2.5
Exciting world-building does a lot of the heavy lifting in this fantastical homage to locked-room mysteries. This isn’t actually a locked room mystery, and the reader isn’t given enough actual clues to “solve it” ahead of our characters, but it is a fun twisty mystery that blends action and urban fantasy. The world-building was really skillful, in that it never holds your hand and just throws you into this magical world, expecting you to understand it, giving out more information about the fantastical elements and also the political/social elements slowly, as they’re needed for the story. I really appreciated this trust the author had in the reader, it kept the story much more dynamic and exciting. The one potential downfall is that, having not ever fully explained the magic or fantastical systems, especially later in the story when we learn new things it can sometimes feel more like a plot necessity than and original component of this world. That feeling doesn’t come often, but it does sneak in at the edges, sometimes. However I would take that over lengthy exposition dumps or constant hand-holding. The world is enough like our own to be easily relatable yet different enough to keep you always engaged and guessing just what its boundaries might be.
The story itself is a fun idea, a twist on the Groundhog Day formula that feels fresh, especially since we learn the limits pretty early on, so we aren’t invested in figuring out how to break the time loops but are more interested in what we can accomplish in each. The addition that each iteration descends into a weird, more fantastical version of reality is an exciting twist, I almost wish that more was done with it. It felt like a deep reservoir left untapped, and a missed opportunity to increase the tension and stakes. Each level deeper of reality that the characters descend into is more dangerous, less stable, and sometimes those distinctions aren’t entirely clear. It was an interesting backdrop for this mystery story, and the pacing and narrative twists and turns did a good job of making sure that it didn’t feel repetitive as so much of the world around our main character reset itself.
I was a little hit or miss on the characters. I thought the cast of supporting characters were strong, they felt unique, and each brought an interesting dynamic to the story. The main character did fall a little flat for me. She just felt like a generic bad-ass over-achiever. So much of her character was picoting around the fact that she is a new mother, and she has a 2-month-old child, and this is the first time she has been away from her since giving birth…. And, unfortunately, this just felt like it was repeating the same things over and over again (she is constantly tired, she is struggling with work/family balance) but none felt like they had any real weight to them, they just felt like things this character was saying. Making her a single mom in this situation felt ripe for so much more exploration of her inner life and the expectations put on her given her job and her place in society, and these were all given lip service, but none felt like they moved the needle in any way. Maybe if the setup didn’t have such great unrealized potential it wouldn’t have felt as flat as it did, but I did want some more from this character other than some pretty stereotypical/common “strong bad ass female” tropes that didn’t really let her feel particularly unique or complex. She wasn’t offensive or anything, she just didn’t compel me.
Similarly, there was something about the writing that didn’t always work for me. Sometimes it felt like it was trying to be twee and missing the mark. When the writing and pacing were hitting, especially in the latter half of the story, they worked well. But sometimes it just felt like I could see the seams in the writing, so to speak. This is not a new author, she has written two other well-received fantasy trilogies, so I did want things to feel a little more seamless, less effortful. For instance, the various trade guilds are named after animals, and not only does that feel incredibly basic but then to be even more heavy-handed (and less interesting) our main character is a dog that has to team up with a cat? Those kinds of things stuck out like a sore thumb in a world that has so much other fantastical potential, and a little refinement could have given the story more jagged edges, more interesting surfaces that can reflect back their own shards of light.
The story does try to explore some interesting ideas, not simply about motherhood but about responsibility—to ourselves and to others, yes, but also responsibility we have taken upon ourselves compared to what is projected onto us or expected of us by others. Loyalty, intuition, and creativity are also ideas that are explored, and even with my occasional frustrations with what felt like a somewhat shallow or under-developed main character these themes shine through really well. The answers the story gives are a little more pat, lacking nuance, than I would have liked, it feels like too many neat bows are tied at the end, but the journey was a fun one. This is the first in a trilogy, and while it didn’t knock it out of the park for me it was enjoyable and it did set up a world with a lot of potential, wrapping up this mystery in a satisfying way while opening more doors for future stories. There are so many dangerous and weird place this story can go, I hope the author makes some bold choices, and leans away from the impulse to be twee (because it isn’t cozy but it feels like it maybe wants to be) and just leans into the absurd, the feeling of always being one step away from a the cliffs edge. All of the pieces are lined up that would let her really push things, both in terms of emotional development and world-building/exploration, and I am really hopefully she takes some bold, extravagant swings in future installments.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Orbit Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Exciting world-building does a lot of the heavy lifting in this fantastical homage to locked-room mysteries. This isn’t actually a locked room mystery, and the reader isn’t given enough actual clues to “solve it” ahead of our characters, but it is a fun twisty mystery that blends action and urban fantasy. The world-building was really skillful, in that it never holds your hand and just throws you into this magical world, expecting you to understand it, giving out more information about the fantastical elements and also the political/social elements slowly, as they’re needed for the story. I really appreciated this trust the author had in the reader, it kept the story much more dynamic and exciting. The one potential downfall is that, having not ever fully explained the magic or fantastical systems, especially later in the story when we learn new things it can sometimes feel more like a plot necessity than and original component of this world. That feeling doesn’t come often, but it does sneak in at the edges, sometimes. However I would take that over lengthy exposition dumps or constant hand-holding. The world is enough like our own to be easily relatable yet different enough to keep you always engaged and guessing just what its boundaries might be.
The story itself is a fun idea, a twist on the Groundhog Day formula that feels fresh, especially since we learn the limits pretty early on, so we aren’t invested in figuring out how to break the time loops but are more interested in what we can accomplish in each. The addition that each iteration descends into a weird, more fantastical version of reality is an exciting twist, I almost wish that more was done with it. It felt like a deep reservoir left untapped, and a missed opportunity to increase the tension and stakes. Each level deeper of reality that the characters descend into is more dangerous, less stable, and sometimes those distinctions aren’t entirely clear. It was an interesting backdrop for this mystery story, and the pacing and narrative twists and turns did a good job of making sure that it didn’t feel repetitive as so much of the world around our main character reset itself.
I was a little hit or miss on the characters. I thought the cast of supporting characters were strong, they felt unique, and each brought an interesting dynamic to the story. The main character did fall a little flat for me. She just felt like a generic bad-ass over-achiever. So much of her character was picoting around the fact that she is a new mother, and she has a 2-month-old child, and this is the first time she has been away from her since giving birth…. And, unfortunately, this just felt like it was repeating the same things over and over again (she is constantly tired, she is struggling with work/family balance) but none felt like they had any real weight to them, they just felt like things this character was saying. Making her a single mom in this situation felt ripe for so much more exploration of her inner life and the expectations put on her given her job and her place in society, and these were all given lip service, but none felt like they moved the needle in any way. Maybe if the setup didn’t have such great unrealized potential it wouldn’t have felt as flat as it did, but I did want some more from this character other than some pretty stereotypical/common “strong bad ass female” tropes that didn’t really let her feel particularly unique or complex. She wasn’t offensive or anything, she just didn’t compel me.
Similarly, there was something about the writing that didn’t always work for me. Sometimes it felt like it was trying to be twee and missing the mark. When the writing and pacing were hitting, especially in the latter half of the story, they worked well. But sometimes it just felt like I could see the seams in the writing, so to speak. This is not a new author, she has written two other well-received fantasy trilogies, so I did want things to feel a little more seamless, less effortful. For instance, the various trade guilds are named after animals, and not only does that feel incredibly basic but then to be even more heavy-handed (and less interesting) our main character is a dog that has to team up with a cat? Those kinds of things stuck out like a sore thumb in a world that has so much other fantastical potential, and a little refinement could have given the story more jagged edges, more interesting surfaces that can reflect back their own shards of light.
The story does try to explore some interesting ideas, not simply about motherhood but about responsibility—to ourselves and to others, yes, but also responsibility we have taken upon ourselves compared to what is projected onto us or expected of us by others. Loyalty, intuition, and creativity are also ideas that are explored, and even with my occasional frustrations with what felt like a somewhat shallow or under-developed main character these themes shine through really well. The answers the story gives are a little more pat, lacking nuance, than I would have liked, it feels like too many neat bows are tied at the end, but the journey was a fun one. This is the first in a trilogy, and while it didn’t knock it out of the park for me it was enjoyable and it did set up a world with a lot of potential, wrapping up this mystery in a satisfying way while opening more doors for future stories. There are so many dangerous and weird place this story can go, I hope the author makes some bold choices, and leans away from the impulse to be twee (because it isn’t cozy but it feels like it maybe wants to be) and just leans into the absurd, the feeling of always being one step away from a the cliffs edge. All of the pieces are lined up that would let her really push things, both in terms of emotional development and world-building/exploration, and I am really hopefully she takes some bold, extravagant swings in future installments.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Orbit Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2025
2.75
Un grandissimo grazie alla Lainya Fazi Editore che mi ha inviato una copia di questo libro! <3
Questo libro aveva delle premesse spaventose: fantasy steampunk, la protagonista neo-mamma nei suoi 30s, un rivals to lovers saffico, loop temporali, divinità da sconfiggere, un worldbuilding molto interessante e in generale delle vibes davvero incredibili.
Peccato che poi l'esecuzione non abbia reso del tutto l'incredibile potenziale che questa storia poteva avere
Per carità, in generale è stato una bellissima lettura, e soprattutto verso il finale si è ripreso in una maniera tale per cui difficilmente riuscivo a staccarmi dalle pagine (nonostante tutto). Il concept iniziale, tra cui il fatto che più si scende nelle Echi e più la realtà si distorce, dando modo quindi all'autrice di creare scenari sempre più curiosi e temi del ballo diversi ad ogni livello, era davvero molto interessante - e infatti mi è dispiaciuto che non lo abbia spiegato, sfruttato e sviluppato di più (e che quando lo ha fatto non è risultato super coerente con sé stesso)
Sarò molto sincera, in alcuni punti mi ha proprio annoiata. Ed essendo un libro che invece sottolineava spesso quanto pericoloso fosse perdere tempo e quanto quindi importante fosse la tempestività nel risolvere il mistero... beh, è stato un problema
Credo che in generale ci sia stato proprio un modo sbagliato di scandire i tempi durante la narrazione: a volte cose che meritavano più spazio ne avevano poco, cose che invece potevano essere risolte più velocemente (anche, come detto prima, per aumentare quel senso di ansia e di minuti contati) prendevano invece molte più pagine di quanto invece gli si potevano riservare. I colpi di scena, interessanti e a volte inaspettati (a comunque coerenti) non avevano l'impatto giusto sul lettore - non c'era un crescendo che ti facesse capire quanto effettivamente scioccante fosse la cosa che si era appena stata scoperta. Il che mi ha lasciata un po' perplessa perché effettivamente alcune cose erano veramente scioccanti - però il tutto era stato costruito in maniera così dispersiva, il climax era così poco compatto che... UGH
Per me il tutto era dosato in generale relativamente male, il che è stato davvero un peccato perché, come detto prima, la trama era davvero interessante, così come il worldbuilding e i vari personaggi. I PERSONAGGI!! Anche loro ridotti a troppe poche scene davvero salienti, e quando invece quando venivano sfruttati *davvero* creavano scene formidabili, e si scoprivano essere al centro di questioni che meritavano di essere sotto ai riflettori molto più a lungo e in maniera molto più approfondita.
La narrazione in prima persona per questo tipo di storia era la scelta migliore, purtroppo però con un ventaglio così vasto di personaggi colorati e storie secondarie altrettanto interessanti, ha limitato molto quello che questa storia poteva davvero dare. Sarebbe stato difficile, certo, rendere il tutto uniforme considerato che, appunto, a parlare era uno dei personaggi che scopriva le cose insieme al lettore, però è stata comunque una narrazione a volte superficiale, che non andava davvero a fondo nelle descrizioni. Again, l'impatto di determinate scoperte non è stato mai davvero forte, principalmente perché in generale si limitava ad un paio di frasi: le emozioni della protagonista erano "riservate" a determinati momenti, non durante il corso di tutta la narrazione, per cui il tutto sembrava a volte un po' frammentato, non costante. Quando una questione, un pensiero, un'emozione non era il sentimento preponderante in quello specifico momento, non veniva considerata, ma risvegliata solo quando "serviva". Scoperte che avrebbero dovuto cambiare la vita della protagonista e scioccare il lettore non avevano l'impatto desiderato proprio perché non sembravano poi così importanti - non c'era quella insistenza "martellante" che facesse davvero capire quanto effettivamente una cosa fosse determinante per la protagonista o per la risoluzione del problema (e, se c'era, non era neanche descritta in maniera tale per cui il mio interesse fosse davvero alto) e questo è risultato in una lettura, almeno da parte mia, non del tutto coinvolta
Non mi dispiace averlo letto, aveva comunque molti punti a favore. E forse è proprio per questo che mi ha fatto male non averlo amato, perché ci speravo proprio - avevo davvero tante aspettative che purtroppo non sono state soddisfatte fino alla fine. Per fortuna si è ripreso relativamente bene sul finale e alla fin fine mi ha appagata, nonostante anche quello fosse un po' costellato di superficialità.
Un grandissimo grazie alla Lainya Fazi Editore che mi ha inviato una copia di questo libro! <3
Questo libro aveva delle premesse spaventose: fantasy steampunk, la protagonista neo-mamma nei suoi 30s, un rivals to lovers saffico, loop temporali, divinità da sconfiggere, un worldbuilding molto interessante e in generale delle vibes davvero incredibili.
Peccato che poi l'esecuzione non abbia reso del tutto l'incredibile potenziale che questa storia poteva avere
Per carità, in generale è stato una bellissima lettura, e soprattutto verso il finale si è ripreso in una maniera tale per cui difficilmente riuscivo a staccarmi dalle pagine (nonostante tutto). Il concept iniziale, tra cui il fatto che più si scende nelle Echi e più la realtà si distorce, dando modo quindi all'autrice di creare scenari sempre più curiosi e temi del ballo diversi ad ogni livello, era davvero molto interessante - e infatti mi è dispiaciuto che non lo abbia spiegato, sfruttato e sviluppato di più (e che quando lo ha fatto non è risultato super coerente con sé stesso)
Sarò molto sincera, in alcuni punti mi ha proprio annoiata. Ed essendo un libro che invece sottolineava spesso quanto pericoloso fosse perdere tempo e quanto quindi importante fosse la tempestività nel risolvere il mistero... beh, è stato un problema
Credo che in generale ci sia stato proprio un modo sbagliato di scandire i tempi durante la narrazione: a volte cose che meritavano più spazio ne avevano poco, cose che invece potevano essere risolte più velocemente (anche, come detto prima, per aumentare quel senso di ansia e di minuti contati) prendevano invece molte più pagine di quanto invece gli si potevano riservare. I colpi di scena, interessanti e a volte inaspettati (a comunque coerenti) non avevano l'impatto giusto sul lettore - non c'era un crescendo che ti facesse capire quanto effettivamente scioccante fosse la cosa che si era appena stata scoperta. Il che mi ha lasciata un po' perplessa perché effettivamente alcune cose erano veramente scioccanti - però il tutto era stato costruito in maniera così dispersiva, il climax era così poco compatto che... UGH
Per me il tutto era dosato in generale relativamente male, il che è stato davvero un peccato perché, come detto prima, la trama era davvero interessante, così come il worldbuilding e i vari personaggi. I PERSONAGGI!! Anche loro ridotti a troppe poche scene davvero salienti, e quando invece quando venivano sfruttati *davvero* creavano scene formidabili, e si scoprivano essere al centro di questioni che meritavano di essere sotto ai riflettori molto più a lungo e in maniera molto più approfondita.
La narrazione in prima persona per questo tipo di storia era la scelta migliore, purtroppo però con un ventaglio così vasto di personaggi colorati e storie secondarie altrettanto interessanti, ha limitato molto quello che questa storia poteva davvero dare. Sarebbe stato difficile, certo, rendere il tutto uniforme considerato che, appunto, a parlare era uno dei personaggi che scopriva le cose insieme al lettore, però è stata comunque una narrazione a volte superficiale, che non andava davvero a fondo nelle descrizioni. Again, l'impatto di determinate scoperte non è stato mai davvero forte, principalmente perché in generale si limitava ad un paio di frasi: le emozioni della protagonista erano "riservate" a determinati momenti, non durante il corso di tutta la narrazione, per cui il tutto sembrava a volte un po' frammentato, non costante. Quando una questione, un pensiero, un'emozione non era il sentimento preponderante in quello specifico momento, non veniva considerata, ma risvegliata solo quando "serviva". Scoperte che avrebbero dovuto cambiare la vita della protagonista e scioccare il lettore non avevano l'impatto desiderato proprio perché non sembravano poi così importanti - non c'era quella insistenza "martellante" che facesse davvero capire quanto effettivamente una cosa fosse determinante per la protagonista o per la risoluzione del problema (e, se c'era, non era neanche descritta in maniera tale per cui il mio interesse fosse davvero alto) e questo è risultato in una lettura, almeno da parte mia, non del tutto coinvolta
Non mi dispiace averlo letto, aveva comunque molti punti a favore. E forse è proprio per questo che mi ha fatto male non averlo amato, perché ci speravo proprio - avevo davvero tante aspettative che purtroppo non sono state soddisfatte fino alla fine. Per fortuna si è ripreso relativamente bene sul finale e alla fin fine mi ha appagata, nonostante anche quello fosse un po' costellato di superficialità.
September 8, 2024
3.5 stars
The premise of this fast moving, heart stomping fantasy was extremely compelling and deserves a full 4 stars.
This is place where reality as we know it is mirrored in alternate worlds, or “Echoes”. These Echoes very closely mimic the real thing with a few twisted differences. The deeper you travel down this rabbit hole of realities the more dangerous it gets.
The story centers around Kembral, who is an experienced Hound (a retriever of people who have fallen down the cracks of reality)
I found the level of imagination for each Echo boundless and can completely see how a series can develop out of this concept. However, I found the interactions between the characters underdeveloped. Our main protagonist felt very 1 dimensional, with her thoughts and dialogue centering around either her new baby or the unrequited feelings she has for Rika.
It’s a pity as I still think this author hit it out of the park with the worlds within worlds she has created.
The premise of this fast moving, heart stomping fantasy was extremely compelling and deserves a full 4 stars.
This is place where reality as we know it is mirrored in alternate worlds, or “Echoes”. These Echoes very closely mimic the real thing with a few twisted differences. The deeper you travel down this rabbit hole of realities the more dangerous it gets.
The story centers around Kembral, who is an experienced Hound (a retriever of people who have fallen down the cracks of reality)
I found the level of imagination for each Echo boundless and can completely see how a series can develop out of this concept. However, I found the interactions between the characters underdeveloped. Our main protagonist felt very 1 dimensional, with her thoughts and dialogue centering around either her new baby or the unrequited feelings she has for Rika.
It’s a pity as I still think this author hit it out of the park with the worlds within worlds she has created.
did-not-finish-dnf
September 16, 2024DNF @ 41%
Sapphic, early 30s mother FMC, and a super cool techno-alternate reality setting with multi-dimensions - what more could you want, right?
The start of this novel really hooked me and I was really excited to see where the premise would lead from a plot development standpoint. There was a lot of creativity in concept, and the writing had a complementary flow.
Unfortunately though, I just experienced a cluster mindfuck from the lack of answers in the world building. I really had a hard time really understanding where we were going with the story. At first I thought it was refreshing that the author wasn’t just info dumping at the outset and inserting terms from the world within natural conversation, but the problem is that those terms were never fully explained, even 41% in. At that point, it just made it hard to continue picking this one up.
Sapphic, early 30s mother FMC, and a super cool techno-alternate reality setting with multi-dimensions - what more could you want, right?
The start of this novel really hooked me and I was really excited to see where the premise would lead from a plot development standpoint. There was a lot of creativity in concept, and the writing had a complementary flow.
Unfortunately though, I just experienced a cluster mindfuck from the lack of answers in the world building. I really had a hard time really understanding where we were going with the story. At first I thought it was refreshing that the author wasn’t just info dumping at the outset and inserting terms from the world within natural conversation, but the problem is that those terms were never fully explained, even 41% in. At that point, it just made it hard to continue picking this one up.
July 23, 2024
Another thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That was bloody great.
The Last Hour Between Worlds isn't something I would have picked up to read without it popping up on my NetGalley account. It's classified as a science fiction and fantasy book. I think it's a little unfair to claim it isn't at least part-romance.
We see a literal descent into madness, mayhem, and chaos, led by the wonderful Kembral. A determined, fierce, and maternal protagonist with just the right amount of depth to get me through.
The entire story is set within a small area, which you'd think could confine the potential of a debut in what I believe is going to be a series of adventures, but if anything it created a greater sense of urgency and immediacy.
In a fantastically imagined world, Caruso straddles the line between fantasy and romance. More an emotional, and loving romance, than the romantasy smut half of BookTok loves to consume. My only gripe with the romance element was the repetition. It became a little arduous and repetitive as we hit the latter end of the book.
Personally, I believe this could do well as a standalone, but I'll happily read more stories about Kembral and Rika if they're told in the same eloquent, and gripping way.
Great read, pick up a copy on release.
3.8/5.0
That was bloody great.
The Last Hour Between Worlds isn't something I would have picked up to read without it popping up on my NetGalley account. It's classified as a science fiction and fantasy book. I think it's a little unfair to claim it isn't at least part-romance.
We see a literal descent into madness, mayhem, and chaos, led by the wonderful Kembral. A determined, fierce, and maternal protagonist with just the right amount of depth to get me through.
The entire story is set within a small area, which you'd think could confine the potential of a debut in what I believe is going to be a series of adventures, but if anything it created a greater sense of urgency and immediacy.
In a fantastically imagined world, Caruso straddles the line between fantasy and romance. More an emotional, and loving romance, than the romantasy smut half of BookTok loves to consume. My only gripe with the romance element was the repetition. It became a little arduous and repetitive as we hit the latter end of the book.
Personally, I believe this could do well as a standalone, but I'll happily read more stories about Kembral and Rika if they're told in the same eloquent, and gripping way.
Great read, pick up a copy on release.
3.8/5.0
December 16, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
«È facile finire nel mondo sbagliato.»
Come presentare la trama di questo libro? È stata una delle letture dal world building più ricco ed elaborato che abbia affrontato di recente e mi ha totalmente intrigata. Il world building è infatti una presenza così centrale e attiva da essere considerato un vero e proprio personaggio. L’atmosfera ricorda molto il mondo vittoriano e lo steampunk ed è un elemento che ho amato follemente🕯️
•• 𝐋’𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢 si sviluppa nell’arco di una sola notte (l’ultima notte dell’anno) ma le ore si accavallano e mescolano tra loro grazie a questi loop temporali, come se la realtà fosse stratificata in più livelli paralleli. È durante una festa di fine anno in una villa che il mistero prende vita e diversi personaggi che hanno ruoli chiave nella società di Acantis si trovano ad essere le pedine in un gioco tra Echi. Uno strano orologio è l’unico oggetto che sembra salvare dall’oblio la mente della protagonista, Kembral Thorne, un Segugio tuttora in congedo dopo la maternità. Mentre la sua nemesi, il Gatto Rika, dalla quale era stata tradita durante una missione, è l’unica persona qualificata a cui affiancarsi per affrontare questo pericoloso gioco e per garantire la sopravvivenza di tutti gli ospiti 🕰️
Un fantasy mystery, una spy story eccezionale, 𝐋’𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢 mescola elementi che affascinano subito il lettore. La relazione saffica è stata assolutamente perfetta, con il trascorso delle due protagoniste, i tradimenti, le rivalità, il risentimento, i segreti che le separano e le loro capacità lavorative ad unirle in un’ultima missione letale, costrette a rivivere lo stesso ballo per svelare il piano degli Empirei e gli scheletri nell’armadio degli altri giocatori. In particolare, un aspetto del loro passato mi ha fatto stringere il cuore, è stato un plot twist che non avevo minimamente visto arrivare!
♟️Ho amato entrambe - testarde, combattive, adorabili e sarcastiche - ma anche tutti i personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e sfaccettati. Le conversazioni con gli altri ospiti del ballo sono esilaranti: Kembral cerca di non destare sospetti nell’indagare e fare domande per salvarli tutti, ma è sempre presente una punta di (auto)ironia e comicità che rende la lettura ancor più piacevole.
🪐 Per me è stata una lettura quasi perfetta proprio perché è stata estremamente originale, qualcosa di cui non avevo mai letto - e ne sono rimasta incredibilmente affascinata! A mio parere l’unica imperfezione riscontrata riguarda le informazioni: secondo me potevano essere gestite in maniera diversa, soprattutto inizialmente. La sensazione avuta era che si desse per scontato che il lettore avesse già una certa dimestichezza con il world building, avrei voluto infatti più approfondimenti. Perché se da un lato il world building è ciò che rende unico e intrigante questo volume, dall’altro è ciò che poteva essere spiegato meglio. All’inizio infatti mi sono sentita confusa, ma procedendo sono riuscita ad orientarmi meglio con la questione degli Echi e con le nozioni più tecniche. E dopotutto un multiverso che si rispetti deve avere i suoi cavilli, le sue particolarità e i suoi misteri più inquietanti 💫
«È facile finire nel mondo sbagliato.»
Come presentare la trama di questo libro? È stata una delle letture dal world building più ricco ed elaborato che abbia affrontato di recente e mi ha totalmente intrigata. Il world building è infatti una presenza così centrale e attiva da essere considerato un vero e proprio personaggio. L’atmosfera ricorda molto il mondo vittoriano e lo steampunk ed è un elemento che ho amato follemente🕯️
•• 𝐋’𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢 si sviluppa nell’arco di una sola notte (l’ultima notte dell’anno) ma le ore si accavallano e mescolano tra loro grazie a questi loop temporali, come se la realtà fosse stratificata in più livelli paralleli. È durante una festa di fine anno in una villa che il mistero prende vita e diversi personaggi che hanno ruoli chiave nella società di Acantis si trovano ad essere le pedine in un gioco tra Echi. Uno strano orologio è l’unico oggetto che sembra salvare dall’oblio la mente della protagonista, Kembral Thorne, un Segugio tuttora in congedo dopo la maternità. Mentre la sua nemesi, il Gatto Rika, dalla quale era stata tradita durante una missione, è l’unica persona qualificata a cui affiancarsi per affrontare questo pericoloso gioco e per garantire la sopravvivenza di tutti gli ospiti 🕰️
Un fantasy mystery, una spy story eccezionale, 𝐋’𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢 mescola elementi che affascinano subito il lettore. La relazione saffica è stata assolutamente perfetta, con il trascorso delle due protagoniste, i tradimenti, le rivalità, il risentimento, i segreti che le separano e le loro capacità lavorative ad unirle in un’ultima missione letale, costrette a rivivere lo stesso ballo per svelare il piano degli Empirei e gli scheletri nell’armadio degli altri giocatori. In particolare, un aspetto del loro passato mi ha fatto stringere il cuore, è stato un plot twist che non avevo minimamente visto arrivare!
♟️Ho amato entrambe - testarde, combattive, adorabili e sarcastiche - ma anche tutti i personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e sfaccettati. Le conversazioni con gli altri ospiti del ballo sono esilaranti: Kembral cerca di non destare sospetti nell’indagare e fare domande per salvarli tutti, ma è sempre presente una punta di (auto)ironia e comicità che rende la lettura ancor più piacevole.
🪐 Per me è stata una lettura quasi perfetta proprio perché è stata estremamente originale, qualcosa di cui non avevo mai letto - e ne sono rimasta incredibilmente affascinata! A mio parere l’unica imperfezione riscontrata riguarda le informazioni: secondo me potevano essere gestite in maniera diversa, soprattutto inizialmente. La sensazione avuta era che si desse per scontato che il lettore avesse già una certa dimestichezza con il world building, avrei voluto infatti più approfondimenti. Perché se da un lato il world building è ciò che rende unico e intrigante questo volume, dall’altro è ciò che poteva essere spiegato meglio. All’inizio infatti mi sono sentita confusa, ma procedendo sono riuscita ad orientarmi meglio con la questione degli Echi e con le nozioni più tecniche. E dopotutto un multiverso che si rispetti deve avere i suoi cavilli, le sue particolarità e i suoi misteri più inquietanti 💫
August 19, 2025
There are some genres where you know what to expect in terms of structure, like in romance or mystery, and there’s comfort in knowing roughly how the story will develop.
As much as I enjoy the predictability of those stories, I love coming across books that defy standard structures (think Piranesi, or The Futurological Congress). In that sense, The Hour Between Worlds was an extremely pleasant surprise! A mix between Inception and Groundhog Day, with a dash of This Is How You Lose The Time War, I thoroughly enjoyed this weird story.
The world building was amazing. At first we’re just thrown into this strange world and nothing makes sense, but bit by bit we learn the rules and things start to be more clear. I loved the concept of the 'Echoes': layers of reality that become more weird the further you go from 'Prime' (first layer, reality). This concept was extremely fun and it has a lot of potential for further exploring on the next books of the series.
I admit I wasn’t too sold on the romance aspect, there wasn’t too much chemistry in my opinion, but I still thought the relationship between the main character and the love interest was sweet and nicely developed. I'd love to see them interact further in future books.
My only true criticism of this book is that it's a bit too long for the repetitive nature of the story. I would've liked the plot to move a bit faster at some points.
All in all, this was an amazing story, it was my first time reading this author and I can’t wait to go back to this world in the sequel!
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit via NetGalley for providing an eARC
As much as I enjoy the predictability of those stories, I love coming across books that defy standard structures (think Piranesi, or The Futurological Congress). In that sense, The Hour Between Worlds was an extremely pleasant surprise! A mix between Inception and Groundhog Day, with a dash of This Is How You Lose The Time War, I thoroughly enjoyed this weird story.
The world building was amazing. At first we’re just thrown into this strange world and nothing makes sense, but bit by bit we learn the rules and things start to be more clear. I loved the concept of the 'Echoes': layers of reality that become more weird the further you go from 'Prime' (first layer, reality). This concept was extremely fun and it has a lot of potential for further exploring on the next books of the series.
I admit I wasn’t too sold on the romance aspect, there wasn’t too much chemistry in my opinion, but I still thought the relationship between the main character and the love interest was sweet and nicely developed. I'd love to see them interact further in future books.
My only true criticism of this book is that it's a bit too long for the repetitive nature of the story. I would've liked the plot to move a bit faster at some points.
All in all, this was an amazing story, it was my first time reading this author and I can’t wait to go back to this world in the sequel!
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit via NetGalley for providing an eARC
December 2, 2024
My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Net Galey for a free eARC of "The Last Hour Between Worlds" by Melissa Caruso.
What started as an intreaguing blend of Sci-Fantasy Murder Mystery turned out into an exhausting neverending repeating tale.
The time loop was captivating for the first two or three times it hapened, then it becomed tiredsome.
As a reader what I need in order to enjoy a book is at least one nuanced character to relate to, to care about.
Here the characters read like weak YA protagonists.
There were some times when the main heroine was having some logic, but the next moment she was acting so unprofessional compared to how she is viewed by everyone, including herself.
I don't want to talk about the enemies to lovers situation. It was more imature even then the YA romances I avoid at all costs.
So I could only force myself up to 52%. No eldrich mystery, no steampunk element can convince me to endure these characters any longer.
What started as an intreaguing blend of Sci-Fantasy Murder Mystery turned out into an exhausting neverending repeating tale.
The time loop was captivating for the first two or three times it hapened, then it becomed tiredsome.
As a reader what I need in order to enjoy a book is at least one nuanced character to relate to, to care about.
Here the characters read like weak YA protagonists.
There were some times when the main heroine was having some logic, but the next moment she was acting so unprofessional compared to how she is viewed by everyone, including herself.
I don't want to talk about the enemies to lovers situation. It was more imature even then the YA romances I avoid at all costs.
So I could only force myself up to 52%. No eldrich mystery, no steampunk element can convince me to endure these characters any longer.
November 22, 2024
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.
Moira Quirk absolutely nails this narration, and it definitely gave me the Gideon the Ninth vibes that I've been craving.
Now to wait for book two...
Thank you Hachette Audio for my gifted copy.
Moira Quirk absolutely nails this narration, and it definitely gave me the Gideon the Ninth vibes that I've been craving.
Now to wait for book two...
Thank you Hachette Audio for my gifted copy.
November 3, 2024
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.
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.
October 17, 2024
I'm so sad because on paper, I would LOVE this one. I WANTED to love this one. But so much of this didn't work for me, and I was...bored.
To start, I feel like Kem's sole personality (and character trait, to be honest) is that she's a new mom. Literally every other page brings up something to do with pregnancy, her new baby, and general new parent worries. As someone who isn't a parent, I couldn't relate to her AT ALL because this is quite literally the only thing we get to know about her. And I honestly couldn't have cared less, especially because it really has no impact on the story. Had we cut it out except for the opening when we're setting up the scene as to why she's at the party and maybe sprinkled in during high stakes moments of concern, I wouldn't have minded. But as it is, every other page is excessive, and it slowed the story down TERRIBLY.
The premise of this is super interesting--the multiple layers of the echos creating a Groundhog Day effect was fun and interesting. At first. But the longer it went on, the more repetitive it became, and I just got bored. Pair that with me not feeling any sort of connection with the main characters, and I really had to force myself to finish this.
The short chapters made this super easy to read, and the overall plot outline is an incredibly interesting concept! But between the campy dialogue, the repetitive nature of the story, and lack of character depth (or at least depth I can't even pretend to relate to), this just didn't work for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC of this book! I'm so bummed to say that I probably won't be picking up the second one.
To start, I feel like Kem's sole personality (and character trait, to be honest) is that she's a new mom. Literally every other page brings up something to do with pregnancy, her new baby, and general new parent worries. As someone who isn't a parent, I couldn't relate to her AT ALL because this is quite literally the only thing we get to know about her. And I honestly couldn't have cared less, especially because it really has no impact on the story. Had we cut it out except for the opening when we're setting up the scene as to why she's at the party and maybe sprinkled in during high stakes moments of concern, I wouldn't have minded. But as it is, every other page is excessive, and it slowed the story down TERRIBLY.
The premise of this is super interesting--the multiple layers of the echos creating a Groundhog Day effect was fun and interesting. At first. But the longer it went on, the more repetitive it became, and I just got bored. Pair that with me not feeling any sort of connection with the main characters, and I really had to force myself to finish this.
The short chapters made this super easy to read, and the overall plot outline is an incredibly interesting concept! But between the campy dialogue, the repetitive nature of the story, and lack of character depth (or at least depth I can't even pretend to relate to), this just didn't work for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC of this book! I'm so bummed to say that I probably won't be picking up the second one.
December 8, 2024
Absolutely loved the FMC being a new mom and super tired. Frankly, you don't even have to be a new mom to be super tired, so this was definitely a vibe. Loved the echo worldbuilding and how tidbits were tied together. But this is 4 instead of 5 stars because this book did feel like everything plus the kitchen sink; there was just so much going on at all times.
Didn't love the whole enemy-to-lovers trope where they're not real enemies; it was just a misunderstanding, you see...I feel like there's so much pressure for authors to include romance since romantasy is such huge marketable genre, when I think this particular romance would have been so much better off being enemy-to-friends. Making friends is super exciting, too, especially for moms! I want more friendtasy!
Didn't love the whole enemy-to-lovers trope where they're not real enemies; it was just a misunderstanding, you see...I feel like there's so much pressure for authors to include romance since romantasy is such huge marketable genre, when I think this particular romance would have been so much better off being enemy-to-friends. Making friends is super exciting, too, especially for moms! I want more friendtasy!
Read
January 5, 2025DNF.
Not for me but I can see how this would be enjoyable for others. I highly recommend if you like action-packed fantasy!
Not for me but I can see how this would be enjoyable for others. I highly recommend if you like action-packed fantasy!
December 13, 2024
A time-loop mystery with a relatable Queer main character? Say less. I absolute LOVE the universe and the plot, but it did start to feel repetitive and long-winded. Overall, I am excited to read more and hope to learn more and more about echoes and the characters in them, but don't think this book would be appealing to those who don't already love sci-fi and time loops!
October 6, 2024
*The Last Hour Between Worlds* by Melissa Caruso is one of those rare finds that immediately pulls you into its intricate world. Kembral Thorne, the protagonist, is a fascinating mix of strength and vulnerability. A new mom just trying to take a break at a party, she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a deadly time loop, where reality is constantly shifting. The premise is so engaging—every chime of a mysterious clock thrusts Kembral and her old rival, Rika, into darker and more dangerous layers of reality. It’s got that perfect mix of high stakes, mystery, and complex relationships that keeps you turning the pages.
The world-building is fantastic, especially with the concept of different layers of reality and the "Echoes" that characters experience. While the magic system took a bit of time to sink in—especially since there’s so much happening at once—Melissa Caruso manages to balance all of these elements masterfully by the time you hit the halfway point. It’s definitely a "jump in and hang on" kind of read, but if you’re willing to trust the author, it pays off in spades.
Kembral herself is a refreshingly competent protagonist. She’s not only great at her job but also navigating the complexities of her relationship with her newborn daughter. Her dynamic with Rika is deliciously tense—a mix of rivalry, unresolved feelings, and forced cooperation that makes for such an entertaining back-and-forth. The tension between them simmers just under the surface, adding a subtle layer of romantic intrigue without overshadowing the larger plot.
Now, while the pacing in the beginning felt a little slow for me, it quickly picked up, and once you’re in, you’re *in*. The time-loop concept is brilliantly executed, and I loved how each loop peeled back more layers of both the plot and the characters. By the end, everything ties together so neatly, leaving you with that satisfying feeling of having gone on a wild, thrilling ride.
Overall, this book has it all—magic, mystery, and compelling characters. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already eager for the next instalment in the series. If you’re into adventure fantasy with a dash of sci-fi and complex relationships, this one’s for you! And hey, the fact that it’s got a cool, reality-bending twist? I’m all in.
The world-building is fantastic, especially with the concept of different layers of reality and the "Echoes" that characters experience. While the magic system took a bit of time to sink in—especially since there’s so much happening at once—Melissa Caruso manages to balance all of these elements masterfully by the time you hit the halfway point. It’s definitely a "jump in and hang on" kind of read, but if you’re willing to trust the author, it pays off in spades.
Kembral herself is a refreshingly competent protagonist. She’s not only great at her job but also navigating the complexities of her relationship with her newborn daughter. Her dynamic with Rika is deliciously tense—a mix of rivalry, unresolved feelings, and forced cooperation that makes for such an entertaining back-and-forth. The tension between them simmers just under the surface, adding a subtle layer of romantic intrigue without overshadowing the larger plot.
Now, while the pacing in the beginning felt a little slow for me, it quickly picked up, and once you’re in, you’re *in*. The time-loop concept is brilliantly executed, and I loved how each loop peeled back more layers of both the plot and the characters. By the end, everything ties together so neatly, leaving you with that satisfying feeling of having gone on a wild, thrilling ride.
Overall, this book has it all—magic, mystery, and compelling characters. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already eager for the next instalment in the series. If you’re into adventure fantasy with a dash of sci-fi and complex relationships, this one’s for you! And hey, the fact that it’s got a cool, reality-bending twist? I’m all in.
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