I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso from Little, Brown Book Group UK through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Melissa Caruso delivers a triumph of rich fantasy in The Last Hour Between Worlds, a novel that skillfully balances political intrigue, emotional tension, and high-stakes magical chaos. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into a story that pulses with danger and hidden depth—one that doesn’t hand you all the answers, and honestly, that’s part of its charm.

The world Caruso creates is intricate and multi-layered, as usual, but it’s also incredibly immersive. The worldbuilding is complex, yet accessible to those willing to pay attention. There are explanations for most things that are happening, but not all of them—and that ambiguity is a deliberate and fascinating choice. Sometimes you want answers on multiple things and sometimes you don't. I'm a little bit of both with this book, and I really enjoyed the tension between knowing just enough and wanting more. The story’s chaotic, shifting nature kept me on the edge of my seat, weaving a web of intrigue that I couldn't help but get lost in.

One of the most pleasant surprises for me was the dynamic between Kembral and Rika. While I typically don’t gravitate toward sapphic relationships in my reading, I found myself truly connecting with theirs. The emotional depth between them, even when they weren’t exactly on the best terms, felt remarkably real. It wasn’t the typical “will they or won’t they” trope—what struck me was how domestic their relationship felt. Despite the turmoil and tension in their lives, there’s a quiet intimacy between them that’s hard to ignore. Even when they're at odds, there’s this unspoken understanding that makes their interactions all the more compelling. It added a layer of emotional complexity that enriched the story in ways I didn’t expect.

As for the plot, The Last Hour Between Worlds doesn’t follow a predictable trajectory. The pacing keeps you engaged without overwhelming you, and the twists are delivered with precision. Caruso has a knack for pulling you into her world, setting up mysteries and intrigues that don’t get fully resolved right away—and honestly, that’s part of the appeal. The tension between the characters, the stakes of their political struggles, and the darker mysteries at play make for an exciting ride, but it’s the emotional stakes and character-driven moments that truly shine.
The characters themselves are richly developed, each with their own internal conflicts and motivations. Caruso does an excellent job of creating characters who feel real in their complexity. None of them are purely good or bad, which makes every decision and every moment of emotional vulnerability feel earned. As I read, I couldn’t help but be pulled into the lives of these characters, feeling their wins, their losses, and their struggles with them.

In the end, The Last Hour Between Worlds is a brilliant combination of political intrigue, magical chaos, and deeply human relationships. It’s a book that asks questions and leaves some of them unanswered, which makes the experience of reading it feel all the more immersive. The emotional depth and unexpected moments of intimacy make this fantasy novel stand out in a genre full of incredible works.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book. Sharing my honest impressions was a joy.

I adore the two previous series from this author that I have read and have been anticipating a new novel from her for a long time. Imagine how excited I was to be given an arc! Delight quickly turned to puzzlement and chaos as the story got underway. I was confused and had so many questions to which there were no answers. I usually enjoy an opportunity to work for a complex plot, but unfortunately not this time. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I love the books by this author and also look out for new ones. He writing style is so different.

In the first half as is the norm there is a LOT going on but stick with it as it slowly comes together and you start to actually connect with the characters and understand everything a bit more.

So my advice sit back and enjoy the ride!

Looking forward to book 2 and the crazy ride that will take us on!

'The Last Hour Between Worlds' is a twisty heist novel-cum murder mystery, playing out as the characters fall further and further through reality and into pocket dimensions beyond it. Fast paced, with some strong character development and some beautiful descriptions as reality begins to warp, I found myself musing on the world building here long after I'd finished the book.

"It's easy to fall into the wrong world."

Kembral Thorne is trying to convince herself to enjoy the New Year's party she's at, even though she's struggling to be away from her newborn baby. But Kembral is about to have a night from hell. Not long after arriving, the guests drop dead. Kembral realises they have all fallen down an Echo – a layer of reality below our own.

If Kembral can't figure out why it has happened and who is behind it, people will continually be brought back to life and killed as her world slips further and further down Echoes until it cannot be rescued. Together with her arch-nemesis Rika Nonesuch, Kembral has to fight against a magical clock to prevent a sinister conspiracy that ends in bloodshed each time.

This high-concept time-loop mystery of a fantasy novel is oodles of fun. Think 'Groundhog Day' meets detective fiction meets whodunit adventure novel. The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns. Both Kembral and Rika are fun characters with plenty of wit between them to create interesting dialogue. The 'will they, won't they' tension helps to keep the reader captivated and rooting for them.

I think what I enjoyed most about this book is not just that the author bends and blends genres, she creates something quite new and unlike other fantasies I've read. The world-building is surreal and reading the book feels like standing inside a dream, albeit a nightmarish one.

My only wish was that the author leaned into the tension even more. The stakes are sky-high but I wanted to FEEL that. I really wanted to be scared that the characters won't make it, but I never believed that they wouldn't be able to save the day.

Otherwise, a highly enjoyable book. I will definitely look out for the next one in the series.

DNF @10% but I plan on revisiting this book at a different time.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A fun story and I did enjoy the characters, I found they had some fun banter.

The plot is fast moving, engaging and full of action.
Were mostly focused on echos and a mysterious clock, the story falls through echos which are like time loops, I’m not much of a fan of time loops so the usual flaws I found were present here (repetitive) however I still enjoyed this thoroughly and loved the strange creatures we engaged with.

I did feel a little confused by how the echo works at times so maybe I blanked out for a moment.

I listed to this via audiobook and I definitely think that was a good way to go, the narrator really fit the vibe of the story.

I really enjoyed this adventurous fantasy, fit with a reality bending atmosphere, a twisty plot, and a sapphic romance. I wouldn’t usually be a huge fan of lighter tones in fantasy but this really worked for me - a delightful touch of comedy amidst some more horror adjacent elements. It reminded me of inception in a lot of ways, which immediately pulled me in as it’s one of my favourite books. Plus the pining, rivalry relationship between Rika and Kem were just delightful. I’ll definitely be picking up the next instalment!

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC! Melissa Caruso is one of my auto-buy authors and I was very excited to see what she did next after the Swords and Fire and Rooks and Ruin trilogies.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is the start of a new trilogy and follows Kembral Thorne, a Hound and new mom. On her first night out since having her daughter, Kembral gets embroiled in a mystery tests her limits.

One of the things I’ve always loved about Melissa Caruso’s writing is her world building and the way she always incorporates the smaller details into the setting. As the story includes multiple variations of the main world, all the little details like the food, the clothing and the decoration in every version just adds to the overall world building. It makes each version feel more lived in and real, while keeping each one fresh too.

The other thing I love about Melissa Caruso’s books are her characters and Kembral Thorne is no exception. She is very much the exhausted mom and coming to terms with her life as a field Hound vs being a new parent. Kembral is so relatable in so many ways and there were moments that did make me laugh out loud (I always appreciate a witty character!)

This particular book felt different to the previous trilogies, but in a really good way. I loved the political shenanigans of Swords and Fire and Rooks and Ruin, but I really enjoyed the different direction this took. I loved the cast of characters and the new world and I’m really looking forward to spending more time with them.

Book 2 had already been announced, which makes me very happy! I already can’t wait for next summer to rejoin Kembral and co in their next adventure!

I would like to thank Melissa Caruso , The Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me with a reading copy and audiobook file of ' The last Hour Between Worlds' to read and listen to in exchange for an unbiased review .
It was the cover that initially attracted me to this novel . The eye-catching contrast of the black and gold colouring and the bold imagery.

The novel follows the story of its main character ' Kembral Throne' who takes a night away from her newborn to attend a lavish party. Within hours guests around her start to die from what she believes to be a poisoning leaving her in the wake of the tragedy. As a central clock tolls , her surroundings change and she is taken back in time to moments before the incident . Although she knows things are far from right as she notices small changes . Her trained eye knowing that she has fallen between a crack in the layer.

In order to immerse myself into this fantasy world , I played the audiobook and read along with it . I always find that this adds depth for me.
I loved the narrator and thought that ' Moira Quirk ' was such a suitable choice to portray the book .

The premise and concept fascinated me and I began my journey into it with such excitement. Unfortunately it began to fall short for me and with a heavy heart I had to stop reading at around the 21 percent mark. I wanted to love this book, I wanted to love everything about it , but for me it began to get very repetitive and I felt the continuation of it would become more of a chore than enjoyment. I always believe that life is too short to carry on reading books that you cant relate to. I just couldn't get invested which is a shame. I am sure many other readers will devour this book and love every page , but it just wasn't for me.
Although this is the case I would still like to thank all involved for giving me the opportunity to read the publication.

#TheLastHourBetweenWorlds #NetGalley

The main plot idea of this book is one of the most interesting I heard. Unfortunately, I had trouble connecting to the writing style, the story and the characters. Every time the characters travel deeper into the Echoes, a part of the story repeats, which I find annoying.

I also think the book would be more engaging if the worldbuilding were more developed. I would like to know more about Echoes or the characters’ different types of jobs/missions. At times, it felt like being dropped into a fully formed world with minimal explanation, which can be exciting, but it just didn’t work for me with this book.

Ken is having a rare night off following the birth of her first child and decides to attend a New Years Eve party but this soon proves to be a mistake as she becomes embroiled in a murder which she must solve for everything to revert to normal. A feeling of a closed room mystery with Groundhog Day thrown in as each hour chimes Kem descends to a new parallel world which is more macabre than the last and definitely more deadly. A real romp of a book with great world building and I look forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for a honest review.

An intriguing mix of urban fantasy and murder mystery, the book follows Kembral Thorne, a special agent who specializes in rescuing people from other dimensions known as Echoes-, who attends a party only to find herself and the other guests trapped in a deadly game.

The plot is intriguing: the party guests fall into increasingly bizarre and dangerous Echoes every hour, full of mesmerising descriptions that create a multi-layered world. To succeed, Kembral will have to work with her arch-nemesis, Rika Nonesuch, a talented thief who hides an unexpected secret.

Caruso's writing is thick and imaginative, building a world teeming with political intrigue and complicated relationships. Perhaps the most compelling aspect is the dynamic between Kembral and Rika, adding depth to the story, although I found it a bit annoying at times. However, as I got immersed in the narrative I thruthfully enjoyed the book. I wonder if it could have been divided into two different novels as the 12 layers become a bit repeating after a while, but it was an enjoyable read.

Drawn in from the first page... Definately a book for handselling. Booktok will eat this book up!!!!

I liked the idea of this, but found the repetition a little boring. After enjoying the start, I rushed through the rest of the book so I could finish it and move onto something else. Not for me, but I'm sure others will enjoy this.

📚 The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Last Hours Between Worlds is a compelling read, filled with dangers lurking around every corner, mysterious creatures playing a deadly game and adventurous protagonists trying to save the world. When the first social outing Kembral Thorne partakes in since having a child turns into a bloody murder scene, she can't help but follow the trail and try to hold back impending doom. On her side, despite everything, is her long term rival, and professional burglar, Rika Nonesuch. The gong of a mysterious, powerful clock seems to be related to what's going on... but what's with all these figures that keep appearing to kill someone in every reality they find themselves in? And can Kem and Rika stop them in time, before it's too late?

The author created a fantastically detailed world, with complex layers of reality built "under" one another as Echos of the reality we know. I found this such a fascinating idea and loved getting to know more about the system chapter after chapter! The protagonists, Kembral and Rika, were also great - very different and yet so good as partners in crime (or partners in trying to save the world?). It was interesting having the MC being a new mother, away from her baby for the first time, as it's a perspective I've not seen before in fantasy. And Rika... her story made my heart clench and want to give her the longest hug!

One downside of this story was that at some point it felt a little repetitive - possibly inevitable due to the nature of the game being played, but still. It slowed down the pace for some parts. This said, the pace definitely picked up again, because I could barely put down the book long enough to drink by the time I was in the final quarter of it!

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy with very high stakes, time-warping, multi-layered realities and a sprinkle of sapphic romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a book with an incredibly unique setup, and georgous setting, which couldn't quite deliver on the promises it gives its readers. I DNFed at 70%, and though I wasn't able to finish I can absolutely see why others will absolutely love this book. Unfortunately for me, despite the interesting premise and decidely different main characters to what we are used to seeing, this book just wasn't able to keep me hooked.

A very unfortunate 2/5 for me

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, I just couldn't get into the storyline and wasn't vibing with the characters.

I feel like this book may be a mood read, so I may return to this in the future, but for now it's a DNF.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi fantasy adventure and its originality. The idea of guilds which work in the echoes of reality is certainly a unique one and I’d love to see this explored more in future books- the world building she has begun is just brilliant!

The book reminded me of a cross between ‘Alice’s adventures in wonderland’ and ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ – both of which I love. The same scenario is played out over and over but slowly gets weirder as you go through the story. It is so full of suspense that you keep wanting to read to the end to see if they make it out ok!

I’m interested to see where the author goes with her characters after this and what a “normal day” at work looks like for Kembral Thorne.

Echoes of reality each one more sinister than the last, compelling characters and a truly unique world- The Last Hour Between Worlds was such a fun read.

The characters and the fantasy world painted by Caruso have a wonderful complexity compounded by a sense of mystery and intrigue. By halfway I was truly immersed in this world, and felt myself being rocketed through the echoes with Kembral and Rika. The contrast between the fast paced action and quiet moments of reflection was both satisfying and exciting. I loved Kembral and Rika’s relationship and Caruso’s prose is intelligent, witty and thought provoking - I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.