This book smashes you into a time-warped, reality-twisting New Year’s Eve party with cosmic shenanigans galore. Kembral Thorne wants a chill night off, but when people keeled over and the manor dips into darker dimensions, she’s suddenly spelunking through layers of reality where walls bleed and creepy monsters lurk. And reruns with her nemesis-turned-reluctant-sidekick burglar Rika? Fire. Their snarky banter and simmering tension give every weird echo-laden scene extra spice.

But let’s be real—the pace throttles like a rollercoaster with a wonky brake system. One minute I'm all eyes-on-read, knee-deep in gothic vibes; the next, it's slow-mo and I’m questioning if I accidentally hit snooze. Also, the four-reality spins? Trippy as heck, but occasionally so cluttered I felt like I needed a cheat sheet to keep up. Still, the sapphic chemistry and relentless creeping dread kept me glued—even when my brain circled back to, “Wait, what layer are we in now?”

**Verdict:** A gorgeous hall-of-mirrors fantasy ride that’s messy in the best way: haunting, cute, chaotic, slightly confusing—but totally bingeable. Just don’t bring your social calendar...you won’t use it.

Book Review: The Last Hour Between Worlds (The Echo Archives #1) by Melissa Caruso
4 Stars!

Synopsis: A party, a clock, and mass murder. Kembral, hasn't even returned from maternity leave yet as she finds herself embroiled in a deadly situation. With only herself and Rika, her friend (or more?) turned nemesis, to rely on, Kembral must untangle this situation, one layer at a time.

Rep: Sapphic MC's, Queernormative society, LGBTQ+ Cast.

CW/TW: Murder|Blood|Death|Grief|Loss|Manipulation|Abuse|Others may be present.

Melissa Caruso's Previous Series -> The Obsidian Tower | Book Review: The Quicksilver Court (Rooks and Ruin #2), by Melissa Caruso | Mini Book Review: The Ivory Tomb, by Melissa Caruso

Heyhey BookNerds! I'm back with a long overdue review🙈. Today I'm reviewing The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso, the first book in a brand new series known as The Echo Archives.

The Last Hour Between Worlds is a wonderful start to this series, and an incredibly enjoyable read. The style is reminiscent of Caruso's previous work, feeling like it fits into the New Adult category with a bit of an edge. The prose is as easy to read as it is to fall into, the story is compelling, and the characters amusing.

Though a fantasy with an incredibly intriguing and unique world, the world building is light and easy to grasp. There is a bit of a lack of depth in this regard, but it doesn't prevent the book from being an enjoyable read overall. It is a heavily character focused read, which works well given the MC Kembral's personality and her dynamic with Rika - friend, foe, lover or enemy, the tension in this relationship is palpable and compelling.

The character dynamics of Kembral and Rika (as well as the wider cast) set against this fantasy backdrop with mass murder at its core worked incredibly well. The twists and turns were believable with a good mix of predictable and surprising reveals. The concept of the murders themselves was intriguing from start to finish, and the wider world around it had, and has, me curious, for book 2.

Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable read that I flew through. It was an easy read with a lot of mystery and intrigue, and wonderful characters.

*Many thanks to Orbitbooks for the Netgalley eARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Unfortunately I didn’t connect with this book right from the start. I thought the concept was very interesting and I was excited about it, but almost instantly the characters felt flat to me and that didn’t change, so in the end I dnf’d the book. I might still come back to it some other time, but for now I’m not that interested in it.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

It has a good start, it is interesting and intriguing. Although at the beginning it was difficult to get the hang of it, i got it. It is not a book that I will be reading again but it has potential. I recommend it as a book for beginners to get into reading but

“The Last Hour Between Worlds” had such incredible premises and a great concept. Unfortunately, both of them didn’t succeed to satisfy me at the fullest.

A fantasy starring a mother in her 30s, sapphic rivals-to-lovers, time loops, gods vs. mortals, and captivating worldbuilding. Really, it could have been my next obsession, but at the end of the day, when I finished the book, I felt that the execution of those prompts had not been used at its fullest potential and I was left slightly unsatisfied.

Overall, The Last Hour Between Worlds isn’t a bad book. I think Melissa Caruso as an unique writing style and surely I’d like to read more from her. However, I feel that, especially from the middle section of it through to the ending, it doesn’t maintain a high enough level of engagement for me to consider it an unforgettable read.

I unfortunately DNFed this book at around the 45% mark as I was really struggling to get into it. The plot didn’t grip me and the pace was a little too slow for my liking. I don’t feel like I was gelling with the cast of characters and thus found it difficult to keep up with who was who which made following the plot harder to follow. This book unfortunately wasn’t my favourite but I’m sure that lots of other readers would thoroughly enjoy it!

3.5 🌟

This had such an interesting premise and did keep me guessing throughout the whole story. The setting was really cool with the different king of Groundhog Day situation but everything being slightly different, i liked that we got to see many characters over again in different ways.

I just found it all a little confusing. I feel like this would’ve really benefitted from maybe an information guide laying out the groups and lore etc because it was really hard to follow and not expanded on well enough. I don’t understand the moons, the different guilds (other than Hounds & Cats), the Echoes themselves were quite confusing too. It may have just been it went over my head but yeah I just found a bit of it hard to follow.

The relationship between Rika & Kem was good to see and it’s good that they got a happy ending.

I’m not sure if I will read the next book, I did enjoy this it just fell a bit flat for me.

Whilst a little dense plot & worldbuilding wise at the beginning of the book, this became a fast-paced and intriguing fantasy that had me hooked! I loved how original the writing & characters were and how dynamic and developed they were. The plot was not predictable at all which was so refreshing and honestly is what kept me coming back to the book/thinking about it whilst I was away.

Many thanks to Net Galley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing the ARC.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, it didn't work for me.

I found the backstory to be confusing and the relationship between the main characters a little confusing, despite the pining. There were some parts of the book that I enjoyed - such as the feistiness of the main character, and the world building. Ultimately, it was a good book, but didn't work for me.

A fast-paced fantasy with high stakes and richly imagined world-building, Caruso crafts a story where timelines collide and choices ripple across realities. With dynamic characters and political intrigue, this book keeps you hooked. It’s both an action-packed adventure and a thoughtful exploration of sacrifice, power, and moral complexity.

2/5 stars! This phone was hard to engage with. The writing style was lengthy and it dragged on at times but sped at others. It was exhausting trying to follow the plot.

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!