The Last Hour Between Worlds
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Description
In the Deep Echoes, no one can save you.
Star investigator Kembral Thorne has a few hours away from her newborn, and she just wants to relax and enjoy the year-turning party. But when people start dropping dead, she’s got to get to work. Especially when she finds that mysterious forces are plunging the whole party down through layers of reality and into nightmare.
One layer down: It's no big deal. Stay alert, and you’ll be fine.
Two, three layers down: Natural laws are negotiable, and things get very strange.
Four layers down: There are creatures with eyes in their teeth and walls that drip blood. Most people who fall this far never return.
Luckily, Kem isn’t most people. But as cosmic powers align and the hour grows late, she’ll have to work with her awfully compelling nemesis, notorious cat burglar Rika Nonesuch, for a chance to save her city—though not her night off.
For more from Melissa Caruso, check out:
Swords and Fire
The Tethered Mage
The Defiant Heir
The Unbound Empire
Rooks and Ruin
The Obsidian Tower
The Quicksilver Court
The Ivory Tomb
Book Information
Posts
Genre: Sci-Fi-Fantasy (Time Loop, Murder Mystery) Age-Range: Adult
"So many people underestimate you, when you are kind. They don't understand that kindness is a sign of strength. Stars, if I were weak like him, I suppose I couldn't afford to be so nice." You know that moment when you read a book and the title finally makes sense? With this one, it happens very early on and I was here for it! There are two things that immediately pull me into a story: One is atmosphere, the other well developed characters. This book spoils us with both! I had so much fun with this story. We enter it by attending a party and quickly learn that we are stuck in a time loop, that ends with murder at the very same celebration and an agent (on leave), who's trying to figure out what the hell is going on and how to prevent it. "My responsibility on my night off had escalated from saving one houseful of people, to the entire city, to every single layer of all reality." The magic-system felt so unique. It revolves around a reality called Prime and many layers of Echoes one can fall into, which wasn't only an interesting concept but also executed in such a clever way. There are other magical elements, such as illusions or blink stepping (which, excuse that, I won't explain) and it was really cool to read about them. "Two months at home with a newborn wasn't quite like falling into another world, but I'd had almost as little contact with my old life." For me, this story wouldn't have needed any romance and it clearly wasn't the focus. Yet, I enjoyed the pieces we got, even though it could have been flashed out a little more. Neither the sapphic romance nor the non-binary character were discussed as such but present, giving me HOPE for a more open and accepting future in our world (maybe one should name a year that 👀). "No one had yet invented a liquor that could keep Jaycel from the flawless execution of a bad idea." Another thing I loved about this book: we get an actual strong female protagonist who doesn't have to tell us how strong she is, instead, she proves it casually along the way. And refreshingly, she also knows where her priorities should lie (at home in the shape of a newborn) and acts upon it. "My spare time." I rubbed my forehead. "You're not a father, are you." This book was so refreshing and everything I didn't know I needed. The characters are all flashed out brilliantly and the dialogue is witty and natural. I cannot recommend this enough. Also, it isn't really sci-fi, even though it is marketed as such. It reads as a time loop fantasy. It quickly turned into a highlight I didn't see coming, since neither the genre (sci-fi) nor the synopsis particularly sparked my interest. And yet, I loved it! Also, it is beautifully narrated, so if you get the chance to pick up the audio book, read by Moira Quirk, I urge you to do so! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the arc!
Description
In the Deep Echoes, no one can save you.
Star investigator Kembral Thorne has a few hours away from her newborn, and she just wants to relax and enjoy the year-turning party. But when people start dropping dead, she’s got to get to work. Especially when she finds that mysterious forces are plunging the whole party down through layers of reality and into nightmare.
One layer down: It's no big deal. Stay alert, and you’ll be fine.
Two, three layers down: Natural laws are negotiable, and things get very strange.
Four layers down: There are creatures with eyes in their teeth and walls that drip blood. Most people who fall this far never return.
Luckily, Kem isn’t most people. But as cosmic powers align and the hour grows late, she’ll have to work with her awfully compelling nemesis, notorious cat burglar Rika Nonesuch, for a chance to save her city—though not her night off.
For more from Melissa Caruso, check out:
Swords and Fire
The Tethered Mage
The Defiant Heir
The Unbound Empire
Rooks and Ruin
The Obsidian Tower
The Quicksilver Court
The Ivory Tomb
Book Information
Posts
Genre: Sci-Fi-Fantasy (Time Loop, Murder Mystery) Age-Range: Adult
"So many people underestimate you, when you are kind. They don't understand that kindness is a sign of strength. Stars, if I were weak like him, I suppose I couldn't afford to be so nice." You know that moment when you read a book and the title finally makes sense? With this one, it happens very early on and I was here for it! There are two things that immediately pull me into a story: One is atmosphere, the other well developed characters. This book spoils us with both! I had so much fun with this story. We enter it by attending a party and quickly learn that we are stuck in a time loop, that ends with murder at the very same celebration and an agent (on leave), who's trying to figure out what the hell is going on and how to prevent it. "My responsibility on my night off had escalated from saving one houseful of people, to the entire city, to every single layer of all reality." The magic-system felt so unique. It revolves around a reality called Prime and many layers of Echoes one can fall into, which wasn't only an interesting concept but also executed in such a clever way. There are other magical elements, such as illusions or blink stepping (which, excuse that, I won't explain) and it was really cool to read about them. "Two months at home with a newborn wasn't quite like falling into another world, but I'd had almost as little contact with my old life." For me, this story wouldn't have needed any romance and it clearly wasn't the focus. Yet, I enjoyed the pieces we got, even though it could have been flashed out a little more. Neither the sapphic romance nor the non-binary character were discussed as such but present, giving me HOPE for a more open and accepting future in our world (maybe one should name a year that 👀). "No one had yet invented a liquor that could keep Jaycel from the flawless execution of a bad idea." Another thing I loved about this book: we get an actual strong female protagonist who doesn't have to tell us how strong she is, instead, she proves it casually along the way. And refreshingly, she also knows where her priorities should lie (at home in the shape of a newborn) and acts upon it. "My spare time." I rubbed my forehead. "You're not a father, are you." This book was so refreshing and everything I didn't know I needed. The characters are all flashed out brilliantly and the dialogue is witty and natural. I cannot recommend this enough. Also, it isn't really sci-fi, even though it is marketed as such. It reads as a time loop fantasy. It quickly turned into a highlight I didn't see coming, since neither the genre (sci-fi) nor the synopsis particularly sparked my interest. And yet, I loved it! Also, it is beautifully narrated, so if you get the chance to pick up the audio book, read by Moira Quirk, I urge you to do so! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the arc!