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The Unseen Hour Duology #1
The Unseen Hour
Her country is cursed, her father is missing, and she’s falling for a ghost.
In Emrys, no one celebrates the end of the year. They lock their doors and hide, hoping to escape the Unseen Hour with their lives intact. Celia knows she should hide with them, but when chance leads her to a long-forgotten journal, the author’s words awaken not only unfamiliar desire, but also the hope that she might finally find her father.
Celia enters a realm of death expecting darkness and a vengeful god. What she finds is Orion, the author of the journal that stole her heart. The man is closed off, secretive, and surprisingly charming. What starts as an uneasy alliance between them soon develops into a romance Celia believed lived only in her fantasies.
Trapped together in a dangerous but bewitching place, they must face threats hidden within their surroundings, the shadows of their past, and the power of warring gods if they want to break a curse and save their world.
The Unseen Hour is a gothic-inspired fantasy romance for fans of forbidden realms, sacrificial love, and mortals standing against gods.
In Emrys, no one celebrates the end of the year. They lock their doors and hide, hoping to escape the Unseen Hour with their lives intact. Celia knows she should hide with them, but when chance leads her to a long-forgotten journal, the author’s words awaken not only unfamiliar desire, but also the hope that she might finally find her father.
Celia enters a realm of death expecting darkness and a vengeful god. What she finds is Orion, the author of the journal that stole her heart. The man is closed off, secretive, and surprisingly charming. What starts as an uneasy alliance between them soon develops into a romance Celia believed lived only in her fantasies.
Trapped together in a dangerous but bewitching place, they must face threats hidden within their surroundings, the shadows of their past, and the power of warring gods if they want to break a curse and save their world.
The Unseen Hour is a gothic-inspired fantasy romance for fans of forbidden realms, sacrificial love, and mortals standing against gods.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2025
33 people are currently reading
6460 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 7, 2025
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publishers. What follows is my honest review.
I loved the concept of this book: a mysterious extra hour between New Year’s Eve and New Year Day in which people mysteriously die or go missing in an ominous fog. A headstrong adventure-seeking young woman longing for more than the bonds of her high-society socialite life. A mystery surrounding her possibly dead/possibly missing father during one of these “unseen hours” that she is determined to solve even if it means defying her family and ruining her reputation. Even if it means placing herself in danger or in the path of death.
Unfortunately, for me, the pace of this book felt very slow. It also often felt repetitive, especially in the beginning when the female main character, Celia, was making her plans regarding trying to find her father. She repeated the same inner monologue multiple times before actually executing her objective. This pattern occurred multiple times later in the book with other integral action-oriented plot points, making it feel like they were being discussed to death before being carried out, detracting from the spontaneity and excitement of the action. In fact, much of what should have been action-driven narrative was primarily dialogue or inner monologue driven, which I also believe contributed to the perception of a slower pace.
In short, the concept of this book was one that grabbed me immediately and there were moments where the story became very evocative and engaging. The storyline is one with a unique perspective, and the inclusion of fantastic characters such as gods and their alternate worlds was immediately appealing. But the author’s approach to their writing did not resonate with me and left me feeling like I was plodding through the narrative. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and based on this experience, I probably will not read another.
I loved the concept of this book: a mysterious extra hour between New Year’s Eve and New Year Day in which people mysteriously die or go missing in an ominous fog. A headstrong adventure-seeking young woman longing for more than the bonds of her high-society socialite life. A mystery surrounding her possibly dead/possibly missing father during one of these “unseen hours” that she is determined to solve even if it means defying her family and ruining her reputation. Even if it means placing herself in danger or in the path of death.
Unfortunately, for me, the pace of this book felt very slow. It also often felt repetitive, especially in the beginning when the female main character, Celia, was making her plans regarding trying to find her father. She repeated the same inner monologue multiple times before actually executing her objective. This pattern occurred multiple times later in the book with other integral action-oriented plot points, making it feel like they were being discussed to death before being carried out, detracting from the spontaneity and excitement of the action. In fact, much of what should have been action-driven narrative was primarily dialogue or inner monologue driven, which I also believe contributed to the perception of a slower pace.
In short, the concept of this book was one that grabbed me immediately and there were moments where the story became very evocative and engaging. The storyline is one with a unique perspective, and the inclusion of fantastic characters such as gods and their alternate worlds was immediately appealing. But the author’s approach to their writing did not resonate with me and left me feeling like I was plodding through the narrative. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and based on this experience, I probably will not read another.
September 30, 2025
“The Unseen Hour” is a gothic fantasy romance by Silas Reames. It is the first book in the “Unseen Hour Duology.” In Emrys, New Year’s Eve is a day to fear. For the past 100 years, Midnight on December 31st triggers the “Unseen Hour”- an hour where time freezes, people lock themselves indoors, and bodies are left for them to recover in the morning. Having lost her father years ago to the Hour, she’s determined to bring him back. With the help of a 100-year-old diary, Celia believes she can save her father…and that she’s falling in love with its author.
Tropes: Meddling Gods, Curses, Bargaining, Strong-willed FMC, Golden Retriever MMC, Victorian-era
Tropes: Meddling Gods, Curses, Bargaining, Strong-willed FMC, Golden Retriever MMC, Victorian-era
September 7, 2025
I was kindly given an E-ARC by this author in exchange for an honest review.
The Unseen Hour is probably one of the most original concept books I’ve read this year. I was interested from the first chapter and I learning exactly what the Unseen Hour is and how it’s effected the world of Emerys.
This book gave me Bridgerton gothic vibes and I’m totally here for it.
What I liked about the book:
* The Concept of the Unseen Hour. In between the turn of the year at midnight and January 1st there is an hour curse which causes people to either mysteriously vanish without a trace or be frozen/die during this period. This has happened for nearly a 100 years. An Original and interesting ideas which had me intrigued from the start to find out more.
* The Shades: how they got to the Ether and their uses for Charon in the Unseen Hour fascinated me. It is quite haunting how they became what they are and it resonates so deeply that they were once loved ones and people.
* The Ether: loved reading the author’s interpretation of life after death and what occurs after. Made me question the surreal world of the Ether & the creatures within it.
* The concept of “Death” and its personification in this book.
* Celia & Orion’s relationship: loved the slow burn romance and the build up in the Ether.
* Celia Hipnosi Fathers disappearance- the mystery of what happened to him? Had me turning the pages to find out more.
* Pellix the Horse- even when he wasn’t in the book at points I still thought about him and wondered what the goodest most loyal boy was up to.
* The Tree Hoppers
* The build up to and the story around the centenary of The Unseen Hour.
My favourite quotes:
1) “Those who say time lessens grief are wrong. Time creates space. It gives you more moments around the grief, to cushion you a bit. But the grief is always there, and anything can trigger it”
2) “In one moment the spark I’d been missing for a hundred years returned, lighting up my entire world”
The Unseen Hour is probably one of the most original concept books I’ve read this year. I was interested from the first chapter and I learning exactly what the Unseen Hour is and how it’s effected the world of Emerys.
This book gave me Bridgerton gothic vibes and I’m totally here for it.
What I liked about the book:
* The Concept of the Unseen Hour. In between the turn of the year at midnight and January 1st there is an hour curse which causes people to either mysteriously vanish without a trace or be frozen/die during this period. This has happened for nearly a 100 years. An Original and interesting ideas which had me intrigued from the start to find out more.
* The Shades: how they got to the Ether and their uses for Charon in the Unseen Hour fascinated me. It is quite haunting how they became what they are and it resonates so deeply that they were once loved ones and people.
* The Ether: loved reading the author’s interpretation of life after death and what occurs after. Made me question the surreal world of the Ether & the creatures within it.
* The concept of “Death” and its personification in this book.
* Celia & Orion’s relationship: loved the slow burn romance and the build up in the Ether.
* Celia Hipnosi Fathers disappearance- the mystery of what happened to him? Had me turning the pages to find out more.
* Pellix the Horse- even when he wasn’t in the book at points I still thought about him and wondered what the goodest most loyal boy was up to.
* The Tree Hoppers
* The build up to and the story around the centenary of The Unseen Hour.
My favourite quotes:
1) “Those who say time lessens grief are wrong. Time creates space. It gives you more moments around the grief, to cushion you a bit. But the grief is always there, and anything can trigger it”
2) “In one moment the spark I’d been missing for a hundred years returned, lighting up my entire world”
September 7, 2025
DNF 30%
The Unseen Hour is a gothic-inspired fantasy about an eerie time between New Year's Eve and New Years Day where anyone outside goes missing. It's a mystery in the fact that we don't know where they go or how they get there. The overall premise of this book was extremely intriguing, unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.
I have attempted to read this book at least 6 times since I recieved the ARC on August 11th (it is currently September 7th), but for the life of me I just cannot get into it. I don't know if it's the writing style or the extremely slow start, but this book just isn't for me. The writing is well done, but I think it might be a little bland for my taste. I didn't really feel any connection to any of the characters. The plot is very slow to start, and the FMC is quite repetitive in her thoughts. However, I can see how someone would find enjoyment in this book, it just isn't for me.
***Thank you Silas Reames and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC. My review is voluntary and all thoughts and opinions are my own***
The Unseen Hour is a gothic-inspired fantasy about an eerie time between New Year's Eve and New Years Day where anyone outside goes missing. It's a mystery in the fact that we don't know where they go or how they get there. The overall premise of this book was extremely intriguing, unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.
I have attempted to read this book at least 6 times since I recieved the ARC on August 11th (it is currently September 7th), but for the life of me I just cannot get into it. I don't know if it's the writing style or the extremely slow start, but this book just isn't for me. The writing is well done, but I think it might be a little bland for my taste. I didn't really feel any connection to any of the characters. The plot is very slow to start, and the FMC is quite repetitive in her thoughts. However, I can see how someone would find enjoyment in this book, it just isn't for me.
***Thank you Silas Reames and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC. My review is voluntary and all thoughts and opinions are my own***
September 3, 2025
This slightly spicy, enjoyable romantasy is set in a pre-industrial world that contains several kingdoms. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The main character, Celia, resides in the kingdom of Emrys. Celia is one of the nobility from a magical family. Noble women are expected to marry soon after their first few Seasons and marriages can be arranged for them by their male relatives. The kingdom has been afflicted by what is called the “unseen hour”which occurs around midnight once a year at the end of December. Any human outside of a dwelling during that time dies and when found the next day their corpse looks frozen. Appealing to the gods for divine intervention has not been successful. Celia’s father has disappeared during the “unseen hour”, but no body was recovered so she hopes he still lives and desperately wants to find him. Her timeline accelerates when she learns a match for her to an odious man has been arranged by her older brother. The book concludes on a cliffhanger.
September 12, 2025
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is a gripping, page turning fantasy with mystery and romance elements in it.
Once a year in Emrys there is a thing called the unseen hour that claims anyone and everyone who is outside during it. This has been going on for many years when we start the story. This hour has claimed the life of our main character Celia’s father and she is determined to find him and bring him back.
This story was very well written, I loved the descriptions and the depth the author went into things. The start of it really had me hooked, throughout the book it did lose me at some points, it was a little slow but it picked right back up and had me hooked again. I would say from 60% onwards it had me staying up late to read it.
I absolutely loved the idea of this book and the way this author wrote it. I am definitely excited to see where the next book goes, I am also excited to read any of the other books this author publishes.
Thank you so much to Silas Reames, Night Loch Publishers, and NetGalley for this arc. I had a great time reading it and cannot wait for more!
Once a year in Emrys there is a thing called the unseen hour that claims anyone and everyone who is outside during it. This has been going on for many years when we start the story. This hour has claimed the life of our main character Celia’s father and she is determined to find him and bring him back.
This story was very well written, I loved the descriptions and the depth the author went into things. The start of it really had me hooked, throughout the book it did lose me at some points, it was a little slow but it picked right back up and had me hooked again. I would say from 60% onwards it had me staying up late to read it.
I absolutely loved the idea of this book and the way this author wrote it. I am definitely excited to see where the next book goes, I am also excited to read any of the other books this author publishes.
Thank you so much to Silas Reames, Night Loch Publishers, and NetGalley for this arc. I had a great time reading it and cannot wait for more!
October 14, 2025
A mysterious “hour” that happens once a year where countless people die or disappear? An adventurous young woman who refuses to conform? Gods and the afterlife in play? Count me in.
This book had so much potential, but the execution made it tough to fully fall into the story. I often felt like I had to work too hard to piece together the what’s and why’s.
The first portion focuses heavily on setting up the society our FMC lives in and the path she’s taking. While it gives context to her choices, it also felt overly drawn out and didn’t contribute much to the core plot.
Once we finally enter the “world” where most of the story takes place, things get much more interesting. The parallels to our own world were fascinating—but when the big reveal comes about why it’s structured that way, it landed flat for me. The climax at the end also felt rushed, followed by a large info dump that didn’t quite fit.
On the romance side, there are attempts at spice, but it arrives so late and is so rushed that it didn’t feel earned given the build-up.
Overall, I think this book has a solid foundation with unique ideas, but it struggles with pacing and structure. That said, I still see potential in this series, and I’ll likely pick up the next book in hopes that it finds its stride.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book had so much potential, but the execution made it tough to fully fall into the story. I often felt like I had to work too hard to piece together the what’s and why’s.
The first portion focuses heavily on setting up the society our FMC lives in and the path she’s taking. While it gives context to her choices, it also felt overly drawn out and didn’t contribute much to the core plot.
Once we finally enter the “world” where most of the story takes place, things get much more interesting. The parallels to our own world were fascinating—but when the big reveal comes about why it’s structured that way, it landed flat for me. The climax at the end also felt rushed, followed by a large info dump that didn’t quite fit.
On the romance side, there are attempts at spice, but it arrives so late and is so rushed that it didn’t feel earned given the build-up.
Overall, I think this book has a solid foundation with unique ideas, but it struggles with pacing and structure. That said, I still see potential in this series, and I’ll likely pick up the next book in hopes that it finds its stride.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2025
**🅽︎🅾︎ 🆂︎🅿︎🅾︎🅸︎🅻︎🅴︎🆁︎🆂︎**
𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- The Unseen Hour
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
🗣 (out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5
♟️𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹- >>>🎃<<<
🎃: 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 🌑: 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑦 ⚔️: ᵒᵒᵒʰʰʰ ˢᵗᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ••• 💀: 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 M̶E̶N̶U̶ 😳 -𝑖 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠!!
☠️: P͟I͟T͟C͟H͟ F͟C͟u͟K͟I͟N͟G͟ B͟L͟A͟C͟K͟!
𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
•📖#414 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
•𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁?
3 days across multiple sittings
•# single 𝗣𝗢𝗩
•𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 09 Sep 2025
•𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? Plot
•𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- The Unseen hour duology, book 1
•𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅️
•𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- medium
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?✅️
•𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...) ✅️ feminism and independence.
•𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀; 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄, 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆, 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒚, 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
●𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
🧭ℚ𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕤
☯️ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕚𝕠𝕟/𝔻𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤
😍IᑎՏTᗩ ᒪOᐯᗴ
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
✨ TᕼᗴᗰᗴՏ ✨
Brigerton vibes but with a dark twist, secrets, hidden realms, warring gods and a horse for a sidekick.
🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
This book started me thinking I was going into a Bridgerton book what with the dresses and women being escorted everywhere. But that was only part of it before it turned beautifully dark..
The Love of family, a book and a pet horse take you to somewhere that blew my mind. The first chapters really intrigued me, the setup was all dance cards and courting which pulled me in, and then it started to twist into secrets, mysteries, hauntingly dark moments and suspense. Then it really kicks in! The world-building was truly well done, in both realms.
The story did do a little bit of jumping from scene to scene in the beginning though which makes it difficult to keep time and really know the characters.
Also, the beginning of the story had a few moments of repetition. Mainly during the inner monologues of the FMC Celia. When she thinks of her father or makes her plans to save him, it's the same words/phrases over and over again which does get a bit annoying. It also happens later in the book with integral action-oriented plot points making me think the author doesn't trust her readers to remember key details of the plan before it's carried out, this changes the action-driven narrative from urgent and deadly to just talking/thinking about things- which again slowed the pace.
The pacing is on the slower side to medium but is detailed, and there's not too much plot happening midway due to there only being two characters for most of the time but that was to give the reality of the dire circumstances and the relationship between the two to develop. Unfortunately, for me, the pace of this book felt too slow.
🧝♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
I loved Celia as a main character! She’s headstrong and rebellious, snubbing the social norms and is full of resilience and determination to find her father.
I’m loving the direction this series is going with the mortals vs Gods storyline and I can’t wait to read the next book and find out more about the Gods.
⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
I would absolutely recommend this, and maybe I would re-read it, it has a certain vibe/mood to it so I know what to reach for when that's what I want.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
The concept of this book grabbed me immediately and there were moments where the story became very evocative and engaging. I loved the alternate realms and the creatures in it along with the general plot and my favourite part is that the fmc is a book girly!
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...
***********************
𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF
⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetative writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, play rooms, and more darker / taboo fantasies and realities.
may
𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- The Unseen Hour
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
🗣 (out of 5 stars, my rating scale is at the end)
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲🌶🌶 / 5
♟️𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹- >>>🎃<<<
🎃: 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 🌑: 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑦 ⚔️: ᵒᵒᵒʰʰʰ ˢᵗᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ••• 💀: 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 M̶E̶N̶U̶ 😳 -𝑖 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑊𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠!!
☠️: P͟I͟T͟C͟H͟ F͟C͟u͟K͟I͟N͟G͟ B͟L͟A͟C͟K͟!
𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
•📖#414 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
•𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁?
3 days across multiple sittings
•# single 𝗣𝗢𝗩
•𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- 09 Sep 2025
•𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? Plot
•𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- The Unseen hour duology, book 1
•𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅️
•𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- medium
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?✅️
•𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? (Disability, plus size, mental health etc...) ✅️ feminism and independence.
•𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀; 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄, 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆, 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒚, 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
●𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
🧭ℚ𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕤
☯️ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕚𝕠𝕟/𝔻𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤
😍IᑎՏTᗩ ᒪOᐯᗴ
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
🤍𝑉𝑖𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
✨ TᕼᗴᗰᗴՏ ✨
Brigerton vibes but with a dark twist, secrets, hidden realms, warring gods and a horse for a sidekick.
🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
This book started me thinking I was going into a Bridgerton book what with the dresses and women being escorted everywhere. But that was only part of it before it turned beautifully dark..
The Love of family, a book and a pet horse take you to somewhere that blew my mind. The first chapters really intrigued me, the setup was all dance cards and courting which pulled me in, and then it started to twist into secrets, mysteries, hauntingly dark moments and suspense. Then it really kicks in! The world-building was truly well done, in both realms.
The story did do a little bit of jumping from scene to scene in the beginning though which makes it difficult to keep time and really know the characters.
Also, the beginning of the story had a few moments of repetition. Mainly during the inner monologues of the FMC Celia. When she thinks of her father or makes her plans to save him, it's the same words/phrases over and over again which does get a bit annoying. It also happens later in the book with integral action-oriented plot points making me think the author doesn't trust her readers to remember key details of the plan before it's carried out, this changes the action-driven narrative from urgent and deadly to just talking/thinking about things- which again slowed the pace.
The pacing is on the slower side to medium but is detailed, and there's not too much plot happening midway due to there only being two characters for most of the time but that was to give the reality of the dire circumstances and the relationship between the two to develop. Unfortunately, for me, the pace of this book felt too slow.
🧝♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
I loved Celia as a main character! She’s headstrong and rebellious, snubbing the social norms and is full of resilience and determination to find her father.
I’m loving the direction this series is going with the mortals vs Gods storyline and I can’t wait to read the next book and find out more about the Gods.
⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
I would absolutely recommend this, and maybe I would re-read it, it has a certain vibe/mood to it so I know what to reach for when that's what I want.
🪧𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
The concept of this book grabbed me immediately and there were moments where the story became very evocative and engaging. I loved the alternate realms and the creatures in it along with the general plot and my favourite part is that the fmc is a book girly!
𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;
𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...
IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...
***********************
𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF
⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands
⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetative writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending to all!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!
🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!
SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action
🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times
🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, play rooms, and more darker / taboo fantasies and realities.
may
August 31, 2025
New Year's Eve is historically a joyous evening, friends, family, joking, laughing eating to bring in the New Year. Not so in Emrys. This night is to be feared. This night, at midnight, for an hour, a sweeping fog descends, everything stops and the safest place for any individual is to be locked indoors. So starts a unique tale of strange deaths, of being Taken and one who suffered that fate, was Celia's father. Except, his body was never found. Devastated by the loss of her father, Celia unwittingly discovers a journal written by the mysterious R. Holmes, with notes jotted in the margins by none other than her father, and thus starts her curiosity and her inquisitive mind will not be stilled until she uncovers the truth behind the Unseen Hour and the fate of the Taken. The fact that some Takens demise is to litter the streets in their frozen state, other bodies are unaccounted for. Like R.Holmes, like the King, like her father. A mystery indeed. One Celia is determined to solve.
Which pretty much describes her, determined. Although she is a member of the powerful, wealthy and influencial Hipnosi family, she feels stifled by the need to be "proper" constantly. Properly dressed, proper behaviour, be polite at all times, don't answer back, yada, yada, yada.... I can literally see Celia rolling her eyes, so NOT her. It drains her, emotionally and psychologically, "Sometimes it would be nice to just be myself and not a well behaved Hipnosi". No wonder Celia wanted to escape the constraints of this society and realise her desire to travel. Slowly unravelling the journal she found, she comes up with a daring, and dangerous, plan. Any fears she might have had are pushed aside when her brother accepts a marriage proposal for her, to someone she couldn't bear to be near, nevermind married to! So she acts, she carries through with her plan with even more urgency and lands herself in hot water, faced with a world she didn't even know existed, nevermind trying to navigate it. And heck, all she experiences in it! Some bad, like Shades and a cruel god some good, like Orion but it's all a massive eye opener for her. I do so enjoy how resolute she is, she is so smart, she even outwits a deity! Loved that confrontation with Death! She's feisty as heck, even when confronted by entities she should fear, her very fear makes her fearless, her end goal makes her fearless.
Gads is Orion refreshing! He's not exactly as one would expect a servant of a god to be, he's kind and protective and oh so complex! On one hand he shepherds souls, on the other, he feeds birds. What I loved most about him is how he takes Celia under his wing to keep her safe and he writes! Like proper novels! Yep, ideal guy. The romance is a gorgeous procession, inch by inch, their affection blooms and Orion sees all he's been missing since Celia fell into his world, "Everything down here was dull and lifeless until you arrived. You breathed life into me again". I loved how much personality the author infused in him, as well as in Celia, but Orion really is special! My goodness, as the story progresses, as the tension builds, truths start popping up, tugging at my emotions. Ms Reames sure knows how open up my appetite with her awesome character descriptions, she feeds me morsel by morsel until I find myself devouring a feast! And, glutenous me, still wants more...
This book, initially, had all the trappings of a regency novel, the balls, the decorum, the marriage to a "good family", the emphasis on respectability. And then we're plunged into an otherworldly, Gothicy vibe. Ms Reames gets the transition perfectly tailored to fit immaculately, no stray seams, just perfection. In this unique Romantasy, there is so much more at play. There is mythology with fickle gods, one trying to outdo the other but Ms Reames' knack of throwing around red herrings, spins my mind. Is one a "good" god or a "bad" god is kept neatly elusive, their motivations shrouded in a haze and I can't wait for the fog to dissipate so I can see the full picture. This entire read had me in it's grips from the beginning, the plot, the action, the throwing off of shackles, the beauty of true love, all extremely generously filled out, vividly, by this exceptional author.
Which pretty much describes her, determined. Although she is a member of the powerful, wealthy and influencial Hipnosi family, she feels stifled by the need to be "proper" constantly. Properly dressed, proper behaviour, be polite at all times, don't answer back, yada, yada, yada.... I can literally see Celia rolling her eyes, so NOT her. It drains her, emotionally and psychologically, "Sometimes it would be nice to just be myself and not a well behaved Hipnosi". No wonder Celia wanted to escape the constraints of this society and realise her desire to travel. Slowly unravelling the journal she found, she comes up with a daring, and dangerous, plan. Any fears she might have had are pushed aside when her brother accepts a marriage proposal for her, to someone she couldn't bear to be near, nevermind married to! So she acts, she carries through with her plan with even more urgency and lands herself in hot water, faced with a world she didn't even know existed, nevermind trying to navigate it. And heck, all she experiences in it! Some bad, like Shades and a cruel god some good, like Orion but it's all a massive eye opener for her. I do so enjoy how resolute she is, she is so smart, she even outwits a deity! Loved that confrontation with Death! She's feisty as heck, even when confronted by entities she should fear, her very fear makes her fearless, her end goal makes her fearless.
Gads is Orion refreshing! He's not exactly as one would expect a servant of a god to be, he's kind and protective and oh so complex! On one hand he shepherds souls, on the other, he feeds birds. What I loved most about him is how he takes Celia under his wing to keep her safe and he writes! Like proper novels! Yep, ideal guy. The romance is a gorgeous procession, inch by inch, their affection blooms and Orion sees all he's been missing since Celia fell into his world, "Everything down here was dull and lifeless until you arrived. You breathed life into me again". I loved how much personality the author infused in him, as well as in Celia, but Orion really is special! My goodness, as the story progresses, as the tension builds, truths start popping up, tugging at my emotions. Ms Reames sure knows how open up my appetite with her awesome character descriptions, she feeds me morsel by morsel until I find myself devouring a feast! And, glutenous me, still wants more...
This book, initially, had all the trappings of a regency novel, the balls, the decorum, the marriage to a "good family", the emphasis on respectability. And then we're plunged into an otherworldly, Gothicy vibe. Ms Reames gets the transition perfectly tailored to fit immaculately, no stray seams, just perfection. In this unique Romantasy, there is so much more at play. There is mythology with fickle gods, one trying to outdo the other but Ms Reames' knack of throwing around red herrings, spins my mind. Is one a "good" god or a "bad" god is kept neatly elusive, their motivations shrouded in a haze and I can't wait for the fog to dissipate so I can see the full picture. This entire read had me in it's grips from the beginning, the plot, the action, the throwing off of shackles, the beauty of true love, all extremely generously filled out, vividly, by this exceptional author.
September 5, 2025
The Unseen Hour is a fearful time for all of Emrys. For nearly a century at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve, when most people would be celebrating the New Year, Emrys hides behind barred doors from a deadly fog that claims the lives of those brave enough to venture outside. Celia, a fiery woman that rejects the status quo, has lost her father during The Unseen Hour. But he wasn't found frozen like every other victim, but just simply disappeared. Only one other person vanished without a trace, the heir to the Holmes dukedom. Determined to find her father and reunite him with his family, Celia follows clues in a journal written by R. Holmes (the same Holmes that vanished) to get Taken herself. When she succeeds, she doesn't find a realm of darkness, but the Ether, a realm full of beauty, Shades, a hateful God, and an infuriatingly handsome Head Shade named Orion. Once it is decided that The Unseen Hour must end, the two team up and go on a dangerous journey to save their world.
When I first started reading this, it was giving me "Pride and Prejudice" with a little magical touch. As the story went on, although I still felt those vibes, it clearly went in a different direction. I adored Orion! I love how understanding and easy-going he was. He was very grown up about how he handled certain things, especially secrets and reveals from Celia. Celia, although I've read plenty of stories with a FMC like her, she was kind of refreshing. She didn't like keeping secrets from Orion and was ready to deal with the backlash when she finally did reveal them to Orion. I liked that she didn't want to conform to societal norms but was still concerned about how her reputation would affect her family. In the end, I didn't feel like there was any character growth for either character, not that there needed to be.
This book is very atmospheric, and I loved every minute of it. The descriptions of her surroundings definitely gave the spooky vibes. So, if looking for a read to get you in the mood for fall, this one might be for you. Silas Reames writing is beautiful. A bit flowery, and it might be too flowery for some, but I think that adds so much to help set the scenes. The entire book is about finding her father and saving their world. So, the plot of the book stayed on point the entire time. There are a couple lull chapters of the book, but I feel they are necessary as a breather for what is about to come in the next chapter.
The romance is kind of instalove, but I think for what the author was wanting to do, might have been necessary. Also, they are the only two humans in the Ether, sooooo...you kind of see it coming from a mile away. Also, where there's romance, there is usually spice. I think some people might have a problem with the spicy scenes, but as someone who is tired of spice being in every single book these days, I found them refreshing. They were quick, to the point, and didn't drag on for days. Which is fine by me. There wasn't much cuddling after and even though they were big moments, they weren't dwelt upon, which I liked. When I was a spicy girlie, I wouldn't have liked that very much, so keep that in mind going in.
All in all, this book has helped me enjoy reading again after being in a very looong slump. So, thank you Silas Reames for writing such an amazing book, taking a chance on me by giving me an arc of your incredible story. Now I have to go and read her entire backlist, so BYEEEE!!!!
When I first started reading this, it was giving me "Pride and Prejudice" with a little magical touch. As the story went on, although I still felt those vibes, it clearly went in a different direction. I adored Orion! I love how understanding and easy-going he was. He was very grown up about how he handled certain things, especially secrets and reveals from Celia. Celia, although I've read plenty of stories with a FMC like her, she was kind of refreshing. She didn't like keeping secrets from Orion and was ready to deal with the backlash when she finally did reveal them to Orion. I liked that she didn't want to conform to societal norms but was still concerned about how her reputation would affect her family. In the end, I didn't feel like there was any character growth for either character, not that there needed to be.
This book is very atmospheric, and I loved every minute of it. The descriptions of her surroundings definitely gave the spooky vibes. So, if looking for a read to get you in the mood for fall, this one might be for you. Silas Reames writing is beautiful. A bit flowery, and it might be too flowery for some, but I think that adds so much to help set the scenes. The entire book is about finding her father and saving their world. So, the plot of the book stayed on point the entire time. There are a couple lull chapters of the book, but I feel they are necessary as a breather for what is about to come in the next chapter.
The romance is kind of instalove, but I think for what the author was wanting to do, might have been necessary. Also, they are the only two humans in the Ether, sooooo...you kind of see it coming from a mile away. Also, where there's romance, there is usually spice. I think some people might have a problem with the spicy scenes, but as someone who is tired of spice being in every single book these days, I found them refreshing. They were quick, to the point, and didn't drag on for days. Which is fine by me. There wasn't much cuddling after and even though they were big moments, they weren't dwelt upon, which I liked. When I was a spicy girlie, I wouldn't have liked that very much, so keep that in mind going in.
All in all, this book has helped me enjoy reading again after being in a very looong slump. So, thank you Silas Reames for writing such an amazing book, taking a chance on me by giving me an arc of your incredible story. Now I have to go and read her entire backlist, so BYEEEE!!!!
August 27, 2025
✨Arc Review✨
Thank you to the author Silas Reames for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“There are more frightening things than Death, and what follows it could bring one country to its knees. In Emrys, no one celebrates the end of the year with fireworks or champagne. They lock their doors and hide, hoping to escape the Unseen Hour with their lives intact.”
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is a haunting, romantic fantasy that pulls you into a world cloaked in mystery, divine conflict, and aching emotion. Set in the eerie town of Emrys, the novel revolves around a chilling tradition: each New Year’s Eve, a cursed "unseen hour" descends—and those caught outside during it are found frozen and lifeless by morning. It’s within this haunting premise that we follow Celia, a bold and headstrong heroine, as she investigates the disappearance of her father during one of these mysterious hours.
This book gave me Bridgerton vibes—but make it gothic. There's elegance and romance, but it’s all draped in shadows, secret realms, and divine danger. I loved the moody, almost cinematic atmosphere of this story—it’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a cold fog on an autumn evening. It’s perfect for readers who crave a spooky vibe read for fall with just the right balance of romance, magic, and mystery.
Celia is easily one of the best parts of the novel. She’s determined, intelligent, and wonderfully stubborn—and what I appreciated most is that she never apologizes for being herself. Her resilience and sharp edges make her stand out among YA and romantasy heroines. The dynamic between her and Orion, the mysterious and brooding author of a strange journal she finds, develops with intensity and emotional pull. Their romance is well integrated into the plot—it’s heartfelt without being overly indulgent, and it adds stakes to an already dangerous journey.
That said, it did take me a little while to adjust to the writing style and get fully invested in the story. The prose leans lyrical and descriptive, which at times distanced me from the action early on. But once I settled into the flow, I found the world immersive and the stakes compelling. The pacing improves steadily, and by the halfway mark, I was completely hooked.
While a few elements of the romance and mythology could have benefited from more depth or a slightly slower burn, those are small issues in what is otherwise a compelling, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant story.
Overall, The Unseen Hour is a solid four-star read. I would absolutely recommend it to friends looking for a beautifully written, haunting romantasy with an unforgettable heroine. If you're in the mood for something mysterious, emotionally rich, and just the right kind of spooky—this book belongs on your fall TBR. ❤️
Thank you to the author Silas Reames for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“There are more frightening things than Death, and what follows it could bring one country to its knees. In Emrys, no one celebrates the end of the year with fireworks or champagne. They lock their doors and hide, hoping to escape the Unseen Hour with their lives intact.”
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is a haunting, romantic fantasy that pulls you into a world cloaked in mystery, divine conflict, and aching emotion. Set in the eerie town of Emrys, the novel revolves around a chilling tradition: each New Year’s Eve, a cursed "unseen hour" descends—and those caught outside during it are found frozen and lifeless by morning. It’s within this haunting premise that we follow Celia, a bold and headstrong heroine, as she investigates the disappearance of her father during one of these mysterious hours.
This book gave me Bridgerton vibes—but make it gothic. There's elegance and romance, but it’s all draped in shadows, secret realms, and divine danger. I loved the moody, almost cinematic atmosphere of this story—it’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a cold fog on an autumn evening. It’s perfect for readers who crave a spooky vibe read for fall with just the right balance of romance, magic, and mystery.
Celia is easily one of the best parts of the novel. She’s determined, intelligent, and wonderfully stubborn—and what I appreciated most is that she never apologizes for being herself. Her resilience and sharp edges make her stand out among YA and romantasy heroines. The dynamic between her and Orion, the mysterious and brooding author of a strange journal she finds, develops with intensity and emotional pull. Their romance is well integrated into the plot—it’s heartfelt without being overly indulgent, and it adds stakes to an already dangerous journey.
That said, it did take me a little while to adjust to the writing style and get fully invested in the story. The prose leans lyrical and descriptive, which at times distanced me from the action early on. But once I settled into the flow, I found the world immersive and the stakes compelling. The pacing improves steadily, and by the halfway mark, I was completely hooked.
While a few elements of the romance and mythology could have benefited from more depth or a slightly slower burn, those are small issues in what is otherwise a compelling, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant story.
Overall, The Unseen Hour is a solid four-star read. I would absolutely recommend it to friends looking for a beautifully written, haunting romantasy with an unforgettable heroine. If you're in the mood for something mysterious, emotionally rich, and just the right kind of spooky—this book belongs on your fall TBR. ❤️
September 9, 2025
🌒✨ The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames ✨🌒
Her country is cursed. Her father is missing. And she’s falling in love with a ghost. 👻💔
In Emrys, the most feared time of year is the Unseen Hour, a cursed sixty minutes between the old year and the new when doors are locked, prayers whispered, and lives are lost. But when Celia stumbles upon a forgotten journal, she finds more than answers and she finds Orion, the author whose words (and heart) have haunted her long before she met him in the realm of the dead.
What follows is a gothic-tinged, hauntingly original fantasy romance filled with cursed hours, shades born of grief, gods at war, and a love story that shouldn’t exist but burns all the brighter for it.
🖤 What I loved:
🌌 The Unseen Hour curse – such an original concept, eerie and fascinating.
🪞 The Ether – a surreal afterlife setting with haunting creatures & chilling beauty.
💔 The Shades – loved ones twisted into servants of Death… so tragic & compelling.
🔥 Celia & Orion – a slow burn so good it made my chest ache.
🐎 Pellix the horse – truly the goodest boy.
🌲 Tree Hoppers & strange creatures that made the world feel alive.
📖 The mystery of Celia’s father’s disappearance & the centenary build-up kept me turning pages.
This book gave me Bridgerton-meets-gothic fantasy vibes: lush, emotional, and unforgettable. It’s about grief, hope, sacrifice, and falling in love where you least expect it: in the shadows of death itself.
🖤 Favorite Quote:
“Those who say time lessens grief are wrong. Time creates space. It gives you more moments around the grief, to cushion you a bit. But the grief is always there, and anything can trigger it.”
🏷️ Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance
🔥 Tropes: Forbidden Love • Mortals vs. Gods • Curses • Sacrificial Love • Slow Burn
If you’re craving something darkly magical with aching romance and an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling, add this to your TBR now.
#TheUnseenHour #SilasReames #NetGalley #FantasyRomance #RomantasyReads #GothicFantasy #ForbiddenLove #SlowBurnRomance #DarkFantasyBooks #SpicyFantasy #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt #ReadersOfInstagram #FantasyRomanceAddict #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #RomantasyObsessed
Her country is cursed. Her father is missing. And she’s falling in love with a ghost. 👻💔
In Emrys, the most feared time of year is the Unseen Hour, a cursed sixty minutes between the old year and the new when doors are locked, prayers whispered, and lives are lost. But when Celia stumbles upon a forgotten journal, she finds more than answers and she finds Orion, the author whose words (and heart) have haunted her long before she met him in the realm of the dead.
What follows is a gothic-tinged, hauntingly original fantasy romance filled with cursed hours, shades born of grief, gods at war, and a love story that shouldn’t exist but burns all the brighter for it.
🖤 What I loved:
🌌 The Unseen Hour curse – such an original concept, eerie and fascinating.
🪞 The Ether – a surreal afterlife setting with haunting creatures & chilling beauty.
💔 The Shades – loved ones twisted into servants of Death… so tragic & compelling.
🔥 Celia & Orion – a slow burn so good it made my chest ache.
🐎 Pellix the horse – truly the goodest boy.
🌲 Tree Hoppers & strange creatures that made the world feel alive.
📖 The mystery of Celia’s father’s disappearance & the centenary build-up kept me turning pages.
This book gave me Bridgerton-meets-gothic fantasy vibes: lush, emotional, and unforgettable. It’s about grief, hope, sacrifice, and falling in love where you least expect it: in the shadows of death itself.
🖤 Favorite Quote:
“Those who say time lessens grief are wrong. Time creates space. It gives you more moments around the grief, to cushion you a bit. But the grief is always there, and anything can trigger it.”
🏷️ Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance
🔥 Tropes: Forbidden Love • Mortals vs. Gods • Curses • Sacrificial Love • Slow Burn
If you’re craving something darkly magical with aching romance and an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling, add this to your TBR now.
#TheUnseenHour #SilasReames #NetGalley #FantasyRomance #RomantasyReads #GothicFantasy #ForbiddenLove #SlowBurnRomance #DarkFantasyBooks #SpicyFantasy #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt #ReadersOfInstagram #FantasyRomanceAddict #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #RomantasyObsessed
September 7, 2025
“In one moment the spark I’d been missing for a hundred years returned, lighting up my entire world.”
“I won’t allow anyone to take your spark, or snuff it out. No one gets to hurt you.”
“Everything was dull and lifeless until you arrived. You breathed life into me again.”
I received an advanced review copy through NetGalley. I had not heard of this book or author prior to seeing the book on NetGalley. The books description intrigued me from the start. A beautifully written gothic romance with an FMC tired of societal standards and wanting change. This has become one of the best books I have read this year. She is introduced to a man that has been dead for almost a century through his journal. She falls for this man never expecting to meet him. My heart went out to her and the difficulties she faces in a society with no freedom. The relationship between Celia and Orion is beautiful and heart wrenching. There is very little spice but in my opinion it was perfect. I was able to focus more on the development of the relationship and the story itself. I am very excited to read the next book in the duology to see what happens next between the two and the challenges they will face.
Celia Hipnosi wishes for a life of love and adventure in a society where an advantageous marriage is the goal and women have little to no freedom. Devastated by the loss of her father, Celia finds a journal that gives her insight into the unseen hour. Believing her father may be trapped within the hour, she spends her time preparing for the next unseen hour with a mission to bring her father back. Little does she know, she will be getting much more than she thought.
Orion Holmes was one of the first victims of the unseen hour. Now residing in the Ether with the shades, he is tasked with ensuring each unseen hour brings more souls. For almost a century Orion has gone without another person to speak to. His only contact are the shades he is in charge of, some of the animals, and the god who rules the Ether. That is until the 99th unseen hour brings an unexpected addition. Another “half shade”. A companion that could change everything.
“I won’t allow anyone to take your spark, or snuff it out. No one gets to hurt you.”
“Everything was dull and lifeless until you arrived. You breathed life into me again.”
I received an advanced review copy through NetGalley. I had not heard of this book or author prior to seeing the book on NetGalley. The books description intrigued me from the start. A beautifully written gothic romance with an FMC tired of societal standards and wanting change. This has become one of the best books I have read this year. She is introduced to a man that has been dead for almost a century through his journal. She falls for this man never expecting to meet him. My heart went out to her and the difficulties she faces in a society with no freedom. The relationship between Celia and Orion is beautiful and heart wrenching. There is very little spice but in my opinion it was perfect. I was able to focus more on the development of the relationship and the story itself. I am very excited to read the next book in the duology to see what happens next between the two and the challenges they will face.
Celia Hipnosi wishes for a life of love and adventure in a society where an advantageous marriage is the goal and women have little to no freedom. Devastated by the loss of her father, Celia finds a journal that gives her insight into the unseen hour. Believing her father may be trapped within the hour, she spends her time preparing for the next unseen hour with a mission to bring her father back. Little does she know, she will be getting much more than she thought.
Orion Holmes was one of the first victims of the unseen hour. Now residing in the Ether with the shades, he is tasked with ensuring each unseen hour brings more souls. For almost a century Orion has gone without another person to speak to. His only contact are the shades he is in charge of, some of the animals, and the god who rules the Ether. That is until the 99th unseen hour brings an unexpected addition. Another “half shade”. A companion that could change everything.
August 17, 2025
“He’d soon find out, though, that love could fuel vengeance as readily as anger. And I had plenty of both.”
“I don’t want his name on your lips again, Starlight. Just mine.”
Spice: 🌶️.5
✨✨✨✨✨✨
When Celia picks up the trace of her father’s research into the Unseen Hour, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. More questions than answers, bickering drama between deities, and a very golden retriever of a Head Shade.
MMC is giving major Haku vibes (Spirited Away, for reference). But at no point was this man, Orion, anything less than kind, loving, and compassionate towards Celia. Which honestly made me a little… frustrated.
Let’s start with the good:
This book has the writing of a fairly seasoned author. I did highly enjoy the “touch HIM and 💀” and reverse “who did this to you?” trope. It has all the right pieces in place to be truly amazing, and I’m a sucker for inventive pantheons, especially if it’s built on the foundations of one’s that already exist.
… which brings me to the “not so good.”
I write this with all the respect in my soul, but I didn’t quite resonate with either of the characters. I liked them and I understood their mutual interest and cooperative mission, but their romance felt a bit rushed, and when the kissing and *ahem* copulation eventually happens, it just fell a bit flat. It felt as if it was “yeah it happened, moving on.” And the circumstances under which it happened felt kind of ordinary and unceremonious. It had the typical ‘almost happened before they were interrupted’ situations. Without going into too much detail, too much had worked out kind of perfectly (or at least not awfully) for them - it lacked strife and conflict which would aid to their growth as characters, thus increasing our emotional vested interest in watching their tale unfold.
It ends in a cliffhanger, which gives me hope that we’ll see more dynamic within the world of Emrys and the Unseen Hour, the conflict, arc, and topography of characters, and more backstory as to how this Unseen Hour came to be.
“I don’t want his name on your lips again, Starlight. Just mine.”
Spice: 🌶️.5
✨✨✨✨✨✨
When Celia picks up the trace of her father’s research into the Unseen Hour, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. More questions than answers, bickering drama between deities, and a very golden retriever of a Head Shade.
MMC is giving major Haku vibes (Spirited Away, for reference). But at no point was this man, Orion, anything less than kind, loving, and compassionate towards Celia. Which honestly made me a little… frustrated.
Let’s start with the good:
This book has the writing of a fairly seasoned author. I did highly enjoy the “touch HIM and 💀” and reverse “who did this to you?” trope. It has all the right pieces in place to be truly amazing, and I’m a sucker for inventive pantheons, especially if it’s built on the foundations of one’s that already exist.
… which brings me to the “not so good.”
I write this with all the respect in my soul, but I didn’t quite resonate with either of the characters. I liked them and I understood their mutual interest and cooperative mission, but their romance felt a bit rushed, and when the kissing and *ahem* copulation eventually happens, it just fell a bit flat. It felt as if it was “yeah it happened, moving on.” And the circumstances under which it happened felt kind of ordinary and unceremonious. It had the typical ‘almost happened before they were interrupted’ situations. Without going into too much detail, too much had worked out kind of perfectly (or at least not awfully) for them - it lacked strife and conflict which would aid to their growth as characters, thus increasing our emotional vested interest in watching their tale unfold.
It ends in a cliffhanger, which gives me hope that we’ll see more dynamic within the world of Emrys and the Unseen Hour, the conflict, arc, and topography of characters, and more backstory as to how this Unseen Hour came to be.
August 29, 2025
Celia is a young woman living in a time people fear the end of the year. When Dec 31st moves into Jan 1st, a strange thing happens - people caught outside of their homes end up frozen and dead. 3 years ago, her father went missing on that night it his body was never found. She believes he has found a way to go wherever this cursed hour started and vows to follow and find him after finding a journal from almost 100 years ago with his notes written inside. Once she figures out what she needs to do and actually makes it into the Ether, she finds the one other person who went missing with no body found. Now she must figure out where her father is and how to get to back to her world before the God of the Ether finds out she’s there and working against him.
Celia is a headstrong woman in a time where women are not equal to men. She wants the freedoms that her brothers have, such as adventuring and traveling. She’s an intelligent person and is definitely underestimated by those around her. When she meets Orion, he’s basically been just surviving in the Ether and had no hopes of leaving, but once she arrives his whole outlook changes. He’s been trapped so long he doesn’t really know how the real world is and is nervous and excited for Celia to be there.
The world building is absolutely amazing. Even when the story is haunting and spooky, you are just drawn into that world. From the ruins of the church to the cave in the Ether, even to Charon’s own house, you are given so much detail as to feel like you are there. I also love the twist on Celia’s eyes. It makes her memorable as well as anyone in her familial line.
The Gods and the lore of this story are also interesting. You get just a hint of the mythology from the real world and as the story moves along, esp towards the end, more and more is revealed about the 6 Gods. And of course, with Gods, there is always turmoil and secrets layered in more secrets. After the twist at the end, I was flabbergasted and can’t wait to see what Celia and Orion will do after all those revelations.
Celia is a headstrong woman in a time where women are not equal to men. She wants the freedoms that her brothers have, such as adventuring and traveling. She’s an intelligent person and is definitely underestimated by those around her. When she meets Orion, he’s basically been just surviving in the Ether and had no hopes of leaving, but once she arrives his whole outlook changes. He’s been trapped so long he doesn’t really know how the real world is and is nervous and excited for Celia to be there.
The world building is absolutely amazing. Even when the story is haunting and spooky, you are just drawn into that world. From the ruins of the church to the cave in the Ether, even to Charon’s own house, you are given so much detail as to feel like you are there. I also love the twist on Celia’s eyes. It makes her memorable as well as anyone in her familial line.
The Gods and the lore of this story are also interesting. You get just a hint of the mythology from the real world and as the story moves along, esp towards the end, more and more is revealed about the 6 Gods. And of course, with Gods, there is always turmoil and secrets layered in more secrets. After the twist at the end, I was flabbergasted and can’t wait to see what Celia and Orion will do after all those revelations.
September 23, 2025
Big thank you to Silas Reames, Night Loch Publishers, and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The premise of The Unseen Hour was unique, imaginative, and exactly the kind of story that immediately pulled me in. In the beginning, I was fully hooked and loved every bit of the setup, especially following Celia. Her tenacity, outspokenness, and refusal to conform to society’s expectations were right up my alley, and she was easily the strongest part of the book for me.
That said, once Orion entered the picture, my enjoyment started to slip. Their relationship felt very rushed, and I struggled to connect with their romance. The chemistry wasn’t there, and while the spice was present, it felt forced rather than natural. The dialogue and overall writing didn’t flow as smoothly, which pulled me out of the story.
Beyond the romance, the pacing overall was uneven. The storyline felt disjointed, leaving little room for depth. What descriptive detail there was failed to immerse me in both Celia’s inner world and the world around her. It felt like the emphasis was on inconsequential scenes—some scenes felt never-ending, and others I was left going “wait, what? Did I miss something?”. A late revelation near the end also landed poorly for me. It came out of left field and felt more like a convenient twist than part of a natural progression.
On top of that, the history of the gods and the clashes between them felt rushed and most of it was revealed right at the end, almost as if it was dropped in to set up a sequel rather than being woven into the narrative earlier. With such an interesting concept, I would have loved to see this mythology built into the fabric of the story rather than appearing only at the conclusion.
In the end, Celia herself was the saving grace. I loved her character, and while this book didn’t fully land for me, the creativity behind it shows that the author has real promise, and I’ll be curious to see how her future works grow and evolve.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The premise of The Unseen Hour was unique, imaginative, and exactly the kind of story that immediately pulled me in. In the beginning, I was fully hooked and loved every bit of the setup, especially following Celia. Her tenacity, outspokenness, and refusal to conform to society’s expectations were right up my alley, and she was easily the strongest part of the book for me.
That said, once Orion entered the picture, my enjoyment started to slip. Their relationship felt very rushed, and I struggled to connect with their romance. The chemistry wasn’t there, and while the spice was present, it felt forced rather than natural. The dialogue and overall writing didn’t flow as smoothly, which pulled me out of the story.
Beyond the romance, the pacing overall was uneven. The storyline felt disjointed, leaving little room for depth. What descriptive detail there was failed to immerse me in both Celia’s inner world and the world around her. It felt like the emphasis was on inconsequential scenes—some scenes felt never-ending, and others I was left going “wait, what? Did I miss something?”. A late revelation near the end also landed poorly for me. It came out of left field and felt more like a convenient twist than part of a natural progression.
On top of that, the history of the gods and the clashes between them felt rushed and most of it was revealed right at the end, almost as if it was dropped in to set up a sequel rather than being woven into the narrative earlier. With such an interesting concept, I would have loved to see this mythology built into the fabric of the story rather than appearing only at the conclusion.
In the end, Celia herself was the saving grace. I loved her character, and while this book didn’t fully land for me, the creativity behind it shows that the author has real promise, and I’ll be curious to see how her future works grow and evolve.
August 31, 2025
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames has been a bit of a ride. This book has the feeling of a dark Bridgerton (same society standards anyway).
In Emrys the New Year becomes a dangerous time to be outside, threatening certain death, and no one knows why. Celia’s father is thought to be a victim of what now is known as The Unseen Hour, but his daughter is not so sure about that, as he has been researching a way to end this curse. With the help of an old journal written by R. Holmes and her father’s scribbles, Celia has now taken it upon herself to resume the research and save her father.But what is waiting for her at the end of this journey is definitely not what she was expecting.
A war between gods, this is a story about resilience, adaptability, breaking barriers, and of course, love. This book caught my attention, and even though some things felt a little bit predictable, it kept delivering, and I remained engaged. There are two things that make me give it a lower rating.
One: Orion, our main male character felt, in my personal opinion, a little bit flat. Celia certainly overpowers the narrative, and I feel like instead of becoming an unstoppable team, I ended up wondering, “How did he survive for so long?” I do wish that he were stronger.
Two: The passage of time. This book, with its 406 pages, takes place in the span of two years, but there was something about the time jumps that just felt empty.
Now moving on to the things I loved.
The setting of the Ether has the most beautiful description, especially night and day; the way it is described made me want to step into it.
The usage of music as a magic conduit versus items, I thought it was very intriguing, and I want more.
The ending. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it, but I cannot wait to see what happens. That twist was chef’s kiss.
With an overall rating of 4 stars, I recommend this book. And I thank NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Silas Reames for allowing me to read this book.
In Emrys the New Year becomes a dangerous time to be outside, threatening certain death, and no one knows why. Celia’s father is thought to be a victim of what now is known as The Unseen Hour, but his daughter is not so sure about that, as he has been researching a way to end this curse. With the help of an old journal written by R. Holmes and her father’s scribbles, Celia has now taken it upon herself to resume the research and save her father.But what is waiting for her at the end of this journey is definitely not what she was expecting.
A war between gods, this is a story about resilience, adaptability, breaking barriers, and of course, love. This book caught my attention, and even though some things felt a little bit predictable, it kept delivering, and I remained engaged. There are two things that make me give it a lower rating.
One: Orion, our main male character felt, in my personal opinion, a little bit flat. Celia certainly overpowers the narrative, and I feel like instead of becoming an unstoppable team, I ended up wondering, “How did he survive for so long?” I do wish that he were stronger.
Two: The passage of time. This book, with its 406 pages, takes place in the span of two years, but there was something about the time jumps that just felt empty.
Now moving on to the things I loved.
The setting of the Ether has the most beautiful description, especially night and day; the way it is described made me want to step into it.
The usage of music as a magic conduit versus items, I thought it was very intriguing, and I want more.
The ending. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it, but I cannot wait to see what happens. That twist was chef’s kiss.
With an overall rating of 4 stars, I recommend this book. And I thank NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Silas Reames for allowing me to read this book.
September 5, 2025
The premise of The Unseen Hour is fascinating—an extra “unseen hour” arrives between the years in Emrys, and anyone caught outside during it dies. The cover, with its occult look and raven chapter headings, sets you up to expect a gothic, atmospheric fantasy. But the tone of the story itself didn’t actually feel gothic—more like a Regency-inspired romantasy with a curse/mystery at its core.
While the concept intrigued me, the execution fell flat. The rules of the world weren’t consistently applied—for example, humans and lights perish in the unseen hour, but animals are unaffected. Celia, the FMC, is 24 and of noble birth, still searching for answers about her father’s disappearance. She also has “vibrant” pink eyes, a family trait that seemed to serve no real purpose other than giving her something to complain about (she really hates having to wear pink to match her eyes. Also corsets. She really hates corsets.)
Eight chapters in and I was still waiting to feel invested. The pacing is slow and secondary characters read more like props than fully developed people. Celia’s mother, in particular, seems to exist only as a foil to Celia’s boldness. The romance angle—Celia’s developing feelings for Orion, the ghostly MMC—isn’t compelling early on because we don’t see the journal entries that supposedly inspire her crush. It’s all told, not shown, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Ultimately, I DNF’d at 18%. The writing isn’t egregious, and the premise is interesting, but the slow pacing and flat characters kept me from engaging.
However, this is only my opinion so YMMV. You might enjoy this if you’re a romantasy reader who enjoys a slow setup with Regency flavors, a heroine on a personal quest, and a hero who takes his time arriving on the page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Night Loch Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
While the concept intrigued me, the execution fell flat. The rules of the world weren’t consistently applied—for example, humans and lights perish in the unseen hour, but animals are unaffected. Celia, the FMC, is 24 and of noble birth, still searching for answers about her father’s disappearance. She also has “vibrant” pink eyes, a family trait that seemed to serve no real purpose other than giving her something to complain about (she really hates having to wear pink to match her eyes. Also corsets. She really hates corsets.)
Eight chapters in and I was still waiting to feel invested. The pacing is slow and secondary characters read more like props than fully developed people. Celia’s mother, in particular, seems to exist only as a foil to Celia’s boldness. The romance angle—Celia’s developing feelings for Orion, the ghostly MMC—isn’t compelling early on because we don’t see the journal entries that supposedly inspire her crush. It’s all told, not shown, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Ultimately, I DNF’d at 18%. The writing isn’t egregious, and the premise is interesting, but the slow pacing and flat characters kept me from engaging.
However, this is only my opinion so YMMV. You might enjoy this if you’re a romantasy reader who enjoys a slow setup with Regency flavors, a heroine on a personal quest, and a hero who takes his time arriving on the page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Night Loch Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
The Unseen Hour is a NA romantasy with a YA adventure-romance feel. Add modern sounding characters stuck in a backwards historical world blighted by dark magic and warring powers, and you've got yourself an intriguing tale to weave all those romantasy tropes around.
I felt that the execution wasn't quite as smooth as I'd hoped. The opening chapters explaining Celia's magical Regency-esque world and the "Unseen Hour" that steals away peoples' souls every New Year's Eve drew me in, even if sometimes I felt our narrator went off on tangents while we were in a scene.
Celia is not like the other girls, but that's no bad thing. She's full of determination and confidence, and her narration gives us that fiery character in spades. I liked that her confidence only went so far; when it comes to standing up to her overbearing brother, mother and potential suitors, she doesn't feel able to argue them round to her way of thinking, leaving her a character arc to explore around deciding just what it is she wants. The romance itself between her and Orion felt a bit insta-love for my taste, but I'm not going to complain about their lack of pointless arguments just to increase tension. I'd probably have been more invested if we'd seen them spending time together earlier on in their relationship.
I do feel that some of the atmosphere was lost when we get into the second part of the book. Apart from the explicit steam, it seemed to me as very YA in how the plot and characters progressed (the villains in particular). I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll say the plot itself did keep me turning those pages, waiting to see what reveals would be made.
The right kind of reader will like this YA-like Regency/Portal Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. If you like the usual story structure and romance tropes, but want something with a unique premise to wind them around, this could be for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I felt that the execution wasn't quite as smooth as I'd hoped. The opening chapters explaining Celia's magical Regency-esque world and the "Unseen Hour" that steals away peoples' souls every New Year's Eve drew me in, even if sometimes I felt our narrator went off on tangents while we were in a scene.
Celia is not like the other girls, but that's no bad thing. She's full of determination and confidence, and her narration gives us that fiery character in spades. I liked that her confidence only went so far; when it comes to standing up to her overbearing brother, mother and potential suitors, she doesn't feel able to argue them round to her way of thinking, leaving her a character arc to explore around deciding just what it is she wants. The romance itself between her and Orion felt a bit insta-love for my taste, but I'm not going to complain about their lack of pointless arguments just to increase tension. I'd probably have been more invested if we'd seen them spending time together earlier on in their relationship.
I do feel that some of the atmosphere was lost when we get into the second part of the book. Apart from the explicit steam, it seemed to me as very YA in how the plot and characters progressed (the villains in particular). I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll say the plot itself did keep me turning those pages, waiting to see what reveals would be made.
The right kind of reader will like this YA-like Regency/Portal Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. If you like the usual story structure and romance tropes, but want something with a unique premise to wind them around, this could be for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 14, 2025
🕰️𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘🕰️
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
“𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕.”
From page one, this book grabbed me and did not let go. The world is dark, haunting, and alive in every shadow and secret. The gothic atmosphere is rich without overwhelming, every twist kept my heart racing, and every quiet moment hit harder than I expected.
Celia is stubborn, brave, and heartbreakingly real. Her grief and her courage made me root for her completely. Orion is magnetic, unsettling, and impossible to look away from. Their bond is fragile, volatile, and full of tension that made me sigh, gasp, and occasionally clutch my chest. When they are together, the air practically crackles.
This book balances beauty and brutality in a way that feels effortless. The pacing never drags, the worldbuilding immerses you fully, and the twists genuinely shocked me. Moments of aching stillness cut even deeper than the chaos, and the ending left me breathless, staring at my Kindle like wow.
Before I started the ARC, Silas reached out to me with such thoughtful care. Orion shares my late son’s name and she offered an alternate version if it could be a trigger. That gesture made me feel truly seen, far beyond being a reader, and made me respect her as an author on a whole other level.
✨𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕✨
Gothic fantasy with shadows, secrets, and haunting magic
A slow-burn romance that is tender, raw, and emotionally intense
Characters so layered, real, and unforgettable
Twists and turns that keep you turning pages late into the night
Moments of stillness that hit harder than chaos
A story that lingers long after the last page
💀 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅 & 𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔 💀
Shivery chills in every chapter
Emotional gut punches that make you tear up
Magnetic tension and fraught connections
Atmosphere so vivid you feel like you are walking through it
A mix of heartbreak, longing, and breathtaking romance
The Unseen Hour lingers long after the last page, leaving you breathless, broken, and wanting more.
Thank you to Silas Reames and NetGalley for this ARC. It was an absolute honor to read 💛
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
“𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕.”
From page one, this book grabbed me and did not let go. The world is dark, haunting, and alive in every shadow and secret. The gothic atmosphere is rich without overwhelming, every twist kept my heart racing, and every quiet moment hit harder than I expected.
Celia is stubborn, brave, and heartbreakingly real. Her grief and her courage made me root for her completely. Orion is magnetic, unsettling, and impossible to look away from. Their bond is fragile, volatile, and full of tension that made me sigh, gasp, and occasionally clutch my chest. When they are together, the air practically crackles.
This book balances beauty and brutality in a way that feels effortless. The pacing never drags, the worldbuilding immerses you fully, and the twists genuinely shocked me. Moments of aching stillness cut even deeper than the chaos, and the ending left me breathless, staring at my Kindle like wow.
Before I started the ARC, Silas reached out to me with such thoughtful care. Orion shares my late son’s name and she offered an alternate version if it could be a trigger. That gesture made me feel truly seen, far beyond being a reader, and made me respect her as an author on a whole other level.
✨𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕✨
Gothic fantasy with shadows, secrets, and haunting magic
A slow-burn romance that is tender, raw, and emotionally intense
Characters so layered, real, and unforgettable
Twists and turns that keep you turning pages late into the night
Moments of stillness that hit harder than chaos
A story that lingers long after the last page
💀 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅 & 𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔 💀
Shivery chills in every chapter
Emotional gut punches that make you tear up
Magnetic tension and fraught connections
Atmosphere so vivid you feel like you are walking through it
A mix of heartbreak, longing, and breathtaking romance
The Unseen Hour lingers long after the last page, leaving you breathless, broken, and wanting more.
Thank you to Silas Reames and NetGalley for this ARC. It was an absolute honor to read 💛
September 29, 2025
I received a digital ARC from the author and decided to provide an honest review.
I loved the premise and thought the beginning did a great job in setting up the mystery of the history of the Unseen Hour, as well as Celia's personal motivations. However, the execution fell flat for me in several ways.
The pacing seemed simultaneously slow and fast, like certain scenes and events were suddenly skipped over. At one point, there were time jumps between chapters of several months (which I was not expecting). I was also anticipating a lot more research/background as Celia prepared to be taken. Instead, the transition felt abrupt and like it happened way too soon.
Although the tension of Celia's first moments in the Ether was done well, nothing exciting happens for pretty much the rest of the book, which is a real shame given the potential for fantasy elements in a new world. The stakes seem high for about 5 minutes, then suddenly it feels like the story morphed into a cozy, wilderness survival romance? I also felt like the main romantic lead's personality changed much too quickly, which really took away from the chilling tone and atmosphere that had been so well established. The main villain seemed to be entirely missing from the narrative, and I never really worried for the main characters and whether their endeavors would succeed.
The ending brings up a potentially interesting future plot point, but then abruptly cuts itself off. I would have liked a little more resolution and reconciliation considering the timeline of events, but I guess it would work just as well as the beginning of the second book. Overall, this book had some great moments, but was disappointing in its pacing and lackluster plot.
I loved the premise and thought the beginning did a great job in setting up the mystery of the history of the Unseen Hour, as well as Celia's personal motivations. However, the execution fell flat for me in several ways.
The pacing seemed simultaneously slow and fast, like certain scenes and events were suddenly skipped over. At one point, there were time jumps between chapters of several months (which I was not expecting). I was also anticipating a lot more research/background as Celia prepared to be taken. Instead, the transition felt abrupt and like it happened way too soon.
Although the tension of Celia's first moments in the Ether was done well, nothing exciting happens for pretty much the rest of the book, which is a real shame given the potential for fantasy elements in a new world. The stakes seem high for about 5 minutes, then suddenly it feels like the story morphed into a cozy, wilderness survival romance? I also felt like the main romantic lead's personality changed much too quickly, which really took away from the chilling tone and atmosphere that had been so well established. The main villain seemed to be entirely missing from the narrative, and I never really worried for the main characters and whether their endeavors would succeed.
The ending brings up a potentially interesting future plot point, but then abruptly cuts itself off. I would have liked a little more resolution and reconciliation considering the timeline of events, but I guess it would work just as well as the beginning of the second book. Overall, this book had some great moments, but was disappointing in its pacing and lackluster plot.
September 9, 2025
Everything froze at the Unseen Hour and so did I. I’m talking blanket over my head, Kindle clutched like a weapon, muttering prayers to fictional gods kind of froze. This book had me chilled, thrilled, and yelling at shadows like I was about to be Taken too.
Celia? Absolute chaos gremlin with a heart of gold. She’s not waiting around for some knight in shining armor.... nope. She’s charging into cursed fog, spitting in the face of fear, because her father needs her. That’s it. That’s the hill she’s willing to die on. I had goosebumps crawling across my skin when she was Taken. Usually it’s a man saving the woman, but here? The daughter said, “Not today, Gods, I’ve got work to do.” Iconic.
And Orion. Sweet, awkward, century-old Orion with those storm-grey-blue eyes? Ah! You had NO right to waltz in and steal my heart with your honesty and painfully slow-burn romance. The way he and Celia orbit each other: friends first, glances stolen, hearts burning under the surface it had me internally screaming: “JUST KISS ALREADY.” But the gods had other plans, because apparently mortals aren’t allowed happiness without a divine mess.
Speaking of gods.... outsmarting them was the wildest ride. I was clutching my Kindle like it could stop lightning bolts, muttering, “Don’t do it, Celia!” while simultaneously wanting her to do it. Silas crafted a world where ghosts linger, gods meddle, and time itself is cursed and I was living for every second.
Four stars because it’s different, daring, and gave me enough goosebumps to qualify as poultry. Forget gods, forget ghosts; the real curse here is how badly you’ll need the sequel
Celia? Absolute chaos gremlin with a heart of gold. She’s not waiting around for some knight in shining armor.... nope. She’s charging into cursed fog, spitting in the face of fear, because her father needs her. That’s it. That’s the hill she’s willing to die on. I had goosebumps crawling across my skin when she was Taken. Usually it’s a man saving the woman, but here? The daughter said, “Not today, Gods, I’ve got work to do.” Iconic.
And Orion. Sweet, awkward, century-old Orion with those storm-grey-blue eyes? Ah! You had NO right to waltz in and steal my heart with your honesty and painfully slow-burn romance. The way he and Celia orbit each other: friends first, glances stolen, hearts burning under the surface it had me internally screaming: “JUST KISS ALREADY.” But the gods had other plans, because apparently mortals aren’t allowed happiness without a divine mess.
Speaking of gods.... outsmarting them was the wildest ride. I was clutching my Kindle like it could stop lightning bolts, muttering, “Don’t do it, Celia!” while simultaneously wanting her to do it. Silas crafted a world where ghosts linger, gods meddle, and time itself is cursed and I was living for every second.
Four stars because it’s different, daring, and gave me enough goosebumps to qualify as poultry. Forget gods, forget ghosts; the real curse here is how badly you’ll need the sequel
September 10, 2025
“Dearest reader, beware the stroke of midnight—for in Emrys, it ushers not champagne and celebration, but a shadowed hour where hearts may be lost as swiftly as lives. And yet… what could be more delicious than a romance born in such peril?”
I received an eARC of The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames from the author and Night Loch Publishers before it released on September 9th. Let’s talk about it.
Synopsis:
In Emrys, no one dares celebrate New Year’s Eve. When the clock strikes midnight, a hidden “Unseen Hour” arrives, and anyone caught outside becomes frozen or disappears. Celia knows the danger all too well as her father vanished on such a night. When she discovers a mysterious journal, she’s drawn into a strange, shadowy realm where she meets Orion, a man who is far more than he seems. Together, they must survive a world full of ancient gods, dangerous secrets, and haunting beauty.
My Thoughts:
The Unseen Hour is gothic romantasy at its best-moody, magical, and beautifully eerie.
Celia is a determined, relatable heroine, and her slow-burn connection with Orion feels tender and natural. The world is richly imagined, full of atmosphere and haunting details. The writing has a lyrical, immersive style that makes it easy to keep turning the pages.
📚Final Verdict:
If you're into darkly enchanting fantasy with romance, lore, and a touch of the eerie, this one is perfect for cozy, late-night reading, especially in autumn. Think Bridgerton vibes, but make it gothic and cursed.
Genre/Type: Gothic Romantasy
Format: eARC (kindle)
Pages: 414
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tears:
Series: The Unseen Hour, bk 1
Characters: Celia, Orion, Pellix
I received an eARC of The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames from the author and Night Loch Publishers before it released on September 9th. Let’s talk about it.
Synopsis:
In Emrys, no one dares celebrate New Year’s Eve. When the clock strikes midnight, a hidden “Unseen Hour” arrives, and anyone caught outside becomes frozen or disappears. Celia knows the danger all too well as her father vanished on such a night. When she discovers a mysterious journal, she’s drawn into a strange, shadowy realm where she meets Orion, a man who is far more than he seems. Together, they must survive a world full of ancient gods, dangerous secrets, and haunting beauty.
My Thoughts:
The Unseen Hour is gothic romantasy at its best-moody, magical, and beautifully eerie.
Celia is a determined, relatable heroine, and her slow-burn connection with Orion feels tender and natural. The world is richly imagined, full of atmosphere and haunting details. The writing has a lyrical, immersive style that makes it easy to keep turning the pages.
📚Final Verdict:
If you're into darkly enchanting fantasy with romance, lore, and a touch of the eerie, this one is perfect for cozy, late-night reading, especially in autumn. Think Bridgerton vibes, but make it gothic and cursed.
Genre/Type: Gothic Romantasy
Format: eARC (kindle)
Pages: 414
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Tears:
Series: The Unseen Hour, bk 1
Characters: Celia, Orion, Pellix
September 6, 2025
3⭐️ The Unseen Hour opens with a striking, eerie premise and a blend of Victorian charm and gothic mystery. We follow Celia, whose father vanished during the dreaded Unseen Hour (a cursed time when anyone caught outside disappears). Determined to find him, she seeks the guidance of mysterious journals, only to meet Orion. Together, they face supernatural threats, past traumas, and warring gods as they attempt to break the curse and save their world.
There were some strong atmospheric elements, and I liked how the tone shifted over time. But the time jumps made it hard to feel the romantic tension build between Celia and Orion. It leaned a little too heavily into insta-love for my taste, with chemistry that felt underdeveloped. It read more like a deep friendship than a romance. I really liked Orion’s softness; he brought a quiet presence that was refreshing, but I wish we’d seen more complexity or emotional strength behind it. I think showing more of the journal entries that sparked Celia’s feelings—or adding more layered conversations—could’ve helped their connection feel more earned.
While the concept really stood out, I kept waiting for that moment when everything would click, but it didn’t quite land for me. The worldbuilding is intriguing, and the blend of hauntings, gods, myth, and emotional threads had strong potential. Where this story might really work for others, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
There were some strong atmospheric elements, and I liked how the tone shifted over time. But the time jumps made it hard to feel the romantic tension build between Celia and Orion. It leaned a little too heavily into insta-love for my taste, with chemistry that felt underdeveloped. It read more like a deep friendship than a romance. I really liked Orion’s softness; he brought a quiet presence that was refreshing, but I wish we’d seen more complexity or emotional strength behind it. I think showing more of the journal entries that sparked Celia’s feelings—or adding more layered conversations—could’ve helped their connection feel more earned.
While the concept really stood out, I kept waiting for that moment when everything would click, but it didn’t quite land for me. The worldbuilding is intriguing, and the blend of hauntings, gods, myth, and emotional threads had strong potential. Where this story might really work for others, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is an imaginative, eerie tale with an intriguing premise, though it doesn’t fully live up to its potential.
The story begins with Celia’s father mysteriously vanishing during the fabled “Unseen Hour,” a hidden pocket of time outside normal reality. Determined to find him, Celia spends a year piecing together cryptic clues and experimenting with dangerous rituals until she finally pierces the barrier. Inside, she encounters Orion, the enigmatic head shade who rules over the hour’s shadowy inhabitants. The two form a fragile alliance as they spend the next year struggling to unravel and ultimately undo the God of the Ether’s dominion over this stolen hour.
Reames’s writing shines in atmosphere—his descriptions of the Unseen Hour are haunting, filled with strange beauty and unsettling dread. The relationship between Celia and Orion offers some of the most engaging moments, balancing tension, mistrust, and the flickers of something deeper. However, the pacing often falters: the first half lingers too long on Celia’s trial-and-error search, while the latter half rushes through the unraveling of the Ether God’s power. Secondary characters feel underdeveloped, leaving much of the emotional weight resting solely on Celia and Orion.
Overall, The Unseen Hour is an inventive and moody read with striking imagery and an original premise. Readers who love atmospheric fantasy tinged with horror will find much to admire, though the uneven execution keeps it from being truly unforgettable.
The Unseen Hour by Silas Reames is an imaginative, eerie tale with an intriguing premise, though it doesn’t fully live up to its potential.
The story begins with Celia’s father mysteriously vanishing during the fabled “Unseen Hour,” a hidden pocket of time outside normal reality. Determined to find him, Celia spends a year piecing together cryptic clues and experimenting with dangerous rituals until she finally pierces the barrier. Inside, she encounters Orion, the enigmatic head shade who rules over the hour’s shadowy inhabitants. The two form a fragile alliance as they spend the next year struggling to unravel and ultimately undo the God of the Ether’s dominion over this stolen hour.
Reames’s writing shines in atmosphere—his descriptions of the Unseen Hour are haunting, filled with strange beauty and unsettling dread. The relationship between Celia and Orion offers some of the most engaging moments, balancing tension, mistrust, and the flickers of something deeper. However, the pacing often falters: the first half lingers too long on Celia’s trial-and-error search, while the latter half rushes through the unraveling of the Ether God’s power. Secondary characters feel underdeveloped, leaving much of the emotional weight resting solely on Celia and Orion.
Overall, The Unseen Hour is an inventive and moody read with striking imagery and an original premise. Readers who love atmospheric fantasy tinged with horror will find much to admire, though the uneven execution keeps it from being truly unforgettable.
December 27, 2025
The Unseen Hour had a really strong concept, and that’s ultimately what kept me reading. The gothic fantasy atmosphere is unique and intriguing, and the world itself has some genuinely interesting ideas that set it apart from more familiar fantasy settings.
That said, I struggled quite a bit in the beginning. The story was hard to get into and felt repetitive at times, which slowed the pacing and made it difficult to fully settle into the world early on. Once things picked up, I was more invested, but it took longer than I would’ve liked to get there.
I also wanted more depth from the characters. They felt underdeveloped, and the main characters’ relationship in particular felt rushed, which made it harder to emotionally connect or fully buy into it. There were moments where I wanted the story to linger a little longer and let those dynamics breathe.
One element I did find really compelling was the way this world treats New Year’s Eve — or rather, doesn’t. The contrast between a world where the moment passes without celebration and our own, where it’s marked universally across borders and cultures, was a fascinating bit of worldbuilding that I wish had been explored even more.
Overall, this was an okay read with a great concept and a distinctive gothic tone, but uneven pacing and shallow character development held it back for me. I’d still be interested in seeing what the author does next, especially if future work leans more into character depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That said, I struggled quite a bit in the beginning. The story was hard to get into and felt repetitive at times, which slowed the pacing and made it difficult to fully settle into the world early on. Once things picked up, I was more invested, but it took longer than I would’ve liked to get there.
I also wanted more depth from the characters. They felt underdeveloped, and the main characters’ relationship in particular felt rushed, which made it harder to emotionally connect or fully buy into it. There were moments where I wanted the story to linger a little longer and let those dynamics breathe.
One element I did find really compelling was the way this world treats New Year’s Eve — or rather, doesn’t. The contrast between a world where the moment passes without celebration and our own, where it’s marked universally across borders and cultures, was a fascinating bit of worldbuilding that I wish had been explored even more.
Overall, this was an okay read with a great concept and a distinctive gothic tone, but uneven pacing and shallow character development held it back for me. I’d still be interested in seeing what the author does next, especially if future work leans more into character depth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2025
The beginning of a new series, a new world with new rules, goodies, baddies, heroes, creatures and an irrepressible FMC that simply will not be controlled.
This book was a whopping 400 pages long and I adored every single one of them. Reams has created a unique world with a rich history and plethora of supporting characters.
The world is being beset by the unseen hour once a year at midnight on New Year's Eve, anyone caught outside the threshold of a locked door is found by morning frozen and pale in death. This has spread from region to region and has terrorised people for almost a century.
Celia's father disappeared one Unseen Hour however his body was never found. After finding a journal from a mysterious Lord who also disappeared during the very first Unseen Hour, Celiac discovers her father's notations and realises that he has attempted to cross over to the plane where the souls go after they pass.
The remainder of the book follows Celia's journey following in her father's footsteps as she discovers exactly what the Unseen Hour is, the power of the gods and the power of love and romance in the most unlikely of places.
This story really captured my imagination and I am eager to read the next part of the story. There is technically a small cliffhanger but for the most part the book's story themes are explained and resolved, it's less of a cliffhanger and more of a set up for the next book.
Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!
This book was a whopping 400 pages long and I adored every single one of them. Reams has created a unique world with a rich history and plethora of supporting characters.
The world is being beset by the unseen hour once a year at midnight on New Year's Eve, anyone caught outside the threshold of a locked door is found by morning frozen and pale in death. This has spread from region to region and has terrorised people for almost a century.
Celia's father disappeared one Unseen Hour however his body was never found. After finding a journal from a mysterious Lord who also disappeared during the very first Unseen Hour, Celiac discovers her father's notations and realises that he has attempted to cross over to the plane where the souls go after they pass.
The remainder of the book follows Celia's journey following in her father's footsteps as she discovers exactly what the Unseen Hour is, the power of the gods and the power of love and romance in the most unlikely of places.
This story really captured my imagination and I am eager to read the next part of the story. There is technically a small cliffhanger but for the most part the book's story themes are explained and resolved, it's less of a cliffhanger and more of a set up for the next book.
Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!
August 28, 2025
When we meet Celia in The Unseen Hour, she’s living a pre-industrial world where women are treated like pretty, decorative objects, not independent people. Celia is yearning for adventure, and she’s determined to figure out what happened to her father, who disappeared many years earlier during The Unseen Hour. I liked this spooky concept, if anyone can really like a mysterious hour where anyone caught outside is killed by unknown forces. Because her father’s body was never found, Celia is hoping he’s still alive and that by following in his footsteps she can rescue him. This starts her on a path to an adventure beyond anything she could have imagined.
I liked Celia, she’s living in an oppressive world, but she’s found ways to bend or ignore the rules to get what she wants. She’s determined to help others, no matter the circumstances she finds herself in. Orion is very likable too and I felt he was a great match for her. The author’s description of the Ether was well done and I didn’t have any trouble imagining it and the shades that are trapped there. This book is part of a duology, but I felt this first book came to a good conclusion, and I definitely disagree with others that labelled it a cliff hanger. I would characterize it as a good hook for the next story instead, since it’s marked as a duology, the presence of a hook wasn’t surprising to me. I definitely enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book!
I liked Celia, she’s living in an oppressive world, but she’s found ways to bend or ignore the rules to get what she wants. She’s determined to help others, no matter the circumstances she finds herself in. Orion is very likable too and I felt he was a great match for her. The author’s description of the Ether was well done and I didn’t have any trouble imagining it and the shades that are trapped there. This book is part of a duology, but I felt this first book came to a good conclusion, and I definitely disagree with others that labelled it a cliff hanger. I would characterize it as a good hook for the next story instead, since it’s marked as a duology, the presence of a hook wasn’t surprising to me. I definitely enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book!
August 28, 2025
Thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for this ARC! (All opinions are my own)
I would recommend this book for fans of the Belladonna Series by Adalyn Grace!
This book was very well written, and had an interesting twist at the end that I can't wait to see where it takes us in book two! The pros for me were the world building, the perfectly paced progression of the plot, and the characters the author wrote. I really enjoyed the setting of this other realm and the fear of the unknown. The author did so well describing the shades and the interactions between the various gods and our main characters Celia and Orion.
The cons for me were the dialogue, the entire relationship between Celia & Orion, and certain parts of the plot that were wrapped up too quickly or just skimmed over. The dialogue was a bit difficult to follow at times as it felt disjointed from the time period we are supposed to be in. Especially with Orion who had been away from the living for so long. I really didn't feel the connection with Celia and Orion. The instalove was not believable, and they (to me) lacked chemistry. I loved how she stood up for him and wanted to protect him but it felt like two long lost friends rather than two lovers.
Overall it's a 3 out of 5 for me, and I did still enjoy this book and would recommend it to others. I'll definitely be checking out book 2 as it has so much potential for both characters to grow.
I would recommend this book for fans of the Belladonna Series by Adalyn Grace!
This book was very well written, and had an interesting twist at the end that I can't wait to see where it takes us in book two! The pros for me were the world building, the perfectly paced progression of the plot, and the characters the author wrote. I really enjoyed the setting of this other realm and the fear of the unknown. The author did so well describing the shades and the interactions between the various gods and our main characters Celia and Orion.
The cons for me were the dialogue, the entire relationship between Celia & Orion, and certain parts of the plot that were wrapped up too quickly or just skimmed over. The dialogue was a bit difficult to follow at times as it felt disjointed from the time period we are supposed to be in. Especially with Orion who had been away from the living for so long. I really didn't feel the connection with Celia and Orion. The instalove was not believable, and they (to me) lacked chemistry. I loved how she stood up for him and wanted to protect him but it felt like two long lost friends rather than two lovers.
Overall it's a 3 out of 5 for me, and I did still enjoy this book and would recommend it to others. I'll definitely be checking out book 2 as it has so much potential for both characters to grow.
September 1, 2025
3.75 rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley & Night Loch Publishers for the gifted eARC.
Tropes & Highlights:
• Love declarations
• Yearning
• Quests/ Adventure
• Bad deities
• Cursed realm
• Each other’s salvation
• Golden retriever MMC
• Allies to lovers
First of all, it’s giving paranormal Bridgerton- and for fans of Bridgerton, the protagonist Celia’s story reminded me a lot of Eloise.
Celia is sneaking around town with her own agenda to uncover truths, has no interest in taking the season seriously, falls in love with a dude’s written journal and runs off to be with him (kinda).
Except, the guy from the journal is presumed dead 98 years prior after the first Unseen Hour. 💀
The Unseen Hour is basically a phenomenon where a mist descends an hour before midnight every NYE and people die or go missing unless locked in their homes. Celia finds a journal left by someone who was victim of the first Unseen Hour with her father’s notes added, who was a victim 3 years prior.
Celia becomes obsessed with the journal with her father’s notes.
Both by thinking this is the key to finding out her father’s fate and by falling in love with the original author and fantasizing about him.
additional TW: Attempted intentional NDE (Near Death Experience)
My thoughts:
It’s cozy even though the subject and atmosphere are dark/ bleak. The romance is what gives it a cozy feel.
It’s book 1 in a duology and left me wanting to know what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley & Night Loch Publishers for the gifted eARC.
Tropes & Highlights:
• Love declarations
• Yearning
• Quests/ Adventure
• Bad deities
• Cursed realm
• Each other’s salvation
• Golden retriever MMC
• Allies to lovers
First of all, it’s giving paranormal Bridgerton- and for fans of Bridgerton, the protagonist Celia’s story reminded me a lot of Eloise.
Celia is sneaking around town with her own agenda to uncover truths, has no interest in taking the season seriously, falls in love with a dude’s written journal and runs off to be with him (kinda).
Except, the guy from the journal is presumed dead 98 years prior after the first Unseen Hour. 💀
The Unseen Hour is basically a phenomenon where a mist descends an hour before midnight every NYE and people die or go missing unless locked in their homes. Celia finds a journal left by someone who was victim of the first Unseen Hour with her father’s notes added, who was a victim 3 years prior.
Celia becomes obsessed with the journal with her father’s notes.
Both by thinking this is the key to finding out her father’s fate and by falling in love with the original author and fantasizing about him.
additional TW: Attempted intentional NDE (Near Death Experience)
My thoughts:
It’s cozy even though the subject and atmosphere are dark/ bleak. The romance is what gives it a cozy feel.
It’s book 1 in a duology and left me wanting to know what happens next.
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