The Last Hour Between Worlds

'I completely adored this book and would read a dozen more of Kembral's adventures'

Shannon Chakraborty, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

'A masterpiece - filled with excitement, romance and characters you would protect with your life . . . Unmissable!

Andre Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

Follow a star investigator and her rival as they journey through layers of reality to save the world as they know it in this whip-smart adventure fantasy about rival guilds, reality-bending magic and unexpected mystery.

Kembral Thorne is spending a precious few hours away from her newborn, and she's determined to enjoy herself at the year-turning ball. But when the guests start dropping dead, Kem has no choice but to get to work. She's a member of the Guild of Hounds, after all, and she can't help picking up the scent of trouble. Especially when her professional and personal nemesis, notorious cat burglar Rika Nonesuch, is also on the prowl.

At the heart of the mayhem is a mysterious clock that sends the ballroom down into strange and otherworldly new layers of reality every time it chimes. As the party plunges through increasingly dangerous versions of their city, Kem will have to rely on her wits - and Rika - to unravel the mystery before catastrophe is unleashed on their world.

'Melissa Caruso's writing is razor-sharp and this book is one heck of a page-turner'

Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of The Wyld

'An absolute delight!'

Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

'I loved it and can't wait for more in this world'

Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library

'A witty, tense and imaginative triumph of a book'

Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies

'A jewelled swirl of dangerous magic, fabulous outfits and reluctant heroism, Caruso's The Last Hour Between Worlds is fiendishly well-plotted, utterly enchanting and surprisingly relatable'

Leife Shallcross, author of The Beast's Heart

The Last Hour Between Worlds is a masterpiece - filled with excitement, romance and characters you would protect with your life. The wobbly time effects in this book reach past its pages, making hours of reading blink by in a moment. Unmissable!
A brilliant, breathlessly twisty fantasy adventure that I utterly adored. Melissa Caruso is a powerhouse -- Tasha Suri, author of THE JASMINE THRONE
I love The Last Hour Between Worlds to pieces . . . A time-bending triumph, a compelling adventure . . . A gorgeous, witty, fast-paced and atmospheric novel -- LOCUS
A charming fantasy mystery that kept me guessing until the very last page - I completely adored this book and would read a dozen more of Kembral's adventures -- Shannon Chakraborty, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI
This book has everything you've been craving: sword fights, time loops, complicated feelings about parenthood, and banter with your sworn enemy. What an absolute delight! -- Alix E. Harrow, author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY
An addictive read with an incredibly sympathetic heroine and a delightful relationship. I loved it and can't wait for more in this world -- Genevieve Cogman, author of THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY
Equal parts sheer adventurous fun and creepy, dimension-bending tension, featuring a relatable and instantly engaging protagonist. This is totally unlike anything I've read before; Caruso has pulled off a wonderfully creative premise with skill and panache -- Freya Marske, author of A MARVELLOUS LIGHT
To say The Last Hour Between Worlds hits the ground running would be an understatement: This book starts at a sprint and never slows down. It's funny, and scary and weird in the very best way. Melissa Caruso's writing is razor-sharp and this book is one heck of a page-turner -- Nicholas Eames, author of KINGS OF THE WYLD
A witty, tense and imaginative triumph of a book, I lost many an unplanned hour inhaling The Last Hour Between Worlds. With its compelling magic, reluctant hero trying (and failing) to be on leave, and one increasingly surreal party, this tightly paced story will be a lasting favourite! -- Sam Hawke, author of CITY OF LIES
This book is for those who dream of going to the ball inside the Goblin King's crystal bubble, but struggle with work-life balance and finding a good babysitter. A jewelled swirl of dangerous magic, fabulous outfits and reluctant heroism, Caruso's The Last Hour Between Worlds is fiendishly well-plotted, utterly enchanting and surprisingly relatable -- Leife Shallcross, author of THE BEAST'S HEART
This twisty, locked-room mystery spans alternate dimensions; braiding romance and adventure into brilliant, time-looping fun -- Sunyi Dean, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE BOOK EATERS
Twisty, breakneck, and full of delightful surprises, The Last Hour Between Worlds is a book guaranteed to pull you out of a reading slump. Equal parts hilarious and poignant, this is Caruso's best work yet - a time-loop, murder mystery party like you've never read before. I dare you to put it down -- Kritika H. Rao, author of THE SURVIVING SKY
A fantastical locked-room mystery where every peal of the clock peels away another layer of reality . . . The Last Hour Between Worlds is an absolute adventure, with a queer lead, a snarky rival and breath-takingly poignant moments. Reader, I inhaled it -- K. A Doore, author of THE PERFECT ASSASSIN
Melissa Caruso's writing is utterly captivating! Fresh world, twisty mystery, and a main character you'll want to back to the ends of every world. The intersection of motherhood and magic adds a richness to the world that immediately glued me to the page -- Chelsea Mueller, author of BORROWED SOULS
Outrageously clever, with characters who are at times wantonly absurd, engaging, enraging, and intricate, this is a book for everyone who wants to escape reality - though beware, it gets weirder the deeper you go -- Anna Stephens, author of GODBLIND
Caruso never takes her foot off the gas, marrying riveting action with meticulous worldbuilding and eccentric characters through effortless prose. Readers will be hooked -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Clever, empathetic characters, an unusual world, and a rapidly paced story that keeps readers guessing will delight fans of Caruso's and create new ones -- LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)
A heady, bizarre rush of murder mystery meets Alice's in Wonderland . . . This book is truly a breath of fresh air -- BOOKPAGE

Melissa Caruso was born on the summer solstice and went to school in an old mansion with a secret door, but despite this auspicious beginning has yet to develop any known superpowers. She has spent her whole life creating imaginary worlds, and in addition to writing is also an avid larper and tabletop gamer.

Melissa graduated with honours in creative writing from Brown University and has an MFA in fiction from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her first novel, The Tethered Mage, was shortlisted for a Gemmell Morningstar award for best fantasy debut.

Melissa lives in Massachusetts with her video game designer husband, two magical daughters and assorted pets. You can find her on Twitter, where she posts about writing, tea and sword-fighting in ballgowns.

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