'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 A whip-smart adventure fantasy packed with reality-bending magic, and Sapphic romance, The Last Hour Between Worlds is the brilliant launch of a new series from Gemmell Award-nominated author, Melissa Caruso. 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 burglar Rika Nonesuch, is also on the prowl. At the heart of the mayhem is a mysterious clock that sends the ballroom into strange and otherworldly new layers of reality called Echoes every time it chimes. It soon becomes clear that they have all become entangled in an Echo game - a power struggle involving ancient beings of immense power. As the party plunges through increasingly deadly realities, Kem will have to rely on her wits - and Rika - to unravel the most dangerous contest of the century before it unleashes catastrophe on their world 'An absolute delight!' Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January '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