The Carousel of Forgotten Places
Will be published approx. on 25. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-83673-039-2 (ISBN)
Description
First rule: Don't mess with the timeline. Second rule: Don't mess around with the time-god.
For 500 years, immortal timekeeper Ryka has run a cozy magical fair on the edges of time, managing the time threads and protecting the spirits that live there. She lives happily among a found family of quirky ghosts, a spectral cat, and even her insufferable boss, the annoying (and sexy) time-god Everest.
But when the carousel at the heart of the fair begins to show signs of time rot, a live human falls through time and ends up landing at their feet. With the fair descending into chaos, Ryka and Everest must team up to get this human home, find the source of the rot, and keep the fabric of time from tearing apart - all while hoping that the 500 years of feelings between them don't get in their way.
For 500 years, immortal timekeeper Ryka has run a cozy magical fair on the edges of time, managing the time threads and protecting the spirits that live there. She lives happily among a found family of quirky ghosts, a spectral cat, and even her insufferable boss, the annoying (and sexy) time-god Everest.
But when the carousel at the heart of the fair begins to show signs of time rot, a live human falls through time and ends up landing at their feet. With the fair descending into chaos, Ryka and Everest must team up to get this human home, find the source of the rot, and keep the fabric of time from tearing apart - all while hoping that the 500 years of feelings between them don't get in their way.
Reviews / Votes
"whimsical world, tender romance, and achingly relatable protagonist"- Emily Charlotte, author of Heart Check
"A mystical and imaginative romp featuring an intense, slowburn romance that will wake your spellbound mind!"
- Yejin Suh, author The Last Soldier of Nava
"The perfect slow burn between an absentminded time god and a human who just won't let go of the past. A starry, ethereal mix of cosiness and yearning that had me hooked to the last page!"
- Eli Snow, author of The Divine Gardener's Handbook
"The Carousel of Forgotten Places is a sometimes whimsical, sometimes unhinged, and always wondrous love story - not just in its epic romance, but also the death-defying bonds among friends and family (and accomplices and semi-nemeses) that create home even in liminal spaces. Tender and wise."
- P. H. Low, Ignyte-, Locus-, and Rhysling-nominated author of These Deathless Shores
"The Carousel of Forgotten Places is a heartfelt tale about living, loving, and letting go. With unforgettable characters and spellbinding prose, Hati whisks us away to a world of swoon-worthy time gods and delightful ghosts. A fantastical dream of a book."
- Samantha Bansil, author of Black Salt Queen
"Delightfully bright and reverberating with a sincerity, The Carousel of Forgotten Places invites us into a fair made of memories and brimming with fondness. Featuring a colorful cast of characters, a windswept dragon ride, and a delectable slow-burn romance stretching nearly half a millennium long, it's impossible not to be utterly enchanted by this charming entry into cozy fantasy."
- Bita Behzadi, author of Letters from the Last Apothecary
"500 year old time keeper heroine, chaotic time god, and spunky ghosts in an unforgettable time adventure that unspools with heart!"
- K.A. Linde, NYT bestselling author of The Wren in the Holly Library
"Wonderfully creative and thoughtful, The Carousel of Forgotten Places explores love, duty, and belonging across centuries of beautifully tangled time."
- Auralee Wallace, author of In the Company of Witches
"The Carousel of Forgotten Places is an enchanting adventure through time, heartbreak, love, and longing. I adored the magical fair at the nexus of time and all the ghosts (and one sexy god) who inhabit it. Ryka is a compelling heroine - loyal, kind, and courageous, with relatable flaws and anxieties - and readers will be rooting for her happily-ever-after. With an unforgettable setting and a delightful cast of characters, this gorgeous fantasy novel shows that love is the most powerful magic of all."
- Sarah Hawley, USA Today bestselling author of Servant of Earth
"Those who enjoy spunky, sweet love stories will enjoy this whimsical romance with banter and funny characters, all of which make this a memorable ride."
- Booklist
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Watkins Media Limited
Edition type
New edition
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 130 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83673-039-2 (9781836730392)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
S. Hati writes speculative fiction about brown girls who can't seem to stop getting themselves in trouble, usually of the magical sort. She is also the author of And the Sky Bled, a starred-review cli-fi fantasy, and Morbid Curiosities, a YA thriller. She is an avid Warriors fan and can usually be found playing the guitar (badly) while staring forlornly out of the window with a chronic case of wanderlust.