The Longest Autumn

A Novel

By: Amy Avery

Narrated by: Zura Johnson

"Using an ethereal voice and delicate intonation, Zura Johnson elevates this mystery loosely based on ancient Greco-Roman mythology into a captivating listening experience."—AudioFile

For fans of Ariadne, a spellbinding debut fantasy about a human who gets trapped with the god of Autumn, who brings with him life-threatening danger and a forbidden romance.

Under the right circumstances, would even a god fall?

Tirne is one of four humans rigorously selected to usher the turn of the seasons into the mortal world. Every year, she escorts the taciturn god Autumn between the godly and human realms. Autumn’s seasonal stay among mortals brings cooler weather, changing leaves, and the harvest of apples and gourds until Winter takes his place.

This year, the enchanted Mirror that separates their worlds shatters after Tirne and Autumn pass through, trapping both of them in the human realm. As the endless autumn stretches on, crops begin to fail and the threat of starvation looms. Away from the magic of the gods’ home, Tirne suffers debilitating headaches that return with a vengeance. Worse, Autumn’s extended stay in the human realm turns him ever more mortal and vulnerable, stirring a new, forbidden attraction to Tirne.

While the priesthood scrambles to find a way to reassemble the Mirror, Tirne digs into the temple’s secrets and finds an unlikely ally—or enemy—in the enigmatic sorcerer and master of poisons, Sidriel. Thrown into a world of mystery, betrayal, and espionage as she searches for the truth, might Tirne lose her morals, her hard-earned position, and the illicit spark between her and Autumn?

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 Amy Avery (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"[M]any fantasy readers will enjoy the satisfying personification of the seasons and their heralds, the blossoming romances and attractions, and the slow unspooling of the mystery of the shattered portal."—Booklist

"[T]he mystery is compelling and Tirne's world is richly drawn. A whodunit in fantasy form makes for a complex, original tale."—Kirkus Reviews

"The Longest Autumn is an absorbing and immersive novel set in a beautifully crafted fantasy world: rich in myth and magic, and woven with intrigue and passion."—Jennifer Saint, internationally bestselling author of Ariadne, Elektra, and Atalanta

neat little package

not gonna lie, the beginning of the book felt slow in a few spots. while the author took great care in being very descriptive and appealing to all senses, it was over descriptive for my tastes. sometimes it felt like she spent 4 pgs to describe something that took place in 5mins.

however, the storyline and worldbuilding was interesting enough that i wanted to keep listening. the voice acting was superb, and for the most part, i was able to tell the difference between which characters were talking without needing a 'name said' clarifier. i loved that.

the second half of the book was magnificent. she brought her a-game to the writing of the last few chapters, and i loved the way the story ended. i loved the way she portrayed the antagonist (which, to me, was a different character than the 'villain'), and the way she explores love and its many different forms. i loved that there was an epilogue that wrapped up the storylines of ALL of the important side characters you meet along the way. she somehow managed to give an open ending alongside so much closure that i felt sated in a way that i find rare these days, when so many books evolve into series.

i would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a brilliantly descriptive one-off that leaves you feeling full.

Beautifully read, beautifully written!

Beautifully read, beautifully written! Stellar job by both the author and the audiobook narrator. A rollercoaster of emotions and longing as the mystery unravels. I loved falling into the worldbuilding and the intrigue and was left wanting even more. Can't wait to see what's next from the author!

Depressing

Honestly, I’m not one to review books harshly but if you want to read a book where the majority is the female main character harshly suffering physically and emotionally, without much of a plot line & with a less than satisfactory ending- this is your book.

How do you save a God from becoming human?

Tirne is a herald of The God of Autumn, who loves her life, her god and her friends. Until someone shatters her world. As things unravel further and further like a thread coming undone you get sucked into the world of an endless autumn, betrayal and despair. Can Tirne recover? Who can be trusted? Can she save her god from becoming human? Can she redeem herself by repairing an artifact? This story had me glued to my seat. The narrator is wonderful, I couldn’t stop listening.