First published 1986
A young artist discovers they can open a gateway through time, stepping into the violent world of tenth-century Ireland. The portal transports them to an era of Celtic monasteries, Viking raids, and ancient magic, where illuminated manuscripts hold power beyond mere decoration. Caught between two worlds and two times, the artist must navigate the dangers of medieval Ireland while grappling with forces that threaten both past and present. Their journey becomes one of survival and discovery as they encounter monks, warriors, and mysteries that challenge everything they believed about art, faith, and the nature of time itself. Love blooms across the centuries, creating bonds so powerful they transcend the barriers between ages. The artist faces an impossible choice between the familiar modern world and a past that calls to their soul, where their artistic gifts may serve a purpose greater than they ever imagined.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, time-travel
Setting: Ireland
Period: 10th Century
344 pages · Paperback · Bantam Books
Content warnings: violence