Shanahan, Kate "Tangled Spirits: A Novel"

Winner of the 2023 Florida Authors and Publishers Association Silver Award for Historical Fiction

"The story is a heartwarming glimpse into the Heian period of Japan and its mythology. Recommended." - Historical Novels Review

Kate Shanahan skillfully blends fictional and historical figures into this captivating timeslip tale of magic, imperial intrigue, and a friendship that spans a thousand years.

In 2019, Mina Cooper is studying abroad in Japan and finally enjoying the independence she craves. But during a meditation in a power spot on a sacred mountain, her spirit is pulled into the spirit world.

In 999, Lady Masako is desperately lonely after her mother and sister die in an epidemic, so she performs a shamanic ritual to enter the spirit world to contact them. Unable to control her powers, she leaves in a panic but pulls Mina back with her.

Caught in a struggle for control, the two young women realize they must work together to seek help from the famous diviner Abe no Seimei, the only person powerful enough to send Mina back to her own time. But his assistance comes at a cost, and the longer Mina delays paying it, the greater the risk of her spirit fusing with Masako's permanently.

As Mina navigates the treacherous world of the imperial court and the schemes of a powerful regent, she also gets a glimpse of the Heian Period through the eyes of historical figures like Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu, ladies-in-waiting to rival empresses. But will she ever be able to return to her own time and body? Or will she be trapped in the past forever?

For fans of time-traveling adventures and historical fiction, Tangled Spirits is a must-read. If you enjoyed books like 'Outlander' or 'The Time Traveler's Wife', you'll love this captivating tale.