Tangled Spirits

A Novel

By: Kate Shanahan

Narrated by: Anne Marie Lewis

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

A captivating time-slip tale of spirit possession, friendship, and imperial intrigue inspired by real-life people, events, and beliefs in 10th-century Japan.

2019: Mina Cooper hopes her study-abroad program in Japan will solve her anxiety issues. After all, she’s doing what she loves—studying Japanese language and literature. But she’s still waking up at four am with a racing heart, so Mina decides to change her life, to change herself. And suddenly she has a lot more to be anxious about.

999: Desperately lonely after her mother and sister die in an epidemic, aspiring shaman Lady Masako attempts to summon them. But she’s inexperienced in such rituals and pulls Mina’s spirit into her body instead.

After a struggle for control and a failed exorcism, the two spirits agree to cooperate long enough to get help from the Royal Astrologer, the only person powerful enough to send Mina home.

But his help comes at a cost. If Mina doesn’t pay it, she risks her spirit fusing with Masako’s. And if that happens, she’ll never get home.

©2022 Catherine Whitfield (P)2023 Catherine Whitfield

Critic reviews

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

“For anyone unfamiliar with court life in ancient 10th century Japan...this is the book to read.” (Historical Fiction Company)

“Tangled Spirits...held me spellbound with its intriguing main characters and sense of danger.” (M J Porter, best-selling author of the historical fiction series Eagles of Mercia)

Brilliantly original time travel to Imperial Japan with mysticism!

I absolutely loved this YA fantasy time travel to Japan in 999 A.D. The story also includes details of the Shinto religion and Japanese history. It is a really cool book with lots of real culture and great plot! The narrator Anne Marie Lewis did an amazing job. She wonderfully made the cast of characters each sound distinctive and had excellent enunciation. The narrator is really good at sounding American (since the book is told from Mina’s first person perspective) but also accurately pronounced Japanese words and names and has a good formal way of speaking for the Japanese characters. I enjoyed the narrator’s pleasant voice and her perfect pacing. I think her performance was 5 stars to match the 5-star brilliant writing.

The soul of modern 21-year-old woman Mina gets thrown back in time 1010 years to the imperial court of Japan, and she has to cohabit the body of a young noble woman as a mostly congenial spirit possession. Based on the Shinto beliefs of the time, all of this could happen! Very well researched historical details and a fascinating plot. Satisfying character development as well for the two heroines. Mina is a little abrasive, especially at first, but she becomes much more likeable. It has some magic, action, and espionage. I loved the meaty 13-hour length that was long enough to fully flesh out the story while completely keeping me riveted. Minimal violence and no sex make it appropriate for teens and adults. I highly recommend this audiobook to all fans of time-slip or time travel fantasy and all fans of historical fiction. There are about a dozen somewhat difficult names to remember, though the writing style gave me subtle reminders on who they were.

The details of the empress’s court were based on the nonfiction “The Pillow Book” by the lady Sei Shonagon (a historical figure and a minor character in “Tangled Spirits”), which was the first published blog (or miscellany) in history! Reading this book also made me realize that a lot of anime is based on the spiritual elements of the Shinto religion and interesting historical figures like the court sorcerer/diviner Sei Mei. Thanks to this book for igniting my new interest in the history and literature of Japan. I am highly impressed by Kate Shanahan’s writing and creativity.