Defying the social restrictions of 1927, Katherine, a young American doctor, crosses the Ma'rhu River in the obscure tropical country of Takau. Determined to open a clinic in the slums of Am'rha Bo, Katherine wins hearts and defies authorities. She survives an earthquake and gets tangled in a violent revolution. Her soul is awakened and she experiences the revelations of cultural immersion. As The Island Gardens of Takau disclose their secrets, she discovers allies in unlikely guises and a lover whose extravagant idealism finally exceeds her own.
Laced with the mythology and color of an ancient culture, Katherine's narrative reveals her slow recognition of the price paid for uncompromising devotion to a noble cause. But, her achievements only clear the way for violence and betrayal. Will the great bridge Kai and Katherine struggle to build unite the shores that the Ma'rhu has kept separate for centuries?
Excerpt From the Book Slippery silt darkens her green dress and mosquitoes buzz in her reedy hair, but Ma'rhu sings and dances on her way to a lovers' tryst. Wise with whispers from mossy boulders, she murmurs as she gathers gifts in her deep basket. Coppery leaves, flecks of mountain gold, lost feathers, and the ashes of the dead. All tokens of love, all equal, all carried to her lover, the Sea. If you listen carefully, say the Rizha, Ma'rhu will share her stories with you.