A compelling and innovative take on Black family history, blending historical romance with fantasy.
This novel presents an intriguing mix of historical romance and fantasy, suggesting that time travel may provide a path to heal generational trauma.
“My family tree has poisoned roots,” Cecily Bridge-Davis states at the opening of this haunting tale, centered on the “curse” of time travel. In May 1964, Cecily, an African American history professor, inherits her father’s 65-acre Virginia farmland. Leaving her Tennessee home to investigate, she discovers an abandoned cabin, a spool from a maple tree, and a family Bible with a yellowed flyleaf documenting the birth dates of Bridge family members born on the farm from the 1760s to the 1920s. An elderly local recounts a long-ago murder-kidnapping involving one of her ancestors—just the beginning of Cecily’s revelations. She soon uncovers the mystery behind the family’s disappearances: Each generation sees one member of the Bridge family transported back in time. She also finds a map marked with locations of strange containers and a list of “Bridge Family Rules” for time travel: “Never interfere with past events,” “Always carry your freedom papers,” “Search for the survival packs in the orchard,” and “Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary.” Delving into the family’s layered history, Cecily traces her lineage back to the 18th century, including Luke, an ancestor who travels through time from freedom to enslavement before joining the Continental Army and enduring the hardships of Valley Forge. Following her library research, Cecily herself is compelled to leave 1964 for 1911. There, she assumes a new identity, eventually securing a teaching position in Washington, D.C., around 1924, where she informs a young student, Amelia Bridge, of their shared lineage. Cecily tells “Millie” that she must make the most critical time journey in their family’s history. Madison expertly manages the complex narrative, evoking comparisons to Octavia Butler’s Kindred, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Ray Bradbury’s stories of temporal shifts.
A captivating, skillfully crafted exploration of Black family history across generations.
