In 1311 Lady Shizuka visits Lord Kiyori in the highest tower of Cloud of Sparrows Castle in Japan. The odd thing is Kiyori lives in 1860.

The Autumn Bridge is a complex story with a very convoluted plot. It takes place in 1311, 1860, 1882, 1867, 1308, 1862, 1281, and 1291, in Mushindo Abbey, Tokyo, San Francisco, Quiet Crane Palace, Edo, and Cloud of Sparrows Castle.

Lady Shizuka is a sorceress born of a long line of sorceresses. Her gift, or curse, is to experience all times simultaneously. Past, present and future have no meaning. Until her first menses she cannot even distinguish one from the other. Once she becomes a woman, she is able to differentiate what is happening now from what has happened and what will happen. This talent naturally gives her a unique interpretation of time.

I found The Autumn Bridge fascinating. I cared for the characters in the variety of time frames and read, despite occasional time confusion, with great anticipation of what would happen next. It is a compelling story. It is not, however, a story for everyone. Normally I am able to read a book in a day without any trouble. The Autumn Bridge took me weeks. The story is too complex and the plot too sinuous for it to be a quick read. The cover says it is “an epic tale” and it certainly is. If you are in the mood for a story as deeply layer as Michener’s The Source, pick up Takushi Matsuaka’s The Autumn Bridge. You won’t be disappointed.