Let the reader beware, this series cannot be read out of order due to the intricate plot set up throughout the three books. Having said that, if you are a fan of paranormals at all, this series is a must-read. I’ve been waiting for Morgan’s story since he fell through the wormhole in the first of McReynolds’ Celtic saga, The Chalice and the Blade.

The wormhole sent Morgan through time, and this passage has not made life easy for him. Morgan is a thief who suffered serious injuries as a result of his trip, and who now finds himself far in the future, and a barren desolate future at that. His beloved forests are gone, and he misses Wales and his friends deeply. After 10 years, he still longs for home, but wants nothing to do with the time gates, ever again. He has managed to gather a new band of thieves, but their latest job lands them in more trouble than Morgan ever bargained for.

Meanwhile, Lady Avallyn, Priestess of the White Palace, has just been informed that Morgan is her destiny. She cannot believe that Morgan could be the man prophesied to save the earth by her side. He is uncouth, a thief, and obviously addicted to Carillion wine. He doesn’t even have knowledge of his own special gifts. No way could he be the famed Prince of Time.

Avallyn has been trained her entire life to fulfill her destiny alongside the Prince of Time, to save the world from the Dharkkum, the evil darkness that is slowly taking over everything. She is a strong warrior and mage in her own right, and firmly believes in the sacrifice that she must make to remove the taint forever.

Morgan believes Avallyn has a few screws loose, and when she traps him into accompanying her into the desert waste, he knows she is insane. Much of the fun in this book stems from the adversarial relationship between Morgan and Avallyn. Each believes they have the upper hand, but they are equally matched in skills. The tension between them only increases as they draw closer to their destiny. Morgan must face his own emotional scars and losses along the way. I just love tortured heroes!

The villain of the series makes his reappearance here. Corvus is a nasty piece of work, but he has shaped his own destiny. He makes his choice to embrace the darkness, and more of his reason behind that decision is revealed.

The plot is rich in scientific explanation, and threads that have run all through the story are tied up, which is part of the reason these must be read in order. My quibble with the story comes at the end. Once Avallyn and Morgan travel through time, the plot is wrapped up almost too quickly and neatly. I had a similar problem with Dream Stone.

Still, my fascination with Morgan was enough to overlook that problem, and anyone who has read the first two books will not be disappointed with Morgan and Avallyn’s story. It was well worth the wait. I’ll travel through time with Morgan any time.