Ancient Celtic magic, forbidden longing, and destiny bind a healer and a guardian in ways neither can deny…

Eilis O’Brien has always found purpose as her village’s healer, a calling that helps quiet her secret love for Cian Rafferty—the low-born guard she can never hope to marry. But when she’s threatened, her overprotective father, the chieftain, forbids her to work. Retreating to a forgotten wing of their castle, Eilis discovers a hidden chamber and a magical mirror that links her across time to three young witches, descendants of the legendary Witches of Time. Together with the witches, Eilis must awaken her magic to fight the dark forces hunting her.

Cian Rafferty has fought his whole life the cursed burden of gatekeeper. His birthright destroyed his family, but under Chieftain O’Brien’s guidance, he finally has stability and a future—even though it cannot include Eilis, despite their deep love.

But when a demon captures Eilis and drags her into the realm that claimed his mother, Cian embraces the destiny he fought to save her. Together, they challenge an ancient evil with only their love to protect them.

Titles in the Daughters of the Witches of Time series include:  The Witch and The Gatekeeper** ~ 

There is a connection to the Witches of Time series.

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  The Witch and The Gatekeeper
Series:  Daughters of the Witches of Time #1
Author:  Leigh Ann Edwards
Published:  April 14, 2026
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Witch and The Gatekeeper is the first story in the Daughters of the Witches of Time series.  There is a connection to an earlier series, The Witches of Time, through a “next generation” style of connection/adventure.  You do not need to have read the earlier series before diving into this one, yet I’d recommend it as well if you love a good, solid Historical Paranormal Romance story/series.

Eilis is a witch, the daughter of a witch, and a healer in her own right.  She also has unacknowledged abilities that she suspects but isn’t certain how to control them at the opening of this story.  She’s in love with Cian “Raff,” a guard on her father’s protection detail.  As the highborn daughter of the chieftain and the (so-called) lowly guard, their romance is destined to be doomed in the eyes of others.  Theirs is a forbidden romance from several points of view, but when has that ever stopped true love from blooming?  Eilis’ parents are characters I’ve enjoyed in the previous series, The Witches of Time, but again, this series can easily stand on its own.

When Eilis is threatened, her father goes into overprotective overload and forbids her to do her work as a healer, and, well, it feels like she’s been banished to a hardly ever used wing of their compound.  There she’ll discover not only a hidden chamber but a magical mirror that will connect her through time to other daughters of witches… and help form her destiny.  But is it the destiny she’s known from birth, or one that will emerge through battles about to be fought for not only her powers but her life and her love as well?

Eilis and Raff’s story is filled with witchcraft, hidden powers, secrets, and possibilities that can only come to pass by defeating the evil they’ll face… together.  Their story is well-written, emotional, and full of danger.  I enjoyed myself immensely back in this world.  Admittedly, there were a few times when the pace slowed almost painfully, but I understood (story context) why that happened.  I wanted to rush headfirst into the danger, but that’s me.  I can easily see myself falling under the spell of this storytelling once more and look forward to the next adventure in the series.  If you love an Historical Paranormal Romance with characters you’ll root for to find their happy ending, and a vile villain worth loathing, then you’d enjoy The Witch and The Gatekeeper.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

 

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