The Shimmering by Michael L. Clark

A mysterious phenomena tears lovers two centuries apart in Michael L. Clark’s dramatic new fantasy novel, The Shimmering.

Finding the way back home to his beautiful wife is no easy task for Daniel, after being tossed back in time to a very different Tennessee wilderness, where survival depends on quickly recognizing friend from foe. Time-traveling is a popular plot device, as well as a risky one, but the way these two storylines merge, twist, and mirror one another is impressive and a joy to read.

Readers are given a godlike overview of a rapidly unfolding mystery, which makes for exciting reading, but also means there can be a dearth of rich narration or patient storytelling, and character development is sometimes superficial. Daniel’s storyline in the past is well-researched and visceral, but Emily isn’t written with nearly as much modern depth – there are occasional stereotypical tropes, leading to unbalanced characterization. Descriptions of the environment, or purely expositional passages, are more engaging overall than the interactions and dialogue between characters.

These criticisms aside, the unexpected new relationships that develop in both timelines present interesting questions about love, morality, and permanence, and these more philosophical elements are where Clark’s writing shines. Another editing pass to address pacing issues, spelling errors, and believable dialogue could take this dramatic and romantic read to the next level, but as it stands, The Shimmering is an enjoyable, unpredictable escape.