Defying the social restrictions of 1927, Katherine, a young American doctor, crosses the Ma'rhu River in the obscure tropical country of Takau. Determined to open a clinic in the slums of Am'rha Bo, Katherine wins hearts and defies authorities. She survives an earthquake and gets tangled in a violent revolution. Her soul is awakened and she experiences the revelations of cultural immersion.
As The Island Gardens of Takau disclose their secrets, she discovers allies in unlikely guises and a lover whose extravagant idealism finally exceeds her own.
Laced with the mythology and color of an ancient culture, Katherine's narrative reveals her slow recognition of the price paid for uncompromising devotion to a noble cause. But, her achievements only clear the way for violence and betrayal. Will the great bridge Kai and Katherine struggle to build unite the shores that the Ma'rhu has kept separate for centuries?