Spirited Away

Romance author Cindy Miles published her debut novel, Spirited Away, in 2007. The novel follows a modern-day archeologist, Dr. Andrea Monroe, as she has a supernatural fling with a Knight, Tristan de Barre, while trying to uncover the secrets of the castle in which he was murdered in 1292. Miles wrote the story after finishing nursing school. Spirited Away considers themes such as love’s power to continue through centuries, the nobility of an adventurous spirit, and the power of love to conquer seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The novel mixes elements of medieval fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal realism. Some readers have noted that there are a number of discrepancies in the text because the author is American; in England, where the story is set, no one takes cream in their tea. There are several chronological discrepancies as well: Tristan can wear modern clothes and is up-to-date on the latest television shows, but his speech is full of anachronistic phrases from the 13th century. Tristan can’t touch many objects, but he’s somehow able to hold a phone and make calls that are necessary for the maintenance of his property.

Dr. Andrea Monroe (who goes by Andi) has always wanted to solve the mystery of Dreadmoor Castle: specifically, she wants to learn the whereabouts of the bodies of Tristan de Barre (nicknamed Dragonhawk) and his 15 men after their assassination. The novel opens with Andi receiving an invitation to investigate the castle. Ancient bones and weapons are found on the property after a terrible storm that uproots an ancient oak tree, and Monroe wastes no time in rushing over there to dig up the past. As a much younger woman, she visited the castle grounds and had a surreal experience; she thinks she saw a ghost, but has never been sure, and this trip to Dreadmoor Castle may settle the question of whether or not ghosts exist. On her first day at Dreadmoor Castle, Dr. Monroe meets the old butler who works in the castle. The next day, she insists on meeting Lord Dreadmoor, whom she understands to be gruff and taciturn. She wonders why she is the only person on the property, but quickly concludes that Lord Dreadmoor probably wanted to keep the area secluded. The owner of Dreadmoor Castle turns out to be a gorgeous, laconic man, who claims to be too busy to talk to her. Andi says she just wants to discuss the castle’s history, but he runs away before she can learn anything substantial.

To maintain his secret, ghostly identity, Tristan appears rude on several occasions, refusing to shake her hand and allowing her to fall while walking. It turns out that the current lord of the castle is also the original lord, who was murdered in 1292. Tristan, as a ghost, cannot leave the property. He has his fellow knights for company, but after 700 years, life has become a forlorn affair. One day, a ghost tells Andi to “save them and beware.” She’s unsure of what to do with this information, other than investigate with greater diligence. That night, while searching through the castle’s dungeon, she unearths some chain mail.



Andi finds herself increasingly drawn to the lord of the house. He is very tall, broad-shoulder, and his accent makes her swoon. Tristan, in turns, falls for Andi, though his policy for the last seven centuries has been to avoid humans, as they die before a century’s time and leave one all alone in the end. But Andi is smart and beautiful, and he finds that the biggest battle he has to face is avoiding her. Not only does Andi exhibit incredible grit, but she is also intellectually gifted and ceaselessly courageous, qualities that were valued during Tristan’s knightly days. Soon enough, Andi reaches to touch Tristan and learns he is an apparition. While others might have turned and run, Andi is only curious to learn more about this ghost.

She learns that Tristan and his men were cursed by their murderer to drift through the halls of Dreadmoor Keep for all eternity, until Tristan could find someone to love him. They were murdered by Tristan’s adopted father, Erik, who blamed Tristan and his knights for not saving his son’s life, though Tristan and his men did everything in their power to save the boy. Andi starts thinking of ways to lift the curse so that she and Tristan can be together. She joins the knights for dinner, and eagerly hears all of their stories. Tristan discusses his feelings for Andi with his faithful servant, Jameison. Jameison encourages him to venture after Dr. Monroe, even if they can't consummate their love. Instead of physical contact, Andi and Tristan express their love through romantic monologues, gazing at each other, and tracing the outline of each other’s bodies. The two sense that there must be a way they can be together.