A sequel to Litton's Dream Island, this overwrought entry follows Kassandra, the princess of Akora (a fantasy island civilization), as she leaves her homeland to visit England for the first time. In the household of her brother, Alex, and his wife, Joanna, she learns the nuances of Regency society and meets Joanna's brother, Royce, the earl of Hawkforte, who bears more resemblance to an Akoran warrior than a dandified English gentleman. Kassandra discovers how truly warrior-like Royce is when a volatile political situation makes London unsafe and Alex asks Royce to accompany her, Joanna and his infant daughter back to Akora. Violence also erupts in Akora, injuring Kassandra's other brother, Atreus. While Atreus lies in a coma, Kassandra leads her bewildered country in spite of a vision she has portending her own demise. Inevitably, Royce defeats the man who threatens her and all of Akora. Litton's flowery prose makes for lugubrious reading, especially since she fails to ignite a real romantic fire between Kassandra and Royce, who are too one-dimensional to sustain a blaze. With its awkward juxtaposition of Regency England and Akora, a bizarre civilization that reeks of Rome and contemporary America, this fanciful tale falls flat. (July 2)
