Kingdom of Moonlight

June 10, 2002
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 1, 2002
Kassandra, the princess of the mysterious island kingdom of Akora, is visiting her brother, Alex, and sister-in-law, Joanna, in London. An anglophile, Kassandra finally gets a chance to see the country with which she's always been enamored. Royce has come by to see his sister, but is instantly fascinated by Kassandra, and doesn't harbor any ill will toward the princess of the kingdom where he was held captive for nine months. Kassandra's visit is cut short by civil unrest in the city because her brother, fearing for the safety of his wife, new daughter, and sister, sends them packing to Akora. Royce comes along, and soon they're caught up in dangerous doings. Kassandra keeps Royce at arms-length as she follows her destiny, and saves her homeland from the forces that threaten it. More mystical than the first novel in the series and with less intrigue, Litton's latest is still a great story, and it leaves the reader eager for the next chapter in the trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)