Kingdom Of Moonlight [Mass Market Paperback]

Josie Litton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Medieval Trilogy | Publication Date: June 25, 2002

Readers were first captivated by the tantalizing kingdom of Akora in Josie Litton’s breathtaking Dream Island. Now the legendary nation renowned for the strength of its warriors--and the allure of its women--faces a threat to its future. Only the forbidden passion between an outsider and its own young princess can determine its fate....

Kingdom of Moonlight

It is the first trip abroad for Kassandra, the courageous princess of Akora. Enamored of all things English, the exotic beauty is eager to mingle with London society--and meet her first English gentleman. But the striking man she discovers in her brother’s home is quite the opposite of what she expected. Powerful and commanding as an Akoran warrior, he hardly resembles the sensitive knight she’d envisioned--yet he is exactly what she will need. For Kassandra’s journey is about to bring her face-to-face with both the man of her dreams and her most terrifying fear....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

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. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (June 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553583905
• ISBN-13: 978-0553583908
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of romance, November 26, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Kingdom Of Moonlight (Mass Market Paperback)

Different in that the author invents an island country, but I liked Royce and Kassandra. I was surprised to see any negative reviews -- this was not the least bit boring! It was well-written, exciting and the romance developed nicely enough. I recommend you read Dream Island first because Kingdom of Moonlight book mentions characters from the previous book. It was very enjoyable to see Alex and Joanna again and share some of their lives. I have read hundreds of romance novels and this was one of the better ones. I love an intelligent author.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars unusual yet stimulating Regency romantic suspense, July 6, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom Of Moonlight (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1812, England worries about possible wars with Napoleon and the former colonies. In London, though their siblings have been married for a year and his sister is pregnant, Lord Royce Hawkforte and Princess Kassandra of Akora meet for the first time under happier circumstances.

Just after Joanna gives birth, Royce kisses Kassandra, leaving both stunned by their reaction. Kassandra informs Royce she sees multiple futures, but the individual has opportunities to change the most likely path that might occur. Because of further unrest, Kassandra's other brother Atreus orders her to come home. Alex puts his sister, his wife, and his daughter on an Akoran ship accompanied by Royce.

As Royce overcomes his bad memories of his imprisonment on Akora, he and Kassandra fall in love. However, the rebels continue to cause havoc insisting on a return to tradition while another group of protesters wants a more open government. This leaves little room for Royce and Kassandra to explore a future together as that seems like the least likely path for what is good for Akora and England.

Though Akora seems too perfect as a nineteenth century Utopian modernization of Ancient Athens, KINGDOM OF MOONLIGHT is an unusual yet stimulating Regency romantic suspense that will send new readers seeking DREAM ISLAND, the first book in the trilogy. The story line absorbs the full attention of the audience as the delightful lead couple struggles between love and duty. Fans who enjoy a different type of historical story will want to read Josie Litton's strong entry that daringly refreshes the sub-genre as few books do.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful addition to the series!, June 26, 2002

By 

Orwell (AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom Of Moonlight (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have read Josie Litton's previous book DREAM ISLAND, you will be thrilled to read about Royce and Kassandra in this book. This was a great relaxing read and a wonderful addition to the series. This book is the second in a trilogy, the first was DREAM ISLAND, the third book will be out this fall. If you haven't read the first book, this one can stand alone, but you might as well get the first one also because you are going to want to read it as well.