"An excellent finale to a good series"

The Vanax of Akora visits England to ostensibly meet with the Prince Regent and to see his siblings, their wives and children. However, deep in his heart Atreus knows he really has come to call on Brianna, an orphan who grew up on his island kingdom. Atreus knows that one day she will be his beloved wife if he can persuade her that they belong together as he has seen in his ritual dream.

Brianna is in England trying to learn more about her salad days before an Akoran couple adopted her. She vows never to return to Akora until she learns more about her parents, who died at sea. Atreus knows much about what happened to her parents on that fateful day and wonders if their love could survive if he tells her the truth.

The final novel in the Akoran trilogy is a strong Regency romance with a twist of insight into a different island kingdom. The use of real personage like Prime Minister Liverpool adds a feel of authenticity through the diplomatic activities of the two nations. The return of the support cast from the previous two books makes the novel feel like a homecoming, but clearly belongs to the delightful duo, Atreus and Brianna. Though Akora remains too utopian (still not sure why there are rebels who want modernization), fans of Josie Litton will relish this engaging closeout entry that leaves the door open for the next generation stories.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 4, 2002

Summary

She was just a child when she was washed ashore on the exotic island of Akora, shipwrecked and orphaned. Now she must make a heartbreaking choice: to reclaim her past--or to face her future with the most powerful man she has ever known.

Raised in the fortress kingdom of Akora, Brianna's memories of life before her parents' tragic death at sea are blurred and fleeting. Though embraced by Akora's elite, she longs to know her true identity--and the truth about her haunting fear that she is to blame for her parents' fate. But while the answers lure her to far-off England, a fiery passion she never knew existed may bind her to Akora forever.

Handsome and headstrong, Atreus is a powerful warrior whose clan has ruled Akora for centuries. A secret ritual has made him the chosen ruler of his people--and revealed to him a vision of the lovely Brianna as the woman he is meant to marry. Fearing she will never return from her journey, Atreus sets sail to win her. But a treacherous enemy looms, and it will soon fall to the brave couple to unite their hearts and share even their darkest secrets to save not only their burgeoning love--but their very homeland.