THE LAST PRINCESS

Princess Eliza Windsor fights comic-book evil in a post-apocalyptic United Kingdom.

After the Seventeen Days of "earth-splitting quakes, torrential hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis" nearly destroy civilization, the British Royal family is weakened and diminished. But however strained the means of the royals, the rest of Britain lives in abject poverty. From this imbalance arises the rebel New Guard of Cornelius Hollister, who murders Eliza's parents, topples the government, and kidnaps Eliza's brother and sister. Barely escaping with her life, Eliza takes refuge as an incognito trainee in the New Guard, where she's torn between the nastiness of the mean girl in charge and the kindness of the cute boy who defends her. The only way she'll escape to rescue her missing siblings is by rallying the people of Britain, who all seem desperate for a royal; apparently they've forgotten about Parliament. Luckily, the Scots near Eliza's country home of Balmoral Castle don't seem to notice Eliza constantly calling them "people of England," so she might even succeed at counterrevolution—if not geography. Americanism-laden prose does nothing to enhance Eliza's adventure.

Rushed revolution happens at lightning speed, leaving no time for character development.