Borrowed Stardust - Part 3: Who Will I Be Today?

By Sandra Bojtos Hart

Victoria Mason and Henry Harris possess a magical amulet enabling them to shapeshift into historical figures and travel through time. Their adventures explore themes of identity, love, adventure, and the ethical and emotional challenges of inhabiting borrowed personas across different historical eras. Victoria inherits a magical amulet from her grandmother that allows her to transform into any individual by using a photograph and an incantation, granting her the person's physical traits, thoughts, and voice. This ability also enables time travel when another person is in physical contact during transformation. Their new adventure begins in 18th-century Venice, where Henry becomes Giacomo Casanova, and Victoria his mysterious patroness. They immerse themselves in Venetian society, preparing to navigate the customs, speech, and attire of the era. Henry's transformation brings charisma and seductive power but also internal conflict as he struggles to maintain his own identity against Casanova's overpowering persona. A pivotal moment occurs when Henry, as Casanova, is challenged to a duel by a jealous husband. Despite his inexperience, Henry disarms his opponent and shows mercy, revealing the conflict between Casanova's bravado and Henry's morality. A violent confrontation forces the couple to flee, shifting the narrative from romantic adventure to survival amid political intrigue. After escaping Venice, Victoria and Henry return to their own time, Soon, they prepare for a new journey to the 13th-century Mongol Empire, where Henry assumes the role of Marco Polo and Victoria a minor noblewoman. They navigate Kublai Khan's court. Victoria, as Lady Victoria, garners the Khan's favor, which is both an honor and a perilous trap. Henry's charm wins over Khan's wives. The Khan commissions an expedition to find a legendary lost city. The journey through harsh desert conditions includes deadly sandstorms and ambushes by disguised assassins. Khan's spies maintain intense interest in Victoria and Henry, who resist becoming pawns in his court. The Khan issues an ultimatum demanding Victoria's submission in exchange for power, which Henry opposes, leading to his temporary isolation. Henry sacrifices himself to buy Victoria time, who uses the amulet's power to create illusions and open a vortex for their flight. Do they make it home in time or get captured by Khan's men?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1105568628
• ISBN13: 9781105568626
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"