I'm new here so be gentle.
I have a lame "shot in the dark" request so bear with me.
A SF/Fantasy bookworm friend of mine (who devours books quicker than a pig at a banquet) read a sci-fi book that he says was one of his favorite's or at least a very good read. When he told me about it close to a year ago, I was intrigued. It was more about character and story than gadgetry. Anywho, I forgot about it for a while but I recently wanted to make an effort to acquire it before I forgot about it completely. So I asked him about what it was called, etc. and he doesn't remember....anything. He didn't even know what I was talking about.
So, I'm going to just see if anyone else can help and if I can remember a few details.
The book was actually 2 books in one. About a girl, woman, empress or something I think named Cassandra (or a name like that) and her lover/husband. If I remember right the second book takes place later and may have been about their children or something like that .
I remember the paperback book had a painting of this Cassandra person sitting on a throne and in the background was her mustachioed, swashbuckling lover. They were garbed in Victorian Renaissance type clothing.
I know it's not much to go on, but heck, if the guy that told me about it can't even remember it, I dunno.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!