This is a fantasy that takes place during the Han dynasty in China, detailing the story of a young woman who must present herself to the Emperor as a potential wife-to-be and gets lost in the shuffle of Palace politics. She ends up traveling much further than she ever intended or wanted, but for duty to her Emperor, she travels to Mongolia, where she and her faithful servant must battle dark magic and tribal politics which is no less lethal in Mongolia than in the Palace back home.Wonderfully written, and a lovely introduction to Asian-themed fantasy that isn't Orientalist. It's a great addition to fantasy that isn't all white-guys-running-around-in-Europe. There is a solid story that is apparently historically based. (I assume from that one famous passage about the beautiful princess weeping on the night before she has to do her duty and leave China to go to Mongolia? In those days, such an event was considered a tragic and torturous event.)
