My review disappeared during saving, so I am writing only a brief review (and now know to use a word processor so I can copy and paste). I like anthropology, history, and fantasy. This story depicts Asian cultures and folklore, is based on a historical personage, and is a fantasy. With all that and also good writing, I enjoyed it. ( )

Imperial Lady by Andre Norton and Susan Schwartz is a historical fantasy that was first published in 1989. It is based on an actual piece of Chinese history about a Han princess that was sent into the west to marry and cement a treaty with the Mongols in or around 40 BC.

By taking this story and enlarging on the characters and adding a touch of magic, they have produced a spellbinding tale about Silver Snow, daughter of a disgraced general who accepts her fate to be used as a political tool in a marriage to an aging barbarian chief and, who works to bring both honour to her family and also to avert a war. She is accompanied by her maid, Willow, who is a magical being. She can turn into a fox and talk to the small animals, she has a vast knowledge of spells and herbs to assist her lady. They need all of Willows skills to fight the barbarian’s first wife, who is working her black magic against them in order to secure her son as the heir. She would like to wipe out both her husband and this new wife.

Imperial Lady was my introduction to the writing of Andre Norton and I thoroughly enjoyed this light, quick fantasy read. Descriptive, lyrical language unfolds a tale that totally absorbed me from start to finish. It nicely combined history with fantasy and added a touch of romance to deliver a fun story about a dainty Chinese lady who became a barbarian queen. ( )