It was an Ok story. In my oppinion, it was a little drawn out. But I liked Silver Snow and I liked Willow and her selflessness. A nice story about a Chinese legend/myth.
Master storyteller Norton has teamed up with Shwartz ( Silkroads and Shadows ) to produce an eerie and delightful tale about a girl who goes from outcast at the court of the Han emperor to queen of a barbarian horde in the steppes of central Asia. Accompanied by her maid Willow, a shapechanger of the fox people, Silver Snow, daughter of a disgraced general, is dispatched to court as a potential new concubine for the emperor. Because she is too poor to bribe him, however, the chief eunuch depicts her as uncivilized and ugly and she is banished to the Cold Palace without ever meeting the emperor. When members of the Hsiung-nu migrant horde come seeking peace and a Han princess as bride for their shan-yu (leader) Khujanga, Silver Snow is chosen as a subtle insult. The intelligent and active girl sees an opportunity to bring her father back to favor and restore her family. Becoming bride in name only to the elderly Khujanga, she gains the love and respect of the horsemen and her husband, but also provokes the enmity of the shaman Strong Tongue, first wife of the shan-yu and mother of his vicious son. Norton and Shwartz bring a little-known time vividly to life, creating a believable heroine in an era when women were considered chattels or playthings.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Excellent read! Brings to life an classic story of ancient China. This is the story of a concubine who would not play politics in the emperor's court. As a result the head eunich has this beautiful maiden's portrait painted in an unflattering way. She is never chosen by the emperor until the time comes to choose a gift bride to appease the Mongols. The emperor discovers too late that he has given away not the least beautiful, but the most beautiful maiden in China! She does her duty to her family and China and ordered and goes on to become a queen of the Mongol tribes. Beautiful insights into the kind of life and customs of the times, told in an entertaining story!
A fantasy of Han China.
