Review: She's Not a Princess, and She KNOWS It
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 2, 2012
She's just not going to let anyone ELSE find out!Note: This direct sequel toMy Fair Concubinesprings from the surprise twist ending of that novel so of necessity this review, every other review, and even the Book Description is going to contain spoilers for it so if that bothers you and you have NOT read My Fair Concubine yet, stop reading this and go read My Fair Concubine now!  You'll thank me,...or at least maybe you won't threaten to kill me for revealing the ending.  (I have known spoiler hating readers to get a little testy on occasion.)The surprise twist reveal of just exactly who Dao is and her willingness to take Yan Ling's place, who was supposed to be taking Pearl's place until love intervened and fouled everything up, sets this plot and Dao herself in motion, in a frustratingly slow moving caravan across the Mongolian steppe, headed for an arranged marriage with the central ruler of Khitan, a "heqin" or Peace Marriage.Though not invented by Tang Dynasty rulers (similar diplomatic marriages were carried out by other Chinese dynasties and by European and other monarchies) the practice was used more during the Tang Dynasty than in any other era.  Though a substantial body of writing about and by heqin brides exists in China, where these diplomatic brides have achieved a certain legendary status, most Americans who know anything about the practice arguably got it fromMulan II, Disney's surprisingly great (because most Disney straight to video tape or DVD sequels are absolutely terrible) sequel toMulan.The problem of the title involves Kwan-Li, the court official tasked with bringing Dao to Khitan, who is also not what he seems to be.  A runaway horse, another alliance bride delegation offering another bride... and another alliance, and a Khitan ambush, all conspire to drive them together, but any future for them is hopeless.  Politics and diplomacy are so complicated,...but not as complicated as author Jeannie Lin's fiendish plots!  I knew how Ms. Lin HAD to fix this; I just couldn't figure out how Ms. Lin was GOING to fix this,...if that makes any sense....  I think I feel another headache starting.  Nevertheless, if you enjoyed My Fair Concubine, you HAVE to read this, just to get that last dangling plot thread tied off.Note: For full disclosure I received this ebook from the author in return for agreeing to review it.