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I'm trying to catalogue all the books I've read short of my largish RPG collection, so here goes, and maybe you can help me out:

(a) is a book about a realpolitician princess who has to decide whether to have her bodice ripped by some strapping guy, or some other strapping guy. Very atmospheric fantasy, actually, and not the worst novel I've read. [ETA: OK, I'm totally looking to read the sequels.] It takes place in a desert. It was sort of a pastiche of Japanese and Arab cultures. The heroine wears geta-like slippers that keep her above the filth in the streets. And plays a game not unlike chess. People are always trying to assassinate her. It's possible that her father dies early in the book. People inevitably underestimate her because she's a girl. Stupid fantasy people!

Book (b) was a series of "celtic" (and I use that term VERRRRY loosely) inspired fantasy novels. In order to use magic, which I think was probably spelled funny, the characters have to go to some kind of astral plane. There's the ubiquitous Gandalf-like old man. The characters are reincarnated early and often, although I kept asking myself, why bother being reborn if you're always the same blond vixen? Anyway, the characters had "celtic" and Welsh names and this was so bad I'm going to regret appending it to my read list, but please, if you can give me a name so I can spit on it if I see it in the bookstore I'd be appreciative.

Nothin', huh.

Hmmm! Haven't read either but they sound a bit refreshing from the same old template. Hope you find them.

yah-i read b in 98 i think and actually liked it at the time-there were three in the series? that got progrssively worse
heavy on the female power, psuedo gaelic flavor
but can't remember the name either except magic was spelled magix majix majex wixxen wixxa wicix
and her name wasn't rhiannon but somehting like that
sorry

Maybe?
The Witches of Eileanan
by Kate Forsyth

"distinctly Celtic flavor," Isabeau main character's name, girl-power heavy, a later book by the author has a character named Rhiannon.

In a land where witchcraft has been forbidden, young Isabeau learns the old ways in order to take her place in the battle to overcome the forces that threaten her world. Australian poet Forsyth's fantasy debut details a richly imagined universe with a distinctly Celtic flavor and introduces a resourceful and courageous protagonist. This first novel in a projected trilogy belongs in libraries where the demand for epic fantasy is high.

I thought you were right about the Kate Forsyth thing but the amazon description didn't look right to me-Conrad, is this yours?

A) sounds rather like something out of Judith Tarr's Avaryan Rising series. It concerns the political struggle between two empires, one of which seems to have heavy Middle Eastern and some Japanese influences. Also, Tarr's novels tend to feature strong women who suddenly lose all their pith at the sight of a naked man--and also feature, unsurprisingly, lots and lots of sex. (I suspect Tarr is a thwarted romance novelist whose parents went and made her get a degree in medieval studies instead.) The books with female protagonists are The Lady of Han-Gilen and Spear of Heaven (and I think the last book, Tides of Darkness, might also have at least one plot thread that follows a major female character). Yes/no?

still not the one i was thinking of, mine was wiccen daughter of celtic magic or some such with majix or wixxen spelled strangely but conrad had the question so maybe one of these is it for him.

Conrad,
a) might, possibly, in a long stretch be The Broken Crown?

second guess on a)
Daughter of the Empire?

Interesting, Kerry, you might be right (a) does sound sort of like Daughter of the Empire, seen through a barely remembered filter of loathing (at least that's how I interpret Conrad's description).

Yup, (a) is definitely Daughter of the Empire. Bingo! Thanks!

...Now if only I could figure out what the second one is. I think the "deleted member" got it right on 2/16. (I didn't notice that anyone was answering me until just now! Sorry, Deleted!) That doesn't help me with the name, though, and the ones mentioned previously aren't right. I'm pretty sure they spell magic funny (majick? magick?). Anyway, thanks, Kerry & Michael!

I don't think this is it, but some parts in b) sound similar, so I'll suggest it anyway, 'The Ancient Future' by Traci Harding? It involved the blonde vixen travelling back in time though, not sure about reincarnation, but seeing as I never finished it because I was permanently cringing, I wouldn't really know!

That's definitely not it.

Also, the books I'm thinking of were a series of at least three.

Could B possibly be the Deverry series by Katharine Kerr...originally a trilogy it has 10 books now...starts with Daggerspell.

SOLVED.

Thanks, Cynthia.