BooklistcalledMaresi"utterlysatisfyingandcompletelydifferentfromstandardYAfantasy."Now,NaondelgoesbacktoestablishtheworldofthetrilogyandtellsthestoryoftheFirstSisters—thefoundersofthefemaleutopiatheRedAbbey.Imprisonedinaharembyadangerousmanwithadarkmagicthatgrantshimpoweroverlifeanddeath,theFirstSistersmustovercometheirmistrustofoneanotherinordertoescape.Buttheycanonlydosoatagreatcost,bothforthosewholeaveandforthoseleftbehind.Toldinalternatingpointsofview,thisnovelisavivid,rivetinglookataworldofoppressionandexploitation,themirroroppositeoftheidyllicRedAbbey.