ˌækədˈɛmɪk dʒˈænɪs ˈɛm. bˈɑːɡstæd dᵻskɹˈaɪbd ðɪs sˈɪɹiz æz æn "ʌnjˈuːʒuːəl fˈæntəsi tɹˈɪlədʒi" ðˈæt "dɪzˈɜːvz ɐtˈɛnʃən" bɪkˈʌz tʃˈɛɹi hɐz dᵻpˈɑːɹɾᵻd fɹʌm tɹɐdˈɪʃənəl fˈæntəsi bˈeɪst ˌɔn kˈɛltɪk fˈoʊkloːɹ ænd ˌɪntɹədˈuːst wˈɛstɚn ɹˈiːdɚz tə ðə lˈɛsɚ nˈoʊn slˈɑːvɪk mɪθˈɑːlədʒi.
Academic Janice M. Bogstad described this series as an "unusual fantasy trilogy" that "deserves attention" because Cherryh has departed from traditional fantasy based on Celtic folklore and introduced Western readers to the lesser known Slavic mythology.