[1] It is based on an old French fairy tale by Charles Perrault called Peau d'âne (English translation: Donkeyskin).

It features McKinley's typical protagonist, the resourceful heroine overcoming psychological trauma, and her favored motif of the animal helper.

Lissar makes an unsuccessful attempt to hide away in her chambers, but on the third night her father breaks in through a forgotten door, violently raping his daughter, impregnating her in the process, and almost killing Ash.

They stay for an entire winter, during which time Lissar miscarries and briefly regains traumatic memories of her rape, nearly dying.

While telling her of the tale Ossin also shows Lissar a room filled with portraits of princes and princesses sent out to various kingdoms as a way of advertising their marriageability.

It is only when Ossin proposes to her at a ball that Lissar is forced to confront her memories, at which point she flees back to the cabin with Ash and the puppies.

In an article for Tor.com, Jo Walton commented that "it's a dark and disturbing fairytale retelling about rape and recovery, and I wouldn't change a word of it.