It follows a dairymaid named Matrona as she discovers a secret collection of Russian nested dolls that are linked to each inhabitant of her village.

"[1] She then pitched the idea to her agent and outlined a plot involving the magic system she'd imagined surrounding these dolls.

Holmberg cited The Giver by Lois Lowry and Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge as inspiration.

Ever since her younger sister mysteriously vanished as a baby, Matrona has had to shoulder much of the responsibility in running the family dairy.

While out on an errand, Matrona ventures into the house of Slava, the local tradesman, who has a room full of Matryoshka dolls, each one painted to look just like a member of the village.

Realizing she can't move forward with Slava's plan for her, she tries to escape the village, only to discover it's trapped in a loop.

She manages to open Jaska's second doll without Slava noticing; she goes to comfort him as he undergoes the same mental torment she did, and the two share a kiss.

Opening her fourth doll and noticing that a fifth does not lie inside reveals to Matrona the truth of her situation: she and the other villagers are trapped in their town via magic.