Uiziya is injured by both an assassin and Benesret, and the nameless man takes her to his home city of Iyar.

[5] Lemberg has published short stories and poems in the Birdverse before, most frequently in the literary magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

[8] Reviews have praised the novella for its lyrical writing, and inclusion of two elderly transgender narrators in an accurate discussion of aging.

[5] A review from Locus praised the succinct prose and worldbuilding, calling it "one of the most beautifully written fantasies of the year".

[9] In a starred review,[10] Publishers Weekly called it an "outstanding debut novel" and praised its "deeply considered, evocative" characterization.