The second quartet describes the life of a girl living in a small village in medieval Europe, who is later accused of witchcraft.

An author's note at the beginning of the book tells the reader that the four stories may be read in any of the twenty-four different orders, with each making a slightly different type of sense.

This is profoundly heady stuff, and Sedgwick twines the threads together effortlessly in sparely written, gorgeous lines that tug at something deeper than heartstrings.

It’s a graceful exploration of a sometimes comforting, sometimes distressing mystery of the universe, and the unsettling combination of meaning and emptiness will linger long after the last page.

[6]Publishers Weekly also reviewed the book, saying, "Sedgwick ... doesn’t shy from the tragedy inherent in human interaction; these are not cheerful stories, and their protagonists don’t fare well, although their deeds resonate in small ways through history.