[5][6] She stated in an interview that she first got the idea when she had a recurring dream of a girl in a golden armor walking in a field while she was still an undergraduate at Spelman College before writing the novel years later using elements of West African mythology and Sierra Leonean culture.

[9] The novel takes place in the West Africa-inspired kingdom of Otera, where 16-year-old Deka lives in the village of Irfut with her ailing father, following her mother's recent death from a redpox infection.

Eventually, a mysterious woman named White Hands offers her a chance to join the capital's army of Alaki—impure girls like herself who are trained to fight deathshrieks for the Emperor.

[3][4] A review from Publishers Weekly said of the novel: "Abundant action drives the pace, while a nuanced plot advocates social change by illustrating the myriad ways in which society cages and commodifies women.

"[11] The Guardian's review of the book states: "Action combines with an intense feminist story of sisterhood, where strength is found in female friendships and alliances.