Each narrator is prompted to tell their tale by their fellow travelers; as a framing device, the Inn sequences are told from the perspective of Étienne, an agent of the Pope's Holy Inquisition.

[1] They travel to Europe every year for her research, where Gidwitz began to collect tales from medieval times, including an episode from the life of Saint Martha, who vanquished a flatulent dragon.

"[4] Julia Smith, writing for Booklist, noted, "Gidwitz proves himself a nimble storyteller he weaves history, excitement, and multiple narrative threads into a taut, inspired adventure.

"[6] Shelf Awareness's Karin Snelson referred to the narrative style as "spendidly meandering" and filled with "over-the-top skirmishes, comical triumphs over thugs, unlikely allies, religious persecution, stinky French cheese ..., noble acts of bravery, deep-seated emotion, [and] profound theological questions.

"[7] Common Sense Media gave the book five stars, calling it a "poignant, funny medieval tale skewers ignorance, bigotry.

[10][11] Kirkus Reviews,[4] The New York Times,[11] Publishers Weekly,[12] School Library Journal,[11] and The Washington Post[11] named it one of the best children's books of 2016.