In his 1977 review of the re-release of The Sword of Aldones, Lester del Rey wrote that "it presents a somewhat different Darkover than we find in later novels.

He muses about the Sharra Rebellion, which events six years earlier, led to his wife's death.

Only a comyn may enter the rhu fead, she says, but only a non-comyn may touch the artifacts stored there.

Ashara proposes that an individual of Terran lineage, but acclimated to Darkover, might survive the test.

As predicted by Ashara, Kathie has absorbed Linnell's Darkovan personality, but as a non-comyn, is able retrieve the Sword of Aldones unharmed.

Kadarin, carrying the Sharra sword, appears with Thyra Scott and Dyan Ardais.

In a final conflict, Dyan Ardais, Kadarin, Thyra, Kathie Marshall, and Callina Aillard are killed.

Regis Hastur wields the Sword of Aldones to destroy the Sharra Matrix.

Ashara has killed both Callina and Linnell Aillard in her attempt to possess the Sharra Matrix for herself.