An extraordinary world of terrible beauties and awesome terrors comes alive through the courage of two very different women and is saved by the sacrifice of a man foolish enough and bold enough to love them both.

----

"How you women stick together! It's a wonder we poor men aren't kept in chains the livelong day, eh, Cy?" Marcus nudges his son and winks.

"Don't mind him, Rose," says Cy. "My father likes to pretend women secretly rule the world."

"And don't they?" Marcus demands. "Each night, when we are chained to our beds, our nostrils plugged, aren't we wholly in their power? Rose, I ask you: What husband would dare anger his wife, knowing all she need do to revenge herself would be to remove his nose plugs and loosen his bonds? The potent scent of Beauty would do the rest, deranging his reason and seducing him into Herwood, never to return!"

...

----

Shortlisted for the Tiptree award and top 10 in Locus Magazine's first novel category.

"A striking first novel, a find for those who want more than the same old fantasy worlds and comfortable adventures."
—Publisher's Weekly