 Each of the first three books of the novel involves an erotic encounter between Varrus and a sister of one of his friends.A review in the Fantasy Book Review, described the novel as one of the "one of the potentially better explanations for the historical fact [and] one of the finest Arthurian historical series available".Reception of the novel in Kirkus reviews was positive calling the novle "an earnestly heroic tale" with "old-timey manly sentiments, some battle grue, info about smelting iron, and a modestly clever Arthurian-linked gimmick".