 Lovers of literary novels will admire Noyes's thoughtful reconstruction of a period and its beliefs.Her care in reproducing the language and style of the period are extraordinary, and her development of the character of Pearl shows the emotional tensions inherent in a life lived under a theocracy".Jill Grinberg of "Publisher Weekly" also complimented the book by saying "engages with atmospheric charms of time and place, and though the major turns of the novel are predictable, she delivers an ending revelation that would surprise Hawthorne himself".