Much of the pleasure of reading the novels in this series derives from Card's skill as a writer. The narrative voice speaks in an engaging, "country" dialect that may remind some readers of Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Card presents a large cast of characters and portrays many of them in considerable depth, showing the complexity of their thoughts and feelings about each other and about the themes he develops, yet the narrative flows smoothly and almost breathlessly, easily holding the interest of listeners in an oral reading.

Especially powerful are the major scenes when magical events occur.

Peggy reads the heart-fire of Arthur Stuart's dying mother and learns in her own words the terrible story of how she gave up her life for her baby's freedom: She cover Black slavegirl poppet with feathers till she little girlshape bird. Very strong thing, this poppet with her own milk...