Historian David Birmingham wrote in a review for African Affairs: "Maier's poetic celebration of the lives of real people, written with an elegant economy of style, and his perception of the demons who manipulate power, provide a compelling insight into the tragedy of Angola. His book is the ideal companion to that of Margaret Anstee, the woman who was appointed to deal with the 'demons' and bring peace to Angola's people".[2] He elsewhere praised the book for its "dispassionate" explanation of the then-recent phase of the Angolan Civil War, while stating that Maier "brooks no deviation from the truth as he perceives it".[1]
Publishers Weekly called the book "an [engrossing chronological account] of the war".[3] The Times Literary Supplement described Maier as "[o]ne who shows highly memorable vignettes how ordinary people have been affected by a war".[4] Booklist also reviewed the title.[5]
