Publishers Weekly praised the novella as "enjoyable" and "savory", noting that Ekaterin is "as formidable, whip-smart, and compassionate as her husband".[1] AudioFile, reviewing the audio version, considered that "(t)he plot is not terribly complicated", but emphasized that "like most of the [Vorkosigan] series, [it] is character driven", and lauded Bujold's "sardonic humor".[2] Tulsa Book Review described it as "heartwarming" and a "gentle elaboration of the complexities of Barrayaran history and culture", while warning that a true appreciation of the text requires a familiarity with Bujold's oeuvre.[3] Tor.com commended Bujold's increased focus on Enrique and her reuse of Ekaterin as a viewpoint character, observing that the story is "all about redemption".[4]
James Nicoll declared it to be "enjoyable entertainment" and "a pleasing way to fill an hour", but also "slight [and] short" and "[m]ore of an anecdote than a story;" Nicoll also questioned the likelihood of Ekaterin being able to successfully rehabilitate the children, and noted that it was "(p)robably for the best that the story focuses on the short-term issues."[5]
