The novel explores the limited options available to women in medieval Ireland. Alice, witnessing her own mother's spirit crushed by societal expectations, craves autonomy and control over her own destiny. She finds power through entrepreneurship and accumulating wealth, challenging the patriarchal structures that seek to confine her.

Alice's pursuit of love and companionship is intertwined with whispers of impropriety. Navigating multiple marriages in a judgmental society paints her as a woman of questionable morals. The novel explores the double standards imposed on women and the ease with which societal anxieties transform desire into something dangerous and 'unnatural'.

As Alice's influence grows, so does the fear surrounding her. Whispers of witchcraft begin to circulate, fueled by envy and a desire to explain her unconventional success. The novel dives into the dangerous power of rumor and superstition, highlighting how societal anxieties can quickly escalate into accusations of heresy and witchcraft, particularly when directed at independent women who challenge the established order.