Three young women go to Afghanistan for different reasons. Their mission is largely successful until they are kidnapped. In meeting the natives - both good and bad; and in interacting with one another in good times and bad, they discover a deep love beyond themselves. Overshadowing them is an Afghan warrior-princess, who is as much a part of the controversies in the land as she becomes a part of theirs. There is unexpected hope in the midst of hopelessness, of joy in the midst of sorrow, and of love and forgiveness in the midst of all the carnage. A lot of books have been written about Afghanistan, but this brings fresh and unexpected perspectives. It catches one's imagination and remains compelling from the first page to the last.