Eleanora Aganis, a young Albanian lady of eighteen years has had a very unconventional upbringing, especially when compared to other women around her. Her father, a well known and respected medic in their community, has encouraged her artistic talents as well as her love of reading and frequently takes Eleanora with him on his rounds. He even has plans on sending his daughter to an art school in Italy where she can develop her talents even further.

However, on an excursion to a larger city, Eleanora's father, Baba, gets killed and the aftermath of his death becomes devastating to both Eleanora and her stepmother Meria, who begins to make plans that will ultimately push Eleanora into assuming a role of a sworn virgin where she can live as a man, but in return she must give up on love and happiness.

THE SWORN VIRGIN by Kristopher Dukes is a novel filled to the brim with love and passion towards the nation of Albania, presenting to the readers a not so well known people who live in mountains, who have complex rules governing the society as well as mindsets where order is important and each one has its place, be it high or low. THE SWORN VIRGIN also deals with a less known convention of a woman assuming a masculine role in order to survive and thrive in this type of society because their rules and laws are far more stringent than others. It's an educational tale of the power and it shows the importance of why some rules should have been bent. This is a novel that felt too short and one where I wanted to know more about Eleanora's world as well as her fascinating background which is hinted at, but not completely revealed.

For readers who love strong heroines, unconventional settings as well as a story filled with secrets, THE SWORN VIRGIN by Kristopher Dukes is a novel that will become the perfect fit.