The story is rich in twists and turns, above all in the final trial: although its proceedings are far from orthodox by modern standards, there is a public prosecutor and a defense attorney, abundant ante litteram cross-examinations of witnesses, as well as documentary and circumstantial evidence.

The exotic setting (the distant Indochinese peninsula), the historical period largely unknown to Western readers (the 9th century AD), and the erotic undertone present throughout the novel make this work an unusual and distinctive read.