In the introduction to "Free Amazons of Darkover", Bradley wrote that her Renunciates have become "the most attractive and controversial of my creations." The Guild of Oath-Bound Renunciates, called Free Amazons and "com'hi letzii" in earlier books, are women who have opted out of Darkover's traditional gender-based roles, including marriage, obligations to clan, and the expectation of male protection. In later books, "Free Amazons" is considered to be a misnomer and insulting or opprobrious, but the Renunciates themselves are tolerant of those who use "Free Amazons" out of ignorance.