The Shattered Chain

Blurb

The Shattered Chain is a novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in her Darkover series. In terms of the Darkover timeline, The Shattered Chain, takes place about ten years before Thendara House
The Shattered Chain is the first Darkovan novel to explore the world of the Renunciates - the Free Amazons or comhii letzi. The Renunciates are women who, despite living in a deeply patriarchal and feudal culture, have renounced both the protection and control of men, cutting their hair and living apart, vowing never to marry di catenas with a man.
The Shattered Chain is divided into three parts, the first titled 'Rohana Ardais: Comynara', the second 'Magda Lorne: Terran Agent' and the third, 'Jaelle n'ha Melora: Free Amazon', and each follows one female character's experiences with the Free Amazons of Darkover.
“While only women can command the power of the matrix and he secret sciences which keep Darkover from Terran hands, in most respects they are still chattels. Yet there are bands of pledged women known as the Free Amazons, equal to men and outside the laws that keep the rest of their sex subservient.