The events take place in a rural region of the world first presented in The Innkeeper's Song, a tale of magic and betrayal that takes place primarily at a country inn. The culture is reminiscent of medieval Europe: depictions of ordinary farm and town life are replete with horses, crops, huts, and houses, as well as class divisions among farm owners, farm workers, tavern owners, mercenaries, landed gentry, and royalty.

Also inhabiting this ordinariness are exotic animals with shapes and habits that have no parallel on earth. The customs of this culture seem to suit most people in The Last Song of Sirit Byar but may seem strange and extraordinary to readers. Beagle uses his imaginative setting to weave stories that not only are exotic and enchanting but manage to speak robustly of the human condition.