The Moonstone Covenant

The story of four women who set out to uncover the secret origins of an intricate, magical city—and to change its fate. 
“Jill Hammer’s first fantasy novel offers beautifully detailed worldbuilding and, like Le Guin’s work, is underpinned by themes of gender, sexuality, prejudice, and politics.” —Zoe L. Tongue, Ancillary Review of Books
Istehar Sha'an, whose unique powers allow her to communicate with trees and books, has led her community of refugee forest people to a remarkable place. In the archipelago-city of Moonstone, the Sha'an people find themselves in an extraordinary, multicultural metropolis that houses the Library: the world's all-encompassing repository of wisdom.
But in their search for a new home, the refugees soon garner the suspicion of Moonstone's locals, who forbid their magical practices. And when a hostile prince makes a bid to inherit the city's rule from his father, Istehar and her people realize they may be faced with exile—or worse.
Meanwhile, Istehar has married three wives of Moonstone—a brave warrior librarian, a subtle-minded former concubine, and a tenacious apothecary who has spent years trying to solve her parents' murder. Driven by magical intuition and guided by a mysterious book, Istehar and her wives embark on a journey that will transform not only their lives, but the city of Moonstone itself.
Readers of Ursula K. Le Guin and Guy Gavriel Kay will delight in The Moonstone Covenant's richly imagined world of mysterious archives, bookboats, and divinations—and its tales of both betrayal and healing. 

About the author

Jill Hammer is a celebrated author, scholar, rabbi, ritualist, poet, and dreamworker. The Moonstone Covenant is her first published work of fantasy fiction, but she has been reading and writing fantasy since she was young. Like some of her characters, she has a deep love of books, trees, enchanted castles, and mysterious alleyways. She is the author of eight other books, including works of fiction, poetry, and feminist theological scholarship. She lives with her family in Manhattan, where she spends a great deal of time in Central Park.

Summary

The story of four women who set out to uncover the secret origins of an intricate, magical city—and to change its fate.

Istehar Sha'an, whose unique powers allow her to communicate with trees and books, has led her community of refugee forest people to a remarkable place. In the archipelago-city of Moonstone, the Sha'an people find themselves in an extraordinary, multicultural metropolis that houses the Library: the world's all-encompassing repository of wisdom. But in their search for a new home, the refugees soon garner the suspicion of Moonstone's locals, who forbid their magical practices. And when a hostile prince makes a bid to inherit the city's rule from his father, Istehar and her people realize they may be faced with exile—or worse. Meanwhile, Istehar has married three wives of Moonstone—a brave warrior librarian, a subtle-minded former concubine, and a tenacious apothecary who has spent years trying to solve her parents' murder. Driven by magical intuition and guided by a mysterious book, Istehar and her wives embark on a journey that will transform not only their lives, but the city of Moonstone itself.

Readers of Ursula K. LeGuin and Guy Gavriel Kay will delight in The Moonstone Covenant's richly imagined world of mysterious archives, bookboats, and divinations—and its tales of both betrayal and healing.

Foreword

Marketing

• Pre-publication submission to industry reviewers (Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, Shelf Awareness, Library Journal, Booklist, etc.).
• Outreach to author’s network of supporters to pitch reader-organized book clubs—through her personal newsletter and social media, as well as that of organizations where she's affiliated (like Beit Kohenet, the Academy for Jewish Religion, and more).
• Outreach to independent booksellers and libraries.
• Digital advertising with fantasy-inclined websites.
• Targeted social media advertising.

Publicity

• Launch event & subsequent author speaking engagements.
• Press campaign to place excerpts and reviews in fantasy-inclined publications like Tor, Fantasy Book Critic, Locus Magazine, and Fairy Tale Review, as well as Jewish digital publications where the author has a broad following (like Lilith and Hey Alma).
• Campaign to place interviews with the author on fantasy-oriented podcasts like Accidental Gods (the podcast of bestselling fantasy author Manda Scott) where the author has appeared before, as well as Book Reviews Kill, The Happy Writer, and more.

Product details

• Authors: Jill Hammer
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 11.10.2024, delayed
• EAN: 9781961814158
• ISBN: 978-1-961814-15-8
• No. of pages: 350
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), FICTION / Fantasy / Urban, Fiction: general & literary, FICTION / LGBTQ+ / General