THE debut fantasy fiction novel by jill hammer

Cover design by Federico Parolo and Cem Eskinazi

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.

ORDER print or audio version of the MOONSTONE COVENANT from ayin press, barnes & Noble, amazon

JOIN US FOR AN IN-PERSON CELEBRATION

On Saturday, January 4 at 5:30pm, you’re invited to Romemu to celebrate the recent release of The Moonstone Covenant by Jill Hammer! Let’s experience an evening of conversation between author Jill Hammer & Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses, by exploring the lands of Moonstone, and enjoying Havdalah, music, magic, and more!

To RSVP, please email eden@romemu.org.

DISCOVER THE LANDS OF moonstone

jill hammer reads chapter 1 from The moonstone covenant

A Jewish Narnia Comes Alive in "The Moonstone Covenant"

— review by mildred faintly, jewish women’s archive

“Like Tolkien and LeGuin, Jill Hammer has conjured up a richly detailed world, alive with magic, political intrigue, and a robust cast of fascinating characters. Readers of fantasy will love this book!”

— Ellen Frankel, author of The Deadly Scrolls

“In lyrical and beautiful language, Jill Hammer lays bare the prejudices of an island landscape where the waterways are as important as highways. Through the tale of a four-way marriage, she carries us into the depths of relationships between women, the flows of feeling and passion, history and trust, treachery both imagined and real. Betrayal lies at the heart of this story, but its healing is a thread running through from the start. A genuinely engaging, enlivening, and inspiring read!"

— Manda Scott, author of Any Human Power & host of the Accidental Gods podcast

“Part murder mystery, part political thriller, part fantasy epic, The Moonstone Covenant celebrates the power and wisdom of books, the natural world, and queer love. This wondrous novel is a gift of imagination for readers everywhere.”

— Jonathan Vatner, author of The Bridesmaids’ Union

About the author

Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD, is a professor, scholar, ritualist and dreamworker, and has been writing works of scholarship, liturgy, poetry and fiction for thirty years. Rabbi Hammer’s books include Undertorah: An Earth-Based Kabbalah of Dreams; Return to the Place: The Magic, Meditation, and Mystery of Sefer Yetzirah; The Hebrew Priestess: Ancient and New Visions of Jewish Women’s Spiritual Leadership (with Taya Shere); Siddur haKohanot: A Hebrew Priestess Prayerbook (with Taya Shere); The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons; Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblical Women; and The Book of Earth and Other Mysteries. She is the cofounder of the Kohenet movement and the Director of Learning and Ritual at Beit Kohenet, a learning and ritual space for recovering, reclaiming, and recreating Jewish spirit wisdom on the margins. Rabbi Hammer is the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic rabbinical and cantorial seminary. She and her family live in Manhattan.

MORE PUBLICATIONS FROM JILL HAMMER:

  • OMER CALENDAR OF BIBLICAL WOMEN

    PURCHASE

  • UNDERTORAH: AN EARTH BASED KABBALAH OF DREAMS

    PURCHASE

  • RETURN TO THE PLACE: THE MAGIC, MEDITATION, AND MYSTERY OF SEFER YETZIRAH

    PURCHASE

  • THE BOOK OF EARTH & OTHER MYSTERIES

    PURCHASE

  • THE HEBREW PRIESTESS:
    ANCIENT AND NEW VISIONS OF JEWISH WOMEN’S SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

    PURCHASE

  • THE JEWISH BOOK OF DAYS: A COMPANION FOR ALL SEASONS

    PURCHASE

  • SISTERS AT SINAI: NEW TALES OF BIBLICAL WOMEN

    PURCHASE

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