Identity. Struggle. Enlightenment.

The early 1990s in decaying, rust-belt Ohio sets the stage for a powerful tale of a bisexual woman grappling with the confines of sexuality, religion, and societal expectations.

She had it all - riches, a college honors program scholarship, a girlfriend - until her conservative, hyper-religious parents found out about the girlfriend and made her choose between conversion therapy and disownment. That was the end of her academic career.

Years later, she meets a shy public reference librarian in a bookstore. He's been waiting his whole life for her. Meanwhile, she's starting her whole life over. What ensues between the two neurodivergent lovers is magic...

Given that he's about to become her tutor in the magickal and erotic arts, that's only to be expected.

As she seeks guidance from her mysterious tutor, she finds herself pushed toward profound wisdom and awareness. But if she ultimately accepts her destiny, what will she have to sacrifice?

Ancilla, an evocative and mystical love story by Sera Maddox Drake that defies genre categorization, captures the essence of personal and spiritual discovery. If you're drawn to stories of love's complexity and transformative power that center an autistic, neuroqueer, own-voice perspective, then Ancilla will resonate deeply with you. With its mystical, darkly romantic academic setting, and its quirky misfit characters, this is a bisexual coming-of-age story like you've never read before.

"Master, teach me. I want to apprentice myself."

I can feel him trembling. Am I trembling too? I must be. My voice is. But all I feel is him.

"Is this something you really want, or do you just want to learn how to be a dominant?" Shaking. God, he's shaking. His raw need rips through me. "You did mention your former girlfriend wanting you to play the dominant. I can advise you without actually asking anything of you if that's the case. Or is this about that conversation we had a while back about studying magic –"

"If I only wanted advice, I'd ask for advice. I don't just want advice. I want you. Master, teach me." I take a deep breath.

Silence falls.

"I want that very badly," he says at last.

"I'm yours for the taking. Please. Take me."

The room is still. Too still. The very air is holding its breath.

"Please."

The only one trembling now is me.

Experience Ancilla today.