The scientific past holds the key to saving the superstitious present.
Dame Jessamine, a knight errant with a spaceship for a steed, must uncover ancient technology and know-how while avoiding deadly accusations of witchcraft.
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"An excellent little sci-fi tale with capable protagonists and constant tension throughout." - Programmer Cat
Dame Jessamine is a knight errant with a spaceship for a steed, a pupil of ancient science and technology who quests on behalf of the downtrodden. She's accustomed to forging her own path through the galaxy—until she's hijacked at sword-point and sent to investigate Nidaros, a remote barony known for bursts of rebellion.
In Nidaros, Jessamine finds a populace short on food and patience, innocents detained for torture, and a court trapped in a web of delusion. The Baron considers her a distraction. The magicians, convinced of a "curse," dismiss her pleas for rational action. Even as Jessamine forges an alliance with the soldiers, an unknown foe seeks to frame her as an agitator.
Stuck amid murderous intrigue and cut off from her mentors, Jessamine must figure out how to save Nidaros from starvation. But the only people who understand the true "curse" have been accused of witchcraft—and if Jessamine's not careful with her ancient knowledge, she'll join them in the dungeon!

"Knocked me out of my seat. You really took the story and from the first few pages hit 4th gear with a flourish." - Shy Writer
A mysterious crop-withering blight spreads through the barony's soil. The court magicians have blamed two siblings of spawning the crisis through witchcraft. Convinced of their innocence, Dame Jessamine has rescued and now secretly harbors Verahl Naustvik aboard her spaceship. Meanwhile, his sister Thordia flees to the Harbinger, a crashed space station from the distant and more enlightened past.
Approaching the Harbinger is an act punishable by death, but Jessamine won't let that stand in the way of a second rescue. Thordia, and the Harbinger's surviving technological secrets, may be Nidaros' only hope against the blight. Jessamine prepares to embark—only to be betrayed and set upon by vengeful court magicians.
Now, one wrong word or gesture will lead to deadly charges of witchcraft. Jessamine must protect the Naustviks and brave the Harbinger, all while striking a balance between ritual and reason. If she can't maintain the peace long enough to discover a cure for the blight, the entire barony will starve—unless its far-off masters decide to "restore order" with military action first!
Once upon a time, Ellis listened to the voices in her head, quit her full-time job, and pursued her passion of writing fiction.
Skillfully combining elements from multiple genres, Ellis connects with her readers' hearts as well as their minds. Her science-fiction/fantasy series SWORD AND STARSHIP is highly rated on Amazon, Goodreads, and other platforms. She's also written hundreds of hilarious features for THE DAILY WTF that have been enjoyed by a worldwide audience.
Though the journey has proven challenging at times, Ellis has persisted. She's beyond grateful to everyone who's helped her keep her dream alive—especially you!
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