Ancilla by Sera Maddox Drake follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening. An unnamed narrator tells her story, beginning with her upbringing in a deeply conservative Christian family in the Midwest. When the narrator has a relationship with a girl in college, her parents pressure her to seek conversion therapy, leading her to leave home and drop out of college. As a part-time telemarketer, she meets an older librarian who turns her humdrum life upside down. Soon, she begins a consensual BDSM relationship with the man whom she calls the Magister. As she learns the ways of magickal eroticism, channeling different elements to satisfy her own and her lover's desires, she falls head over heels in love with the Magister. However, she needs someone to submit to her. Will she find that person?

Kinky and thought-provoking in equal measure, Ancilla is part erotic drama and part coming-of-age tale beautifully woven together to craft an absorbing narrative. If sizzling romances are your jam, this is the book for you. Additionally, readers of literary fiction who love stimulating stories with philosophical and emotional themes at play will also find plenty to love about this novel. Sera Maddox Drake's storytelling style is refreshingly unique and authentic. As a reader, it may take you a few pages to get into the narrative, but once you do, you will find yourself deeply invested in these characters and their fates. The master/slave dynamic between the narrator and the Magister felt genuine and believable. That's because the author adds so much emotional depth to the characters to go along with the intoxicating lovemaking scenes. I very much enjoyed the book and recommend it to adult romance readers.

Ancilla is a work of fiction in the literary, dark romance, and emotional writing genres. The work is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the presence of graphic sexual situations throughout, as well as discussion of the BDSM kink scene and references to trauma, discrimination, and other potentially upsetting topics. Penned by author Sera Maddox Drake, the novel is a bold and darkly romantic coming-of-age story about an introverted public reference librarian and a college dropout, both neurodivergent, who meet in a bookstore. Disowned for refusing conversion therapy, she’s starting over, while he has awaited her his whole life. Their magical and erotic journey unfolds in a mystical academic setting, making for a truly unique bisexual romance.

Author Sera Maddox Drake takes a bold step into steamy storytelling with a captivating dive into a world where dark magic and even darker romance intertwine. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the connection between two neurodivergent characters, each carrying deep emotional scars and unique strengths. This was achieved with close attention to detail in the narrative and some wonderfully original dialogue that characterized them right from the start. The shy librarian and the disowned college dropout create a compelling dynamic. Their relationship blossoms into a blend of love and magical exploration through witty dialogue and well-described intimate scenes where their connection intensifies all the more. The academic setting, imbued with mysticism, offers an enchanting backdrop that is well-penned with atmospheric descriptions that match and enhance the emotional mood of each scene. The story’s honest, raw exploration of themes like identity, acceptance, and resilience, especially through the lens of bisexuality and neurodivergence, will certainly resonate with diverse readers everywhere. Overall, Ancilla is a refreshingly unique narrative that celebrates love, magic, and the courage to start anew, and it’s a read I’d certainly recommend.