Aleytys is the protagonist of Jo Clayton’s Diadem series. She is a half-alien woman with red hair, pale skin, and telepathic abilities inherited from her alien mother. Raised among primitive barbarians on the planet Jaydugar, she is driven out when her people try to burn her as a witch. During her escape, she encounters the Diadem, a stolen alien artifact that bonds permanently to her mind.
Across ten novels published between 1977 and 1988, Aleytys works mercenary jobs, searches for her lost son, and stays ahead of those who want the Diadem for themselves. After her story concludes, the Diadem universe continues through Shadith, a character introduced in the original series, who takes over as protagonist for two sequel trilogies.
Reading Order#
See the complete Diadem reading order for all books in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aleytys?
Aleytys is the protagonist of Jo Clayton’s Diadem series. She is a half-alien woman with red hair and telepathic abilities, raised among primitive barbarians on the planet Jaydugar. After being forced to flee, she bonds with the Diadem, a stolen alien artifact of immense power.
How many books does Aleytys appear in?
Aleytys appears in ten novels in the main Diadem series, published between 1977 and 1988. The Diadem universe continues for six more books in two sequel sub-series following Shadith, a character introduced during Aleytys’s story.
What is the Diadem?
The Diadem is a stolen alien artifact that bonds permanently to Aleytys’s mind. It augments her telepathic powers but also makes her a target for those who want to possess it. The artifact is both a gift and a curse that drives the plot across all ten books.