Inside Every Circle by Eli Evans

bronze-age historical fantasy exploring themes of identity, privilege, quest for meaning, and the struggle to find a voice. For centuries, the Seven Cities have enjoyed peace and prosperity. A mute scribe, an orphaned prophetess, an elderly politician, and an egomaniacal autocrat independently pursue glory, fame, and forbidden knowledge as they approach the end of the age. Will their paths lead to enduring peace or unspeakable horror? Atnan, a mute scribe from an obscure village obsesses over mysterious scrolls he thinks may hold the key — to what, he isn’t sure. In an attempt to decipher them, he defies the village elders. Outcast, he travels to the capital of the Seven Cities, uncovering dangerous ideas about history, science, and mathematics along the way. The spirits assigned him a riddle, which he intends to answer. Taláni, an ambitious warlord, unites his scattered people. His plan: to conquer the Seven Cities and sacrifice its residents to his god, the Blood Red Sun. Guided by his mother's divinations, he knows the spirits will assist him as he topples rivals and builds an army. They are ready to cross the river and ascend into glory – but are the spirits guiding him or taking control? Selolo, a concubine in Taláni's harem, dreams of fiery destruction. Unwilling to tell her ruler, she leverages a false tale of glorious conquest into a position by his side, the world-queen-in-waiting – unless Taláni's mother exiles her first. By day she navigates the dangers of her new position, and at night she endures more oracular dreams. If the spirits wish to speak, why send visions, signs, and symbols? Mekvat, the Sage Prime, has served the Seven Cities so long that his colleagues eagerly await his retirement or death, whichever comes first. Worried about his legacy, he tackles an audacious final project: constructing a monument. Facing problems mostly of his own making, he is met by a wandering mute with a bag of scrolls no one has seen in centuries. Now Mekvat must decide if this young Atnan's wild ideas about the world are an opportunity or an obstacle. Then an invading horde encircles the city! Histories, prophecies, and worldviews will collide. Ancient monsters will awaken. Signs will appear in the earth and heavens. Spirits and rulers enact their plans, and ordinary lives hang in the balance. A lowly scholar looks to the sky, seeking answers. Will he and his compatriots unravel the mystery of past, present, and future before it's too late? Eli Evans's thought-provoking debut novel imagines an alternate world of complex, relatable characters and the spirits who protect or threaten them. Fans of Princess Mononoke or the works of C.S. Lewis and Frank Herbert will find something here to enjoy.

New Adult • Fantasy/Magical Realism • Fantasy/Mythic, Retelling, and Folklore • Fantasy/Alternate History

Content Warning: Violence: ancient combat, human sacrifice, ritual blood drinking Kidnapping/sexual abuse survival (a warlord's harem) Pregnancy, childbirth Non-explicit sexual encounters Attempted genocide