For centuries, the Seven Cities have enjoyed peace and prosperity. Four strangers — 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 increasingly intertwined paths lead to enduring peace or unspeakable horror?

Eli Evans' imaginative and thought-provoking debut novel is a genre-bending literary fantasy that explores themes of identity, privilege, the quest for meaning, and every person’s struggle to find their own voice and place in the world.

Taláni, an ambitious warlord, has united the scattered tribes of his people and is preparing to invade. His plan: To subjugate the Seven Cities and feed his voracious god on their blood. With oracular dreams of fiery conquest, his concubine Selolo maneuvers herself into a precarious position by his side. Are the spirits guiding them both or taking control?

Meanwhile, Atnan, a young scribe from an obscure fishing village, obsesses over a trove of mysterious scrolls he believes may hold the key — to what, he isn’t sure. Outcast and frustrated, he enlists the help of Mekvat, an elderly sage whose final accomplishment in office will define his legacy. He must decide if Atnan’s unconventional ideas present an opportunity or an obstacle. And then, catastrophe.

Histories, prophecies, and worldviews will collide. Ancient monsters will awaken. Signs will appear in the earth and heavens. While spirits and powerful rulers enact their plans, and the lives of ordinary people hang in the balance, a lowly scholar looks to the sky seeking answers. Will he and his compatriots unravel the mysteries of past, present, and future before it's too late?

Twenty years in the making, Inside Every Circle brings to life a unique and believable fantasy world populated by complex, relatable human characters and the spirits who protect and threaten them. Fans of Princess Mononoke or the works of C.S. Lewis and Frank Herbert will surely find something here to enjoy.