Fantasy and Science-fiction Author

Epic Fantasy, Alternate History, Space Opera, Fiction That Makes You Think

ciTY OF eARTH

The Queendom Crumbles

Together with her sisters, Princess Tiziri rules most of medieval Africa. When an assassin's blade almost meets her throat, she learns that she must keep her friends close...

But is she unwittingly keeping her enemies closer?

A Rebellion Rises

The kingdom of Alodia has suffered from a devastating civil war. When Tiziri intervenes, she takes her greatest warriors and war elephants with her. But neither she nor her generals are ready for the threats that await them on the deserted plains of Alodia, the horrors that would make even the angels weep.

Experience the Epic

Featuring warrior women, war elephants, love and betrayal, City of Earth asks an important question: What if history had gone differently? Dive into a universe where, due to the early fall of Rome, Africa sits at the center of the medieval world. The novel draws on a wide range of historical and cultural influences, from Amazigh warrior queens to Ethiopian Christianity.

The Characters

Tiziri

Tumsilt

Together with her sisters Zegiga and queen Tafrara, Tiziri rules the empire of Numidia. In a royal family dominated by headstrong women, Tiziri has always found gentleness and diplomacy to be more effective than a loud voice or a balled fist. But faced with an assassin's knife, she discovers that there are problems that words cannot solve, clever and kind as they may be.

Tumsilt

Tumsilt was practically born in the saddle. But no amount of training could prepare her for the realities of Numidia's wars, nor the friends she would lose while fighting them. Now appointed a leader of the queen's elite cavalry, Tumsilt is both eager to prove herself and scared that she will fail those closest to her - and in war, failure means meeting the sharp end of a spear.

Udad

Yedder

By day, Udad drudges away as a simple library attendant. Yet every night, he dreams of becoming like Hannibal Barca, the military genius who defeated ancient Rome. Udad knows that the church of Holy Mariam frowns on ambitious men, but how can he refuse his heart's true calling? Especially when his relationship with Tumsilt offers him a chance he may never receive again... Oh, what would the prophetess do?

Yedder

A great but aging warrior, Yedder's many years have taught him that compliance is often the better part of valour. Born in Alodia, he left his homeland to work as a mercenary in exchange for Numidian gold. Yet a return to the troubled kingdom reveals what his jokes and smiles often hide: a past with more tragedy than joy.

What's coming up

1. "City of Earth" is the first of two books chronicling Tiziri, Tumsilt, Udad and Yedder's story. The book will be published by Mirari Press by the end of 2026. Check out my publisher's website at:

https://www.miraripress.com

2. I'm editing City of Earth and its sequel, but also planning a space opera novel for the future.

3. Subscribe to my mailing list to keep up to date on the latest developments regarding my novels: https://substack.com/@matselliott

I'll even let you read the first chapter of "City of Earth" for free!

About me

I'm a giant nerd

For as long as I can remember, I've loved fantasy and science fiction. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Ursula Le Guin: these authors had a special gift to build an incredibly immersive and detailed world. I've always wanted to do something like that, but during my teenage years I convinced myself that it was terrible at writing (which, to be fair, I was).

I completed a Masters degree in philosophy, realized that I wasn't cut out for academia, and ended up taking a much delayed gap year. At that point I put a virtual pen to paper, and something clicked. I've had a problematic addiction to the written word ever since.

If you have any enquiries at all, fee free to email me at

matselliottbusiness@gmail.com

Fantasy and Science-fiction Author

ciTY OF eARTH

The Queendom Crumbles

A Rebellion Rises

Experience the Epic

The Characters

Tiziri

Tumsilt

Tumsilt

Tumsilt

Tumsilt

Tumsilt

Udad

Yedder

Yedder

Yedder

Yedder

Yedder

What's coming up

About me

I'm a giant nerd

Connect with me - Poetry and book updates

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