Mirari Press Acquires CITY OF EARTH by Mats Elliott

Set in a reimagined Africa at the centre of empire, the novel features warrior queens, war elephants, and a cast of unforgettable characters.

Mirari Press is delighted to announce the acquisition of City of Earth, the first novel in a major new duology by South African debut author Mats Elliott, scheduled for release in 2026.

In this sweeping alternate history, the Roman Empire collapses early, and the African empire of Numidia rises in its place. Together with her sisters, Princess Tiziri rules with grace and diplomacy, but when her life is threatened, she must confront the brutal truth: some challenges cannot be met with words alone.

What begins as a campaign for peace becomes a journey into political deception, forbidden longing, and ancient horrors that stir beneath the earth.

City of Earth draws inspiration from Amazigh culture, Ethiopian Christian tradition, and African resistance histories to reimagine the medieval world through a speculative lens. It is both epic in scope and intimate in emotion, offering readers a radically new vision of empire, power, and identity.

“This novel is a marvel,” said Marius du Plessis, Publisher at Mirari Press. “Mats Elliott has created a world that feels as real as any history book, yet as urgent and visionary as tomorrow. City of Earth is immersive, subversive, and beautifully written: a perfect fit for our publishing vision.” 

About the author

Mats is a giant nerd. For as long as he can remember, he's loved fantasy and science fiction. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Ursula Le Guin—these authors had a special gift for building an incredibly immersive and detailed world. He's always wanted to do something like that, but during his teenage years, he convinced himself that he was terrible at writing (which, to be fair, he might've been).

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