Books

COMING MAY 2026:
In The Shadow of the Sanctum by Dan Desai Martin

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Cover of In the Shadow of the Sanctum by Dan Desai Martin

She was afraid of the truth. She was afraid of the lies. But mostly afraid she couldn’t tell the difference between the two anymore.

After escaping from the holy Sanctum, Ehla yearns for safety. In a realm where High Priests maintain absolute power through violence and manipulation, Ehla finds herself at the center of a rebellion she wants no part of.

With the Sanctum’s shadow growing deeper, Ehla must make choices that will change her – and the realm – forever.

Packed with religious oppression, revolution, and self-discovery, this fast-paced, thought-provoking fantasy novel is perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series, and Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.

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Praise for In The Shadow Of The Sanctum:

In the Shadow of the Sanctum is a deep, multi-layered fantasy that gripped me from the first page and did not let go until the final, compelling word. I’m thrilled that this is the beginning of a series.

Desai Martin has built a world of both beauty and dread, brought to life through rich, vivid detail. The story follows Ehla, a young woman determined to escape harsh theological domination in search of truth—a quest that may lead to her subjugation or death.

Ehla and the evocative cast of characters captured my heart, pulling me fully into their journey.

In the Shadow of the Sanctum is a powerful, riveting saga that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend this tour de force.

– M.B. Gibson, award-winning author of Pryor Knowledge: Horse Racing, Love, and Slavery in the Antebellum South

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Edited by Dan:

Emerging Voices: Poetry and Prose by Maryland Teens Volume 10: A selection of short stories, novel excerpts, and poems by members of the teen writers’ clubs sponsored by the Maryland Writers’ Association. Authors range in age from ten through eighteen. (2025)

Emerging Voices: Poetry and Prose by Maryland Teens Volume 9: A selection of short stories, novel excerpts, and poems by members of the teen writers’ clubs sponsored by the Maryland Writers’ Association. Authors range in age from twelve to eighteen. (2024)

Recommendations:

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