About Book One of The Panopticon

The Panopticon is a Gothic magical realism novel that threads ancient mysteries with modern identity, exploring how memory, trauma, and myth shape the soul. At the heart of the story is Adam Aurelian Zayn al-Khatib—a young man marked by an inescapable sigil that binds him to an ancient secret. Found as a child with no memory in a desert monastery and later raised in London, Adam’s search for the truth leads him into a labyrinth of hidden manuscripts, secret societies, and a curse older than any archive.

What makes this story unique is its atmospheric richness and philosophical depth. Every chapter is written as though carved in time—layered with forgotten knowledge, esoteric symbols, and architectural settings that breathe with history. The Panopticon itself is not just a tattoo—it is a prison of the soul, a concept that grows more terrifying and fascinating as the tale unfolds. The novel blends the intellectual intrigue of The Name of the Rose, the aesthetic shadow of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the magical precision of Brandon Sanderson—all while remaining distinctly original in tone and voice.

Unlike fast-paced thrillers or plot-first fantasies, The Panopticon is meant to be felt as much as read. It’s a story for readers who appreciate slow-burning revelations, immersive world-building, and characters whose truths unfold like ancient scrolls. The settings—whether a candlelit monastery, the Halls of Cairo University, or a manuscript room in London—are characters in their own right, woven with emotion, scent, and silence.