The Oracle of Delphi: That Which is Hidden


By Elyse DeBarre


(Freepik, 2024)


That Which is Hidden

A Dance of Shadows and Secrets


Set in sixth-century BC Greece and Persia during the reign of Cyrus the Great, this historical novel weaves a tapestry of intrigue and secrets. Set against historical events, it unfurls against the grand backdrop of empires and shifting allegiances.


In the hallowed halls of Delphi, where gods whisper and destinies entwine, Thalia, the Oracle’s veiled priestess and training physician, once held sway. Her cryptic messages shaped empires, yet their true intent remained shrouded. But now the winds of fate have shifted, and Thalia’s role transcends prophecy -- it becomes a perilous game of power and deception.


Enter Kratos, a man of enigma. His loyalty veers like shifting winds, revealing hidden truths or treacherous lies. In the shadows of Lydia and Susa, their paths converge -- a fugitive priestess seeking clarity, and a mysterious figure harbouring dangerous secrets. Their dance unfolds against the backdrop of Kourosh the Great’s Persia, where alliances fray and cabals scheme.


As Thalia unravels her own identity, she discovers threads that bind her fate to Kratos. Together, they must decipher the Oracle’s riddles, unmask double agents, and unveil the mastermind behind a Median intrigue. But beware -- the veil of Delphi conceals more than prophecy. It hides love, betrayal, and the echoes of forgotten empires.


In The Oracle of Delphi: That Which is Hidden, history breathes, and shadows whisper. Are you ready to lift the veil?



My first chapter is a poetic prose preface. My remaining chapters are in prose.



I've published my full draft and am actively editing it.


The price will be significantly reduced when the final edit is completed.




I'm a classical archaeologist. This novel is plot and character based, combining romance, and enigmatic mystery and intrigue against a rich historical background. It has an intricate plot for which I've made much effort toward creating a captivating mystery. I am committed to historical accuracy and to weaving real events seamlessly into the narrative.




"Also the dragon (serpent), earthborn, in craftiness coming behind thee" (Delphi Oracle, 83 BC).


"Make your own nature, not the advice of others, your guide in life" (Delphi Oracle, 403 BC).


“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2, KJV).


(Cover adapted and personalized from Canva and Freepik, 2024)


(Book 1 of the Priests and Magi trilogy)