The Great Wheel

In a dystopian future marked by despair, a disillusioned English priest named Father John seeks to uncover the cause of a deadly disease plaguing a town in what was once Northern Africa. As he grapples with his lost faith, he suspects the opiate koiyl leaf may be the culprit while navigating the harsh realities of poverty and political strife. His journey takes him to a treacherous valley, guided by a mysterious witch-woman, as he confronts personal memories and discovers love among the Borderers. This Locus Award-winning debut novel weaves together themes of loss, discovery, and the shadow of an idealized past.