Seventeen chapters in, the story has only just begun. I’m thrilled to share that Book One of the Vicious Circles series, Circle of Secrets, now has 17 chapters live and updating weekly on Ream. What started as a single spark of an idea has grown into a dark, twisting journey through the halls of Vikan Academy, and this milestone feels like the perfect moment to invite more readers inside.
If you’ve been curious about this series but weren’t sure when to jump in, now is the perfect time. With 17 chapters available, you’ll have plenty to binge while still catching up in time to follow the weekly updates as they drop. Even better—the first three chapters are completely free.
What Circle of Secrets Is About
At its heart, Circle of Secrets is a story about survival in a world that punishes weakness and rewards cunning. Esias Lawson, a new arrival at Vikan Academy, finds himself caught in a dangerous web of alliances, betrayals, and temptations that could either raise him to power or destroy him completely.
Readers who love dark academia settings, fantasy romance tension, and slow-burn suspense will feel right at home here. The academy’s glittering halls conceal whispered conspiracies. Every friendship hides an ulterior motive. Every attraction comes at a cost. And every decision Esias makes pulls him deeper into a world where the line between ambition and corruption blurs.
This first book in the Vicious Circles series combines:
- Dark Academia Atmosphere – elite halls, dangerous secrets, and rules that bend behind closed doors.
- Fantasy Romance Tension – dangerous connections, magnetic pull, and relationships built on fragile trust.
- Psychological Suspense – each chapter unravels another layer of danger, betrayal, and temptation.
Why Start Now
With 17 chapters live, Circle of Secrets has momentum. It’s long enough for you to sink into the world and get swept up in the danger, but not so long that catching up feels overwhelming.
By starting now, you’ll join Esias at a pivotal point in his journey—where the stakes sharpen and survival depends on every decision he makes. Following the story week by week also means you’ll be part of the ride as new secrets unfold.
And don’t forget: the first three chapters are free. If you’re curious whether this story is for you, that’s the perfect way to test the waters.
Teaser for What’s Ahead
As the story continues, the challenges facing Esias will only deepen:
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New secrets, sharper dangers, and decisions that cut too deep to undo.
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The Academy tightens its grip—darker secrets, sharper choices, and no easy escape.
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More whispered betrayals, hidden dangers, and choices that leave scars that never fade.
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Another descent—more secrets unearthed, more dangers sharpened, more lines crossed.
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Each chapter carves deeper—secrets unravel, dangers sharpen, and decisions leave their mark.
The descent is far from over. Each choice Esias makes leads him further into territory where trust is fragile, temptation is dangerous, and survival is never guaranteed.
A Note From the Author
Writing Circle of Secrets has been about exploring the razor-thin edge between ambition and ruin. Seventeen chapters in, I’ve only scratched the surface of the secrets Vikan Academy is hiding. For me, this milestone isn’t just about the word count—it’s about seeing readers connect with Esias’s journey, whether through his mistakes, his resilience, or the dangerous paths he can’t seem to turn away from.
Every chapter brings new discoveries, and sharing them week by week has been one of the most rewarding parts of this process.