About Jeremiah Samba

Meet Jeremiah Samba

I'm Jeremiah Samba, a sixteen-year-old author with a lifelong love for history and storytelling. Ever since I was a kid, I've been drawn to writing historical fiction that brings forgotten moments and overlooked voices to life.

My Writing Journey

My debut novel, Shadow of the Unconquered, was inspired by the countless rebellions throughout history that fought for freedom against tyranny, and by the often-ignored African presence and influence in the Greco-Roman world.

Writing is how I explore the past and reimagine the stories that shaped it. Shadow of the Unconquered is just the beginning. I plan to write many more books that dive into different eras, cultures, and struggles for justice, always guided by the belief that history is never truly silent—it just needs someone to listen.

About Shadow of the Unconquered

In a divided world ruled by the iron hand of Rome, Arthan is born between worlds—his father, a Nubian soldier in Rome's service; his mother, a Caledonian noblewoman who refuses to claim him. Marked by two heritages and accepted by neither, Arthan grows up in a land torn by conquest, learning to fight as both legionary and tribesman, belonging fully to no one.

As he comes of age amid war and oppression, Arthan's loyalty to the empire that raised him begins to fracture. His journey through the ranks of Rome's legions exposes the cost of its so-called civilization—its hypocrisy, its brutality, and the price paid by those who serve it. When he meets Azelas, a North African soldier enslaved by the empire since childhood, the two find in each other a reflection of their own broken identities. Together, they turn their backs on Rome and vanish into the wild.

From their flight grows something greater than rebellion. Joined by exiles, deserters, and freed slaves, Arthan and Azelas forge a brotherhood that challenges the very foundations of imperial power. On the waves of the Mediterranean, their dream takes shape—a free kingdom called Nova Thalassa, built on equality, sanctuary, and the belief that no soul is born to serve another.

But freedom carries a heavy price. As the empire's wrath bears down upon them, the founders of Nova Thalassa must confront betrayal, loss, and the question that defines their struggle: can a dream of liberty survive in a world built on conquest?

From the mist-covered highlands of Britannia to the sunburned coasts of Africa, Shadow of the Unconquered follows one man's transformation from orphan to outcast to revolutionary. It is an epic of defiance and hope—a tale of love, brotherhood, and the enduring fight for a world without masters.

What's Next

This is just the beginning of my journey as a historical fiction author. Stay tuned for more stories that explore different eras, cultures, and the timeless struggle for freedom and justice.