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Speaking Volumes
January 2025
On Sale: January 20, 2025
260 pages
ISBN: 8890223871
EAN: 9798890223876
Paperback
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Fantasy Magical Realism | Thriller Psychological | Fiction Literary
Voices of the Past, Battles of the Mind: King of Peru Explores Mental Illness, Faith and Friendship
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Oct. 28, 2025 — What happens when the voice in one’s head isn’t theirs — but that of a long-dead conquistador? Author Mark E. Scott’s new book, King of Peru, is a darkly humorous, psychological drama that blends history, mental illness and faith in unexpected ways.
The story follows Matthew “Matt” Obrodnick, a former Marine now trying to rebuild his life as a college student at Miami University in Ohio. Matt’s friendship with his steady, chain-smoking roommate Thomas Jefferson helps keep him grounded — until Matt begins hearing a voice. The intruder is Lope de Aguirre, the infamous 16th-century Spanish conquistador who once tried and failed to seize power in Peru.
As Lope’s presence grows stronger, Matt battles delusions, paranoia and violent impulses. Meanwhile, Thomas turns to God — and the long-awaited return of his sister Renee — for solace. But when Renee and Matt form an unexpected bond, the fragile peace between the two roommates threatens to shatter.
Blending raw psychological tension with historical echoes, King of Peru examines the voices that demand loyalty — from destructive delusions to divine faith — and the human struggle to find identity, belonging and love in the midst of chaos.
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