A city at the foot of cliffs.
A people forced into the mines.
Children who refuse to disappear.
Children of Simin
On the island-city of Simin, the Radoni (villagers) are dragged from their homes and forced underground to dig coal for a distant king. When a group of children escape a massacre and vanish into the mountains, their survival becomes the spark that could ignite a rebellion.
A grounded fantasy about power, guilt, and the courage of forgotten people – with no dragons, no magic, only humans trying to stay human.
Read instantly on Kindle.
About the Author
Mehmet Ceran is a writer and industrial engineer based in Poland. His debut novel, Children of Simin, was first published in Turkish and has already reached hundreds of readers drawn to its mix of political tension, intimate character work, and grounded worldbuilding.
He writes about ordinary people trapped inside extraordinary systems: miners, villagers, children, and old kings who can no longer escape the consequences of their own decisions.
This English edition is the first step in bringing the world of Simin to international readers. A sequel is currently in progress.
Maps & Extras
Here you will soon find more maps of Simin, and other extras.
Map of Simin – English version
World of Simin
Welcome to Simin – an island city carved between sea and cliffs, ruled by kings, haunted by old stories, and kept alive by miners, villagers, and children who refuse to disappear.
Use this guide as you read: who is who, what is where, and which words belong to the Radoni and the mines.
Radoni & Villagers
Vasi – Villager, the informal leader of the uprising among the Radoni.
Musaf – Villager; Vala’s father.
Ludak – Villager.
Vala – One of the surviving Radoni children; stubborn, brave, marked by loss.
Illean – Child survivor; resourceful, determined, intravert.
Zin – Palace attendant and Vala’s childhood friend, caught between the palace and the Radoni world.
Elders, Healers & Storytellers
Mother Ela – Shaman and healer of the Radoni; singer of ancient songs, carrying deep herbal knowledge and folk wisdom.
Dede – Elder storyteller of myths and old tales; a spiritual guide who keeps memory alive.
Royalty & Nobility
King Ilge – Elderly king of Simin. Once rational and wise, now consumed by guilt and fear.
Anka – Princess of Simin, daughter of King Ilge; young, intelligent, sensitive, and more clear-sighted than most at court.
King Otto – King of Phrygia; cunning, ruthless, and ambitious.
Bisma – Handsome prince of Phrygia, son of King Otto; Anka’s forced betrothed.
Phrygian Officials & Power Brokers
Luf – Phrygia’s ambassador in Simin; in his fifties, sly and opportunistic.
Plene – Phrygian officer; engineer and city planner.
Jin – Old, frail aide who once served King Ilge and still remembers the old days of the court.
Admiral Hanza – Phrygian naval commander.
Ani – Steward of the commander’s residence in Simin.
Ala – Maid working in the commander’s residence.
Lemur – Phrygia’s spymaster and political manipulator in Simin; moves information and people like pieces on a board.
Simin Officials & Military
Kam Elder Pol – Elder of the kams; the highest religious authority of Simin.
Commander Anseba – Military commander of Simin.
Lida – Administrator responsible for managing the Radoni inside the city.
Mamo – One of the commanders of Equalıty Army; brutal, merciless, feared by the prisoners and workers.
Ishkar – Informer, moving between worlds and carrying stories to those in power.
Yamu – One of the main commanders of the Simin army.
Amil – One of the main commanders of the Simin army.
Miners, Radoni & Common Folk
Blinds – Group of experienced miners who have lost their sight after years working in the dark tunnels.
Koroglu Rafi – Son of a blind miner; called Koroglu, “son of a blind.”
Old Stories & Legendary Figures
Esme – Builder of the first storm-resistant houses in the city, shaping how Simin survives harsh weather.
Argun – Shepherd who initiates the construction of the fortress after the second great flood. Becomes leader of Simin for a decade; remembered as a wise builder and protector, not as a tyrant.
Barat – One of six young sailors washed ashore in Simin; the one who introduces coal to King Otto and changes the island’s fate.
Survivors & Companions
Rider – Explorer and map-maker, crossing the island and seas.
Kavaf – Rider’s loyal horse.
Atani – Wolf who becomes Vala’s companion and protector.
Children of the Mountains
Eli – Boy; curious and quick to ask questions.
Yash – Boy; emotional, sensitive, always hungry.
Itap – Boy; harsh, outspoken, says what others only think.
Ann – Girl; quiet and withdrawn, devoted to caring for her baby brother.
Asya – Girl; fearful of heights and easily panicked, but trying to be brave.
Sem – Girl; lively, initiates games, the first to dare and climb the rope ladder.
Hortu – Baby; Ann’s tiny brother, carried and protected by the others.
Elli – Girl; endlessly curious, full of questions about the world.
Places of Simin – Districts
Miners’ Quarter – District of Simin clinging to the cliffs, home to many miners and their families.
Radoni Quarter – District south of the fortress; the area assigned to the Radoni once they are brought inside the city.
Fishermen’s Quarter – Coastal district east of the palace, tied to the sea and daily catch.
Marketplace – Busy commercial area.
Great Square – Central public square of Simin where crowds gather, speeches are made, and sometimes sentences are carried out.
Blue Cove – Small, hidden inlet east of the palace; a sheltered corner of sea and rock.
New Settlement – Newly planned district meant to reshape how the city will grow.
Places of Simin – Strongholds & Landmarks
Great Temple – Principal temple building and square; the heart of religious life in the city.
Fortress – The prison and keep of Simin; a symbol of control, fear, and “protection.”
Citadel – The walled inner city and palace compound where the royal family and high officials live.
Southern Pass Cave – A cave in the southern mountain pass; a hidden refuge about a day’s ride from the city.
Graveyard of the Unclaimed – Burial ground for the poorest and unclaimed dead.
Wider Geography
Simin – Both the island and its main city.
Morgu – The great mountain that dominates the island’s landscape.
Durlaz – Village at the entrance of the Valley of the Doves; later emptied by soldiers.
Valley of the Doves (Güvercin Vadisi) – A valley on the island, known as a quiet, beautiful landmark.
Key Terms & Concepts
Kam – Spiritual and religious leader.
Kam Elder – Head of the kams; the highest spiritual authority.
Radoni – Plural demonym for the villagers and mining people brought from the countryside. Used collectively, as in “the Radoni”.
Manga – Work gang or squad of miners in the tunnels.
Bere – A cavern or hollow that a tunnel unexpectedly breaks into; dangerous, often sealed with timber.
Saule – Divine force and protector deity invoked by the people of Simin.
Atlas – Rider’s carefully drawn maps of Simin and its surroundings.
Army of Equality – Royal army organized under the promise of equality, later used to bring the Radoni into the city for forced labor.
Checkers – Simple board game played by children and adults.
Pıslanpatır – Children’s hide-and-seek game.
Yellow star – Badge civilians must wear to walk freely under occupation and curfew.
Domalan – A type of truffle found in the region; a small delicacy of the land.
Readers' Reviews
The comments below are written by readers of the Turkish edition of Children of Simin. They are spoiler-free and shared with permission.
“From the pen of dear Mehmet Ceran — his debut novel, Children of Simin…”
The atmosphere of the book is striking, and the author tells the story without ever allowing your attention to drift. The plot is dense yet gripping; you find yourself thinking as you turn the pages, almost as if you were listening to a fairy tale — contemplating how the pressures imposed on people can persist across generations…
— Sibel Güneşdoğdu (Writer & Editor)
“What do you think hope and reason can achieve when they stand together against brute force?”
Their story will stay with me — an inspiring tale of solidarity and resistance against oppression. I loved the fluid, compelling writing; I never wanted to put the book down. Its fairytale-like tone and the excitement of its unfolding events made it impossible to step away.
— Seher Koyunlu (1000kitap.com)
“A miracle within reality…”
Some people see the book in my hands and ask if it is fantasy — it isn’t, but it pulls you toward miracles hidden inside reality. Humanity is enchanted by such miracles; this is why Marquez calls the movement “magical realism.” Mehmet Ceran believes his story carries that fairytale-like truth. 🥰 The characters feel as if they were drawn from fairytales, everyday life, novels, masnavis, and folk literature all at once.
— Dilek Kurt Diyar (Ministry of Education, Turkish Literature Teacher – Instagram)
Read a Free Sample
You can download the first chapter of Children of Simin as a free PDF sample using the link below.
First Chapter – PDF Sample
This PDF is formatted to match the print / e-book edition for comfortable reading.
Contact
For reader messages, collaboration, or review inquiries, you can reach the author at:
Email: m.ceran.2020@gmail.com