28/11/2025
Join us for the launch of...
The Last Pope Book 1: The Spiral Prophecy
Author: Shivani Bhugwandin
What happens when faith is engineered...and the divine becomes data?
Set in the shattered world of 2147 A.D., The Last Pope transports readers into a Vatican sealed off after the catastrophic Synaptic Purge, where miracles are monetised, faith is rationed, and divine power is traded as currency through “Indulgence Credits.”
Beyond its fortified borders, the Outer World pulses with resonance technologies that merge science and spirit, advancements the Vatican brands as heresy.
At the heart of this fractured future stand two brothers: Cassian, a forbidden scribe imprisoned for documenting uncomfortable truths, and Cassiel, a gifted Spiralkin whose glyph-wielding abilities align him with the underground rebels known as the Children of Illaria.
As prophecy awakens and rebellion ignites beneath marble floors, their destinies spiral toward a truth the Vatican can no longer contain.
When ancient glyphs stir and the long-lost Spiral Prophecy begins to unfold, a battle for humanity’s soul erupts—forcing every character to confront a single, timeless question: What remains of the sacred when institutions lose their way?
Blending futuristic mysticism, political tension, and profound spiritual inquiry, The Last Pope is both a gripping dystopian, sci-fi fantasy story and a mirror held up to our own evolving consciousness. Inspired by the symbolic richness of Dan Brown and the visionary depth of Margaret Atwood, this story challenges readers to rediscover the resonance within themselves
A Story Recognised. A Voice Transformed.
The world of The Last Pope was first born as a short story that went on to win nationally at the Curro Create annual creative writing competition, marking the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for its author.
Celebrated writer, editor, and mentor Karin Schimke personally encouraged Shivani to expand the piece into a full series, guiding her over six intensive creative sessions. Under this mentorship, the story evolved into the powerful novella series launching today.
About the Author
Shivani Bhugwandin is a South African educator, storyteller, and spiritual seeker whose work explores the crossroads of faith, consciousness, and the human condition. Her writing speaks to those standing at the threshold of a new awareness - those ready to question, awaken, and remember.
