Talhí Briones is a writer, an artist, a graphic designer, and generally someone who makes creative projects happen. Born in Chile and grown in Montréal, Canada, she easily switches between three languages and translates her works herself. She also draws her own covers. She's bad at delegating.
This is her first novel. After Hieroglyphs, she went on to publish Emmanuel Just Wants to Die, a dark humor comic about depression and body-snatching ghosts (French version published by Glénat Québec in 2020; co-authored with her sister Karina Briones); and then published the romantic queer western Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel (Renaissance Press, 2025) and its companion piece Tales of Swainsburg (self-published, 2025).
Her future projects include a next installment in the Hieroglyphs universe, an illustrated children's book, and a million other things.
"Do you believe in our gods?
They grow us like cattle. They use us for their wars."
Tensions were already high between the Egyptian gods and the Angels. They shared the same territory, their humans already at odds. The other clans, among them Demons and Greek gods, watched from the sides, anticipating the worst.
Until Anubis betrayed his people and gave their secrets to an Angel: secrets of a child who would grow to save the Hebrews from Egypt; and how that child could not be allowed to live, even if it meant getting rid of an entire generation of Hebrew children.
The king of Egypt was the only one who could start, or stop, such a massacre.
To reach the king, they could use his sister. Young, naive, and powerless, Princess Soromeh was the perfect tool for their plans.
This was not her story. But they made it her story.
A historical fantasy novel, where mythology and the Bible clash in an epic retelling of Exodus.
The writer, crafter, and lovely person who recommended this book to me said it was the book that got her back into reading after burnout, and that is the type of endorsement where not much more needs to be said. A thrilling, femme-centered Biblical retelling written and then translated by a tri-lingual author, I hope perhaps this book will provide such a remedy for you. –E.D.E. Bell
"Even if you're familiar with the Exodus story, the plot is intricate and utterly unique in the way that it weaves together the different pantheons and story lines."
– Amazon review"A well-written story that pulls you in making you want to beg for more. The kind of hidden mystery you don't expect- and when you think you might understand what's happening it takes a sudden left turn and makes you want to reread to see if you catch something that might have been overlooked the first time."
– Amazon review"You know the story of Exodus, I'm sure, at least in part, so you know where this story goes. Believe me, I forgot, because I was so enthralled by the story."
– Amazon review"I am a fan of mythology and Talhí weaves together a re-imagined world set in Old Testament Egypt that is gripping and well-told. I sat down to read it and didn't want to put it down."
– Amazon reviewPrologue
The Angel in Chains
An intruder ran up the stairs that led to the door to Paradise, looking around nervously at the surrounding blue skies. His dark clothing, jackal head, and Egyptian jewelry set him apart from the pale souls that were climbing alongside him.
He reached the top, a floating circular platform where many columns supported a crystal dome. In the middle of the white marble flooring, there was an arch with closed double doors.
They opened at the approach of the first souls. A light, softer than the summer sun, came from the other side. The jackal-headed man stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he could smell the sea breeze and the scent of a garden, he could hear laughter and music, could feel a beloved hand on his cheek. His eyes filled with tears.
The souls walked through the arch one by one, disappearing into the light. The jackal stepped forward without even noticing it.
"Halt!" snapped a voice, hoarse with disuse.
The doors closed. The light disappeared, and the jackal snapped out of his trance.
An angel was stomping towards him. He was wearing the armor of warrior angels, armed with silver sword and shield, a helmet covering his face. His wings, large and powerful, shone brightly.
The jackal stepped back several feet, and then he noticed the chains. Made of a pale metal, they were shackled to the angel's ankles, wrists, and even wings, tying him to the surrounding columns.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" demanded the angel.
The jackal felt empty air under his feet and stopped at the top of the stairs, hands held in peace.
"May Ra's heat be merciful to you! I am Anubis, from the Netcheroo clan of Egypt. I'm only looking for a way to speak to—"
"Your presence is not welcome here, Netcheroo!"
"Listen, angel, I don't want to approach your door, so you can lower that sword. I just want—"
"Leave this place immediately!"
Anubis grew impatient.
"You know, the Demons got a guardian to protect Hell's door. A huge three-headed mastiff. They chained him, like you. Are you the angel's guard dog? Do I have to tame you with raw meat?"
"What are you doing with those souls? The Hebrews don't belong to your clan, they belong to us!"
"Calm your feathers. I was merely following them. I had to find a way to— never mind, this is all above your grade. I need to speak to your masters."
"What do you want with them?"
"You're only a guard!" snapped Anubis. "It's not your place to pick what they should and shouldn't hear!"
The angel lifted his sword. Anubis showed his fangs.
"I don't want to be here either," he growled. "But what I have to say is greater than the disgust I have for your clan. Call. Your. Masters."
The angel made another step forward. He was a full head taller than Anubis.
"I'm not a dog," he snapped. "I don't have masters."
"I could care less if you're a dog or a chicken, you useless feather ball. I don't know how to find your clan's nest. You're the only one who, evidently, can't fly away."
The angel placed the tip of his sword on Anubis's chest and forced him to climb down a step.
"Leave, or I'll throw you overboard."
"I swear on the lives of your humans. I swear on the blood that will be spilled if our clans declare an open war. I swear on the hundreds of souls that you'll see walk through these doors every day if I don't get to share what I know."
The angel hesitated and lowered his weapon.
"The Archangel Michael sometimes passes by. I'll request an audience for you."
"When?"
"I don't know the schedule of the Chief of all angelic Armies!"
Anubis grinded his teeth. The angel's eyes were visible through a small opening in the helmet. They were blue, and angry.
"Your name," said the jackal.
"What?"
"To make a pact. I need a name."
"I…"
The angel hesitated for a long moment.
"I think that… my name is… Uriel."
Anubis chose to ignore that awkwardness and extended a hand.
"Good. Uriel, guardian of the door, here is the pact I offer you. I will come back with every sunrise until I get an audience. Once your part of the deal is over, I will never climb these stairs again and, for my entire existence, will never tell anyone where to find them."
Uriel looked at him, full of mistrust, but ended up shaking his hand.
"Perfect," said the jackal. "Let's hope this ordeal can be resolved quickly, I have no intention to endure an angel's presence longer than I absolutely have to."
He climbed down the stairs with a dismissive gesture over his shoulder.
The night came, followed by the morning. Once more, Anubis appeared with the souls of the dead.
"So?"
"Michael didn't come by."
"But it's important! You don't have to wait specifically for him, you can just tell another angel to relay the message!"
"No one comes here. There is only Michael and the souls."
Anubis frowned. He glanced at the chains.
"Well. I can wait another day."
He left, exasperated.
He came back the following day, the day after that, and then the day after that. A year went by like this, with the sun rising over the jackal's dark silhouette.
"Good morning, my dear Uriel!" he grinned, that morning. "I do appreciate your punctuality for our daily meetings!"
Uriel glared at him through the visor of his helmet.
"Anubis," he greeted. "The Archangel Michael—"
"Didn't come by? What a surprise. Anyway, come sit on the stairs and let me tell you the last rumor from Olympus. You're going to laugh. Apparently, their king found himself a new mistress, and this time, to hide her from his wife, changed the poor girl into a white heifer—"
"Stop barking for a single moment and let me finish!" snapped Uriel. "I wanted to tell you that—"
A blinding ray of light pierced the clouds. Uriel bowed down. Anubis squinted, barely able to see the shape of wings and the glint of metal armor.
"The Archangel Council accepts to hear you, Anubis of the Netcheroo clan. I am Michael, chief of the angelic Armies."
"I give you my respects, Michael," Anubis said hesitantly. "I came to warn you that my people were made aware of your plans. They know you intend to take the Hebrews out of Egypt. They also know you plan on using a human Prophet to make it happen."
Michael did not move or make a sound, but Anubis could feel a deep anger coming from him. The jackal overcame his fear and kept going.
"A human oracle, a man who could see the future in his dreams, was announcing the coming of a Prophet for the Hebrew people… My clan captured him and tortured him to the point of insanity. We now know that the Prophet will be male, the son of a Hebrew father, and will be born in Egypt's capital during the fiftieth return of the red star. My clan is very… reluctant, let's say, at the idea of letting your humans go. They want to get rid of the Prophet before he can be of any use to you."
"Celestials cannot kill a human. Or do Netcheroos consider themselves above the law?"
"My clan obeys the law," said Anubis through his teeth, "but Demons don't. My clan hired a son of Lucifer—"
"Do not mention that name here!" roared Michael.
Anubis took a moment to gather his bearings. He was shaking.
"I won't do it again. What about Behemoth? Am I allowed to say Behemoth?"
Michael stayed silent, so he kept going.
"The demon Behemoth is working for my people in exchange for protection. He's going to Egypt and plans on eliminating an entire generation of Hebrew children to get rid of a single one."
"We shall send our armies to retrieve him."
"He's hiding from the King of Hell. Do you really think you'll be able to find him? He's going to be incarnated as a human and get lost in the masses. You know nothing of Egypt or her people. Do you even know where to start?"
"Where would you start, Netcheroo?"
Anubis was left speechless for a moment.
"The palace," he finally said. "Only the king could order such a massive and precise massacre. Behemoth would need him on his side."
"You speak wisely," said Michael. "You gave us precious information. What do you demand in exchange?"
"Your silence. I don't want my clan to be made aware of my actions."
"What made you betray your people, Anubis the Netcheroo?"
"...They betrayed me in a worse way."
"I shall keep your secret. Leave this place and do not come back."
Anubis glanced at Uriel. The angel was still staring down.
"I accept," said the jackal, slowly.
He turned around and climbed down the stairs for the last time. After he disappeared through a cloud, Michael left without a word.
Next to the door to Paradise, the chained angel found himself alone, once more.
