YA@Books Inc. proudly welcomes local author Katy Rose Pool to Alameda in celebration of her newest YA Fantasy/Thriller, Garden of the Cursed. Katy will be in conversation with friend and local author Akshaya Raman.(Ages 14+)
In Garden of the Cursed, a romantic, enemies-to-lovers fantasy mystery, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with a powerful noble to gain entry into an illustrious--and deadly--society that holds clues to her mother's disappearance. This edge-of-your-seat novel is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron.
Since fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother's disappearance.
When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow's old friend and scion of one of Caraza's most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother's case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she desperately seeks is to help Adrius and return to Evergarden society--even if it means suffering through a fake love affair with him to avoid drawing suspicion from the conniving Five Families.
As the investigation draws Marlow into a web of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, a shocking truth emerges: Adrius's curse and her mother's disappearance may just be clues to an even larger mystery, one that could unravel the very foundations of Caraza and magic itself.
" A delicious read full of swoony romance." --Tricia Levenseller, New York Times-bestselling author of Blade of Secrets
"Nothing short of genius." --Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games series
"Mystery, fantasy, romance--this book has it all, and every page is more compulsively readable than the last. Gasp-inducing, heart-rending, and beautifully crafted, Garden of the Cursed is nothing short of genius." --Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games series
"One of the most original fantasy novels I've read in years." --C. L. Herman, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the All of Us Villains duology
"Marlow's world of corruption and cunning had me completely enthralled. A fresh, fascinating magic system, an intricate blend of fantasy meets mystery, and a riveting fake dating romance-- I devoured this in a single day." --Amanda Foody, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the All of Us Villains duology
"A delicious read full of swoony romance (fake-dating trope!), dangerous gangsters, wondrous magic, and an elaborate mystery that will keep the pages flying. Readers will root for Marlow Briggs while admiring her exquisite dresses, snarky banter, and wicked wit as she takes on the upper echelons of society." --Tricia Levenseller, New York Times-bestselling author of Blade of Secrets
Praise for the Age of Darkness trilogy
A Morris Award Finalist for There Will Come a Darkness
* "A successful ending to a brilliant trilogy about human hope and connection . . . set in a diverse world that celebrates and affirms all kinds of love." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review for Into the Dying Light
* "Mind-blowing twists, budding love, and terrible betrayals feature in this...study of power, agency, and identity." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review for As the Shadow Rises
"Solidifies Katy Rose Pool as one of the best fantasy writers of the 21st century." -- Popsugar on As the Shadow Rises
* "Masterful." -- BCCB , starred review for There Will Come a Darkness
"You get the feeling Katy Rose Pool's plot is always seven steps ahead of you. You'll want to catch up as quickly as possible." -- Refinery 29 on There Will Come a Darkness
Katy Rose Pool, author of the Age of Darkness trilogy, was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA before graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in history. Currently, she resides in Oakland, CA, where she can be found dreaming up spells and prophecies, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and reading books that set her on fire.
Akshaya Raman is a Tamil American writer born in Chennai and raised in the Bay Area. She fell in love with writing when she wrote her first story at the age of ten. Though she graduated from UC Davis with a degree in biology, she gave up pursuing a career in science to write books. She lives in California with an actual scaredy cat, and in her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, and watching too much reality TV. You can find her on Instagram @akshraman.
