A Curse Carved in Ink

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About The Book

A dazzling standalone romantasy debut steeped in Chinese vampire folklore and a delicious queer love triangle, for fans of She Who Became the Sun and Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

‘Beautiful and brutal by turns, lyrical and lush and profound, this book will get its hooks into you and drag you through the underworld’ LISA TIRRENO, author of Prince of Fortune

All Zhenya has ever wanted is to escape the monotony of her tiny village with her best friend Shuhua. But Zhenya must care for her grandmother, whose madness haunts their crumbling family bookstore – and she won’t abandon her, madness and all.

But when her grandmother dies, everything falls apart. For she was never mad – she was cursed. And with her death, the curse has passed on to her one remaining descendent: Zhenya. It screams to be fed, but no matter how hard Zhenya tries, she is powerless to stop it. Even when it demands that she kill Shuhua with her bare hands, trapping her soul in an eternity of torment.

As Zhenya grapples with Shuhua’s death, she’s confronted by two immortals of ancient legend: Kaijun, the broody judge of hell, and Yaori, the flirtatious goddess of death. Together, they drag Zhenya to Diyu – hell itself. To free Shuhua’s soul, Zhenya must journey through the ten layers of Diyu, undertaking trials that will test her in unimaginable ways.

It’s terrifying. And to complicate things further, Zhenya finds herself torn between Kaijun and Yaori, grappling with feelings she doesn’t fully understand. But she can’t afford to be distracted, not when the only way to break the curse is to destroy it herself.

About The Author

Photograph © Trifolk Studio

Tzeyi Koay is a Chinese Malaysian lawyer turned fantasy writer. She studied psychology before earning her Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne. Her stories are inspired by Chinese mythology and her family’s folk traditions. Raised in a rural village in Malaysia, she moved to Melbourne for boarding school at sixteen. When she isn’t writing, she can be found tending to her ever-growing collection of books and plants. You can connect with her on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok at @TzeyiKoay.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Solstice Books (February 2, 2027)
  • Length: 400 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781398553989

Raves and Reviews

‘A whirlwind of imagination that will spirit you away to dazzling and terrifying new realms. Koay’s enrapturing prose delivers a fresh vision of the classic Chinese underworld – and its threatening and enchanting denizens – in glistening 4K definition. A luscious, compelling debut’ Shelley Parker-Chan, internationally bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun

‘A tale of love and bravery steeped in a rich tapestry of lore, Tzeyi Koay masterfully leads readers through the layers of hell with Zhenya as she fights to free her best friend’s soul. It is a profound study in grief and sacrifice, and what it means to overcome generational curses’ C.S. Pacat, author of Dark Rise

‘A deeply imaginative tale that plays with family curses and the dangerous journey required to break them. With hauntingly rich prose Koay lures you into the underworld and doesn’t let you go. Perfect for those who seek brave heroines and brooding immortals’ Tigest Girma, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Dark

‘A richly imagined exploration of love, life and death, A Curse Carved in Ink is both epic in scale, and deeply personal in its telling. Full of heart – and full of heat – this lush, dark fantasy is a debut to remember’ Amie Kaufman, author of Illuminae

‘Profoundly, devastatingly human. Both epic and intimate, this debut will easily carve its way into your heart’ Mikayla Bridge, author of Of Flame and Fury

A Curse Carved in Ink is as layered as the captivating lotus-structured underworld of Diyu it depicts. Koay’s debut masterfully knits a tale as rich in emotion as it is in magic, grounding generational curses, celestial mythology, and a journey through death in the profoundly eternal experiences of grief, love, and sacrifice’ Shalini Abeysekara, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine 

‘From intriguing start to stunning end, A Curse Carved in Ink is a beautifully written folkloric tale exploring the ache of grief and the journey to healing set in a grand, dark underworld. Gorgeous!’ Kelsea Yu, author of Demon Song

‘Lush and lyrical, Zhenya’s journey to the underworld is a richly imagined modern myth that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Koay wields a masterful brush’ Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes

‘Wise, lovingly crafted and brimming with heart, A Curse Carved in Ink is a journey both intimate and infinite. With prose that sings and characters that breathe, Koay takes us to new vistas with all she carves into ink. An unforgettable new voice in fantasy’ Shen Tao, author of The Poem Empress

‘Beautiful and brutal by turns, lyrical and lush and profound, this book will get its hooks into you and drag you through the underworld’ Lisa Tirreno, author of Prince of Fortune

‘This was a book I adored from the very first page thanks to its searingly relatable and sarcastic heroine, the lush descriptions of the mortal and immortal worlds, and the sweeping adventure that carried us across realms. Every element of the story was expertly woven together into an unforgettable narrative about the glorious pain and undeniable power of loving and being loved' Kamilah Cole, author of An Arcane Inheritance

‘A lyrical and moving tale that unfolds in a richly-textured underworld, with beautifully real and flawed characters – and that includes the gods of the underworld themselves. A Curse Carved in Ink feels both epic and personal, and will keep readers captivated to the final tearstained page’ Kate Murray, author of We Who Hunt the Hollow

‘Epic as poetry, dark as ink, sexy as hell. A stunningly intricate fantasy – A Curse Carved in Ink will take you to hell and back’ Lili Wilkinson, author of Unhallowed Halls

‘A beautiful examination of family, duty, and love in all its forms, brimming with lyrical prose and a richly imagined underworld, A Curse Carved in Ink is a stunning fantasy debut’ Maithree Wijesekara, author of The Prince Without Sorrow

‘Lush and lyrical, A Curse Carved in Ink deftly depicts a richly imagined world of mythical creatures, deadly trials, and a magical realm whose wonders and horrors will have readers glued to the page. A beautiful and haunting story of love in all its forms – tender, twisted, and enduring beyond lifetimes’ M. Stevenson, author of Behooved

‘A stunning debut that blends breathtaking poetry, Chinese folklore, and lush prose into a dark, fantastical adventure that readers will devour. A love triangle of celestial proportions and a vicious curse threatening the very fabric of the world await in this addictive ode to love, power, and sacrifice. An unforgettable addition to the fantasy genre, this deeply emotional tale will stay with readers long after the final heart-wrenching page’ Julia Alexandra, author of Midnight on the Celestial 

A Curse Carved in Ink is a devastatingly beautiful journey into an underworld of deadly curses, blood-drenched secrets and eternal love. Inspired by Chinese folklore, Tzeyi Koay’s debut is vivid, heartfelt and deeply romantic’ Vanessa Len, author of Only a Monster

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