TARA SIM & KATY ROSE at Books Inc. Laurel Village

Welcome to TARA SIM & KATY ROSE at Books Inc. Laurel Village! Join us for an exciting in-person event at Books Inc where authors Tara Sim and Katy Rose will be discussing their latest works. Don't miss this opportunity to meet these talented writers and get your books signed! See you there!

About the books: We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim

Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the real horrors are not the monsters you face, but the ones you create.
Kajal knows she is not a good person. If she were, she wouldn’t selfishly be risking her sister’s soul in a dangerous bid to bring her back to life. She would let Lasya rest in peace—but Kajal cannot stand the horror of living without her.
As Kajal prepares for the resurrection, the worst happens: Her sister’s soul warps into a bhuta—a murderous, wraith-like spirit—and Kajal gets sentenced to death for her sister’s rampage. There seems little hope of escape until two strangers offer to free her. The catch: She must resurrect the kingdom’s fallen crown prince to aid a growing rebellion against a tyrannical usurper. Desperate, Kajal rushes to complete her end of the deal . . . only to discover that the boy she’s resurrected, Tav, is not the crown prince.
Now Kajal—prickly, proud, admirer of the scientific method—must team up with Tav—stubborn, reticent, and fonder of swords than of books—to find the real crown prince. With only a scalpel and her undead dog, Kutaa, at her side, Kajal must work fast before her mistake is exposed or Lasya’s bhuta turns its murderous fury on the person truly responsible for her death: Kajal herself.

“Gripping . . . this Frankenstein-inspired story of accidental monster creation leads readers to timeless questions about true monstrosity and the responsibility of the creator for the consequences. A fantastic, magical adventure that covers a lot of ground with a large, energetic cast and a heavy infusion of fascinating and illuminating mythology.” —Booklist
“[A] dark and dramatic masterpiece.” —Reactor Magazine
“Borrowing liberally from Hindu folklore and utilizing evocative, moody prose...Sim explores themes of systemic misogyny, superstition, and morality...deliver[ing] a twisted work of fantasy horror teeming with fascinating creatures and long-buried secrets.” —Publishers Weekly
“Sim’s duology opener is an artful presentation of binaries—evidence and belief, right and wrong—and the complex, gray, in-between areas. This intriguing exploration of certainty is highlighted by a nonbinary character’s perceptions of duality...A dark and sinuous fantasy adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews
“One of the most unique and intelligent books I’ve read in recent years. Darkly alluring, completely enthralling, and masterfully rendered—Tara Sim is an author at the top of her game.” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
“In this stirring testament to the bonds of siblinghood, Tara Sim spins a complex tale of guilt and grief against a vivid Indian-inspired backdrop of myths, magic, and a touch of the undead.” —Traci Chee, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Steps Into Night
“Full of dark humor and darker twists, We Shall Be Monsters is not afraid to show its claws.” —Margaret Owen, New York Times bestselling author of the Little Thieves and The Merciful Crow series
“A captivating tale of family and legacy, set in a darkly vibrant world inspired by Indian mythology. Filled with gorgeous prose, exhilarating twists, and heart-stopping romance, We Shall Be Monsters is everything I love about the fantasy genre.” —Akshaya Raman, author of The Ivory Key
“With evocative prose and captivating worldbuilding inspired by Indian mythology, We Shall Be Monsters is a dazzling, macabre tale of sisterhood, resurrection, and the weight of destiny. Readers will fall in love with the fierce, prickly Kajal (and her undead dog!).” —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come a Darkness and Garden of the Cursed

Tara Sim is the author of The Dark Gods trilogy, the Scavenge the Stars duology, and the Timekeeper trilogy. She can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she’s not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, M**der, and mayhem.

Masquerade of the Heart

In the conclusion to this romantic YA fantasy/mystery duology from Morris Award finalist Katy Pool, Veronica Mars meets a glitzy and gritty Gilded Age–inspired fantasy world in which cursebreaker Marlow pretends to be in love with a powerful noble as she searches for her missing mother.

The city of Caraza sits poised on the edge of chaos—and cursebreaker Marlow Briggs is at the center of a deadly struggle for power. In the tragic aftermath of the Vale-Falcrest wedding, Marlow is spurned by Adrius, who refuses to speak to her and publicly vows to find a noble wife before the year is out. Despite her heartbreak, Marlow is still intent on breaking his compulsion curse. To do so, she’ll have to play loving daughter to the man who cast it—the man who’s hellbent on reshaping Caraza in his own image, no matter the cost.
But the closer she gets to her long-lost father, the more Marlow starts to question if he’s really the villain she’s made him out to be. As the lines between enemy and ally blur, Marlow must decide if she’s willing to sacrifice her heart’s desire to save a city that wants her dead.

Katy Rose Pool was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in history, she spent a few years building websites by day and dreaming up prophecies by night. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she can be found eating breakfast sandwiches, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and reading books that set her on fire. She is the author of the Age of Darkness trilogy. @KatyPool

Axie Oh is the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, XOXO, and the Rebel Seoul series. Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, she studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California San Diego and holds an MFA in writing for young people from Lesley University. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea, and she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her dogs, Leila and Toro. Visit her online at axieoh.com.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Books Inc, 3515 California Street, San Francisco, United States