Simon & Schuster snaps up debut romantasy novel from Tzeyi Koay in six-figure deal

Simon & Schuster has snapped up the debut romantasy novel from Tzeyi Koay at auction, in a six-figure deal. Senior commissioning editor Charlotte Trumble at Simon & Schuster UK and publisher Anthea Bariamis at Atria Books Australia acquired world rights for two books, with the auction brokered by Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary Agency.

Koay’s standalone romantasy debut A Curse Carved in Ink features a bisexual love triangle and explores generational trauma through the lens of Chinese mythology. The novel follows Zhenya, who is in love with her best friend Shuhua. The synopsis continues: "All Zhenya wants is to run away with Shuhua, but she must stay and care for her grandmother, whose madness haunts their crumbling family bookstore. But when her grandmother dies, everything falls apart. For her grandmother was never mad – she was cursed. A deadly generational curse now digs its claws into Zhenya and she is powerless to stop it – even when it demands that Zhenya kill Shuhua with her bare hands, trapping her beloved’s soul in an eternity of torment.

"As Zhenya grapples with the tragedy of Shuhua’s death, she is confronted by immortals of ancient legend who offer her help. Kaijun, the broody judge of hell, and Yaori, the flirtatious goddess of death, drag Zhenya to Diyu – hell itself. There, they show her that she must confront five trials that will test her in unimaginable ways. Emboldened by grief, Zhenya will stop at nothing to liberate Shuhua’s soul and destroy the curse once and for all."

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