The Tara Trilogy is a middle-grade fantasy adventure set in India. It is infused with Indian mythology, culture, and folklore. A young girl must fight an evil healer, Zarku, who is intent on destroying all that is precious to her. Armed only with courage, perseverance, and spirit she must try and save herself, and the ones she loves.
The Third Eye (Book 1)
How will Tara escape the malevolent gaze of the Third Eye?
For Tara and her brother, Suraj, the year since their mother and grandfather fled the village of Morni, has been a nightmare. Their new stepmother is cruel and deceptive, and their father is indifferent to their suffering. Villagers have been disappearing, often returning in a strange, horrifying form.
When a new healer, Zarku, a mysterious man with a third eye possessing strange power, suddenly appears in Morni, all are mesmerized by his magic-all except Tara, who sees through his evil disguise.
With nothing but her own courage and wit, Tara tries to find her missing mother and grandfather-the true healer, in time to save her village. Alone and lost in the forest, she must enlist the help of the god Ganesh and the lord of death, Yama, or she, like others before her, will fall victim to Zarku's third eye.
★ Winner of the Silver Birch Fiction Award
The Silver Anklet (Book 2)
What if the only way to get rid of your worst enemy was to sacrifice your brother?
When hyenas snatch Tara's brother, Suraj, and two other children from the local fair in Morni, Tara and her newfound companions embark on a rescue mission. Tara soon discovers that Zarku, her nemesis with the third eye, is back and intent on revenge.
A deadly game of hide-and-seek ensues, and Tara and her companions must work together to survive. But is it soon clear that Zarku is only after Tara; the other are dispensable.
Should Tara risk the lives of her friends? Or can she once again defeat Zarku and save her brother, armed only with belief in herself and a mysterious silver anklet.
The Deadly Conch (Book 3)
What if no one trusted you, not even your own family?
Tara's triumphant return to Morni is short-lived as her stepmother's daughter, Layla, seeks revenge. And so begins a series of carefully orchestrated events to cast suspicion on Tara: a dead dog in the village temple, contaminated well water, and whispers that Tara is possessed by the demonic spirit of Zarku's mother.
Layla fuels the villagers' blind superstitions and fears. Soon all of Morni is against Tara, even her own family. Death seems to be the only way to stop her evil stepsister.
Tara turns to Lord Yama and his deadly conch for help. After a visit to the Underworld, Tara has only twenty-four hours to prove her innocence and save the village before she must go back to the world of the dead. And live there.
Can Tara believe in herself one last time to defeat Layla, or will Lord Yama and his deadly conch claim her soul?
Mahtab Narsimhan is an award-winning author with numerous critically acclaimed books in the fantasy, horror, mystery, and contemporary genres. Many of her books have landed on prestigious lists and The Third Eye won the Silver Birch Fiction Award. She is deeply committed to representing diversity in her books. Please visit www.mahtabnarsimhan.com for more information.
