A review by natashaleighton_
Darker by Four by June CL Tan

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Darker By Four was a deliciously intriguing and exhilaratingly pacey urban fantasy, with a slow burn, (and heart meltingly sweet) friends to lovers romance I absolutely adored. 

With inspiration ranging from The Ten Courts of Hell to Manga and Xianxia C dramas, it’s hard not to fall in love with Tan’s rich and utterly compulsive storytelling which reminded soo much of the urban fantasy books I adored as a teen/young adult in the 2010s. 

Like Jade Fire Gold (Tan’s debut which I also enjoyed) I was instantly drawn in by the multilayered and nuanced cast of characters whose personalities, intertwined fates and emotional journeys had me thoroughly hooked.

Though I loved protagonist, Rui whose tough and standoffish outer exterior hides a complex, tender hearted teen still dealing with the murder of her mother and the emotional breakdown of her father—it was mage, Zizi (Rui’s longtime friend and love interest) that completely stole my heart. 

His sunshiny demeanour paired well with Rui’s grumpy one and I loved how easily he was able to make Rui forget all her worries. The banter was phenomenal as well, serving as the perfect dose of comic relief between the more intense, emotionally charged scenes—especially when Yiran is introduced and viewed (by Zizi) as competition for Rui’s attention. 

Yiran, much like Rui is quite an emotionally detached character when we first meet him, but his frosty demeanour soon melts as we delve into the hurt and emotional pain that has built up from a lifetime of being sidelined and overlooked by his family (whether that’s because of his illegitimacy or not inheriting the power his family are infamous for.) It’s definitely quite heartbreaking to explore, but his arc is the one I feel people may resonate with the most. 

The one sided rivalry aside, the secrets, twists and revelations really propelled the narrative to that exquisitely explosive conclusion, and even had me second guessing every character (and decision) I came across. There were about two or three characters I had been certain were Four and I was wrong about all of them! 

Overall, a high octane, high stakes and gorgeously immersive read that fans of The Shadowhunter Chronicles or pacey, YA Fantasy should consider checking out. 

Also, a massive thank you to Kate Keehan & Hodderscape for the stunning proof.


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