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A review by mylynn
Darker by Four by June CL Tan
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this one!! This book starts out strong, and I was hooked immediately. The prologue does a great job setting up the main mystery that we follow throughout the book and also gives a little bit of insight into the courts of Hell.
For most of the book we follow Rui, an exorcist in training, and her friends Zizi, a unsanctioned mage, and Yiran, the only magicless person in the Song family. I really loved the complicated dynamic these three had and I am *invested* in them. I am lowkey worried about what'll happen with them in the next book, but really enjoyed their banter and growth that we've gotten so far.
There are multiple mysteries being solved throughout the book, and it kept me interested the entire time. I wouldn't say that any parts of this book are slow, but towards last half of the book it really gains momentum and I was STRESSED as we neared the end.
We also get some POVs of non-humans, and I loved learning about the courts of Hell, the Kings of said courts, and Nikai (a reaper in the Fourth court, who also has a mysterious background). This book left me with so many questions about the underworld (and the "regular" world tbh), and I wish we had spent more time in some of those POVs, but I think that we'll definitely get more information with the next book.
Overall a really strong first book in a series, and it's one I will definitely reread before the next book comes out.
Thank you to HarperTeen for this ARC!!!
For most of the book we follow Rui, an exorcist in training, and her friends Zizi, a unsanctioned mage, and Yiran, the only magicless person in the Song family. I really loved the complicated dynamic these three had and I am *invested* in them. I am lowkey worried about what'll happen with them in the next book, but really enjoyed their banter and growth that we've gotten so far.
There are multiple mysteries being solved throughout the book, and it kept me interested the entire time. I wouldn't say that any parts of this book are slow, but towards last half of the book it really gains momentum and I was STRESSED as we neared the end.
We also get some POVs of non-humans, and I loved learning about the courts of Hell, the Kings of said courts, and Nikai (a reaper in the Fourth court, who also has a mysterious background). This book left me with so many questions about the underworld (and the "regular" world tbh), and I wish we had spent more time in some of those POVs, but I think that we'll definitely get more information with the next book.
Overall a really strong first book in a series, and it's one I will definitely reread before the next book comes out.
Thank you to HarperTeen for this ARC!!!