Review Detail

Darker by Four is a mish-mash of different ideas, but somehow makes them all work!

In a world where Gods exist and they each have a different role, when one God goes missing, it messes with the order.

Four ushers spirits to the underworld once it's their time. Without Four and their Reapers, souls are susceptible to becoming revenants.

Exorcists help deal with random Revenants and protect the human realm. However, when Four disappears, Revenants are more prevalent but are also becoming something more... Hybrids.

We follow Rui, who became a top cadet and her school for Exorcists. After her mother was killed by a hybrid (which no one believes exists), she is focused on revenge. With a high spirit awareness, she finds Zizi, who is a magician, and tests out spells for him. Rui and Zizi have a strong friendship and connection.

Yiran is a bastard son of the family that runs the exorcist. His half-brother is a prodigy, and he has zero spiritual awareness. Disappointing his Grandfather for the last time, he is on the verge of exile.

As Rui goes out to test a spell for Zizi, she and Yiran cross paths, and to save Yiran's life, Rui uses the spell on them. This causes Rui's spiritual magic to travel to Yiran.

Connected now, they must navigate this world, find Four, and figure out how they all fit into each other's lives.

I loved this story and world. It was so interesting, and the lore was so rich. Some revelations were obvious, and some were not. However, it takes a minute to enjoy all of this.

All of the characters, except for Zizi, in the beginning, are insufferable. They are quick to temper, entitled, annoying -- but as the book went on, their characters grow. Rui and Yiran's friendship develops, as does Rui and Zizi's. I'm glad that Rui and Yiran did not end up being the love interest but friends instead. Their relationship works so much better that way.

The story explodes and secrets are revealed! I can't wait to continue this story and see what happens next. Since a lot of the personalities have developed, I am definitely anticipating the next book.

Overall, Darker by Four by June CL Tan was a fun ride. While the beginning was a little rough due to character personalities, the world was always rich. All of the characters developed so well, and as the story grew, so did they. This was such a great progression! I highly recommend this book if you enjoy demons, death, magic, and revelations. You'll be in for a treat!