Brighter Than Nine is a riveting sequel

Brighter than Nine is a wondrous sequel to one of my fave books of 2025, Darker by Four, and brings the story to an explosive, albeit satisfying conclusion. Read my 5-star review below:

Rui is now hailed as a hero and on her way to being an important member of the guild. Lying about the existence of Hybrids is eating at her. A grave mistake may have unwittingly given the enemy new 'ammunition'. Meanwhile, Zizi is stuck in the underworld and Yiran is being courted into betrayal. Will Yiran do the wrong thing to get what he wants and lead them to destruction?

Our hearts seize in the first few pages and we know we are back, immersed in Tan's soul-touching storytelling. The lyrical wisps that amplify the narrative, the danger weaving itself into the threads, in addition to the flow & wonderful pacing of events bringing us closer to the inevitable crescendo, are all magnificently placed building blocks to the unforgettable story.

Each POV is captivating in its own right: Rui's presenting determination to the point of pigheadedness, with the desire to do the right thing, Yiran's showing us how lost he is, craving acceptance, inadvertently giving value to things haphazardly and Zizi's gifting us with his fairy tale like origin. Zizi was and is my favorite. His often smirk-worthy behavior is utterly delightful. He reminds me, in the best possible way, of Magnus Bane from the Shadowhunter Chronicles.

I loved how the mythology evolved, how we learn more of the Kings, the underworld, the Hybrids and the nature of Rui's and Zizi's connection, a leading force in the sequel. The past plagues them yet again with new secrets & mysteries, but so does the present. The heart always remembers and everything is connected. My jaw hurt from dropping on the floor so much. If you thought things couldn't reach a higher level of unbelievable, you are as wrong as I was.

The way this sequel handles fundamental truths about humanity, leaving us to judge, is beautiful. It embraces the fate theme even more this time around and is all the better for it. It emphasizes how everyone needs a chance to flourish and shows us the hypocrisy of those who have or want power. Sacrifice, a love against all odds, conquering all, gives us immeasurable hope.

Heart-wrenching and warming, fun & treacherous, full of love & loss, tears and smiles that hurt your cheeks, this is a story of antitheses harmonized into perfection.