Ruby Chen is a responsible, hardworking eldest daughter, but she’s constantly stressed by her Taiwanese immigrant parents, who focus more on her achievement and gaining “face” among other Taiwanese parents than on her happiness. Added to that are the disturbing otherworldly creatures she’s always seen on the edges of her vision–and the strange behavior of her younger sister Tina. Soon Ruby becomes embroiled in a battle between evil spirits who want to take over the human world and the Guardians (and Taiwanese community members who help them).

THE DARK BECOMES HER is the story of a conflict between family expectations and the desire for individual happiness. It’s the story of a teenager coming into her own in the face of parents who want the best for her but never quite see her. And, of course, it’s a suspenseful horror novel that skillfully combines action, adventure, mythology, and young adult emotional turmoil. The characters are well drawn and the story kept me turning the pages. A great addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!

A wonderful YA horror fantasy story set in Vancouver's Chinatown that has an Asian Canadian teen girl confronting a mysterious ghostly spirit that has possessed her younger sister and is threatening to overtake her community. Full of a great mix of family, mythology and perfect for spooky season reading. This can be read as a standalone and is highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This edition to the Riordan Presents series is a welcome one although I found myself a bit confused by the chronological structure of the first few chapters.

For not a long book it takes, in my opinion, to get to the mythological and magical aspects.

It feels very fragmented. Whereas with other entries, the presence of the magical fails to blend seamlessly with the personal dilemas of the protagonist.

I can picture with clarity the list of elements to this book that the author had wanted to include but it loses me

This being teen also surprised me as the horror aspects of it are about on par with that of "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". In my opinion the only thing distinguishing it as teen is the occasional use of profanity.

The latter half picks up a lot of the slack in the pacing but it's still a bit slow for the YA level of the genre.

I loved this book. The Chinese and Taiwanese mythology is interesting and well-developed. I like how the author embellished and added to the spiritual practices to create the supernatural/horror element. I love the development of Ruby and Tina's relationship. Although they are already sisters, the plot strengthens their bond. I also love Ruby's interactions with Shen and Delia. It's reminiscent of a found family trope. I was entertained the entire time while reading the novel and couldn't wait to finish it.

This is another fantastic addition to the Rick Riordan presents catalog. A good combination of Chinese lore with an urban setting, with a good dash of the darker side of the lore. As an expat living in China, there is definitely darker sides to their tales that I enjoy learning, so it was delightful to actually see that show up in this book. However, I do feel there could have been a few things explained deeper, especially for those not familiar with these Chinese gods and belief systems. Overall, it was a fun read and a great way to spend a couple of hours on a long plane journey.

Ruby strives to be the perfect Taiwanese Canadian daughter , focusing on her studies and her piano while her over controlling and critical parents push her towards perfection. They want the same for their younger daughter, Tina, who has rebelled in secret and is taking dance classes when she is meant to be focusing on math. This puts the sisters at odds and then dark spirits intercede and the tale twists as Ruby struggles to protect her family from unknown forces . There are several different types of horror, from the horror of cracking under pressure of a family that will not accept you for who you are to the horror is demonic haunting and possession. All are blended well in this thrilling adventure.

This book was amazing, I have no notes. Exactly what you want from YA horror, with excellent pacing, jump scares, and moments of peace. I also now have a strong desire to do a deep dive into the history of Chinese immigration in Canada.

I wasn't a big fan of this one. I really enjoyed Lin's past books, but The Dark Becomes Her fell a little flat for me. I felt like it was trying to do too many things at once and as a result, none of the different plot elements were fully developed enough. I did like the beginning, but towards the middle all the way through to the end, things just got more and more disjointed.

The Dark Becomes Her follows Ruby Chen, the eldest daughter in her family. She’s always played her role perfectly: high grades in school, piano, and keeping her siblings focused on the same. But her younger sister, Tina, is rebelling and more focused on her own interests. When Ruby is attacked by a terrifying ghost, she’s plunged into the dark spirit world and her sister appears affected too. Tina is different, keeping more secrets and acting strange. Ruby meets Shen, someone who can see ghosts like her, and together they work to save Tina from demonic procession and greater power than they know.

I have some mixed feelings on this book. I really enjoyed the author's first duology so I was anticipating this one. I also really wanted to love this book because its set in Vancouver’s Chinatown. I so rarely find books set in BC let alone Vancouver and I was so excited. That being said, I think I was expecting more landmark references, and the setting really only rotates between four places. With that being said, the settings we did get to see were entertaining. I liked the mall and how everything was happening there. The pace was pretty good, but it did drag a bit with Ruby’s internal monologue. I enjoyed the first half more than the second. I loved the eerie vibes and monstrous ghosts and the terrifying quality of the unknown. I also really enjoyed the Taiwanese mythology—very cool and not something I know a lot about, but am now very curious to learn more.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance. It felt very sudden and quick and I would’ve preferred the romance confession closer to the end. I’m more of a slowburn girl and this was too fast for my taste. Some of the plot twists were easy to guess, but still enjoyable. Ruby was a pretty good main character. I think she’s accurately written for being the eldest daughter. I liked seeing the family dynamic and especially Denny—he was cute. Shen and Delia were good too. I liked when they all started interacting more as their friendships were sweet.

Overall, if you like ghost stories, mythology, Asian diaspora, or YA horror, this is definitely worth a read this spooky season!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Disney Publishing who provided a copy through Netgalley.

Though horror isn’t a genre I read often (or generally like, when I do it’s almost always fantasy horror, and having read and loved Judy I. Lin’s debut series, I knew I had to give The Dark Becomes Her a chance.

I enjoyed this book but can’t really say that I loved it. I found that, although the characters were relatable and the story was interesting, there wasn’t anything in particular that hooked me. There were also reoccurring instances where the pacing in this book caused some abrupt endings and shifts between scenes, or I expected an idea to continue and it just … didn’t. It was a little frustrating at times and certainly contributed to allowing my brain to distraction more than it normally is.

I quite liked the horror aspects of this book, the Vietnamese folklore it drew from, and the vibe it built. There was a lull about it in the back half though, when the horror aspects became more human focused.

Overall, I think it’s a good blend of genres, and I’ve already recommended it to my coworker who reads far more books in the horror genre than I do.

16-year-old Ruby Chen has always been a model daughter, looking out for her younger brother and sister, getting good grades, and excelling in her piano lessons. If she’s always seen blurry visions of ghosts, she’s learned from painful experience not to tell anyone about them.

But all that changes when Ruby is attacked by a ghost in the middle of Vancouver’s Chinatown neighborhood. Overnight, her sister Tina seems to change, becoming more and more sinister, as if she’s been possessed by a mysterious entity. And the spirits seem to be coming for her little brother Denny too. Has their family been cursed?

With the help of Shen and Delia, two employees of the Boba Tea shop, Ruby learns there’s a larger world with more serious stakes than she had ever imagined. She’s drawn into an ancient battle between gods and dark spirits over the gateway to the underworld. And to top it all off, a sinister traveling temple that makes dark wishes come true has sprouted up in her local mall. Could it be tied in with the restless demon spirits?

While grappling with this larger conflict, Ruby must also deal with recognizable teen issues — navigating her first crush, dealing with becoming her own person, and alternately wanting to protect and to escape her family. The story is richly layered with Taiwanese mythology and the smells and sights of Chinatown. Lin brings the setting to life in a vivid way and permeates the whole tale with a delicious sense of dread. Perfect autumnal reading!

The Dark Becomes Her is another strong entry in the terrific Rick Riordan Presents series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the digital ARC for “Rick Riordan Presents: The Dark Becomes Her” by Judy I. Lin. So far I have not read a book from Lin that wasn’t absolutely amazing, and once again the book was another instant request then order for me. I think the only thing about this book that I took issue with was this book's pacing felt a little off during the second half.

“The Dark Becomes Her” is an interesting take on horror that incorporates folklore and traditions to take a look at family expectations, and fear of failure… and how sometimes these drives can lead to unsavoury results. It also shows a story of great inner strength, love, and the ties that hold people together.

…the little side romance was sweet too.

With the ending… there better be a second book. I want to see more from Ruby, Shen, and Delia.

5/5

This review is based on an ARC.

Wow, I am speechless. This story had me hooked from the start and did not take its talons off me until the end. Rick Riordan's introduction did not adequately prepare me for how immersive and harrowing this story was going to be. Her descriptive language is unsurpassed and makes you drop into the story with goosebumps and sweat on your back. I plan to use so many passages in my class with students to showcase her eloquent prose. If you are looking for a story that has you so far planted on the edge of your seat you fall into the story read this!

The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin is a gripping and atmospheric read that masterfully blends fantasy and suspense. Set in a richly imagined world, Lin's storytelling is both enchanting and haunting. The novel follows its protagonist through a dark and intricate plot filled with unexpected twists and deep emotional resonance. Lin's lyrical prose and well-developed characters bring a fresh and compelling perspective to the genre. This book is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and those who appreciate a beautifully crafted narrative with a touch of the mysterious.

Thank you to Net Galley and Rick Riordan Presents for the ARC. This was an amazing, terrifying read. I really enjoyed Ruby's character. Her life feels extremely claustrophobic as she has to be the responsible eldest daughter that meets her parents expectations. I found her struggles relatable. I really enjoyed how the horror intersected with the experience of being the eldest daughter. Often times, the worst part of struggling is to not have anyone whom you can really talk about it with. This book was also really scary and tense, I don't think I'll be able to sleep at night. I enjoyed the romance, it felt really natural and well done, plus it was so cute. I also really enjoyed the friendships and siblinghood, it was sweet how much Ruby cares for her younger sister and brother. Also, the piano bits were amazing, I love the way Judy Lin wrote the scenes where Ruby is playing the piano or listening to music, those scenes were especially beautiful.

The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin offers an intriguing blend of mystery and supernatural elements, set against a richly atmospheric backdrop. While the novel has moments of engaging suspense and well-crafted scenes, its overall impact may be uneven for some readers. The story’s pacing and character development may not fully resonate with everyone, making it a mixed experience.

I love that the Rick Riordan Presents series is venturing out into a variety of mythologies. This one I'd say is very much for a 13+ crowd due to some of the themes and violence. It's very well done.

I really loved parts of this book. At first it was demons and spirits that seemed to be the horror element. Then toward the end there was some gore. I think where the book lost points for me wasn't in this part (though I'm admittedly not a gore fan), but how things were settled in the end. I wanted to see Ruby's character growth be more than what it was. I wanted for her to have more involvement and control in certain parts. Was she not supposed to be the heroine of this story after all?

Rick Riordan Presents strikes again! The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin was fantastic. It was fast paced, creepy and the horror elements based on Taiwanese folklore were a real treat. I really appreciated the look into a traditional household and the way the author dealt with the pressure and anxiety from being the oldest child and trying to live up to particular standards. I think that it will be appreciated by kids in a similar situation. Overall it was an entertaining, informative read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin follows Ruby as she tries to battle the demonic presence taking over her neighborhood Chinatown and within her own family. I really enjoyed the tone of the book, as YA horror is something that is tonally difficult to pull of with enough horror and tension while still remaining in the age range. I think Lin pulled it off beautifully, and the book had high stakes with real consequences, gory scenes, and a sense of tension throughout the story. I also appreciated the elements of Taiwanese folklore and culture, and the amount of care that was put into Ruby's situation as the eldest daughter in a traditional household.

The parts that were lacking for me and didn't make this a true five star had mostly to do with the pacing. The romance in the book felt a little rushed, and a lot of the action was packed into small sections of the book.

Overall, the writing is beautiful, the storytelling is phenomenal, and the book overall will definitely be a win for YA readers (and older) who enjoy a horror story influenced by folklore and mythology.