Amazing photo by @nadiastbr!
Hello bookworms!
Happy Thursday and welcome to day 4 of our readalong ofDarker By Four by June CL Tan. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it!
Wow, there was a lot of excitement and tension in yesterday’s chapters!
Today we’re reading from chapter 30 to the end of chapter 42. Let’s do this!
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Darker By Four by June CL Tan from Chapter 30 to Chapter 42. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
–!SPOILERS!–
Yiran is left waiting in the lobby while Rui and Zizi are upstairs. Suddenly, he receives a call from his brother, inquiring about his whereabouts. Yiran informs him that he’s currently at The Reverie with Rui. After a moment of shock, Ash urgently instructs him to return to the Academy immediately as a Hunt is about to commence.
Yiran’s inquiry about a hotel tour is swiftly rejected, limited to guests only. Redirected to the garden, he comes across a young girl sporting a peculiar badge adorned with a skull and a rose obscuring one eye socket. Seems somehow related to Hell to me? Anyone else thinking the same?
The little girl then introduce themselves as Seven. Uh oh. Another King of Hell in the human world? What is going on…
She casually mentions to Yiran that she’s searching for her brother and wonders if he has any clue about his whereabouts. Then, out of the blue, the rose she’s holding loses its color, and tiny rivulets of what looks like blood start trickling from it. Yiran, taken aback, questions her about her identity and the bizarre magic at play, just as his phone rings. It’s Ada, urgently insisting that he and Rui return to campus immediately due to an ambush during the hunt.
Seven tells Yiran they hope his brother is okay, but he never told Seven he had a brother…
Rui quickly realises that the library she’s stepped into is anything but ordinary. Oh, how I wish I could explore magical library! She locates Zizi and tells him that she discovered his sketchbooks. Resting her head on his chest, they engage in conversation. Their relationship is definitely progressing romantically now, I love them.
Zizi then tells her that the first time he saw her, he knew instantly that she was important to him. He also says she’s the most wonderful thing he’s ever seen. I am screeching – sooooo cute!
He then asks to kiss her and gives her a forehead kiss (screeching intensifies).
Yiran rushes into the library, urging them to leave immediately due to trouble in the city. While driving back to the Academy, Rui notices something airborne that swiftly lands on the road—a person. Unable to brake in time, Yiran collides with them. After halting the car, he gets out to check on the person, but Zizi, sensing danger, secures Rui inside the car. Suddenly, Rui realises the presence of hybrids. She desperately breaks the car window. Oh no…
The hybrid Yiran collided with, named Yuki, restrains Yiran. Engaging in conversation to buy time, Yiran learns of the hybrids plans to create a new world that is safe for hybrids. Suddenly, he spots flames emerging from Zizi.
Zizi engages in combat with Yuki, poised to deliver a fatal strike, when another hybrid intervenes, stabbing him below the collarbone. With a release of the blade, Zizi collapses to the ground, blood pooling around him, motionless. Noooo, please not Zizi. There are real tears in my eyes.
At the sight of Zizi blue flames suddenly irrupt from Rui, her spiritual weapon also lighting up with the flames. The hybrid suddenly remarks that those flames draw from the darkness just like theirs. In order to kill the hybrid now shielding itself with Zizi’s body, she takes a risk that the flames won’t hurt him and plunges the sword through his chest and into the hybrids, killing it.
Thankfully, our boy Zizi is okay as he had already begun healing himself. They speculate that the hybrids sought Zizi alive to replicate the separation spell, aiming to produce more hybrids.
Abruptly, SUVs encircle them, and exorcists swiftly restrain them with zip ties, dividing them into separate vehicles before rendering them unconscious.
Back at the compound, Yiran undergoes an interview with Ash, sharing details of the hybrid attack but omitting Rui’s blue flames. He realises that the Guild has long been aware of hybrids, grappling with the revelation. Meanwhile, Rui wakes to Surin’s interrogation, recounting the attack but also withholding the blue flame detail.
Later, upon encountering Yiran’s grandfather, Rui confronts him about his prior knowledge of hybrids. She vents her anger, having to be restrained. Honestly? Let her at him. I said what I said.
Rui and Yiran are escorted into a spacious chamber where the Council convenes. Rui immediately notices Zizi at the center, sensing trouble. Zizi admits to delving into unorthodox magic but provides crucial intel on hybrids, bargaining for amnesty for Rui and Yiran. Following Ash’s proposal, they agree to place Zizi under Ash’s supervision, utilizing his healing abilities to aid the Guild.
The line “getting darker by four”!!! I love when the book title appears in the book.
In her room, Rui contacts Nikai through the glass shard. She learns about Hell’s deteriorating conditions due to The Nothing nearing the Third Court, causing significant soul loss. Rui speculates about Yiran’s potential extraordinary spirit core, given his absorption of her magic. She asks Nikai about the fate of someone with Four’s soul or power upon removal, but Nikai is unsure.
Rui tells Nikai about her hybrid encounter and her blue flame power, then abruptly leaves, shocking Nikai. The Tenth King appears, accusing Nikai of clandestine communication with Rui. Nikai defends himself, revealing Rui’s ability, but the Tenth King is unfazed, claiming to already be aware.
OMG, those blue flames are straight from the depths of hell, the power of a king! Could Rui be the vessel for Four’s powers? I’m shook!
Ash tells them that with the revenant threat escalating, they need more boots on the ground. So, the Academy has greenlit seniors to take Guild assignments and hit the field.
I do love the forced proximity trope! Rui has to team up with Zizi since she’s not fully recovered. Ooo, this is gonna be good!
Well, that was an action packed few chapters today, wasn’t it?
Who do you think possess Four’s soul? Any theories?
Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers?
I’m so excited to see what will happen in tomorrow’s chapters, see you there fairies!
Love,
Jodie
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Poor Nikai!! I am sooooo invested in this story, it is action-packed and so good!
1. Who do you think possess Four’s soul? Any theories?
I was starting to think it might be Yiran, but it might actually be Zizi. It would explain his unusual blue eyes, which might be the same colour as the blue flames Rui is conjuring, which are from the underworld as well. They also appeared when Zizi was in danger, so that might be connected? I am very curious to find out tho!
2. Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers?
Yes!
Who do you think possess Four’s soul? Any theories?
Zizi is definitely who possesses Four’s soul. There are a bunch of things pointing to it. The idea he keeps forgetting things and randomly waking up in different spots. They also mention the stars on the ceiling quite a few times.
Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers?
I think Rui holds a fragment of Four’s abilities. The blue flames being from a King but they only seem to react at certain moments.
Definitely thinking something is going to happen to Zizi and I am not ready for it LOL
Yesss, I agree! There have been so many little clues… I also wonder why they on react in certain situations! I can’t wait to find out more! 😍
I’m still enjoying this but this section was A LOT and I was not super loving the direction and the reveals…
I’m still really keen to see how it all ends, and it might just be because I’m so tired that I struggled a bit with this section.
I am feeling that the ending is going to really blow the world right open and deepen the mythology.
It certainly seems like Rui has the missing powers….
I’m honestly confident as to whether it’s Yiran or Zizi with the soul?
Confident should be confused, like I said – tired lol
I loved this section! This book is so great. Im shocked at how much im enjoying it and i cant wait to get into the final section.
Im definitely still sticking with thinking fours soul is with zizi! I think there have been so many little clues. The migraines and the blue eyes mainly.
I think rui has some of fours power but i think somehow it has split and yiran is going to be thrown into the mix somehow. Blue flames, blue eyes, nikais blue hair… maybe theres a fourth blue thing 😂
We’re so happy you’re enjoying it! 💜
Now maybe Four is in Rui!? OR maybe she’s the vessel?
I want to know what the connection is! What makes Rui so special? why did Four want to save her when she was a baby? Why does Zizi care for her so much?
This is ramping up, I can’t stop reading! I love how atmospheric this book is – I can picture everything so clearly 🤩
The scene with Seven and Yiran in The Reverie was so creepyyy. And the car incident with the Hybrid and Yuki had me on the edge of my seat omg.
I now think Rui is the vessel housing Four’s powers and Zizi has Four’s soul… if anything happens to Zizi I’m rioting!!
Also, Ten is unhinged 😳 Poor Nikai!
Yes, me too! Everything feels very real so the stakes feel even higher and more tense! 💜
I ship Rui and Zizi so hard! The way they obliquely discussed their feelings by him asking her what she thought of his drawings was so cute.
1) I’m actually kinda torn between Zizi and Yiran. Zizi makes a lot of sense but is the reason Yiran didn’t burn out like everyone excepted because it’s actually him? Hmmm…
2) I think the blue flames make it pretty obvious this is Rui.
Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers?
Righttt?! So adorable! 🥺
I thought it was Zizi who had four’s soul but now I’m not so sure🤔 why was the girl asking about Yiran’s brother??
I think Rui could definitely be the vessel.
Excited and scared to see how this ends!
Yes, I’m wondering that too! 💜
Who do you think possess Four’s soul? Any theories? – still think it’s Zizi and sticking to my theory from yesterday. I think Yiran is special and not related to Ash and his grandfather but
I’m not sure who he could be yet.
Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers? – no I’m going all out and guessing Rui is some sort of Queen and that’s the reason for the blue flames. Perhaps Yiran is the vessel and the powers were dormant until it was connected with Ruis power.
So many red herrings and twists in this book I’m loving it 😊
Ahh, I love it when I finally get to the action packet part of a story, I didn’t even breathe through these chapters!!
At this point I think I could see either Yiran or Zizi being the vessel of Four’s soul. On one hand Yiran’s abnormally powerful spirit core is strange, but also it’s been openly discussed more than once in the story, so it could be a false lead; and stars keep being mentioned everywhere Zizi’s present. Rui is 100% a vessel, and she’s either housing Four’s power of his soul, and that’s how she managed to conjure those blue flames.
Can’t wait to see how this story ends!
Who do you think possess Four’s soul? Any theories?
I’m kinda switching to Zizi, there were a few things mentioned above that kinda tipping on it
Do you think Rui is the vessel, housing Four’s powers?
Well, yes.
I’d love to see a family portrait of all 10 siblings/kings.
Me too! 💜