Rick Riordan Presents: The Dark Becomes Her - by Judy I Lin

About the Book

When a ghost from the spirit world transforms her sister, Ruby Chen confronts the dark upheaval in Vancouver's Chinatown as she enters into an ancient battle over the gateway to the underworld as she attempts to save her sister and her community.

Book Synopsis

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, ventures into horror with Rick Riordan Presents in this a sinister tale of the supernatural, sisterhood, and the shadows that rule our darkest desires. Perfect for fans of Ryan La Sala and Trang Thanh Tran.

Ruby Chen has always played the part of the dutiful eldest daughter: excelling in school; excelling in piano lessons; excelling at keeping her younger sister, Tina, focused on extracurriculars meant to impress college admissions officers.

But when a ghost from the spirit world attacks Ruby in the middle of Vancouver's Chinatown neighborhood, her life is plunged into a darkness that no amount of duty can free her from. Overnight, Ruby's sister seems to change. There are strange noises coming from her bedroom at all hours; and the once sweet, funny Tina has been replaced by something dark and unnatural.

As Ruby races to save her sister from demonic possession, she is thrown into an ancient battle over the gateway to the underworld. On one side, a sinister traveling temple known for making dark wishes come true has returned to Chinatown after many years--intent on breaking down the gateway and unleashing the wickedness within. On the other side, the guardians determined to stop this encroaching evil

And in order to survive, Ruby must not only face the horror taking over her community, but must also confront the horror within herself.

Chinese and Taiwanese mythology get the Junji Ito treatment in this bone-chilling, propulsive story that takes the horrors of the Asian diaspora experience to a whole new level.

Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, now a hit series on Disney+.

Look for these other young adult titles from Rick Riordan Presents

• Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
• It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Dass
• A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

Review Quotes

"Gr 7 Up-An atmospheric horror novel imbued with Taiwanese and Chinese mythology. Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chen bears the weight of heavy parental expectations. On top of this, she has always been haunted by spirits. Her world changes when one attacks her in Vancouver's Chinatown neighborhood, and she is rescued by a boy named Shen who has a tiger tattoo. He, along with his friend Delia, introduces her to a world of deities she has never believed in. Even so, she has to trust her new friends in order to save her sister who is acting unusually. Lin excels at creating dread with every page without resorting to cheap scares. Initially, the book appears to be a simple possession narrative, but really, its themes are multitudinous. Her story is about managing relationships with family and friends which comes with their own horrors. Simultaneously, Ruby also wrestles with identity questions that many children of diaspora communities know too well. Readers' fear while reading is heightened by having such a whip-smart protagonist. Her actions make sense, and readers are with her every page. All of the main characters are Taiwanese. This is sophisticated horror for both fans and non-fans of the genre alike. VERDICT A superb addition to horror collections that will also satisfy fans of mythology, too." -Wilsinia Ocasio, Publishers Weekly STARRED review

"Lin (A Magic Steeped in Poison, 2022) makes her horror debut with this standout novel following Ruby Chen, a girl driven to perfection and overburdened with the duties and responsibilities of being the oldest daughter in a Taiwanese Canadian family. Ruby takes on the task of trying to keep her more laid-back sister, Tina, on an academically oriented track that won't displease their parents, but that gets more complicated when Tina is captured by a group of ghouls and returns a completely different person, seemingly under a demonic spell. What's more, Vancouver's Chinatown seems to contain a gate to the underworld, and sinister wishes made at a temple there begin to threaten the community. Alongside the scary events, readers will encounter thoughtful underlying themes exploring the complicated dynamics between siblings, within families, and among the wider community. In an adventure that explores both inner and outer demons, Lin's spine-tingling Chinese-folklore-inspired novel will appeal to readers looking for scares grounded in realistic emotions. Well-known for her stirring fantasies, Lin proves with this novel that she has true promise as a horror author." -- Aurora Dominguez, Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology (A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet), was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughters. You can find her online at www.JudyILin.com.