The Shadowhunter Chronicles meets the Chinese underworld, for fans of Legendborn, and anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Noragami.
Hell. Its mythos exists in every culture: mysterious death gods, solemn grim reapers, a damsel who falls in love with a clever devil or two, vengeful demons—and those who oppose them.
The city is an unruly splotch. Cold, ambitious, hungry. Its netherworld is ruled by the Ten Kings of Hell. Bound by the rules of life and death, each King tends to his realm like a skilled bonsai master, and it is said that all ten are needed to maintain balance. When a god of death goes missing, an ancient supernatural virus known as the Blight rears its head, mutating the souls of the dead into Revenants, dark vampiric creatures who thirst for the spirit energy of mortals.
A girl, empty, haunted by her past.
A boy, broken, looking for magic.
A reaper, alone, searching for his King.
A wish made; a promise broken.
As darkness takes over, three paths intersect in the shadows. And three lives bound by the red threads of fate must rise against destiny before the barrier between worlds crumbles and all hell breaks loose. Literally.
Scroll down for bonus content: intro to the world, character art, playlists, extra scenes, and content warnings.
Editions & Translations
US - HarperTeen
UK, ANZ - Hodderscape
Italy - Edizioni E/O
Czech Republic - Albatros Media
Spain - TBR
more to come
PRAISE FOR DARKER BY FOUR
AUTHOR’S NOTE
One of the strangest memories I have from my childhood is an excursion to Haw Par Villa, a cultural theme park in Singapore that was constructed almost a century ago containing 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese literature, folklore, legends, history, and statuary of key Chinese religions, Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
It’s a surreal memory that sometimes feels more like a fevered dream than an actual occurrence. At that time, the rides were still in operation, and of course, we had to go on every one of them. On one particular ride, I remember sitting in a wobbly wooden boat with my cousins by my side, floating down a body of water, and as our boat meandered slowly past brightly painted sculptures, it was clear that the dioramas were not necessarily kid friendly. They depicted various scenes of grotesque and graphic tortures in the different levels of diyu (the Chinese underworld). Unsurprisingly, that trip left a lasting impression on me. And even more unsurprisingly, I thought a lot about the afterlife after my cancer diagnosis.
Growing up in a traditional household in Singapore meant participating in ancestral festivals like Tomb Sweeping Day and the Hungry Ghost Festival. Growing up with a superstitious family meant that I never pointed at the moon for fear bringing bad luck to myself, that I never stuck my chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice in case wandering spirits took that as an invitation to join me in my meal, and that if I did “bad” things as a child, I would be reincarnated as a cockroach in my next life. It also meant many visits to temples and shamans, and it is this intertwining of tradition, superstition, and religion that informs the world of DARKER BY FOUR.
Many Young Adult (YA) fantasy stories center a protagonist discovering a secret superpower and the physical and emotional journey that ensues. But what happens if the narrative is flipped? What happens if a protagonist who is already in possession of such a superpower at the beginning of the story loses it? What kind of journey would that be? These were questions that came to me several years ago when the seeds of this story were planted. Ironically, it was only when I was undergoing chemotherapy and feeling powerless myself, that the roots of this story began to grow and flourish, and I started working on this book with fervor, throwing in everything I love to read about.
But…this is not a story about cancer. Neither is it a story solely about death or the afterlife. At its heart, this is a tale about a boy who falls in love with a girl, and a promise that binds them together—my own version of classic love stories from diaspora Chinese culture, legend, and literature which often involve star-crossed lovers, past lives, and reincarnation.
I hope you’ll enjoy your time in this world filled with legend and myth, gods and monsters, rain-drenched cities and starlit nights, longing and ambition, found families and love that spans lifetimes.
Scroll down to learn more about the world and characters, and content warnings.
INSPIRATION & INFLUENCES
Dìyù 地狱 (“earth prison”) & The Ten Courts of Hell
Dìyù or the Chinese underworld is said to be ruled by a system of collective leadership. While the myths and legends may vary, a common trait is that there are Ten Courts, each ruled by a King of Hell—though in some tales, they are known as magistrates or judges. Each King has a particular set of duties and has subordinates like psychopomps or grim reapers who help run the Court. In some ways, dìyù mirrors our world; for ecample, bureaucratic conventions exist, and political strife and bickering amongst the kings and their subordinates are also common.
Upon arrival in the underworld, souls of the newly deceased pass through the Ghost Gate or Gate of Spirits. They then stand in front of the Mirror of Retribution, gazing at their “true” selves as judgement is carried out. While there are regional and historic variations in the details of dìyù myths, the general lore is that the punishment a soul receives in the afterlife is dependent on the type of misdeeds, moral failures, or crimes they committed during their mortal existence. Depending on the individual verdicts meted out, souls are slotted into a specific court to atone for their specific sins while awaiting their turn in the cycle of reincarnation. For example, as illustrated at Haw Par Villa, rumormongers would be sent to the seventh court to have their tongues pulled out.
After serving their sentence, the souls prepare for their journey of reincarnation by visiting Meng Po, who is the Goddess of Forgetfulness. Upon drinking her tea, the souls will lose all their memories of their past life as well as their time in the underworld, and this allows them to start their new mortal lives afresh. But before that, the souls will have to cross Naihe Bridge (Bridge of Helplessness) over the River of Oblivion.
Some deities in the underworld appear to be Buddhist or Taoist in origin, and the concept of karma and reincarnation also has religious roots. However, the line between religion, beliefs and folkloric roots often blurs in underworld mythology. In fact, some immortals are historical or cultural heroes who were deified. For example, King Yanluo (possibly the most famous of the ten Kings) is said to have been Bao Zheng, an honest and upright scholar and politician who lived during the Song Dynasty.
Xiānxiá 仙侠 (“immortal heroes”)
Xiānxiá is a genre of Chinese fantasy literature and media inspired and influenced by Chinese mythology and influenced by philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism, martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM techniques like acupuncture, herbal remedies, etc.), folk religion, and alchemy. Often, it involves mortal magic practitioners or cultivators getting entangled in supernatural affairs, including gods and immortals, demons, ghosts, mythical creatures, and spirits. “Magic” is normally a blend of martial arts and qi cultivation, and reincarnation
Futher reading: Immortal Mountain, TV Tropes
Note: I think of DARKER BY FOUR as a modern interpretation of the xiānxiá genre. While xianxia set in contemporary times does exist, it is a rarer sub-genre both in literature and media (C-dramas) due to a myriad of reasons and legislation in the C-entertainment space.
Tetraphobia, Numeronyms
In various Chinese languages, with a slight change in intonation, four (四) sounds like death or die (死). Thus, tetraphobia (the aversion to or fear of the number four) is a phenomenon common in East Asian countries and countries/societies with significant Chinese diaspora communities. Due to the tonal nature of Chinese languages, wordplay often occurs in colloquial speech and interaction. The title of this book, DARKER BY FOUR, is a reference to tetraphobia and a play on the sound of the number four in Mandarin and Cantonese. The Author’s Note section in the book goes into further detail on the use of numeronyms in the story.
Yuánfèn
While it is sometimes simplistically translated as fate, the concept of yuánfèn (缘分) refers to a karmic relationship between people who have been brought together (or separated) through an affinity that is predestined. It is important to note that the past plays a role in yuánfèn, as this karmic relationship between two people is affected by their past actions in a previous life or incarnation. The one instance where yuánfèn is mentioned in the book refers specifically to this concept.
Manga/Anime, Manhua/Donghua
My enjoyment of anime definitely seeped into the writing of DARKER BY FOUR. Stylistically, I wanted to write a book that “read like (shounen) anime” - high octane fight scenes, vivid visuals, dramatic characters, slick outfits/costuming…In case you’re wondering, the unofficial anime comps for the book are Jujutsu Kaisen, Noragami: Stray God, BLEACH, Tokyo Ghoul, and Blue Exorcist :p
THE CHARACTERS
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RUI
Cynical and pragmatic, Rui’s belief is that sooner or later, everyone will disappoint her. She doesn’t have much of a life outside of Xingshan Academy—the training school for Exorcists—and she’s totally fine with that. If her plan works out, she’ll graduate with top honors, join the Exorcist Guild, and most importantly, she will hunt down the mysterious Hybrid that took her mother’s life. Little does she know that chaos is about to descend into her world.
in a nutshell: fiercely loyal, needs sleep, is grouchy all the time, a cat person. favorite bubble tea: iced jasmine green tea with honey.
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ZIZI
A self-proclaimed genius and mage-of-all-trades, irreverent Zizi lives his life on the edge, dealing with the less savory elements of the city’s underground magical community. He has no family and no ties to anyone but his adoptive grandmother who took him in from the streets. Wearing his rebel-without-a-cause cloak with style, Zizi will have you believe that he cares for no one and nothing. But soon, his desire to lead a life free from constraints is tested beyond his expectations.
in a nutshell: adorably annoying, possibly more dramatic than Howl, a cat person who loves dogs. favorite bubble tea: prefers coffee, drinks it black with too much sugar.
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YIRAN
To everyone else, Yiran has it all: money, looks, and a supposedly cushy life as the grandson of the head of the powerful Exorcist Guild. But Yiran’s privilege comes at a price: the Songs have ruled the Exorcist Guild for generations, and reputation is everything. But as the illegitimate grandson and the one born without magic, Yiran’s standing in the family is precarious and he masks his insecurities with a flippant façade. When he finally gets a chance to prove himself in the world of magic, he’s willing to risk everything. Even his own life.
in a nutshell: burnt cinnamon roll, poor little rich boy, a dog person who presents as a cat person. favorite bubble tea: hot winter melon tea with bubbles and nata jelly.
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ASH
The youngest Xingshan Academy cadet ever to be made Captain in the Exorcist Guild, a charming and handsome leader, and ace strategist, Ash was born to succeed. And oh, he’s also Yiran’s older half-brother and the legitimate heir to the Song family.
in a nutshell: eldest child, Dad-vibes, overprotective when it comes to his family. favorite bubble tea: green tea with no bubbles (which, honestly, defeats the purpose of the drink)
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NIKAI
Devoted to his duties, Nikai is a Grim Reaper with an known (and tragic) past who’s determined to find his missing friend—the Fourth King of Hell (Four).
in a nutshell: a sweetheart, anxious little bean with trauma from his mysterious past as a mortal. favorite bubble tea: anything sweet, extra toppings.
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TEN
Melodramatic and petty, the underworld revels in his job as the Tenth King of Hell. When the Nothing threatens his Court because of Four’s disappearance, Ten stops at nothing to ensure the survival of his kingdom—and himself—even if it means breaking all the rules between the two realms and meddling with the lives of humans.
in a nutshell: cunning, vain, and a little unhinged. favorite bubble tea: iced oolong tea, no sugar, extra bubbles
Story Setting
DARKER BY FOUR takes place mostly in the human world. The Ten Kings of Hell, grim reapers and other minor gods are bound to the underworld. However, they are able to visit the human world, either on official duties like soul collection or for short periods of time. Their powers are severely limited in the human world, and they are constrained by ancient rules that forbid them from interfering with mortal lives. Humans, on the other hand, are unable to enter the underworld while they are still alive.
The City
An unnamed, contemporary Asian city built on the ghosts of its past, where gods stroll the streets, spirits lurk in corners, and Hell is real. Everything else about it feels like a modern everyday city with traditional foundations. Think Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Shanghai: glass and steel skyscrapers, sunlight reflecting off windows, blue skies and grey skies, technology, subways, crowds, customs and rituals, temples, old Chinatowns, and seedy back alleys.
Magic, supernatural creatures, magic wielders
The magic in the story is based on the concept of the yin and yang duality found in many branches of Chinese philosophy. Yang is associated the sun, light, and the living. Yin is associated with the moon, shadows, and the dead (including spirits and ghosts).
Spiritual energy
In the story, all beings (the living and the dead) possess spiritual energy. The dead possess yin energy (yinqi) and the living possess yang energy (yangqi). These energies are in opposition to each other. When a being is drained of all its spiritual energy, it perishes.
The Blight
A supernatural virus that is attracted to negative emotions. It infects the souls of the newly departed as that is when they are filled with the most emotional turmoil. The infected become ghoul-like creatures called Revenants. When Four went missing, the Blight started mutating because of the instability between the worlds. Generally, the mutations result in stronger and more vicious Revenants.
Blighted Soul
An infected soul (see Revenant).
Revenant
An infected soul which turns into a ghoul-like creature with vampiric tendencies. Revenants are creatures filled with yin energy and they feed on the yang energy of humans. Analogous to the Western/European understanding of vampires, where yang energy would be akin to the blood that vampires feed on. Although they are considered otherworldly creatures, Revenants exist only in the human world.
Revenants are nocturnal creatures. They are most active at midnight when the yin essence in the world is at its highest, and/or when there is a full moon as they can “absorb” that excess yin energy and grow in power during that duration of time.
Hybrid Revenant/Hybrid
A human who has been infected with a specific strain of the Blight, turning them into hybrid Revenants. They are not quite dead and not quite alive either. Hybrids retain intelligent thought and can pass as ordinary humans. This makes them particularly dangerous as they can hide amongst the general human population, making them harder to hunt down. It also makes it easier for them to prey on unsuspecting humans. At the start of the story, the existence of Hybrids is publicly denied by the Exorcist Guild.
Spirit Core
Each human is born with a spirit core in their physical body where their yang energy is concentrated. A stronger core holds larger amounts of energy. The amount of yang energy a person possesses is generally decided at birth, and it is unusual for any human to be able to hold more spiritual energy than what they are innately born with. This is because their spirit core would not have the capacity to hold the excess energy and it would result in death.
Ordinary humans have weak spirit cores and low levels of yang energy, while humans who are capable of magic have stronger cores and higher amounts of spiritual energy. In other words, it is the level of yang energy that determines if a human is capable of doing magic. The stronger the spirit core a person possesses, the better their ability to do magic.
Exorcist
An extraordinary human with a strong spirit core who trains to refine their yang energy to fight and kill Revenants. Promising individuals with high spiritual energy can train in exorcist schools like Xinshan Academy, and the best cadets are recruited to join the Exorcist Guild.
In combat, an exorcist uses a spiritual weapon which acts as a conduit for their magic. A spiritual weapon is personal and specific to each exorcist and can vary from swords to ranged weapons like darts, arrows, and firearms. The weapons can also be custom made to suit the needs of the Exorcist. Exorcists may also use talismans to cast offensive, defensive, and protective spells.
Exorcists belong to the Exorcist Guild, an organization that is tasked to keep the city safe. The Head of the Guild sits on the Guild Council which has advisory responsibilities. Generally, Exorcists are lauded for the important and dangerous work they do to keep the city safe, and some are treated like celebrities in the media and amongst the general populace. Exorcists are used by city officials as security when needed, and former Exorcists/those who leave the Guild may be hired by the wealthy residents as bodyguards.
Note: Since Revenants feed on yang energy, the more powerful a person's yang energy is, the more enticing or “delicious” they are. Ironically, this means that the Exorcists who protect the rest of humanity are also the ones most likely to attract the dark creatures.
Night Hunt
A planned hunting expedition where teams of Exorcists raid Revenant nests and hideouts and exterminate them.
Other human magic wielders
A non-Exorcist magical community exists in the city, composing of people who have the ability to do magic, but who refuse to train at the academies or to join the Guild. They could be mages, bounty hunters, spell-makers, weapons creators or just your run-of-mill traders looking to make a quick buck with their low-level magical skills.
The Underworld & its Inhabitants
Consisting of Ten Courts or ten separate “kingdoms”, the realm of the dead exists in tandem with the mortal world. The Kings are named after their Court. For example, the King of the Fourth Court is named Four. Each kingdom is ruled by a King who manages the souls that have been allocated to their kingdom, and the entire realm is corporate in organization with its own rules and bureaucracy. The power of all ten Kings is needed to prevent the border between the two worlds from collapsing, resulting in chaos on both sides.
Reapers (grim reapers) are part of this ecosystem and function as soul collectors. Each Court has numerous Reapers with a Head Reaper who oversees them. They all answer to their King. Their main responsibilities include ferrying souls from the human world to Hell, and what is essentially an “on-boarding” or orientation program that settles the souls into the afterlife. Different parts of the city are under different Court jurisdictions, which means that different teams of Reapers are sent out to different parts of the city to collect souls and the souls they gather are part of their responsibility until they reach the underworld. The most important aspect of this process (and hence, a Reaper’s duty) is to collect the souls before the Blight can get to them and infect them.
Other underworld beings include the Librarian and Lady Dream. The Librarian is an old god that takes care of the Archives which is like a data storage facility. It holds documents of all life and birth stories, and other ancient records. Lady Dream is the goddess of forgetfulness, and she resides in the Pavilion of Memories. Souls must drink her tea to erase their past memories before reincarnating into new human lives.
Pronunciation Guide
Rui: roo ee (say it quickly in 1 syllable)
Yiran: ee run
Zizi: zee zee
Nikai: nee kai
Mai: like the word “my'“
Teshin: teh shin
Tesha: teh sha
*the guide is not written in formal phonetics
Surin: soo rin
Shuang: shhwahng
Meng: muhng
Feng: fuhng
Lian: lee ann (say it quickly in 1 syllable)
Xingshan: sing shahn
Outram: oh trum
Playlists
Easter Eggs
This link will take you to the page with DARKER BY FOUR Easter Eggs where you’ll need to fill in the password for access. There are a few minors spoilers, so please proceed if you’re okay with that or if you’re already read the book. The password is Zizi’s nickname for Yiran (no capitalization) :o
BONUS BONUS CONTENT :)
coming soon
Content warnings
Please be aware that this book contains themes and/or mentions of death, parental death (flashbacks), child abuse (inferences), panic attacks and anxiety (including one episode that is briefly described), mentions of alcohol consumption and alcoholism, and fantasy violence.