As a fan of June C.L. Tan for years, I was so excited for Brighter Than Nine. I’ve been waiting for this sequel and it was such a great ending! I adored the character developments here and it was worth the wait! Keep reading this book review of Brighter Than Nine for my full thoughts.
Summary
The world has moved on. With the missing death god restored to the underworld, it appears that equilibrium has been regained. But the Nothing continues to threaten the underworld – and the mortal realm.
Trapped in Hell, Zizi fights the takeover of his soul by Four’s. As he begins to access Four’s memories, he discovers a tragic love story that could be the key to keeping the mortal realm safe. Now, Zizi must defy his fate and escape Hell once more.
On the surface, Rui’s life has changed as she is hailed a hero by the Exorcist Guild. But she soon discovers the spell Zizi was forced to create is transforming innocent humans into vicious Hybrid Revenants. With the help of the other cadets, she vows to stop them.
Now magicless, Yiran watches, hungrier than ever, until he begins a dangerous dalliance with Yuki, hoping the Hybrid will recover Yiran’s magic. And when he discovers a dark family secret, he must decide what he stands for – before it’s too late.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Brighter Than Nine starts with the wounds we have made. Full of multiple POVs, it’s the aftermath of a friendship and when someone becomes more than a person, something larger. It is about loss which channels and fuels. About power versus magic, revenge versus justice. Brighter Than Nine is a beautifully tied together sequel which asks us if we can escape with our relationships, our values, and ourselves intact. In many ways, it’s about what happens when we are allowed to make our own choices and what happens if we realize our choices were never our own. This sequel is one of villains and heroes, powerful and powerless. It asks us whether power is the only thing which can bring survival.
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Brighter Than Nine is a fantastic sequel which was 100% worth the wait. The threads are beautifully tied up together and the action propels us through. I could not stop reading and I’m so glad this held up to my hype. The character development here is fantastic as we see all of our characters who have to confront their fears, the past, and their futures. The stakes are high and it makes for an obsessive read. Find Brighter Than Nine on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.