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A review by booksamongstfriends
The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin
3.0
This book grew on me! Solid 3.5 star read.
Let’s start with what stood out: I really enjoyed the cultural depth and folklore woven into the story. Lin creates relatable characters, especially within Ruby, whose experiences as the eldest daughter can resonate deeply with many readers. Particularly for readers from diverse cultural or minority backgrounds. A lot of people can emphasize and directly understand Ruby’s role as an older sibling and example —masking her emotions and performing for everyone’s needs. Though outside of her character, I found Ruby’s efforts to save her siblings from dark forces more interesting. Her journey is one of regaining control in many ways, but also one that will spark conversation around family ties and expectations.
A large of aspect of this book that I’m sure readers will enjoy is the nostalgic choice of setting paired with fantastical and mythical elements. Lin uses them to further connect the reader to Ruby’s experiences simultaneously shining a line on the variety of methods one can fall prey—as we see with her sister.
Upon reflection I liked this read more than I initially did when finishing. I appreciated the authors choices, but it wasn’t without its challenges. The pacing was slow at times, with moments that dragged enough for me to almost DNF the book. The romance subplot also felt rushed and unnecessary—it was too predictable for my taste, though I’m sure other readers might enjoy rooting for it.
While the story is engaging overall, I wish it had leaned further into the horror elements. Much of the tension came from paranormal moments tied to the mythos, which were compelling but didn’t quite deliver the scares I was hoping for. That said, the author does a fantastic job capturing the emotional complexity of grieving someone who’s still alive—watching them change into someone else and grappling with the sacrifices required to protect both them and yourself during that process. Isn’t that sisterhood? lol
Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age tale rooted in family bonds, enriched by fantastical and folkloric elements that made it entertaining and, at times, captivating. While not perfect, it’s a story I think many will enjoy.
Let’s start with what stood out: I really enjoyed the cultural depth and folklore woven into the story. Lin creates relatable characters, especially within Ruby, whose experiences as the eldest daughter can resonate deeply with many readers. Particularly for readers from diverse cultural or minority backgrounds. A lot of people can emphasize and directly understand Ruby’s role as an older sibling and example —masking her emotions and performing for everyone’s needs. Though outside of her character, I found Ruby’s efforts to save her siblings from dark forces more interesting. Her journey is one of regaining control in many ways, but also one that will spark conversation around family ties and expectations.
A large of aspect of this book that I’m sure readers will enjoy is the nostalgic choice of setting paired with fantastical and mythical elements. Lin uses them to further connect the reader to Ruby’s experiences simultaneously shining a line on the variety of methods one can fall prey—as we see with her sister.
Upon reflection I liked this read more than I initially did when finishing. I appreciated the authors choices, but it wasn’t without its challenges. The pacing was slow at times, with moments that dragged enough for me to almost DNF the book. The romance subplot also felt rushed and unnecessary—it was too predictable for my taste, though I’m sure other readers might enjoy rooting for it.
While the story is engaging overall, I wish it had leaned further into the horror elements. Much of the tension came from paranormal moments tied to the mythos, which were compelling but didn’t quite deliver the scares I was hoping for. That said, the author does a fantastic job capturing the emotional complexity of grieving someone who’s still alive—watching them change into someone else and grappling with the sacrifices required to protect both them and yourself during that process. Isn’t that sisterhood? lol
Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age tale rooted in family bonds, enriched by fantastical and folkloric elements that made it entertaining and, at times, captivating. While not perfect, it’s a story I think many will enjoy.