"Brighter Than Nine" is the sequel to a YA fantasy duology by June CL Tan. Check out the interview below.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
My most recent book, "Brighter Than Nine," is the sequel to a YA fantasy duology that began with Darker By Four. So many things inspired this story! Years ago, I played with two separate ideas—one about a protagonist who loses their magic at the start, and another about an epic romance spanning lifetimes. While undergoing chemotherapy a few years back, I wanted to escape into a fantasy world, so I returned to those ideas. Something just clicked, and they naturally wove together into one story.
I’ve always loved the emotional intensity of slow-burn, star-crossed romances in Chinese literature and legend, especially stories of reincarnated soulmates. I was also drawn to the myth of the Ten Courts of Hell, a fascination that began in childhood after visiting Haw Par Villa in Singapore, where its haunting depictions of the underworld left a lasting impression on me, and this mythology forms the foundation of the duology.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
For me, Reading with Pride is about feeling seen and making sure others get to feel that too. Representation matters so deeply, especially for young readers who are still figuring out who they are. Seeing characters who share your identity, your struggles, or your joy can be incredibly affirming. And I think it sends the message to readers that their stories are worth telling and that they belong.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Representation matters because stories can help to shape how we see ourselves, each other, our communities, as well as communities that may be different than ours. When books reflect a wide range of identities, cultures, and experiences, more readers, especially young ones, get the chance to feel recognized and valued. It can be incredibly powerful to see your reality, even if it’s just a piece of it, reflected on the page, and to know that your story belongs in the world.
I also think that diverse representation builds empathy. It invites readers into lives and perspectives beyond their own, and can hopefully help to break down assumptions and increase mutual respect and understanding. Books have the ability not just to mirror the world, but to expand it.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
The Darker By Four duology is about a vengeful girl who loses her magic, the black sheep of an illustrious magical family, a grim reaper searching for his lost King (death god), and an eccentric mage with a mysterious past whose paths collide as the barrier between the mortal world and the underworld begins to break, and monsters attack. Secrets unravel, dangerous bargains are made, and there’s slow-burn star-crossed romance and a tense enemies-to-situationship side pairing.
The duology blends East Asian fantasy with the drama of wuxia, xianxia, and fantasy C-dramas with a donghua/anime aesthetic. But beneath the magic and chaos, it’s ultimately about young people grappling with trauma, identity, and learning to accept themselves, flaws and all.
What can fans expect from your book?
Readers often tell me that the Darker By Four duology reads like a shonen anime: fun, fast-paced, full of vivid, cinematic action and high-stakes moments. There’s also plenty of twists in the plot, and angst in the friendships between the characters and in the romance. I’d say it’s a mix of adrenaline, emotion, and a few punches to the heart along the way.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m working on a few secret projects in the fantasy genre, which will hopefully make their way to bookshelves one day soon!
