The Dark Becomes Her


Cover illustration thanks to Zipcy
Cover design thanks to Zareen Johnson

Perfect for fans of Ryan LaSala and Trang Thanh Tran: a sinister tale of the supernatural, sisterhood, and the shadows that rule our darkest desires, New York Times best-selling author Judy I. Lin takes her first foray into horror with Rick Riordan Presents.

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 There are strange noises coming from her bedroom at all hours; and the once sweet, funny Tina has been replaced by something dark and unnatural.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, an evil 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 evil within. On the other side, the guardians who must stop them.

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.


US Preorder Links (more to come)

Canadian Preorder Links


book news!

A dream come true… I sold two horror books! I’m going to be at the amazing Rick Riordan Presents imprint. It will be coming your way in Fall 2024. I really want to tell a story about the changes happening in Chinatowns across North America. I’ve been lucky to visit quite a few of them over the past two years. It’s very much a personal story about how I grew up and spent a lot of time in Chinatowns and in the Taiwanese-Chinese community in Canada. I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

Rights report for two untitled YA novels sold to Rebecca Kuss at Disney/Rick Riordan Presents. Headshot of author who is a Taiwanese woman with black hair and glasses wearing a purple jacket.


what you can find in these books

  • Creepy familiars

  • Urban legends

  • Complicated families

  • Chinatown sights!

  • Temple culture & hidden temples

  • Taiwanese folklore