Reviews tagging 'War'

The Diviners, by Libba Bray

12 reviews

queerseer's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is thrilling, lovely, terrifying, sad, and diverse. It explores a society beyond the standard straight white rich viewpoints so prevalent early 20th century New York City, and has a lot to offer in terms of religious, supernatural and occult mystery and history. You’ll learn period-accurate slang, references and daily activities and it makes the setting that much richer. In fact, there’s SO much in the way of intrigue and fast-paced terror and brilliant characters…that I was kind of disappointed to reach the end and realize it was set up for a series. I, personally, feel exhausted from the adventure I just read and wish that the book had either been longer or gone differently to tie in all the backstory at once. Great standalone story, but not one I have any interest in learning more about afterward.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Grief, Classism, Blood, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/injury detail, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal death

There is graphic animal (pet) death in multiple sections.

trippalli's review

dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A funny adventurous book about a murderous ghost set in a roaring 20s plus occult and individuals with specific powers, like seeing memories in touching an object or seeing glimpses of the future, becoming unseen temporarily... But I never thought I'd let l laugh so much while a serial killer is trying to be stopped. I loved all the very diverse cast and I wanted them to all be safe! They are so quirky, using their ability to pick pockets or make party games and sprinkled constantly with the 20s slang of the lead character, a girl who wants to party and turns detective and PR for her academic uncle's museum of the occult she is so sassy, spontaneous and friendly... All the characters are very vivid and unique and the world is fabulous. I have the first 4 books and am eager to read the next one!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/injury detail, Violence, Animal cruelty, Racism, Child death, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Ableism and War

xlunasoleil's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

Minor: War, Death, and Domestic abuse

k_galloway's review

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Torture, Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, Gore, Blood, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Stalking, Abandonment, and Alcoholism

Minor: War

dsarbear's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The book had me on the edge of my seat despite that fact that

Spoiler

the book tells you who the killer is pretty much on page one

. Mysterious and suspenseful. There's some side-plot romances but they don't overshadow the main plot. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism

Minor: Rape, War, and Abortion

justagrlandherdog's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I’m struggling to accurately rate this book because I genuinely enjoyed it. It was fun and I love the characters but I don’t feel overly obsessed and that urge to read the next this very instant. I’m definitely going to continue the series, I want to know the fully story and where the characters go. I just will take my time. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Classism, War, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

larareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, War, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Abortion, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Racism, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal death

davidrb's review

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Just Okay. I think I'm just never gonna get into a YA fantasy, but the setting and lore both appealed to me! I'll probably continue the series, seeing as some characters (namely Memphis, Henry, and Sam!?) didn't have much of a presence in the story when it came to the main plot. (Poor Mabesie too!)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and War

This book is much more graphic than I was expecting, especially when it comes to the child death, sexual and domestic abuse, and animal death. Watch out!

emilyplun's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, and War

Minor: Abandonment, Gun violence, Medical content, Police brutality, and Racism

diem's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

it´s too long and I feel bad for  Mabel.
Mabel, Henry, Sam and Memphis could have been cut without much trouble and it would have streamlined everything. It´s clearly just a setup and it should have been more.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Racism, Chronic illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, War, and Xenophobia