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asleepyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death
katherinek's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The first half was good, but a bit slow. The second half was excellent. It wasn’t too predictable and kept me wondering what could happen next. I wanted more of Sam. Jericho being a robot was kind of random?? It just didn’t really fit the vibe of the book in my opinion. Jericho and Evie as a couple was also kind of weird but I didn’t hate it. Mabel reminds me of Penny from Hairspray. I could totally see this book as a TV series!! Bray is a great writer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Suicide, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, Racism, and Grief
vanesst's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Racism, Suicide, Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Gore, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racial slurs, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Rape
mishi543's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Torture
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, and Rape
hannah1734's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Rape
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
kelly_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the first book (which I listened to as an audiobook from borrowbox) in what I believe is a series of 4. Its main character is a 17 year old girl called Evie (she calls herself a flapper) who has visions. It’s set in the 1920s and written in third person.
Evie, her uncle, and a couple of friends need to research some creepy cult-like murders with supernatural elements to help stop a serial killer.
The time period it’s set in is very apparent, with the vocabulary, attitudes, clothing described etc. Initially it was great but it quickly got annoying as I did find that this was overdone with Evie particularly, with excessive slang terms and the suffix “ski” with random words (“positiv-a-lutely” and “you bet-ski”).
I enjoyed that there were hints towards a group of people with special abilities, and lots of info to gather around the location and serial killer, but the book did jump around to different POVs too much for my taste.
This book came across like an extended ghost story with the Ouija board leading to a killer ghost rampage and nightmares etc. What he was doing would certainly have been scary and disturbing but someone calling themselves “naughty John” constantly and singing a children’s song all the time just got really silly. It was a bit like Jeepers Creepers, without the jump moments.
Overall, I liked the idea but I didn’t personally connect to the any of the main characters so it’s clearly not for me.
Evie, her uncle, and a couple of friends need to research some creepy cult-like murders with supernatural elements to help stop a serial killer.
The time period it’s set in is very apparent, with the vocabulary, attitudes, clothing described etc. Initially it was great but it quickly got annoying as I did find that this was overdone with Evie particularly, with excessive slang terms and the suffix “ski” with random words (“positiv-a-lutely” and “you bet-ski”).
I enjoyed that there were hints towards a group of people with special abilities, and lots of info to gather around the location and serial killer, but the book did jump around to different POVs too much for my taste.
This book came across like an extended ghost story with the Ouija board leading to a killer ghost rampage and nightmares etc. What he was doing would certainly have been scary and disturbing but someone calling themselves “naughty John” constantly and singing a children’s song all the time just got really silly. It was a bit like Jeepers Creepers, without the jump moments.
Overall, I liked the idea but I didn’t personally connect to the any of the main characters so it’s clearly not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Child death, and Rape
ollieshark's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The characters are fun to see interacting with each other. Bray does well giving them snappy dialogue that quickly bounces off each other. The slow pacing allows characters (and the city) to feel alive and not just plot-relevant. Interactions are not always necessary to the plot but add to and explain the dynamic between them so that certain actions made as a result of that dynamic aren't thrown at the reader out of nowhere.
It feels almost as if this was intended for more adult audiences but was aged down at the last minute. Regardless, the maturity with which the diviners treats its characters, setting, politics, and audience is extremely refreshing to see in ya.
The setting is one of my favorites--1920s era america with a pinch of occult salt on top. While not overbearing, the inclusion (and bray's minimal commentary) of real life politics during the decade was refreshing to read in ya.
The only improvement i would make (not that it matters since this book has been out for about 8 years) is that bray has a habit of taking up whole chapters explaining a very minor antagonist's backstory and motivations and then recounting a much shorter version of that story later on when evie and co are investigating. I would cut out those chapters and just let the present characters teach us about the antagonists from newspaper clippings, since that's how *they* learn about them.
All in all, a very very solid first installment. I preemptively boufht lair of dreams and am starting it the second i post this review.
It feels almost as if this was intended for more adult audiences but was aged down at the last minute. Regardless, the maturity with which the diviners treats its characters, setting, politics, and audience is extremely refreshing to see in ya.
The setting is one of my favorites--1920s era america with a pinch of occult salt on top. While not overbearing, the inclusion (and bray's minimal commentary) of real life politics during the decade was refreshing to read in ya.
The only improvement i would make (not that it matters since this book has been out for about 8 years) is that bray has a habit of taking up whole chapters explaining a very minor antagonist's backstory and motivations and then recounting a much shorter version of that story later on when evie and co are investigating. I would cut out those chapters and just let the present characters teach us about the antagonists from newspaper clippings, since that's how *they* learn about them.
All in all, a very very solid first installment. I preemptively boufht lair of dreams and am starting it the second i post this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Rape
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