Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Diviners, by Libba Bray

4 reviews

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. 

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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

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!)

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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!

samarajade's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Murder, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Grief, and Toxic relationship

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit