Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Diviners by Libba Bray

35 reviews

kitanda's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Racism

Moderate: Animal death, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Violence, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Cannibalism

jasmine256'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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Animal death and Abortion

netsreik's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Was a little slow to start, but enjoyed the ride. Great descriptions and made me want more. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Stalking

sandysmith's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

A great little book which was creepy and darkly written in parts. I loved the main character Evie who was young and rebellious, and the fact it was set in the 1920's. A story of supernatural powers and the race against the return of ghost naughty John. A mass cast of characters, uncle Will, Memphis, Isahia, Jerico, Theta, Sam, Mabel, Gabe and, Naughty John, and Blind Bill which normally would be too many characters to follow. It does jump betwen points of view but the story is engrossing.  The slang of the time and pos-i-tute-ly grated and was done to death.  The final few pages were obviously setting up the next book so it would have been more powerful to end this book rather than start setting up the next. Overall a fab supernatural read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Animal death

jackshortstack's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Antisemitism, Grief, Violence, Torture, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Racism

otterpop's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence

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

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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

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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

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism

Minor: Rape, War, and Abortion

geoblockreads's review

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? Yes

4.5

I really loved this book. The mystery, how Bray delves into the setting of 1920s New York. The cast of characters are diverse and interesting, loveable in their own ways and the mix of powers they have was fun to learn about.

The history research came through clearly, and the way the suspense and horror was built throughout the story was genuinely scary.

I found Evie a little frustrating at times, but I also think she was properly written for a seventeen year old girl. I particularly liked the dynamic between her and Sam. Which is why I found it a little odd when

her and Jericho started having a thing near the end of the book. I'm not really into love triangles so I'd much prefer if it was just her and Sam.

I was a little annoyed that, near the end of the book

she told everyone about her power. I just know it isn't going to end well.

My only gripe is that I thought some of the writing felt a little rushed. Some parts are deeply descriptive and heavy on detail, but parts where characters were moving from one place to another or doing something were only a sentence or two long, and I'd have to go reread to figure out what was happening.

But the variety and backstories of the characters is definitely a highlight. As well as Bray acknowledging the darker sides of the Roaring 20s, like the aftermath of the Great War, racism and the eugenics movement. These things aren't brushed over, which is important in a book that plays on the all the glitz and glamour of NY and the wider States in this era. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence