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archbibliomage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
We return to New York City in the roaring 20s, but a new supernatural force is plaguing the people— especially those in Chinatown. The sleeping sickness stumps doctors and people are scared that once they’re eyes are closed, they may never open again. The city at large looks for a place to lay blame and settle on the people of Chinatown, many of which are immigrants or born to immigrants, including Ling Chan, who’s ability to dreamwalk with spirits is well known to her community. With the paranormal threats looming, the diviners find their paths crossing more frequently. Can they overcome this lurking and unseen danger?I listened to the first book in February and finally was able to continue. I had said that the first book spent a lot of time introducing us to individual characters and that it felt like it is a great set up for a second. I was correct! There is a new character who we meet on her own, but the story includes all the characters that we got to know so well in book 1. It did an incredible job setting us us for book two, which focuses on the main plot of the sleeping sickness, but also lays more obvious groundwork for the overarching plot of the series. This book was suspenseful and action packed with a diverse cast of characters that grew in one way or another as the story progressed. The prejudices and racism of white Americans that we got a taste of in book 1 also grows, adding an interesting parallel of the horrors of the supernatural and the horrors of human nature.
Once again, January LaVoy nailed the audiobook narration. Each character is distinct and recognizable just by listening to the tone, pitch, and cadence of her voice. Her pacing varies depending on the events and emotions of the text and whether I listen on normal speed or 1.5x speed, I am always enraptured by her performance!
It’s taken me a little while to write these reviews because I am busy, but also because I am still very much processing and thinking about all of the events that take place. Highly highly recommend, especially for those who are fans of fantasy, historical fiction, and some horror elements!
gillybeanreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
breezy610's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good. Evie finally learned that she isn't everything but thats does happen until the end of the book. I feel kind of sorry for Mabel since she really is Jerciho 's second choice. and then there is Sam... I really don't know what to make of him. I really interested on seeing where this is going.
erikachung182's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a comfination of so many awesome things: gorgeous writing, wonderful characters, stunning dialogue, jaw-dropping atmosphere and haunting, spooky elements. It is a perfect balance of historical fiction, fantasy, and thriller, with hints of romance and some really incredible supernatural stuff going on that I'd never seen before. There was also some discussions of racism in America; the 1920s in New York was not a perfect place, and Libba Bray doesn't shy away from that, which I really appreciate. Not only that, but I'm now so excited to dive into the sequel as soon as I can. This is one of my very favorite series; I looove being in New York, with its theaters, speakeasies and ghosts... oh, you mean there weren't any actual ghosts in 1920s New York? Kind of a shame, but oh well. And I'm so looking forward to seeing even more development with these characters, and discovering what journeys they go on. A truly outstanding book that I LOVED.
reader_4life's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hollidayreadswithme's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes the people dispensed with what was difficult or inconvenient to acknowledge. So the good people maintained the illusion of democracy and wrote another hymn to America. They sang loud enough to drown out dissent. They sang loud enough to overpower their own doubts. There were no plaques to commemorate mistakes. But the past didn’t forget. History was haunted by the ghosts of buried crimes, which required periodic exorcisms of truth. Actions had consequences.
This story is a continuation of the diviners series. We are introduced to a new character called Ling Chan. She’s great. LOVE HER. We learn about this “sleeping sickness” where people go to sleep and they just don’t wake up.
I loved it.
The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that Evie was too self-centered. I feel like that was played up way too much and at all the wrong times, especially when she was so active in the last book on wanting to save everyone.
My favorite part of the book has to be the witty banter between Henry and Ling because it’s so heartwarming to see two people who are out of the realm of society and yet can find comfort in each and IT'S NOT SEXUAL!
I was not a fan of the love triangle angle explored in this installment. It made me actually dislike Mabel because she seemed like she didn’t understand her worth, just because she didn’t have powers. I can see her potentially betraying Evie in a later book because of her built up resentment.
Bray is very brave in her attempt to capture the Chinese immigrant experience, but I don’t think she ratcheted up the fear enough. Quarantine camps are mentioned but it doesn’t feel like there is enough emotion around the reaction.
I loved the book for a plethora of reasons but one that stands out is that it’s an ensemble piece that has developed from a single POV.
I think that Libby Bray does a great job of folding stories together and in so doing, created a world I can really sink myself into. The imagery, the poetic prose lulls me to a place where I can forget where I am and what time it is and completely give myself over.
Kind of like those dreams.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - a book about ghosts
2019 ATY Challenge - A book with more than 500 pages
This story is a continuation of the diviners series. We are introduced to a new character called Ling Chan. She’s great. LOVE HER. We learn about this “sleeping sickness” where people go to sleep and they just don’t wake up.
I loved it.
The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that Evie was too self-centered. I feel like that was played up way too much and at all the wrong times, especially when she was so active in the last book on wanting to save everyone.
My favorite part of the book has to be the witty banter between Henry and Ling because it’s so heartwarming to see two people who are out of the realm of society and yet can find comfort in each and IT'S NOT SEXUAL!
I was not a fan of the love triangle angle explored in this installment. It made me actually dislike Mabel because she seemed like she didn’t understand her worth, just because she didn’t have powers. I can see her potentially betraying Evie in a later book because of her built up resentment.
Bray is very brave in her attempt to capture the Chinese immigrant experience, but I don’t think she ratcheted up the fear enough. Quarantine camps are mentioned but it doesn’t feel like there is enough emotion around the reaction.
I loved the book for a plethora of reasons but one that stands out is that it’s an ensemble piece that has developed from a single POV.
I think that Libby Bray does a great job of folding stories together and in so doing, created a world I can really sink myself into. The imagery, the poetic prose lulls me to a place where I can forget where I am and what time it is and completely give myself over.
Kind of like those dreams.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - a book about ghosts
2019 ATY Challenge - A book with more than 500 pages
lr2's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sklus's review against another edition
DNF at Chapter The Tiny Universe. Will definitely pick it up again, I just wasn't feeling this type of book right now.
lisaliest's review against another edition
It dragged and I was annoyed with Evie. I‘ll try the audiobook later. I‘ve heard it’s very good.