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tencutepuppies's review against another edition
4.0
(4/5) This book was very good. I liked how generally creepy it was while still keeping the flamboyant aesthetic of 1920s New York. I think one thing that brought down the rating for me has to do with the fact that it took me so long to finish the whole thing, so I didn’t exactly get the pacing of it right. But it still worked for me.
This almost felt like...a prologue?? I mean, I know they had a run-in with the cult of the Brotherhood and everything, but a lot of the things that happened seemed to be there solely to build the foundation for the rest of the series. There’s nothing really wrong with that, it just made the story drag on a bit in some places and the characters were a little surface-level for me. But I can tell that now that the foundation has been laid, they’ll be fleshed out a bit more in the later books.
It’s kind of hard to voice my thoughts on this book because I feel like I don’t have that many. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just didn’t connect with me in that hard-hitting way that I seek out.
One of the main weird things I noticed was the way the story was written. It would be from Evie’s perspective one moment, then flip to what was inside Uncle Will’s thoughts. I’m guessing that was a stylistic choice, but I’ve never read a third person omniscient narrative style before, so it gave me a little bit of whiplash. However, I did like how the focus flitted from Evie and her crew to Memphis, to the old sisters, to the murder victims as they fell one by one. It made for a well-rounded story, but still managed to not give away too much information.
Evie was interesting to read about as our main character because she’s reckless and impulsive at times, which drives her to make decisions that other more bland protagonists would not dream of making. I liked to see the sort of warring sides of her: one that’s selfish and constantly seeking out thrill, and the other that is trying to stomach the loss of her brother and do her best to care for her family and friends.
I feel terrible for saying this because I do like Jericho as a character, but I want to see more of Sam, particularly in relation to Evie. Their banter is so good. I think Sam’s a lot deeper than he shows himself to be. I can see a love triangle brewing, but it seems like Evie is gravitating toward Jericho right now because he’s the safe option. Sam could be the person that helps her live life to the fullest while still being herself.
The best part of this book is definitely the worldbuilding and the overall aesthetic. It’s so creepy without being dumb, which I’m obsessed with. The murder mystery aspect of it was extremely well done, especially as it was developed to seem absolutely impossible to solve. Every part when they were in the “haunted” house was perfection and so eerie.
I think the hope that this series (and characters, especially) will develop further is what will drive me to read the next books. Overall, this was a great start that holds a lot of promise.
This almost felt like...a prologue?? I mean, I know they had a run-in with the cult of the Brotherhood and everything, but a lot of the things that happened seemed to be there solely to build the foundation for the rest of the series. There’s nothing really wrong with that, it just made the story drag on a bit in some places and the characters were a little surface-level for me. But I can tell that now that the foundation has been laid, they’ll be fleshed out a bit more in the later books.
It’s kind of hard to voice my thoughts on this book because I feel like I don’t have that many. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just didn’t connect with me in that hard-hitting way that I seek out.
One of the main weird things I noticed was the way the story was written. It would be from Evie’s perspective one moment, then flip to what was inside Uncle Will’s thoughts. I’m guessing that was a stylistic choice, but I’ve never read a third person omniscient narrative style before, so it gave me a little bit of whiplash. However, I did like how the focus flitted from Evie and her crew to Memphis, to the old sisters, to the murder victims as they fell one by one. It made for a well-rounded story, but still managed to not give away too much information.
Evie was interesting to read about as our main character because she’s reckless and impulsive at times, which drives her to make decisions that other more bland protagonists would not dream of making. I liked to see the sort of warring sides of her: one that’s selfish and constantly seeking out thrill, and the other that is trying to stomach the loss of her brother and do her best to care for her family and friends.
I feel terrible for saying this because I do like Jericho as a character, but I want to see more of Sam, particularly in relation to Evie. Their banter is so good. I think Sam’s a lot deeper than he shows himself to be. I can see a love triangle brewing, but it seems like Evie is gravitating toward Jericho right now because he’s the safe option. Sam could be the person that helps her live life to the fullest while still being herself.
The best part of this book is definitely the worldbuilding and the overall aesthetic. It’s so creepy without being dumb, which I’m obsessed with. The murder mystery aspect of it was extremely well done, especially as it was developed to seem absolutely impossible to solve. Every part when they were in the “haunted” house was perfection and so eerie.
I think the hope that this series (and characters, especially) will develop further is what will drive me to read the next books. Overall, this was a great start that holds a lot of promise.
greevianguy's review against another edition
2.0
This book was disappointing and at points very irritating. I don't have much to say that others who disliked this book haven't said: about how Evie is a unredeemable brat, the romance was just as bad as any forced teen romance, and the story was choppy. Honestly, what confused me the most was the wasted opportunities with the diviners. Where is the magic in this story? Did the author just forget all the awesome opportunities she had with these characters while busy doing painfully extensive research of the 20's?
I love Libba Bray's writing, but this was sad. She is amazing at capturing the scene, and normally really good at making her characters seem real. I loved the Gemma Doyle books (in which the characters are significantly better)and I hoped that this would be similar, but it fell flat as soon as the main character opened her whiny mouth.
Also, I'm able to read books written by atheists; it doesn't offend me to enjoy stuff made by them. I don't even mind reading stories with all atheist characters. However, when every Christian in a story is either an idiot, insane or a complete monster, I get a little ticked. Even though this was the twenties, and Christians were doing terrible, cruel things to hold people back, stereotyping all of them into that category isn't nice. I would like to see a story with a Christian who isn't some stand-up cardboard cut-out of a person, even if the author doesn't like them.
I love Libba Bray's writing, but this was sad. She is amazing at capturing the scene, and normally really good at making her characters seem real. I loved the Gemma Doyle books (in which the characters are significantly better)and I hoped that this would be similar, but it fell flat as soon as the main character opened her whiny mouth.
Also, I'm able to read books written by atheists; it doesn't offend me to enjoy stuff made by them. I don't even mind reading stories with all atheist characters. However, when every Christian in a story is either an idiot, insane or a complete monster, I get a little ticked. Even though this was the twenties, and Christians were doing terrible, cruel things to hold people back, stereotyping all of them into that category isn't nice. I would like to see a story with a Christian who isn't some stand-up cardboard cut-out of a person, even if the author doesn't like them.
cassandrabee's review against another edition
5.0
Evie O'Neill is an attention starved energetic girl from Ohio who gets sent to live with her uncle in New York after getting into trouble at home. There she gets immersed, not only in city life, but a murder mystery and all things occult. These experiences really draw her out as a complex person. She is a little selfish and flashy, but decisive, confident, empathetic, and smart. As her story unfolds, others' lives converge with hers and fill in the details of the story and the city. These subplots blend wonderfully into the narrative and set up the series with a lot of great opportunities for development.
It took me a while to get into this book, but it was a nice slow build. I wasn't totally hooked until the last hundred pages, but I was intrigued enough to keep going, and I'm glad that I did. The entire book, but especially the opening is very cinematic. Most people picture the events of a book in their head when they're reading, but you really have to commit to it when you read this book. The way Bray describes movement and sound are complex, but if you really go with it it takes the whole "movie in your head thing" to a whole new level. One of Bray's greatest strength is her ability to take advantage of all of your senses and pull you in, which is perfect for a book set in the 20's.
The only thing keeping me from loving this book was that I did feel kind of distant from the characters up until the last hundred pages. Everyone seemed to be guessing what others were thinking instead of talking about what they were thinking, but some real confessions came out toward the end. I still loved the third person narrating, but I'm a sucker for first person.
It took me a while to get into this book, but it was a nice slow build. I wasn't totally hooked until the last hundred pages, but I was intrigued enough to keep going, and I'm glad that I did. The entire book, but especially the opening is very cinematic. Most people picture the events of a book in their head when they're reading, but you really have to commit to it when you read this book. The way Bray describes movement and sound are complex, but if you really go with it it takes the whole "movie in your head thing" to a whole new level. One of Bray's greatest strength is her ability to take advantage of all of your senses and pull you in, which is perfect for a book set in the 20's.
The only thing keeping me from loving this book was that I did feel kind of distant from the characters up until the last hundred pages. Everyone seemed to be guessing what others were thinking instead of talking about what they were thinking, but some real confessions came out toward the end. I still loved the third person narrating, but I'm a sucker for first person.
babyintoyland's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As an audiobook, it was a fun time
bumblemee's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
There's a lot to like about this book. Most of all, I loved the atmosphere. The writing style fits it perfectly and paints a picute of 1920s London that feels very alive. From the very first scene I was very immersed. The author also did a good job with the bad guy, he really was terrifying. In general the mysteriousness of everything was well established through the writing style, very cool.
I also liked the characters, I don't think there's anyone I disliked. Sure, we see most of Evie and she's a little pain in the ass sometimes - you can just see her making decisions without thinking a single thought beforehand - but she's a seventeen year old teenager and I do think there are a lot of teenagers like her in this world. She and the others were fun to follow and I'm excited to get to know them better over the course of the series.
One of the reasons why we get to know the characters enough to care was because we spent a lot of time reading how the relationships between them form. I understood why they clicked or didn't click with eachother, which is always a good sign for well fleshed our characters. However, this aspect also contributes to this book being quite slow paced. A lot of things happen, but it still feels slow, because while there's a good amount of mystery and murder, the tension takes its time building up. So if you're someone who wants a lot of action and moving fast towards the solution of the main mystery, I fear you might get frustrated ove the cause of these over 500 pages. I personally was entertained enough the whole time, especially because of the atmospheric writing.
Still, I was a a bit confused by the way the story was told - and I think that might be a frustrating aspect for some readers: The reader knows a lot of things before the characters do. You can pick up different pieces and put them together to the point where you're sometimes like: "Oh my god, can these two please meet and then stumble upon this one topic somehow?? It could be so much easier!"
Sometimes you read about characters figuring something out that you already put together or were told about upfront. It was a little much.I still don't get why there's a scene from Ida Knowles perspective when her diary is found later on and everything important is in there as well? Even the knowledge the characters gained over the course of the story never felt surprising, nor were there any plot twists (in my opinion). Everything just fit together. That doesn't mean that the story wasn't exciting to me, it was just not as exciting as it could have been.
All in all I liked this book a lot and read it surprisingly fast for its slow pace, the book being over 500 pages and me being a slow reader. That is a good sign and I'd definitely recommend this book to people who are fine with the flaws mentioned above.
I also liked the characters, I don't think there's anyone I disliked. Sure, we see most of Evie and she's a little pain in the ass sometimes - you can just see her making decisions without thinking a single thought beforehand - but she's a seventeen year old teenager and I do think there are a lot of teenagers like her in this world. She and the others were fun to follow and I'm excited to get to know them better over the course of the series.
One of the reasons why we get to know the characters enough to care was because we spent a lot of time reading how the relationships between them form. I understood why they clicked or didn't click with eachother, which is always a good sign for well fleshed our characters. However, this aspect also contributes to this book being quite slow paced. A lot of things happen, but it still feels slow, because while there's a good amount of mystery and murder, the tension takes its time building up. So if you're someone who wants a lot of action and moving fast towards the solution of the main mystery, I fear you might get frustrated ove the cause of these over 500 pages. I personally was entertained enough the whole time, especially because of the atmospheric writing.
Still, I was a a bit confused by the way the story was told - and I think that might be a frustrating aspect for some readers: The reader knows a lot of things before the characters do. You can pick up different pieces and put them together to the point where you're sometimes like: "Oh my god, can these two please meet and then stumble upon this one topic somehow?? It could be so much easier!"
Sometimes you read about characters figuring something out that you already put together or were told about upfront. It was a little much.
All in all I liked this book a lot and read it surprisingly fast for its slow pace, the book being over 500 pages and me being a slow reader. That is a good sign and I'd definitely recommend this book to people who are fine with the flaws mentioned above.
cutenanya's review against another edition
5.0
This is a real surprise for me because I have never imagined myself capable of reading such as long book continuously without losing interest and get distracted by other books. Although there is a string of murders going on, the murders are definitely not the core of this book. It is the unique abilities of the characters and the shifts in POV that keep my attention focused. Nearly all the characters in this book are likable but have their own faults! I gather that makes them human. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of a series and just like most series, the story ends at a point that makes you want to scream "I need the second book NOW!!!!!"
Strengths of this book:
#1 The plot is dense enough to keep readers' attention throughout the book.
#2 The characters are all alive and likable, even though I can't help but want to smack some of their heads occasionally.
#3 The constant shifts in POV and the historical period (The twenties a pretty interesting period)
Problems with this book:
#1 Way too long!
#2 The conclusion is not at all satisfying, not only is it predictable, it also drags and then leaves you pondering when can you read the next book.
#3 The use of slangs that can be annoying when the characters overdo them.
Overall, I think this is a great book and I'll be looking forward to reading other Libba Bray's books, as long as they aren't longer than this one.
Strengths of this book:
#1 The plot is dense enough to keep readers' attention throughout the book.
#2 The characters are all alive and likable, even though I can't help but want to smack some of their heads occasionally.
#3 The constant shifts in POV and the historical period (The twenties a pretty interesting period)
Problems with this book:
#1 Way too long!
#2 The conclusion is not at all satisfying, not only is it predictable, it also drags and then leaves you pondering when can you read the next book.
#3 The use of slangs that can be annoying when the characters overdo them.
Overall, I think this is a great book and I'll be looking forward to reading other Libba Bray's books, as long as they aren't longer than this one.
stephtherose_'s review against another edition
3.0
DNF.
I've been trying my HARDEST to get through this via audiobook but maybe the story translates better from the actual book. Giving it a 3 star for now just because I know I will probably like it but I didn't find myself wanting to come back to it.
I promise to pick it back up when the time feels right!
I've been trying my HARDEST to get through this via audiobook but maybe the story translates better from the actual book. Giving it a 3 star for now just because I know I will probably like it but I didn't find myself wanting to come back to it.
I promise to pick it back up when the time feels right!
noragrace89's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know if it’s an unpopular opinion or not but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I wanted.
Evie was so annoying and the book is huge however it wasn’t satisfying, I really struggled to finish it
I don’t think I’ll continue with this series with its gigantic books
P.S someone told me that the second book is an asylum one, and I still don’t care.. That says A LOT...
Evie was so annoying and the book is huge however it wasn’t satisfying, I really struggled to finish it
I don’t think I’ll continue with this series with its gigantic books
P.S someone told me that the second book is an asylum one, and I still don’t care.. That says A LOT...
paigeturner04's review against another edition
4.0
I have a love, hate relationship with this book. I absolutely loved the story, but I couldn't stand most of the characters, especially BLOODY EVIE!!!!!