A review by ollieshark
The Diviners by Libba Bray

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings