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A review by wdallas126
The Diviners by Libba Bray
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Full transparency, I picked this up from page 348 where I'd left off in Oct 2019. The writing style is really what kills this book for me: it's way too simple that it really throws me out of the story. I think it works for an audiobook narration, but physically reading I found myself just skim reading.
There are too many characters trying to be mains, as well as too much early focus on relationships so they feel largely inauthentic. Only one really interested me at all. With such a large cast of characters, it becomes even more frustrating that they're all supposed to have powers.
Too much emphasis is put on the time period and the author over-using sayings you might've heard in the 20s. It made the book feel cartoonish at times. The mystery had no real stakes for me, though it did creep me out a bit. Bray tries to tackle a lot of the issues that were rampant during this time period which is applaudable, but she only goes surface-deep. I can't see myself continuing this series, or honestly keeping this book.
There are too many characters trying to be mains, as well as too much early focus on relationships so they feel largely inauthentic. Only one really interested me at all. With such a large cast of characters, it becomes even more frustrating that they're all supposed to have powers.
Too much emphasis is put on the time period and the author over-using sayings you might've heard in the 20s. It made the book feel cartoonish at times. The mystery had no real stakes for me, though it did creep me out a bit. Bray tries to tackle a lot of the issues that were rampant during this time period which is applaudable, but she only goes surface-deep. I can't see myself continuing this series, or honestly keeping this book.