The Diviners by Libby Bray
578 pages
Originally published in 2012 by Little, Brown Books
4.5/5 stars
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.
I have seen this book all over Instagram and all over GoodReads and I never thought that I would actually sit down and read this. I never really thought that I would like it so I never picked it up. So I'm at the bookstore the other day and on a whim, because they never have any other book I want/need, I pick this one up. I think what really caught my attention is the fact that this book is set in the 20's. I've never read any young adult novels set in the 20's and I figured it was time to change that.
I absolutely loved this book. Yes I know I say that but only gave it 4.5 stars. If you ever pick this book up then you may know why. Evie O'Neill gets on my last nerve. Towards the end of the book I can start to deal with her a little bit but she is probably one of the most annoying main characters I've ever had the displeasure of being acquainted with. She acts like a spoiled brat and it makes it really hard to read through her parts. I will admit that her powers are pretty cool and are essential to events in this book, however she doesnt have to be so bratty about it. I don't think I've ever used that word to describe someone but here we are.
I liked the other characters for the most part, Sam was a little annoying because he didn't understand the meaning of no. The other characters are neat and unique in their own little ways. I love that we meet all these characters and it's hinted that all of them possess powers similar to Evie but we don't really get a taste for all of them. Sam is able to 'disappear' from someone's field of vision, Memphis can heal. Henry and Theta also have abilities but it doesn't really delve into theirs yet. We also meet a girl towards the end that can walk through dreams? How freaking cool.
I think what I loved most about this book is the creepy atmosphere. I've never really been into horror books or anything like that but this one really dragged me in. I love the lore in this book, I love the history and how everything pretty much flows smoothly from one time period to the next. I love that you get a glimpse into the victim's lives and that makes you feel for them that much more. This book genuinely creeped me out. And I love it. I also love the language, I'm not used to the 20's American lingo but it's definitely neat.
I would definitely recommend this book, and also I forgot to mention that it is a series and I will be reading the second book Liar of Dreams as soon I can get my hands on it!