pagesandtales's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Death, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Antisemitism
overbooked207's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Medical trauma, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, Racism, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Violence
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed this more than the first two books, and holy crap the last 1/4 of the book! So much action, and some things I really didn't like, especially how one character is kind of just forgotten by the author. But I did find some of the more annoying/less-likable characters more tolerable and even likable in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Blood, Xenophobia, Stalking, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, Racism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Gun violence, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Torture, Grief, Gore, Ableism, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Sexual content
bookswithbec's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Libba Bray.... what are you doing to my poor heart? These characters have become a part of me - the more history I learn of them the more love I gain for each Diviner.
I have many theories about how this quartet will end... but for now I can say that I did not see where this third installment took us. I am impressed with the history (and research) that was put into the creation of the diviners.
Ling Chen - dream walker, talks to the dead; having her idols crushed throughout this book has built her up to be stronger, tougher, and more confident.
Henry DuBois IV - dream walker; becoming proud of who he is after a tough loss/realization, protector of his "family" - the fellow diviners.
Isaiah Campbell - predictor of the future, dream walker; little brother who just wants to be recognized as one of the members of the group... and a valuable member.
Memphis Campbell - healer; trying so hard to tale care of those who he loves.
Theta Knight - heat/flame creator; Trying to run from her past, she has found a new life as a performer and a new love.
Jericho Jones - non-diviner but equally special; with the help from Will & Jake, he is able to be alive and feel what family truly means to people. Pinning for that one special someone throws him into a head spin he might not recover from.
Sam Lloyd - ability to become invisible; he is on a mission to discover the deep, dark truth about Project Buffalo and the location of his mother, what he finds instead stops him dead in his tracks.
Evie O'Neil - object reader; America's Sweetheart Seer by day, flapper/ party girl by night, she seems to be the wild one that brings this group together... but can she keep them together?
Mabel Rose - non-diviner, activist; being Evie's best friend and the daughter of communist labor organizers, she is bound to find herself in trouble once or twice... but the biggest trouble she will find will be with what her heart wants.
In 1920s America, these KIDS are just trying to find their way in a country that really doesn't seem to want to accept them. each is dealt with a history that is unfair but as a dysfunctional unit they learn what is truly important - family and love!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"But how did you fight an enemy who never fought fair? Didn't you have to break the rules to win against the devil?"
"Before the devil breaks you, first he will make you love him. Beware little sister. Beware the King of Crows."
"I'll be counting cats when I come over. There better be the same number each time."
"Even Evie believed in something, that something bing Evie a lot of the time."
"It's Yiddish. Like ... Ike hob dish lib."
"Soon I will take all you love and watch you burn. Sweet dreams, Object Reader."
"We are a country built by immigrants, dreams daring, and opportunity. We are a country built by the horror of slavery and genocide, the injustice of racism and exclusion. These realities exist side by side. It is our past and our present. The future is unwritten. This is a book about ghosts - for we live in a haunted house."
I have many theories about how this quartet will end... but for now I can say that I did not see where this third installment took us. I am impressed with the history (and research) that was put into the creation of the diviners.
Ling Chen - dream walker, talks to the dead; having her idols crushed throughout this book has built her up to be stronger, tougher, and more confident.
Henry DuBois IV - dream walker; becoming proud of who he is after a tough loss/realization, protector of his "family" - the fellow diviners.
Isaiah Campbell - predictor of the future, dream walker; little brother who just wants to be recognized as one of the members of the group... and a valuable member.
Memphis Campbell - healer; trying so hard to tale care of those who he loves.
Theta Knight - heat/flame creator; Trying to run from her past, she has found a new life as a performer and a new love.
Jericho Jones - non-diviner but equally special; with the help from Will & Jake, he is able to be alive and feel what family truly means to people. Pinning for that one special someone throws him into a head spin he might not recover from.
Sam Lloyd - ability to become invisible; he is on a mission to discover the deep, dark truth about Project Buffalo and the location of his mother, what he finds instead stops him dead in his tracks.
Evie O'Neil - object reader; America's Sweetheart Seer by day, flapper/ party girl by night, she seems to be the wild one that brings this group together... but can she keep them together?
Mabel Rose - non-diviner, activist; being Evie's best friend and the daughter of communist labor organizers, she is bound to find herself in trouble once or twice... but the biggest trouble she will find will be with what her heart wants.
In 1920s America, these KIDS are just trying to find their way in a country that really doesn't seem to want to accept them. each is dealt with a history that is unfair but as a dysfunctional unit they learn what is truly important - family and love!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"But how did you fight an enemy who never fought fair? Didn't you have to break the rules to win against the devil?"
"Before the devil breaks you, first he will make you love him. Beware little sister. Beware the King of Crows."
"I'll be counting cats when I come over. There better be the same number each time."
"Even Evie believed in something, that something bing Evie a lot of the time."
"It's Yiddish. Like ... Ike hob dish lib."
"Soon I will take all you love and watch you burn. Sweet dreams, Object Reader."
"We are a country built by immigrants, dreams daring, and opportunity. We are a country built by the horror of slavery and genocide, the injustice of racism and exclusion. These realities exist side by side. It is our past and our present. The future is unwritten. This is a book about ghosts - for we live in a haunted house."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Minor: Murder, Violence, and Racism
justagrlandherdog's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I definitely liked this one better than the previous one. While unlike the first two books this one didn’t have a true mystery the kids were racing to solve but I loved the growth and expansion you get of each of them. There were still moments I didn’t expect and a few where my heart was racing a bit. It did feel as if it dragged on a bit in the beginning, these books are long, almost, I feel, unnecessarily. Overall enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
ellanarose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Racism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Violence
bookswithjess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Rape
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, and Violence
genny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.25
Whew, okay, how do I review this one? It was much more somber than I anticipated. This time there's no big mystery at the forefront, so while I'm glad we're finally seeing more of the whole "King of Crows" business, I feel like this lacked the structure (and whimsy) of the first two books. The revelations about Project Buffalo felt like a punch to the gut, and my opinions about certain characters went through a rollercoaster (looking at you, Bill Johnson!).
In other words: this hurt my heart. I loved that we finally got to see more of Mabel's perspective, though this did feel detached from the rest of the story. Her struggle with morality as she fights the good fight? How she both missed and resented Evie, and all that she represented? So good. I'm a little bitter that we won't see how she could've reconciled these inner conflicts. I don't even know how to feel about Jericho anymore (do read the content warnings...). That's not to say that everything's doom and gloom! We still get plenty of humor and the beautiful friendships between the cast (and Theta being a badass). As always, Sam's romance with Evie was a personal highlight.
I listened to the audiobook - amazing voice work, as expected. I will likely reread the entire series in print one day. I'm a bit scared of book 4 because I've heard its the weakest, and that's never a good thing to hear about a series' conclusion.
In other words: this hurt my heart. I loved that we finally got to see more of Mabel's perspective, though this did feel detached from the rest of the story. Her struggle with morality as she fights the good fight? How she both missed and resented Evie, and all that she represented? So good. I'm a little bitter that we won't see how she could've reconciled these inner conflicts.
Spoiler
Because, if you clicked on this and thus aren't afraid of spoilers, she dies. Holding the hand of a person who, for all his faults, really did love her. Again: ow, my heart. Bray just straight up killed main characters in the last 10% of the book, damn!I listened to the audiobook - amazing voice work, as expected. I will likely reread the entire series in print one day. I'm a bit scared of book 4 because I've heard its the weakest, and that's never a good thing to hear about a series' conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
Eugenics is discussed multiple times, with proponents advocating for racist, homophobic, and ableist beliefs. A character gets threatening messages from their abuser, who eventually tracks them down and acts controlling/threatening. Two female characters are forcefully kissed; one scene is more graphic, as the woman is attacked and held down. The diviners visit an asylum; some patients are there willingly, some aren't. A character shares that their mother suffered from a mental illness. Another character reminisces about their mother dying from cancer.danaleelin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Violence, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
booksandcoffeerequired's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia