peytonktracy's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
So this installment of The Diviners series was a bit of a slog to get through but only because the already large cast started getting a lot more individual attention in their growth arcs and personal narratives in addition to really hitting the pavement towards the climax of the overarching plot against the Biggest Baddest Villain behind all the smaller, Still Bad But Not That Bad Villains. It's a lot to pay attention to - I think we had something like 14 characters who we got perspectives from at multiple points throughout the narrative, not including the four-ish camps of villains. It was a lot to keep track of, but it does lend itself to a very interesting vision of the main plot and the interactions between the characters because you get such comprehensive perspectives of everything and everyone. And I will also say, the characters are beautifully diverse in every way - a variety of races, sexualities, religious backgrounds, disabilities, socio-economic statuses, citizenship status, belief systems, attitudes towards institutions in this country, even ages. And that has always been appreciated in this series.
But the bulk of the marks against this book was how much I wished for some content warnings. This book took a turn for the serious (not that it hasn't always been serious) but several caught me completely off guard in vulnerable moments because they came with so little warning and one in particular put me off continuing this book for a month or so. And at the end Not that I think that writing choice was a problem or problematic but it was tonally inconsistent with where the book had been and so was just pretty surprising.
All this to say though, I've already checked out and started the final installment and had no qualms about doing so. I'm ready to GO.
But the bulk of the marks against this book was how much I wished for some content warnings. This book took a turn for the serious (not that it hasn't always been serious) but several caught me completely off guard in vulnerable moments because they came with so little warning and one in particular put me off continuing this book for a month or so. And at the end
Spoiler
Bray decided to go all George R. R. Martin/J. K. Rowling in Deathly Hallows on us and just murder like four people in the span of a few chapters that was a little surprising and unexpected.All this to say though, I've already checked out and started the final installment and had no qualms about doing so. I'm ready to GO.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia and Slavery
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