sdevine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
echokitsune's review against another edition
4.0
Ling is probably my favorite character. Also Bray absolved herself off the bury the gays trope by providing queer ace rep.
donnerbella's review against another edition
4.0
Libba Bray is a diviner. She takes what happens around here and translates it into a gripping but never gloomy story about the world we live in. Except it's the 1920s and supernatural things are going on. Yet, women have agency and sexual appetite, people love all kinds of people, there's a crazy rich man who thinks he alone can change the world and everyone looks for the scapegoat in a group that is already impressed.
The Diviners series soars with it's sequels and I would give this book especially to young people who are terrified of what we are facing. There's strength in community, there's quiet brilliance in people and there's solace in the stories we tell.
The Diviners series soars with it's sequels and I would give this book especially to young people who are terrified of what we are facing. There's strength in community, there's quiet brilliance in people and there's solace in the stories we tell.
michellesantiago's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars
I binged The Diviners, Lair of Dreams, and this book, Before the Devil Breaks You, in ONE WEEK through the audiobooks and HOLY SHIT I can't believe I did that. Over 60+ hours of listening gold! Now I don't know what to do with myself.
All the things that happened at the end of Before the Devil Breaks You broke my heart. My heart is broken and I am still reeling over all the events.
January LaVoy as the narrator is amazing as always.
Sam and Evie are now one of my all-time favorite ships.
I hope I don't have to wait long for book 4.
I binged The Diviners, Lair of Dreams, and this book, Before the Devil Breaks You, in ONE WEEK through the audiobooks and HOLY SHIT I can't believe I did that. Over 60+ hours of listening gold! Now I don't know what to do with myself.
All the things that happened at the end of Before the Devil Breaks You broke my heart. My heart is broken and I am still reeling over all the events.
January LaVoy as the narrator is amazing as always.
Sam and Evie are now one of my all-time favorite ships.
I hope I don't have to wait long for book 4.
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! To be fair, I have loved all the books in this series and pretty much everything else Libba Bray has written. My only complaint is that it's 'The Two Towers' of the series aka it's basically an open ended plot waiting for the next novel to continue it. I liked how the Diviners formed different and more unique bonds with each other in this book and even though the author did dirty to some of my favorite characters, I see how it moves the plot along. I'm counting down the days for the next Diviners book!
ps- Thank you Libba Bray for the continued inclusion and diversity in your writing!
ps- Thank you Libba Bray for the continued inclusion and diversity in your writing!
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
"We are the Forgotten, forgotten no more..."
This won't be a very long review. I just want to convey my feelings on this book. And I am still in a whirlpool of emotion after reading this one, so sorry in advance if it is a bit chaotic.
So, just like all the other books in this series, it took me a while to read this one. Once you really get into it you can't stop, but the first 100 pages are a bit tricky. They are fun, but they just don't pull me in like the rest of the pages. It also didn't help the font was tiny.
I am also not amused that the cover changed once again. I now have 3 different covers. I hope the next book will at least follow one of the themes from the previous books. It is just getting ridiculous that they switch covers for EACH SINGLE book.
The story gets more and more exciting, this time we have ghosts, The Forgotten, making trouble (and eating people left and right). But also the King of Crows makes his threats and does some really bad things. We also find out more about James, Miriam, Will, Buffalo Project, other Diviners, our own characters, and most importantly, about the Diviners. What a shock that was. I had my suspicions given the direction of the books, but I just hadn't expected them to come true.
It sounds like a lot is happening, and there is even more that is going on in this book, but I never once felt like it was too much. If anything I just loved the fact we got so much information, so many twists and turns.
There are also parts that go back to the past. To when Buffalo Project was just starting/just underway. I quite loved those parts as they gave more insight in Will, Rotke, Marlowe.
I was not looking forward to Mabel's POV. I just don't like the girl. I really found her actions in this book stupid and weird. She was just too desperate to do something of her own that she lost the way in front of her.
The love triangle between Sam, Jericho, Evie? I already didn't like it in the previous book, and I hated it to death in this one. Evie, pick one guy, you can't have both, and it is just plain rude to do things like this. Especially in the later parts I was just annoyed with Evie and how she swung from one guy to another.
The book is also much more mature than the previous books. We have a few sex scenes or scenes that get very close to sex. Nothing too graphic. I thought they fitted the story quite nicely. The characters are definitely maturing, and their relationships also grow.
I am very delighted with that Ling meets someone as well. I was absolutely squealing in delight. They make an adorable couple, and I am rooting for them.
There were a few things that broke my heart. ABSOLUTELY don't click on these unless you read the book/don't mind spoilers.
I never liked Bill, but after seeing his story in this one? I just lost some of my dislike for him. He still did some very disgusting things, and I don't forgive him for it, but I can see why he did it.
All in all, I loved this book. It was so exciting, I never wanted it to stop. I can't wait for the next book, we are going for the finale!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This won't be a very long review. I just want to convey my feelings on this book. And I am still in a whirlpool of emotion after reading this one, so sorry in advance if it is a bit chaotic.
So, just like all the other books in this series, it took me a while to read this one. Once you really get into it you can't stop, but the first 100 pages are a bit tricky. They are fun, but they just don't pull me in like the rest of the pages. It also didn't help the font was tiny.
I am also not amused that the cover changed once again. I now have 3 different covers. I hope the next book will at least follow one of the themes from the previous books. It is just getting ridiculous that they switch covers for EACH SINGLE book.
The story gets more and more exciting, this time we have ghosts, The Forgotten, making trouble (and eating people left and right). But also the King of Crows makes his threats and does some really bad things. We also find out more about James, Miriam, Will, Buffalo Project, other Diviners, our own characters, and most importantly, about the Diviners. What a shock that was. I had my suspicions given the direction of the books, but I just hadn't expected them to come true.
It sounds like a lot is happening, and there is even more that is going on in this book, but I never once felt like it was too much. If anything I just loved the fact we got so much information, so many twists and turns.
There are also parts that go back to the past. To when Buffalo Project was just starting/just underway. I quite loved those parts as they gave more insight in Will, Rotke, Marlowe.
I was not looking forward to Mabel's POV. I just don't like the girl. I really found her actions in this book stupid and weird. She was just too desperate to do something of her own that she lost the way in front of her.
The love triangle between Sam, Jericho, Evie? I already didn't like it in the previous book, and I hated it to death in this one. Evie, pick one guy, you can't have both, and it is just plain rude to do things like this. Especially in the later parts I was just annoyed with Evie and how she swung from one guy to another.
The book is also much more mature than the previous books. We have a few sex scenes or scenes that get very close to sex. Nothing too graphic. I thought they fitted the story quite nicely. The characters are definitely maturing, and their relationships also grow.
I am very delighted with that Ling meets someone as well. I was absolutely squealing in delight. They make an adorable couple, and I am rooting for them.
There were a few things that broke my heart. ABSOLUTELY don't click on these unless you read the book/don't mind spoilers.
Spoiler
Jericho and how he tried to rape Evie, revelation about Miriam (she is alive and has awesome powers), Mabel's death, Theta and Roy (dang that dude is persistent), what happened to the mom of Memphis.I never liked Bill, but after seeing his story in this one? I just lost some of my dislike for him. He still did some very disgusting things, and I don't forgive him for it, but I can see why he did it.
All in all, I loved this book. It was so exciting, I never wanted it to stop. I can't wait for the next book, we are going for the finale!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
profpineco's review against another edition
5.0
WOW, This was so good, but now I have to wait for more!!!! HOW Can I!!!
charlie1995's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Xenophobia