Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Diviners by Libba Bray

28 reviews

shelbyshoe's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-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

3.5

tl;dr Some really great prose, interesting characters, and a concept that kept me coming back to read more. The book suffered for its 800 page slow pace. There were a lot of side plots that were unnecessary and characters that seemed important but were dropped by the end of the book.

A lot of research went into this book and it shows. However, I feel as though she could have left out some things that did not lend itself to the main plot of the story. She brings up some HEAVY issues and never goes much further with them, which is a major disservice to them. 

HEAVILY religious. I had to skim over almost paragraphs of religious recited text. We really get beat down with the evangelical fanaticism.

By the end of the book it was the Evie show and everyone else took a back seat. Evie's interest in a certain character by the end of the book came out of left field, leading me to believe that the publishers requested a love triangle or something to sell more books.

On a personal note, I adored Theta and Henry. They honestly could have their own book. 

Some of the prose were beautiful. I enjoy the imagery that fleshes out the mood of the city. I felt like I was really there in 1920s New York. It was the main reason that I kept coming back. The horror aspects of the book were unexpected but I loved them so much. The moody creepy atmosphere she created was wonderful. 

I wanted to love this book because there is a lot to love here, but it was overwritten. She had a lot of stories and characters that would have benefited from their own books. A major victim of not "killing your darlings" and a little too much showing not telling with pointless POVs. By the looks of the other three books, all around 700 pages each, I do not believe I will continue this series.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this era of history. This really made me feel like I got to step back in time for a while and that was the core concept for this book. A hidden gem for me as I'd never heard of it before finding it randomly in a used bookstore!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

someryarns's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hardbackhoarder's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

maddiereadswords's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This series has been literally my all-time favorite series since I first read it years ago, and after getting hit with a random urge to reread it, I'm thrilled to report that it still holds up!! This is a series that rewards careful rereading, and I'm biting drywall at some of the things I only just realized this time around. There's so much history and research packed into every page (which I concede could make it feel like a slog to anyone who's not into or used to reading dense historical fiction, but that's a selling point to me tbh), all of the characters are so unique and fun, and the spooky ghost-story vibes of this first installment in particular are just unmatched. I've read this book countless times before, and I'll likely read it so many more in the future.

This whole series is just so criminally underrated, I am frothing at the mouth, please come read these totally normal books that I am totally and completely normal about. Also people need to stop being so mean to Evie; on god I'm gonna get that girl some grief counseling and an ADHD diagnosis and then you'll all be sorry!!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cady_sass's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Oh man, here’s another one where I may get decimated by the booktube / booktok girlies. I was SO INTO this for the first 70%. This is a long ass book and I think I read that chunk in like 2-3 days. Then….. we lost the plot. I could not stay interested or engaged. It goes from plausibly supernatural in a fun way to completely off the wall unbelievable bonkers in a way that I simply can not keep up with what’s happening. I borrowed the audiobook to try to help myself just power through the last quarter of the book and it did not help. It took me 2 weeks to get through the last quarter and I just … idk, it’s not satisfying. I’m still confused. I want to reread it and see if its better/makes more sense the second time around, but also absolutely not because this book is SO long?! The internal struggle is real. 

I think I’m not the right audience. Is this something that could make sense to someone else who enjoys a more deeply fantastical story? Probably. Am I that person? Absolutely not. I am a light fantasy type bitch and i thought you had me, but then you lost me.  Rip my brain cells 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

boydgirl's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jg93's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amariela02's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

trippalli's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

A funny adventurous book about a murderous ghost set in a roaring 20s plus occult and individuals with specific powers, like seeing memories in touching an object or seeing glimpses of the future, becoming unseen temporarily... But I never thought I'd let l laugh so much while a serial killer is trying to be stopped. I loved all the very diverse cast and I wanted them to all be safe! They are so quirky, using their ability to pick pockets or make party games and sprinkled constantly with the 20s slang of the lead character, a girl who wants to party and turns detective and PR for her academic uncle's museum of the occult she is so sassy, spontaneous and friendly... All the characters are very vivid and unique and the world is fabulous. I have the first 4 books and am eager to read the next one!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

pagesofash's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings