beksreads22's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book!! I love the concept and the way it was implemented was great. I will say it took awhile to get to the meat of the story and that was a downside for me… BUT once we got into it, there was no stopping.
- I started out not liking Evie that much but she grew on me throughout the story and I think that her power is SUPER interesting.
- LOVED Memphis. In this book he was probably my favorite character. He has such a big heart and I ready to see what he does with his powers back!
- Theta is so interesting!! I liked the slow look into her backstory and the bits and pieces you saw of the REAL her.
- Oh Sam Lloyd. I liked him from the beginning! I think the evolution of his character in his search for his mom is going to be fascinating.
- I feel like of all the characters.. I am most like Mable. She is kind and a follower but there is more to her.. I can feel it.
- What is going on with Will & project buffalo.. I simply MUST know!
It was slow starting but the supernatural and ghostly elements to this story have me hooked!!
- I started out not liking Evie that much but she grew on me throughout the story and I think that her power is SUPER interesting.
- LOVED Memphis. In this book he was probably my favorite character. He has such a big heart and I ready to see what he does with his powers back!
- Theta is so interesting!! I liked the slow look into her backstory and the bits and pieces you saw of the REAL her.
- Oh Sam Lloyd. I liked him from the beginning! I think the evolution of his character in his search for his mom is going to be fascinating.
- I feel like of all the characters.. I am most like Mable. She is kind and a follower but there is more to her.. I can feel it.
- What is going on with Will & project buffalo.. I simply MUST know!
It was slow starting but the supernatural and ghostly elements to this story have me hooked!!
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was surprising!
Not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started this book but I don't think I expected this. It was soooooo good! And it REALLY picked up in the 2nd half of the book. I couldn't put it down or focus on anything else. Well worth the listen.
4 stars
Not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started this book but I don't think I expected this. It was soooooo good! And it REALLY picked up in the 2nd half of the book. I couldn't put it down or focus on anything else. Well worth the listen.
4 stars
m_is_for_awesome's review against another edition
3.0
A stylish and very creepy thriller of the Jazz Age. I really enjoyed the backstories for the diverse characters and the impression of a much larger conspiracy going on above their heads.
The only thing that brought this to a 3.5 and not a full four was the ending. Or rather endings. I have a feeling the original story was a one shot, transformed into the start of a series at the eleventh hour. The main story ends in a logical manner, then the book goes on for some time setting up the next book.
Small complaint for an engrossing read.
Warning: Libba Bray has no compunctions against making you genuinely empathize with someone before something horrible happens to them. However there is no gruesome detail about the killing itself, and the number of murders isn't relentlessly grimdark.
The only thing that brought this to a 3.5 and not a full four was the ending. Or rather endings. I have a feeling the original story was a one shot, transformed into the start of a series at the eleventh hour. The main story ends in a logical manner, then the book goes on for some time setting up the next book.
Small complaint for an engrossing read.
Warning: Libba Bray has no compunctions against making you genuinely empathize with someone before something horrible happens to them. However there is no gruesome detail about the killing itself, and the number of murders isn't relentlessly grimdark.
kellyk_15's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 33%
This book was painful to read, and not just because it was slow. The way they talked for the time era was correct, until the main character started talking about drinking every five seconds and just being plain annoying and one-dimensional. You heard it here folks, she's not even two-dimensional. I hate all of the characters. There is no one that makes me want to continue the story.
And while we're talking about him: Sam. I hate this guy. At first I swooned. Then he stole Evie's wallet and I was frustrated. He came by the museum and stole something just to make up a half-assed story and somehow he got a job, because no one is reliable in the 1920s. And even after he got a job, he stole those ashtrays and I wanted to sock him in the jaw. You know what buddy? You shouldn't steal from an employer. I know you want to make sure you will have money later, but maybe you could focus on keeping your job instead of preparing for the second you will lose it. Jesus Christ.
Evie: She seemed pretty cool in the first chapter. I liked her trickery to get to New York with her parents. And then she teased her friend for not getting a haircut to match hers exactly and be trendy or whatever bullshit she was making up. To be honest, I'm not sure why she and Mabel were friends. They didn't seem to have anything in common and Evie seemed more interested in her new friend Theta. And making fun of Mabel with Theta. She had more in common with someone she had just met than with someone she's apparently been friends with for a while.
Also, Theta and Henry's relationship felt forced right off the bat. It would have made more sense to make them be lovers and not friends. I also hated a line, (pg 89) "but it was also clear by the way they were with each other that they were not loves, only dear friends." cut the bullshit please. It felt too forced, especially for the 1920s. You wouldn't dream of living with the opposite sex in those days, even if you were really really really good friends. People would talk and everyone would assume you were doing unholy things before marriage or whatever. Heck, you wouldn't live with a boyfriend/girlfriend or fiance, so why are two friends living together? Was there seriously no one else the two could tolerate living with?
As for the other characters, they were so unremarkable that I hardly remembered their names or their backgrounds half the time. Or maybe that was just because we spent a few pages with them, and then 30 pages with the Evie and her gang of assholes. The only character I really want to see more of is Ruta. And she's the girl that was murdered.
That's all for my review. To cap it off, this book was slow, and the characters were annoying and I wish I had the opportunity to slap the majority of them in the face for one reason or another.
This book was painful to read, and not just because it was slow. The way they talked for the time era was correct, until the main character started talking about drinking every five seconds and just being plain annoying and one-dimensional. You heard it here folks, she's not even two-dimensional. I hate all of the characters. There is no one that makes me want to continue the story.
Spoiler
Her uncle: He seemed nice, until he sided with Sam against Evie and gave him a fucking job after he stole from his niece. It wasn't as if he needed anyone or was looking to hire. It was mainly plot convenience that made him give this shitty asshole a job. And he was the typical uncle who is sort of a presence, and helps get you into things, but is only really there for plot convenience and never anything else. You know what I'm talking about.And while we're talking about him: Sam. I hate this guy. At first I swooned. Then he stole Evie's wallet and I was frustrated. He came by the museum and stole something just to make up a half-assed story and somehow he got a job, because no one is reliable in the 1920s. And even after he got a job, he stole those ashtrays and I wanted to sock him in the jaw. You know what buddy? You shouldn't steal from an employer. I know you want to make sure you will have money later, but maybe you could focus on keeping your job instead of preparing for the second you will lose it. Jesus Christ.
Evie: She seemed pretty cool in the first chapter. I liked her trickery to get to New York with her parents. And then she teased her friend for not getting a haircut to match hers exactly and be trendy or whatever bullshit she was making up. To be honest, I'm not sure why she and Mabel were friends. They didn't seem to have anything in common and Evie seemed more interested in her new friend Theta. And making fun of Mabel with Theta. She had more in common with someone she had just met than with someone she's apparently been friends with for a while.
Also, Theta and Henry's relationship felt forced right off the bat. It would have made more sense to make them be lovers and not friends. I also hated a line, (pg 89) "but it was also clear by the way they were with each other that they were not loves, only dear friends." cut the bullshit please. It felt too forced, especially for the 1920s. You wouldn't dream of living with the opposite sex in those days, even if you were really really really good friends. People would talk and everyone would assume you were doing unholy things before marriage or whatever. Heck, you wouldn't live with a boyfriend/girlfriend or fiance, so why are two friends living together? Was there seriously no one else the two could tolerate living with?
As for the other characters, they were so unremarkable that I hardly remembered their names or their backgrounds half the time. Or maybe that was just because we spent a few pages with them, and then 30 pages with the Evie and her gang of assholes. The only character I really want to see more of is Ruta. And she's the girl that was murdered.
That's all for my review. To cap it off, this book was slow, and the characters were annoying and I wish I had the opportunity to slap the majority of them in the face for one reason or another.
clarian's review against another edition
1.0
So much effort put in the setting that it ended uo being too much. Also, no plot or interestimg characters. I honestly don't understand what other people seen to find so fascinating about this book. I'm so disappointing.
thebookguru's review against another edition
4.0
what a swell book.
WARNING: IF YOU ARE SCARED EASILY DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. OR JUST READ IT IN THE DAY. WHICH IS WHAT I HAD TO DO COZ I GOT NIGHTMARES.
i didn't really know what this book was about but DAMN OMG IT'S GOOD BUT SO CREEPY. NAUGHTY JOHN OMG. and i didn't know it was a trilogy sokhjgkdfjhcf IT GETS CREEPIER.
it's a thriller...it has magic and mystery, romance and humour. and 1920s glamour.
it's the cat's pyjamas. lol
i knew evie and jericho...something is going on...
as for sam...he's a suspect...
uncle will...omg PROJECT BUFFALO WHAT IS GOING ON
i love memphis he is my favourite.
it was interesting because she wrote about religion a lot and beliefs and well..yes you get crazy fanatics who have cults and are creepy but also normal people who believe in religion. like idk i have faith in God and it makes me sad when people DON'T believe in God but because of religion's history i suppose i understand why...
ah the american dream. what a wonderful illusion. any1 can make it of course. what a beautiful lie. beautiful deception. a nation built on immigrants and yet they hate other people.
anyways so this book is about the diviners who r people with special powers eg being able to read an object or see the future or predict death or heal people.
it's about a murderer come back from the dead.
it's about evil things and the storm is coming...
it's about the 1920s illusion and facade and secrets, lies and promises, deception and bribery.
magic and voodoo and creepy crawlies...well i really wish the museum of creepy crawlies existed lol.
witchcraft is fascinating
anyways i look forward to the sequel but alas will probably only read it in the day BECAUSE NO DOUBT IT WILL TERRIFY ME!!!
LIBBA BRAY IS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR PLEASE READ HER BOOKS.
Happy Reading =D
WARNING: IF YOU ARE SCARED EASILY DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. OR JUST READ IT IN THE DAY. WHICH IS WHAT I HAD TO DO COZ I GOT NIGHTMARES.
i didn't really know what this book was about but DAMN OMG IT'S GOOD BUT SO CREEPY. NAUGHTY JOHN OMG. and i didn't know it was a trilogy sokhjgkdfjhcf IT GETS CREEPIER.
it's a thriller...it has magic and mystery, romance and humour. and 1920s glamour.
it's the cat's pyjamas. lol
i knew evie and jericho...something is going on...
as for sam...he's a suspect...
uncle will...omg PROJECT BUFFALO WHAT IS GOING ON
i love memphis he is my favourite.
it was interesting because she wrote about religion a lot and beliefs and well..yes you get crazy fanatics who have cults and are creepy but also normal people who believe in religion. like idk i have faith in God and it makes me sad when people DON'T believe in God but because of religion's history i suppose i understand why...
ah the american dream. what a wonderful illusion. any1 can make it of course. what a beautiful lie. beautiful deception. a nation built on immigrants and yet they hate other people.
anyways so this book is about the diviners who r people with special powers eg being able to read an object or see the future or predict death or heal people.
it's about a murderer come back from the dead.
it's about evil things and the storm is coming...
it's about the 1920s illusion and facade and secrets, lies and promises, deception and bribery.
magic and voodoo and creepy crawlies...well i really wish the museum of creepy crawlies existed lol.
witchcraft is fascinating
anyways i look forward to the sequel but alas will probably only read it in the day BECAUSE NO DOUBT IT WILL TERRIFY ME!!!
LIBBA BRAY IS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR PLEASE READ HER BOOKS.
Happy Reading =D
bookcraft's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I listened to the audiobook version (thanks for the rec re: the narrator, Isis!) and got the nagging feeling that the book had some POV issues, but it was less jarring and more difficult to tell when listening to it than I imagine it would have been if I'd been reading it. Because I can't be sure without going back and reading the text, I'm giving Bray the benefit of the doubt and 4 stars instead of 3. (I am SUPER PICKY about sloppy POV.)
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Content note, for those who have triggers:
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Content note, for those who have triggers: