Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Rating 10/10

Hello and thank you for joining,

Today I am discussing The Diviners by Libba Bray. It is the first book in the series of four, with the final book coming out in just a few days from the day I wrote this. I have read the first book two years ago and never picked the other books up. Partially this was because the series wasn’t completed and I knew I wouldn’t want to wait too long, and partially because I just roll that way. So this is the official start of my reread, and this year I am determined to follow through on series. I will make it happen, it will happen. Please ignore my shifty eyes. 

I loved this book. The writing is fantastic, as it makes you want to keep reading. The world is so vivid you wish you were there with the characters experiencing the roaring  20s. Oh, this book takes place in 1920s New York. How perfect is that setting? I wanted to read this book just for that, but then I realized there are ghost story elements, serial killer elements, supernatural elements, prophecy elements, conspiracy elements and I had to read it. Its sheer perfection. There is a large cast of characters, all of whom I fell as if I know personally. The reader often knows more about their connection and them than they know about each other and watching the story develop is fascinating. I loved observing how they all grew as people, and how they grew to discover each other 

There are so many elements to the plot, then I would recommend reading it more than once because you will miss things. Unless you take extensive notes. I did not because I wanted to keep reading and to find out what happened next. This is not a small book, but I feel like I flew through it. So much happens in this book! Some series take a trilogy to tell what this book accomplishes in one. Yet the story is not anywhere near done and I can’t even imagine how four books are going to be enough to wrap everything up. 

I now am going into Spoiler Land. Stay out of Spoiler Land. It’s dark there. 

I mentioned above that I loved all the various characters presented to us in this book. Not a single one was remotely perfect but I loved every single one. What was interesting was the contrast between the persona many presented to the world and what was going on in their heads. Let’s start with Evie, she comes across as very shallow and carefree at first look. In reality, she cares for people deeply, even though she doesn’t admit it to herself. She’s traumatized by her brother’s death during WWI, and by her parents’ abandonment. Once she finds her people in New York she blossoms into a better person. By no means is she perfect, but even her selfish actions are multilayered. For example, when she makes a deal with a crooked reporter the conditions are two-fold. One is getting her exposure and attention, the other is getting publicity to her uncle’s museum which is slowly but surely going under.  

Evie’s ability is psychometry, or the ability to read an object’s emotional significance and history. This puts her in a very vulnerable place, and for a while, the best way she had to deal with it was by alcohol, parties, and avoidance. I can’t say I blame her. Once she starts using her ability she can cope better. She still likes a good party, and a good drink, and shopping but she also realizes that having this gift can help both herself get what she wants and help others. Assisting in solving a string of brutal murders was the best thing to happen to her, which is a rather depressing statement to make. Evie is not a meek and quiet girl as she says “What was the point of living so quietly you made no noise at all?” and she makes the best decisions she can. I loved her sense of humor too: “I thought research would be more glamorous, somehow. I'd give the librarian a secret code word and he'd give me the one book I needed and whisper the necessary page numbers. Like a speakeasy. With books.” despite her dislike of research she spends hours doing it and presenting her findings with pride if that isn’t a sign of growing maturity I don’t know what is. 

There is also Memphis, who used to be able to heal but has since lost the power in a traumatic incident with his mother. I loved Memphis so much. He’s doing his best to survive in a world that doesn’t give him too many options. As a black man in the 20s, he has a completely different set of struggles than Evie for example and Libba Bray does an amazing job showing the difference of circumstance. He’s a protective big brother and watching him help his brother near the end of the book was one of the most satisfying moments for me. Having said that I am very worried about him and Iseiash and what Blind Bill will do. That man terrifies me because he is desperate and feels like he deserves to get his way no matter the cost. Those kinds of people are dangerous and will stop at nothing. He put a twelve-year-old in a coma, just so he could gamble. His relationship with Theta came out of nowhere for me and I want it to end well, but I’m very worried. They just started in this book and there are many books ahead. They are so pure together, even though they are both keeping so many secrets from each other. Theta lives with her gay best friend, and they both have powers as well. Henry can dream walk, and Theta, well I think she can burn people and things? I’m not sure. It was never explicitly said but I have a feeling. She killed her abusive ex-husband in this way and it terrified her, but frankly, I was so proud of her. You go, girl because people like that keep finding victims until they are stopped. The law would not have been on her side, so I say he had it coming, he had it coming, he only had himself to blame. (I promise I will stop here with the Chicago references).

There is also Sam, who can disappear if he so desires. He’s on a mission to find his mother and he will do anything it takes, be it unethical or illegal. He and Evie enjoy insulting each other. Jericho is the assistant to Evie’s uncle Will, who has his personal slough of secrets that mess with my mind. He’s much quieter than anyone else in the novel and so his surprise comes out of nowhere. I am an introvert, so I always appreciate it when introverts are shown having an interior life as we do. There is Mable, the daughter of activists and Evie’s best friend who doesn’t even know herself or what she wants. I’m fully expecting her to have more development in the next couple of books and I hope she grows into herself and stops comparing herself to her parents. I have a lot of questions for the creepy old sisters who live in the same hotel as a bunch of our characters. First of all, why are you sacrificing cats? Ladies lets get a different animal. Like a… yeah I don’t know. I just don’t understand why they can’t read tarot cards instead. I am willing to have a serious talk with them though. Lastly, there is Uncle Will, who is just the best. He’s your typical absent-minded professor, who just so happens to assist the police and have connections to the government. 

Our villain is Naughty John, a serial killer who just so happens to be able to summon the Antichrist and end the world. Yet despite this, he feels like the opening chapter. His defeat brings up so many questions we don’t get answers for, yet it was satisfying and necessary. The other characters needed that victory, for various reasons. The ending of the book promises many Moore bad things to come and I’m here for it. 

This book for me exemplifies what Will says “There is no greater power on this earth than story… People think boundaries and borders build nations. Nonsense—words do. Beliefs, declarations, constitutions—words. Stories. Myths. Lies. Promises. History.” and I feel that in my bones. Stories make up humanity and without them, we would not be the same and I’m so glad I keep finding more and more stories to make me think. In other words, I highly recommend this book. Consider it pushed at you. Go read it. You will like it and if you don’t you can’t sit with us. 

Thank you for joining me on my ramble, see you next time.

Anna