REVIEW: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Name: The Diviners

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Atom Books

Release Date: 18th September 2012

Pages: 592

Source: From publisher (for review)

Rating: 3 stars

It's 1920s New York City. It's flappers and Follies, jazz and gin. It's after the war but before the depression. And for certain group of bright young things it's the opportunity to party like never before.
For Evie O'Neill, it's escape. She's never fit in in small town Ohio and when she causes yet another scandal, she's shipped off to stay with an uncle in the big city. But far from being exile, this is exactly what she's always wanted: the chance to show how thoroughly modern and incredibly daring she can be.
But New York City isn't about just jazz babies and follies girls. It has a darker side. Young women are being murdered across the city. And these aren't crimes of passion. They're gruesome. They're planned. They bear a strange resemblance to an obscure group of tarot cards. And the New York City police can't solve them alone.
Evie wasn't just escaping the stifling life of Ohio, she was running from the knowledge of what she could do. She has a secret. A mysterious power that could help catch the killer - if he doesn't catch her first.                                        [summary taken from Goodreads] 

Beverley's Review 

Firstly, I must admit I'm not a huge fan of the supernatural genre... ghosts, spirits, the idea of things being there although you can't see them freaks me out.  So I surprised myself when I asked to review this.  However, I can tell you that delving into the 'dark' side was worth it this time.  While it wasn't perfect, the thrill and suspense gripped me and compelled me to turn the pages.

When the book landed on my doorstep, I was horrified to learn that it was about 600 pages long.  Being a slow reader, I sincerely hoped it would be interesting enough for me to get through the many, many pages without feeling utterly bored or wanting to give up on it.

Libba Bray takes no haste in immediately launching the reader into 1920s New York and she throws you into a vibrant world where underneath, an evil force is stirring.  The beginning was a little confusing for me: leaving me unsure of what to expect and I thought the first 100 pages could have been cut down.

Unfortunately, the third person narrative didn't work well for me.  I did come to appreciate each character but it lacked the depth I needed to connect with them further.  There was also too much happening for my liking.  Each chapter would switch and tell you about a different character and since it's so long, it became quite overwhelming.  I understand Libba Bray may have done this to make it more intriguing and mysterious but it just wasn't to my tastes.

However, I actually found myself really enjoying the supernatural element.  Yes, I refused to read it in darkness but I loved how it would sometimes make my heart skip a beat and my hands grip the book tightly.  The entertainment factor is similar to that of an eerie, ghost film so just don't read this before going to bed!

I cannot write this review without praising its originality.  I've never read anything like it and the way Libba Bray weaves so many different people and their stories together is truly amazing.  Her writing is so eerie and evocative it almost seems as if every page is alive, mirroring Manhattan's colour and vibrancy.  She has such a way with words, crafting the most extraordinary settings and plunging you into the 1920s.  You will have to read it for yourself to gain an appreciation of her writing and I'm glad to have been on thrown on to this 'journey.'

Overall, The Diviners is a gorgeously written book full of mystery and suspense that will leave you breathless by the last page.  Despite its flaws, it is an enjoyable book that will make you laugh and gasp and look around you warily at the same time.

3 teacups for The Diviners

*Thanks to Atom for providing me with a review copy*