A creepy introduction to a brand new trilogy, Libba Bray's The Diviners is a chilling and utterly mysterious paranormal read! The sheer size of The Diviners is rather intimidating, but once you start reading the book, you won't want to put it down. Libba Bray is an amazing storyteller! Everyone is hiding a secret close to their heart, and nothing is what it would seem in The Diviners... Evie is an impulsive and attention-loving teenage girl with a knack for theatrics. She may have landed in hot water back in her hometown, but she couldn't be more thrilled that her punishment involves living with her uncle in New York City, where everything is exciting and glamorous. Her uncle Will is the curator of the struggling Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, and when a horrific death occurs in the city, the police ask for his expertise because they believe it's the work of a killer trying to perform dark rituals. At first, Uncle Will doesn't want Evie to be involved in the investigation, but she knows her gift of psychometry, the ability to see into a person's past when she touches an object, can potentially catch the murderer before they strike again. Undeterred by her uncle's warnings, Evie does what she can to help him and Jericho, his assistant, solve the case, even if it places her right in the path of danger. I originally thought The Diviners would only be told from Evie's point of view, but there are other character perspectives too! Whereas Evie always likes to have fun, Jericho is much more serious and wary to reveal his mysterious past. Sam is a young thief with charm, wit and swagger, and the flirtatious conversations between him and Evie absolutely delighted me. There's definitely more to Sam than meets the eye, and much like Evie has a special ability, he does as well. There are several other characters very much involved in the Diviners world, and as I read along, I couldn't wait to discover how their storylines would intertwine with Evie's. The Diviners is so well-researched, with an attention to detail which brings the novel to life. It certainly felt like I'd been transported to the Roaring Twenties! The danger is far from over for Evie and her new friends, and I can't wait to find out what will happen next in the sequel. You can also read this review at: http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-diviners-by-libba-bray.html

I loved this book, i could not put it down! (i read the whole thing in one day). It's creepy, intreguing, funny, and romantic. It made me gasp, sigh, and peek over my shoulder to make sure no one was there. I really can't wait for the 2nd book to come out, which hopefully is very soon (COME ON LIBBA BRAY!). This book is not hard to get into, and has some charming, and unforgetable characters!

The Diviners blew me away. The cinematic writing, coupled with likeable but flawed characteres submersed in the history and vocabular of the 1920s in New York City creates a world that is more than believable, but entirely realistic. Steeped in mystery and supernatural, Libba Bray expertly weaves in history, culture, and human nature into this novel while coupling it with a disturbing supernatural killer and young adults with strange abilities. While the plot focusses around Evie, Uncle Will, Jericho, and the humourous but mysterious Sam Lloyd, we also see the development of Memphis, Theta, and Mabel's side plots that will definitely make a more prominent appearance in subsequent books. Libba Bray doesn't shy away from tough subjects and themes. Abusive relationships, death, and struggling with homosexuality in the 1920s, are all themes that lend her story depth and relatability to contemporary audiences that far surpass a single genre. Her thrilling narrative made my heart pump widly when Naughty John made his appearances, and I have to admit this is probably the creepiest book I have ever read. While the story doesn't revolve around the disturbing aspects of the killer, I would certainly warn squeamish readers away from some of the chapters. However, most of the story centres around these characters exploits in New York City. We find Evie at nightclubs, Theta at dance rehearsals, Memphis at a cemetery, and Mabel at socialist rallies. Characters engage in regular activities while they try to discover themselves and their purpose in the shining and bright New York City. Libba Bray also incorporates the less-than positive aspects of the city; poverty, racism, and lasting inequality reveal that although New York City promised many things in its time, it is still rooted in the continuation of differences in class, wealth, and position. While Evie, well off, fashionable, and witty, finds New York everything she wants it to be, characters like Memphis and Sam Lloyd struggle with the deeper issues behind the American Dream. All characters show incredible growth as the story progresses, but they hold onto their flawed humanity, demonstrating the potential for growth in books to come, and also that they are realistic, emotional, and vulnerable people. I never found myself questioning the motives of the characters. They followed the whims of their seemingly natural desires. There was never one point where I found myself thinking at a scene, Evie wouldn't have done that . . . she doesn't think like that. It shows the depth of familiarity the reader builds with the protagonists as the story progresses, a writing skill that few can master as Libba Bray as done. She also builds up little hints, of things to come that make me so excited to read more. I really have no fault in this book. My favourite parts of the novel are when the author offers glimpses into stranger's lives, breaking away from the pressure of the supernaturally-focussed plot and showing little snippets of the daily goings-on of nameless people. It shows how they are affected by the supernatural, or are blissfully ignorant of it. Because of the cinematic quality of Libba Bray's storytelling, I could definitely see this book becoming a TV show or movie. The story arc is executed so divinely (pardon the pun) that the reader is left guessing to the last moment. Simply put, this is YA fiction at its best.

I have read and loved most of Libba Bray's other books, with the exception of Going Bovine. The Gemma Doyle trilogy was very good, and Beauty Queens is just amazingly funny and well written. But this...what is this?? The story felt slow and dragged on, there's a bunch of foreshadowing leading to nothing, and the "big climax" we were led to expect was over in a couple paragraphs, hinting at a bigger climax that never happens. Many of the secondary characters had absolutely no importance in the plot and could have been cut out entirely, except that then there wouldn't have been any story left! I do not recommend this book at all. Do read Beauty Queens, but skip the waste of time that this one is.

This was my first Libba Bray book and I have to just say, it was great! There were a lot of characters in the book, but once I figured out who was who, it easy to follow along. This book is based in the 1920's and was actually my first historical fiction taking place in this era. I really enjoyed it. I felt like my mind was in the 1920's the whole time that I was reading. Libba Bray does and excellent job setting the background and tone of the book. While I really liked this book, I wasn't attached to it to the point that I was unable to put it down, it actually took me a week of picking it up multiple times to finish it (although I did have a very busy week, so that could be it too!). It was fairly easy to pick up on where I was left off and get back into the mindset of the era. As I said, there are multiple characters in The Diviners. My favorites would have to be Evie (of course), Theta, Sam and Jericho. Evie was a character that I liked right away. I loved her snark and attitude and she just made me laugh from the beginning. Then she grows as a character and really starts becoming more responsible and thinks more of others. Theta is impossible not to love, especially after you find out her story. I felt so bad for her, but through it all she is a strong, independent female character. Sam is the good "bad" boy of the book, how can I not love him? Jericho is a complicated character and it took awhile for me to like him. He's another character who has been through a lot and knows that he could lose everything at any time. He's a great guy and clearly loves Evie! There are also many other characters, but it's really not that confusing once you meet them all! Overall, The Diviners is a great story that just pulls you into the era. It's a bit disturbing in some parts (the murders are a little gross) but Libba Bray brings the 1920's to life for you. There is just the right amount of mystery and the romance isn't right in your face (it's barely there even). There is a paranormal aspect, but it's not overdone like it sometimes can be. It was a refreshing read for me that left me wanting more. Although it's a little slow to start out, it's necessary to know the characters individual stories. It's a great read that I will definitely be recommending to others! If you like historical fiction with a touch of paranormal and mystery, this one is for you!