The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) in Libba Bray Lovers!

Jun 24, 2012 Krista rated it it was amazing

Shelves: libba-bray, favorites

Somehow, I'd expect Libba to run out of extraordinarily splendid ideas for her wondrous books... but she doesn't, hasn't, and frankly, I don't think she ever will!

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (also Bray's) has remained to be my favorite series, and while I don't see The Diviners as the trilogy to trump that spot, this first book of three was a fantastical trip into the past; one full of magic and the scariest kind of evil I've ever experienced through written word. I love Libba's devotion to respecti ...more

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Nov 06, 2012 deliabookworm rated it liked it

I absolutely adore Libba Bray. I follow her blog religiously and I've read all of her books, Gemma Doyle trilogy, Going Bovine, Beauty Queens--many times each. So I went into this book with high expectations. I'd seen all the trailers, I knew what it was about, and knowing Libba Bray--well, I expected something fabulous.
That being said, I'm not quite sure why exactly I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. It was a gripping read--I read it in two days flat, keeping it open under my I absolutely adore Libba Bray. I follow her blog religiously and I've read all of her books, Gemma Doyle trilogy, Going Bovine, Beauty Queens--many times each. So I went into this book with high expectations. I'd seen all the trailers, I knew what it was about, and knowing Libba Bray--well, I expected something fabulous.
That being said, I'm not quite sure why exactly I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. It was a gripping read--I read it in two days flat, keeping it open under my desk all day at school. And it wasn't that I didn't love the characters and appreciate the research that Libba put into the book. I think maybe what it was was the supernatural plot--yes, that's what the Gemma Doyle trilogy had too, but it felt a little more forced and expected in The Diviners. The whole mystery was intriguing, but it felt sort of contrived and expected. I knew what was going to happen--and sometimes that's a good thing, but maybe it was just that the stakes weren't high enough.
Evie was definitely one of my favorite Libba characters, though. She was very different from the occasionally drippy Gemma (who I also love) and the frustratingly tragic Cameron of Going Bovine. She's spunky and fun. My main problem was that her dead brother seemed like something thrown in there to "give her depth"--but it was somewhat artificial.
Gah. For whatever reason, I'm not terribly articulate on this book. Yes, I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would. I love Libba Bray, and I will absolutely buy the sequel.
Maybe what it is is that A Great and Terrible Beauty was so instantly eerie and beautiful and strange--I think maybe The Diviners lacked some of that eerie magic and mystery, by making everything quite clear from the beginning.
Probably I need to reread it--I definitely loved A Great and Terrible Beauty more every time I read it. And it could be that I read it too fast to absorb everything. So this is not my definitive review. And everyone should absolutely read it, simply because Libba Bray is one of the best, if not the best, young adult author out there. ...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Jenny rated it really liked it

It's very good. Not my favorite from the author, but Libba really can write and develop characters. I love her for that. The plot is interesting and different. I mean, how many Fantasy/Historical Fiction books are there set in the 1920's? Not many. Overall I was swept into a different world and literally felt like I was apart of it. Though the plot is creepy and gruesome, you won't regret that you read it. ...more

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Dec 24, 2010 Alice rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, characters-i-stan-for, conceptual-win, crtr-demons, wishlist, writing-styles-i-adore, exceeded-my-expectations, series-good-still-follow, quote-worthy-as-all-get-out, favorites-insofar-as-i-have-them

I absolutely intend to try and write something articulate about this (hopefully soon-ish) but as usual I find I'm left more with feelings than thoughts I'm able to verbalize about Libba's work. This woman was and is one of my ulimates and she once again delivered one hell of a story. ...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Zeldabel rated it did not like it

I absolutely loathed this book. Granted there were some amusing characters and situations, but overall The Diviners did not work for me at all. It will be a long time before I read another Libba Bray novel.

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