Book Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray
Let’s talk about YA books that have scared the absolute &%*# out of me. …………
Okay there are none until Libba Bray destroyed my peaceful dreams with this amazing book, The Diviners. First in a 4 book series, Libba introduces Evie O’Neill, small-town girl who is bored out of her mind with small-town life and looking for excitement around every corner. Evie has her own parlor tricks though to build up that excitement as she can ‘read’ memories, personality traits, and emotions from different objects. After revealing a bit of a town scandal, Evie is sent to New York to stay with her uncle.
Is she sad about this? Absolutely not! She is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled to head to New York with the speakeasies and shopping and tons of movie theaters! Evie just knows she is destined for fame and fortune and this is the way to get there.
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Her uncle is the curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, known to locals as “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies”, and when a string of occult type murders begin occurring in New York, Evie is drawn into the mystery along with her Uncle Will and a cast of seemingly odd characters.
There are several different plot lines that I am assuming are leading up to be fulfilled in the future books but by and large, this book really freaked me out! Libba Bray left nothing to the imagination and at the same time left everything to the imagination and mine ran so wild that I had to put the book away one night because I was actually scared. Yes. Of a book.
I was immediately drawn to this book because I am a huge fan of all early 1900s type books, such as Anna Godbersen’s Bright Young Things series and What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell. This book stepped it up a notch though because it added the mystery/horror element and made the readability appeal to guys and girls.
Also, don’t miss this super creepy book trailer. I’ll just embed that bad boy right here:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBenU9-0yYc]
The creep factor is high and you won’t regret this read. 5 out of 5 for me and a series that I am pos-i-toot-ly dying to read the next book!
Oh yeah…and I happen to have an extra copy of this awesome book. I’ll give you until 9/6 to enter using the Rafflecopter form below!!!! Good luck!
~Stephanie
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Filed under: Book Reviews, Libba Bray, The Diviners
About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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I've actually never read a Libba Bray novel, which is a shame because I WANT to, I just never get around to doing so 🙁
Also, when I was younger, these were the books that scared me!
A Deadly Game of Magic by Joan Lowery Nixon
Someone at the Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick
Nothing has truly scared me as of late… oh, except The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, and Hourglass by Myra McEntire. Hourglass isn't actually scary, but the ghost guy that sits in the corner of the MC's room freaked me right out!!
I loveee Libba Bray, so I am SO excited about this one! I've heard truly amazing things about it so far and your review has only made that even more clear!(: I can't wait to read this one! 😀
I haven't read any Libba Bray yet, but A Great and Terrible Beauty is right here on my shelf begging me to pick it up! The trailer here is awesome. It's all nice and sweet til the Ouija board and creepy music come out!
OOoooohh. This is next on my list! Can't wait! I thought it might be too much fantasy for me, but after reading your thoughts, I'm more excited about it! Thanks.
This looks great! It might be too scary for me, but if I can't get through it, I'd love to give it away at my ghost hunters program in October for Teen Read Week!
I'm SO excited about this book! I love all of Libba's books, the Gemma Doyle trilogy, Going Bovine, and Beauty Queens!
Sounds great, I love her writing! Will look out for it. YA book that really scared me: The forest of hands and teeth. It was a relief to get to the end of it (in a good way!)
Super excited about the book, will def look for it!
This is my most anticipated release of the rest of the year. I love Libba's books. My favorite is Going Bovine. Thanks for the chance to win!
So excited about this book!!! She is such an engaging writter! Can't wait!
I've never read a book by her before but I'm super excited for this. It sounds super creepy and I love the setting. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
One of the things i love about Libba is how each book I have read has a unique perspective. She is a wonderful writer, and I have enjoyed everything so far! Annie
I guess I won't be reading this one at night! Thanks for the warning! I can't wait to read it.
Love love love Libba Bray and her books and would do “almost” anything to get this arc…
Super excited to read this book. I want an arc!