The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) in Audiobook Junkies

Jun 06, 2015 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: coyer-summer-15-scavenge, coyer-summer-15-read, magic, read-in-2015, ya, paranormal, fantasy, i-own, kindle, historical-fiction

Very complex story, with historical aspects from the '20s in NYC, magic, ghosts, weird powers, and many characters to follow on their creepy adventures.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

COYER scavenger hunt item #42: Read a book set in the 20s (3 points) ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 the_frat_nanny_reads rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I'm going to have to axe this at page 151. It just does not hold my attention. The overacted 1920 talk really got on my nerves. I wish it was more spooky and I understand that the author is introducing characters, but I just don't feel like going on for another 500 pages and feeling annoyed. Sorry Diviners fans. ...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bookclub-reads, audio, 2014-audiobook-challenge, 2014-tbr-challenge, 2014-ya-audiobook-challenge

In Short: The Diviners was on my TBR for a while now and I bought the ebook when it was a daily deal. I finally got around to reading it when Rose's book club picked it for February, but since I'm moving I knew I wouldn't have time to actually read the book, so I got the audio as well. Overall I say it is a pretty good book and while it was slow at the beginning it got pretty interesting and set up for a cool series.

Characters: I really didn't like Evie at first, she was spoiled and bratty and a In Short: The Diviners was on my TBR for a while now and I bought the ebook when it was a daily deal. I finally got around to reading it when Rose's book club picked it for February, but since I'm moving I knew I wouldn't have time to actually read the book, so I got the audio as well. Overall I say it is a pretty good book and while it was slow at the beginning it got pretty interesting and set up for a cool series.

Characters: I really didn't like Evie at first, she was spoiled and bratty and all she cared about were parties and booze. (Typical teenager? in the 1920s?) So she gets herself in trouble and her family sends her to stay with an uncle (who she lovingly calls Unc) in New York. There, she gets involved in trying to solve a string of murders with her unique ability (she's a Diviner, and can get glimpses of what people saw or did from an object). Once she realizes what she can do and really gets involved in the case, she really does mature and becomes a really interesting character.

I thought Sam Lloyd was pretty funny. He's the trickster pick-pocket who is around for comedic relief. But he has an agenda and I think we'll figure it out in the upcoming books.

Jericho, well, he's something else. I didn't like him at first (kind of like Evie didn't), but I guess he grew on me. Though his deal, well without spoilers I'll just say it was really weird. I thought we were in a historical fantasy but for some reason it felt like sci-fi all of a sudden. Kinda strange, but, it seemed to work to make him feel different and alone until he met Evie and got to know her abilities.

Plot: The plot really started out slow and for a HUGE book like this, that is really a turn off. But, I just listened while packing boxes and eventually forgot that it was slow and got into the story. The big bad in the book is a supernatural thing, and Evie, Unc, et al try various things to stop the guy, with a final success at in the nick of time. (Right, isn't that how these stories go?)

Other Thoughts: I really like how the author did a lot of research into the time period to make the conversations and descriptions feel real. I thought the narration was pretty good as well and would recommend the audiobook for this read. ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, reread-worthy

This is my first Libba Bray book and thank you, Kate, for the recommendation! Based on this experience, I will certainly be looking into other Libba Bray endeavors, especially book two to The Diviners!

I have a general passing knowledge of the 1920's. The look and the feel Ms Bray creates of the Roaring Twenties Manhattan is superb. I felt as if I were walking beside Evie on the streets of New York! With my simple, layman's knowledge of the 1920's, I truly enjoyed this vivid, bright-lights, cloch ...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Colleen rated it liked it · review of another edition

At times the main character, Evie, was so self absorbed and and selfish that I had to take a break from reading this book. There were some parts that dragged on with repeated phrasing (paralyzing fear) rather than building suspense as intended.
I did like the characters overall and it was a compelling enough that I kept coming back to it. I was happy to see this was the first of series and look forward to visiting this world again.

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