The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) in DC Public Library

Feb 21, 2020 Jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 5-star-reads, 2020, heart-books

Immersive, multi-POV historical fiction +genuinely f*cking creepy supernatural horror set in 1926 NYC. Super fun, super smart. LOVED IT. Ashamed I did not read it sooner, but have already proceeded to book 2.

4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An absolute blast and one of the most entertaining books of the year.

Evie O'Neill is 17 years old, from Ohio, and has told no one of her secret power. After using her secret power at a party and revealing some sordid secrets, she's sent to NYC by her parents to stay with her uncle. Her uncle runs a museum known as the Museum of the Creepy Crawlies, which is dedicated to all things spooky and occult-like.

While in NYC, Evie makes friends, enemies and solves a mystery surrounding an evil man who ha ...more

Like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, young-adult, horror-paranormal

4.5 stars. I had heard really good things about this book but it isn't the sort of book that I usually read. When I saw that it was available as a downloadable audiobook from my library through Overdrive, I thought that I would give it a shot. I am most definitely glad that I stepped outside my box a little bit on this one. This book left me wanting more (at least The Diviners is only the first book in a planned series).

Okay, so I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading more paranormal and tha 4.5 stars. I had heard really good things about this book but it isn't the sort of book that I usually read. When I saw that it was available as a downloadable audiobook from my library through Overdrive, I thought that I would give it a shot. I am most definitely glad that I stepped outside my box a little bit on this one. This book left me wanting more (at least The Diviners is only the first book in a planned series).

Okay, so I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading more paranormal and that's why I was hesitant about reading this book. I've been a little burnt out on the genre lately; however, I really liked the magic and the paranormal elements at play in this book. Bray does a really good job of sort of "normalizing" some of the paranormal-ness so that it fits in with the characters' world. Oh how I love magical realism!I was also a little hesitant because of the scariness aspect. Guys, I will admit to you that I am a complete wimp. Now back in my high school days, I went through Stephen King and other scary-ish books like water but at the ripe ol' age of 27, I have become a complete wimp. Some parts of The Diviners are a little creepy (the book does deal with a serial killer) but the creepiness was both warranted and not overwhelming!

This book also takes place in the Roaring 1920s. You all know that I love historical fiction and I've been craving reading more about the 1920s. I just think it was such an absolutely glamorous time. The Diviners is filled with all sorts of 1920s goodness. The main character, Evie, is a flapper. Another one of the characters, Theda, is a dancer at the Follies. Another one of the characters, Mabel, is the daughter of Communists. Bray brings some many of the topics du jour of the 20s to life through her characters. This book takes place in New York City, which is an exciting setting for me just about any time but Bray really brings 1920s NYC to life. All of the glitz and glamour is there!

There are a lot of characters in this book. One thing I worry about with a large cast of characters and listening to the book is that I won't be able to keep track of who is who or who is speaking. Bray's characters are all incredibly unique so it was very easy to keep track of who was who. Also, the reader of the audiobook is incredibly. She sings. She speaks in accents. She does it all. I think I would have enjoyed reading the book in print but the narrator in this case made the audiobook experience really great.

As I mentioned, there are a lot of characters in this book. At first, you are wondering how they are all connected as each of their stories are being told separately or at least in conjunction with Evie's story (Evie is very much at the center of the story). I really loved how Bray was able to bring all of the characters together. It was very cool!

Right now, Goodreads has the next book in this series coming out in 2014. This makes me a sad panda. I need that book now please! ...more

Like · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Megan Reichelt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really liked the historical part of this historical urban fantasy. The 1920s details were really fascinating! I also really loved the depth of the characters in the ensemble, because as much as it is about Evie, she is really the least interesting character in the book. Memphis, the former healer and numbers runner, Sam, the thief out for revenge, Theta, the showgirl with a traumatic past, Jericho, the strong, silent intellectual giant, and Will, the uncle and owner of the Museum of the Occult ...more

Like · see review

Apr 26, 2021 Akiva ꙮ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: z-au-w, 3-fmt-f-novel, f-historical, f-scifi-specfic, f-mystery

There was nothing wrong with this, other than being slow to start, and I liked most of the characters. Exception: Jericho is an obnoxious libertarian with deep, silent grievances; I don't mind him as a character to interact with, because everyone else has delicious flaws, but he never gets called on his failings in the way the other characters do, and that makes him a terrible love interest. There's so little chemistry there that Bray has to show Evie working up her crush consciously.

The Diviner ...more

Like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Erin marked it as unfinished · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult, dcpl-has, fantasy, mystery, historical

10/14:

I've started this twice and can't get past page 100! Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but for now I'm moving it on over to my unfinished shelf. ...more

Like · see review