Highlights / Lowlights: THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray

Title: THE DIVINERS
Author: Libba Bray
Published: September 2012
Genre: YA Mystery / Historical / Horror / Paranormal
Series: The Diviners #1
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
POV: 3rd, alternating
Pages: 578
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Highlights: Libba Bray books tend to be either a hit or a miss with me, so I was a bit anxious when I left my local library with the behemoth that is THE DIVINERS. But, it fortunately did deliver the eerie read I was promised. Atmospheric and rich in details, THE DIVINERS features a diverse cast of characters, a captivating mystery, and a wonderfully depicted setting. In addition, Bray knows how to write with humor, which allows a nice balance in regard to the horror aspect of the novel. Plus, it's written in 3rd person POV (which, obviously, I love)!

Lowlights: THE DIVINERS reads like a long book. It feels long, and certain moments seem utterly unnecessary. In the end, it doesn't seem like enough is accomplished, especially when taking into consideration the amount of "main" characters the story features. I probably would have loved this story more if it had narrowed it's focus to only one or two main characters. 

In the end, I would give THE DIVINERS a 3.8 out of 5 rating – I really, really liked it, but I also had a few issues with this novel. If you're looking for an eerie, historical novel with a large cast of characters, this book is perfect for you!

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More / Less Than I Did

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE MORE (BUT DIDN'T)

1.   THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J Maas: I'm a big fan of the novellas, but the novel let me down a bit. Perhaps I'll like it more when I reread it.

2.   REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver: A good story, but that ending killed it for me. Too little is answered, and I'm still angry at the lack of answers.

3.   BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray: I loved GOING BOVINE and really like the Gemma Doyle books, but this one was only okay for me. Such a shame.

4.   IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin: I don't think I'm a fan of this author's writing style, because a lot of other people loved this book, and I could barely stand to read the entire thing.

5.   THE BEGINNING OF AFTER by Jennifer Castle: I really thought I was going to love this book, but it ended up being sort of average.

BOOKS I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T LIKE (BUT DID)

6.   THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green: Why did I doubt you, John Green? Excellent voice, lovely writing, and a heartbreaking story. I feel like an idiot for thinking I wouldn't like it.

7.   STORM by Brigid Kemmerer: I normally don't expect much from a novel published by a small press, but this book was so much better than I expected. A few flaws, but such a fun read! Plus, it's filled with incredible characters, like the lovable Merrick boys :)

8.   BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young: The strange way that it is written almost made me give up, and I'm glad that I didn't. This book is filled with complex characters and exciting, action-packed moments.

9.   ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake: Ghosts, fun friends, gory scenes, and a great MC - why did I originally doubt I would like this book?

10.   WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard: I liked LIKE MANDARIN, but wasn't expecting this book to be anything special. It was. I adore this book, especially the artwork.

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Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR List

TTT is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish!

TOPIC: Top Ten Books On Your Fall TBR List

1.   Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes - High fantasy novels are my weakness. I have high hopes for this one. 

2.   The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - It's written Maggie Stiefvater, so it belongs on my TBR list.

3.   The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski - This book has a fascinating premise, so I'm excited to start it! 

4.   Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor - I'm very eager for this one to release! Laini Taylor has such lovely writing. 

5.  Ten by Gretchen McNeil - Ten teens, three days, one killer, on an island - I'm sold. 

6.   The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - The ending to Unbecoming about killed me. I am pretty much counting the days until this novel releases. 

7.   The Lies That Bind by Lisa and Laura Roecker - The first novel was filled with mystery, fun, humor, and so much more amazingness. I hope this sequel won't disappoint!

8.   The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson - If there's one thing I learned for The Girl of Fire and Thorns, it's that Rae Carson knows how to write a surprising story. I just hope she doesn't kill off another character I like though...

9.   The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton - Can't go wrong with a story set in London, 1872. With faeries. 

10.   The Diviners by Libba Bray - Libba Bray novels are usually (1) amusing, (2) awesome and (3) unique. Hopefully this one will be all three! 

In My Mailbox 51

******

For Review (From Amazon Vine/Publisher/Publicists):

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

Legend by Marie Lu (two copies)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Bought:

Siren by Tricia Rayburn (Review)

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Review)

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

From Tera Lynn Childs:

Splash Team kit for Fins Are Forever

(bookmarks/tattoos/pin)

From ABC Family:

Game Box to play Nine Paths to Chloe King

Bastet Charm for the Third Path

Thanks to Lauren, Amazon Vine, Penguin Group USA, Ksenia, Tera, and ABC Family :)

What did you get this week? 

In My Mailbox 49

For Review:

One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen (signed)

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Possession by Elana Johnson

Bought with Buzz Bucks on Random Buzzers:

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Bought (printed books):
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Bought w/ Amazon Giftcard (Kindle eBooks):

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

The Mediator #1: Shadowland by Meg Cabot

White Cat by Holly Black

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Storm Born by Richelle Mead

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

The Mermaid's Mirror by LK Madigan

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann ($4.99 as an ebook!)

Thanks to Mara, Random Buzzers, the Amazon Vine Program, Elana Johnson and Simon & Schuster!

What did you get this week? 

In My Mailbox 41

IMM is hosted by The Story Siren, inspired by Pop Culture Junkie

Books from November and from December so far, because it's been awhile since I've done an IMM post! 

For Review (accepted for review and randomly showed up):

• Sinful by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
• Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Yay!!)
• Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett (two copies)
• Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky (two copies)
• The 10 p.m. Question by Kate de Goldi (two copies)
• The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald
• Sister Mischief by Laura Goode (two copies)

Bought: 

• Ruined by Simone Elkeles ("How to Ruin" trilogy - I couldn't resist buying it after sneaking a peak at the first chapter)
• Vanished by Meg Cabot (first two books in the 1-800-Where-R-U series)
• The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (with Buzz Bucks - loved this book! So glad I finally have my own copy)
• Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (It is killing me to have to wait until I finish with finals before I can start this one)
• Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen (Kindle for PC version - not pictured)

Won:

• Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales (I've heard this one is hilarious!)

Looks like I'll have some books for a giveaway! Thanks to Lauren from Candlewick, as well as Simon & Schuster, The Book Scout, Kelly Keaton, and Sara Dailey. 

Ah, anyone else have finals coming up in school? Best of luck to those who do!

What did you get this week?