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dontstopreadin's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite currently ongoing series, and I absolutely love so much about it. First, this book has the greatest atmospheric setting. Without giving much away about previous books in this series, this book continued the plot on well, but added to the world and adventure our protagonists have. The cast of characters was stronger than ever, and I just had a great time reading this. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Trigger warnings for: paranormal manifestations such as ghosts, abusive and manipulative relationship, attempted rape, death of a friend and/or family member
Rep for: African American, Jewish, & Irish/Chinese American characters, disability, LGBTQIA+
Trigger warnings for: paranormal manifestations such as ghosts, abusive and manipulative relationship, attempted rape, death of a friend and/or family member
Rep for: African American, Jewish, & Irish/Chinese American characters, disability, LGBTQIA+
archbibliomage's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Though the Diviners have overcome and stopped the sleeping sickness, we discover a new plague on New York city’s doorstep: ghosts. And whispers of a man in a stovepipe hat. The Diviners attempt to learn more about these ghosts, their own power, and this self proclaimed “King of Crows”, but as they attempt to keep themselves and the people of NYC safe from the growing threat of the dead, the tide of public opinion begins to turn against them.
Before the Devil Breaks You is the third and penultimate installment of the Diviners series and an incredible lead up to the finale! The first two books allowed us to get to know each of the Diviners intimately— their passions and fears; their strengths and their flaws; their relationships with one another. I loved getting to know these characters and what drives them. Each character is so unique in their personality, history, and journey, yet they forge bonds with each other that feel magnetic. Especially in this book, we see how they navigate the treacherous waters of disapproval of the public eye in the wake of their adversaries weaponizing patriotism and feigning faith in their pursuit for power and influence. These themes really hit home for me as someone who grew up in an area that is largely conservative and has many people who jump to judgment when experiencing fear of what they do not understand. Though this is set in the 20s, I fear I see modern America reflected in this book. Author, Libba Bray said these books came about in wanting to write an American ghost story, and I do believe she hit the nail on the head. The ghosts of bigotry haunt us still, though unfortunately in many, bigotry is still alive and thriving. Before the Devil Breaks You contains elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror, blending together seamlessly into a captivating story of typical Americans with atypical abilities. It was thrilling, funny, and devastating. And of course, a joy to once again hear these nuances portrayed by January LaVoy on audiobook! Masterful work.
charlieteuthis's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I've been repeatedly punched in the gut.
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
This series... it does things to me lol! It makes me laugh, cry, feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and think about things more deeply. It also makes me jealous, I need writing lessons from Libba Bray lol! But let's talk about things I love about this series! I love how the characters feel so well-rounded and real. We get to hear every single one of their stories, and the author is so intentional and conscious with them, that you just can't help but love them (or hate them.) This also means that, once your under the emotional spell of these characters, it's extra-easy for this book to break you lol! I love how Bray shines light on certain parts of history that we don't really like to look at. There was a lot of beauty in the 20s, yes, but there was also so much ugliness and biggotry and darkness, and she uses the fantasy elements so well to further enhance those themes... it's just a really great time! The atmosphere is absolutely breathtaking, the dialogue simply leaping off the page, and the suspense absolutely chilling! Now, I will say, this is a... shudder... kissing book! Ling and I are on the same team here, there was just so much kissing lol, and for some reason the romance just didn't work as well for me this time! But the friendships? Oh my goodness, the friendships! I loved them with all my heart! I also love Ling Chan... what a bestie! She deserves the world! All these characters do, truly... this is such a nonsensical rant lol, keep in mind I'm writing this with about 6 hours of sleep and have lost all pretenses of writing professional reviews for things haha!
I will say, there was a bit of an icky, ableist trope with one of the characters... but it's so common for books to have ableist tropes that I can't mark it down too much! I'll just say that it's there, and it isn't my favorite thing in the world—especially during Disability Pride month lol—but it does counter-balance somewhat with Ling, who is pretty cool! Also, sometimes the Diviners were just terrible at their job... like I know you guys are petty teenagers, I know exactlywhy you're doing these things, but it's so hard not to wanna yell after I see the entire picture—which I know these characters can't see, they just get a little piece! Which is another interesting thing about this series, how you getto hear so many people's stories and feel sympathetic for them... it's just really cool! The little moments of experimentation with POVs were so cool! And the audiobook?? HELLO? I've heard so much praise for it, and the praise is well-deserved! I loved January'snarration... it did even more to immerse me in the atmosphere!
Anyway... this book has left me a rambling, disjointed mess, but needless to say this series is very close and dear to my heart! It may not be for everyone, but if it sounds interesting to you, pleaseee pick up the series! It is absolutely one of my all-time favorites!
I will say, there was a bit of an icky, ableist trope with one of the characters... but it's so common for books to have ableist tropes that I can't mark it down too much! I'll just say that it's there, and it isn't my favorite thing in the world—especially during Disability Pride month lol—but it does counter-balance somewhat with Ling, who is pretty cool! Also, sometimes the Diviners were just terrible at their job... like I know you guys are petty teenagers, I know exactlywhy you're doing these things, but it's so hard not to wanna yell after I see the entire picture—which I know these characters can't see, they just get a little piece! Which is another interesting thing about this series, how you getto hear so many people's stories and feel sympathetic for them... it's just really cool! The little moments of experimentation with POVs were so cool! And the audiobook?? HELLO? I've heard so much praise for it, and the praise is well-deserved! I loved January'snarration... it did even more to immerse me in the atmosphere!
Anyway... this book has left me a rambling, disjointed mess, but needless to say this series is very close and dear to my heart! It may not be for everyone, but if it sounds interesting to you, pleaseee pick up the series! It is absolutely one of my all-time favorites!
sarahpreno's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a little while to get into this book (which is understandable when it's the third book in a series) but at the end I could not stop reading!
hollidayreadswithme's review against another edition
4.0
“The moment your country first sinned, I emerged, slick and formless. Born of your restless ambition. Your greed, and hunger. You, who tell yourselves a story of yourselves. Do you imagine you can rid yourselves of me? You have created me! I am you, incarnate—a new god for a brave new world. I am written into your history now. I am written into you. And oh! What a nation of glorious dreamers and devourers!”
The hardest thing about reviewing a book in an ongoing series, is everything that I talk about is a spoiler.
EVERYTHING.
There are so many things that I want to say. I had a lot of emotions about this book. All the characters have me enraptured. I genuinely care about them and I’m rooting for their success!
I was disappointed in a couple of scenes, which is why it won’t get 5/5 stars, but it’s still a solid read and well worth the 6 hours.
This is the first book that I have finished the author’s notes. Usually, I’m done when the end of the novel is, but I have carried on being hungry for more information. The amount of research and care that has been put into this book series is something to be admired. It took me an entire weekend to finish this book and I found myself wanting to steal away from friends to dive back into this world.
Also, there are a couple of historical figures that make appearances in this book.
There is love, death, fear, desire, sex, and tests of loyalty. Nothing is what you think it will be.
NOTHING.
I am patiently waiting for the next book.
….Now I remember why I don’t like book series.
I’ve never been very patient.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - A book you think should be turned into a movie
2019 ATY Reading Challenge - A book featuring a historical figure
The hardest thing about reviewing a book in an ongoing series, is everything that I talk about is a spoiler.
EVERYTHING.
There are so many things that I want to say. I had a lot of emotions about this book. All the characters have me enraptured. I genuinely care about them and I’m rooting for their success!
I was disappointed in a couple of scenes, which is why it won’t get 5/5 stars, but it’s still a solid read and well worth the 6 hours.
This is the first book that I have finished the author’s notes. Usually, I’m done when the end of the novel is, but I have carried on being hungry for more information. The amount of research and care that has been put into this book series is something to be admired. It took me an entire weekend to finish this book and I found myself wanting to steal away from friends to dive back into this world.
Also, there are a couple of historical figures that make appearances in this book.
There is love, death, fear, desire, sex, and tests of loyalty. Nothing is what you think it will be.
NOTHING.
I am patiently waiting for the next book.
….Now I remember why I don’t like book series.
I’ve never been very patient.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - A book you think should be turned into a movie
2019 ATY Reading Challenge - A book featuring a historical figure
lyakimov's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This series just keeps getting crazier and crazier. We learned SO MUCH in this book, including the true identity of the overall villain of the series, which is the personification of greed & violence & sin in the form of a man named the King of Crows. I thought that the path the series took to get to this point was really interesting and I thought it was intelligent.
PLOT
My favorite part of the book was the whole asylum piece. That was so disturbing and I was on the edge of my seat. Personally, I think they needed to do stuff with the asylum a little bit more in the book because I feel like it got brushed aside in the second half of the novel so the first and second halves feel disconnected. We needed some more closure at the asylum and more stuff going on, not just a complete stop on the asylum content.
Let me just say, every time a character in these books dreams…they literally have the worst dreams OF ALL TIME. I would never want to go to sleep if I was them.
CHARACTERS
Let’s talk about things I loved in this book. First off, Sam. Of course Sam my Ukrainian king is still my favorite character and I really enjoyed his development throughout this book, as well as his relationship with the other characters.
I also loved the development of Theta and Isaiah’s relationship. It was so cute and sweet, how he grew to trust her and she would always be protecting him. I loved how he began thinking of her as an older sister.
I thought Bill Johnson’s arc was SUPER INTERESTING!! I disliked him so much for hurting Isaiah but then he had a sort of redemption arc at the end and really came in clutch. He is a truly morally gray character and I really liked that about him.
I loved Theta’s storyline and how she grew so much in this book.
I did not love Mabel’s storyline, I was not super invested and was kind of annoyed because she needed to chill and she was making so many obviously dumb decisions. I was SO SAD that she died at the end though. What the hell was that??? Her whole romance with Arthur?? What an asshole, he was the reason she got killed.
Another thing I didn’t really like: Jericho’s storyline. Holy shit, I did not care. I honestly would remember throughout the book “omg Jericho actually exists, I totally forgot about him” because he was not in MOST of the book. I’ve never really liked Jericho’s character anyway.
I am going to be honest, I HATED HATED HATED that one scene where Jericho gets under the influence of the serum and assaults Evie?? Seriously, THIS IS HOW YOU SOLVE THE LOVE TRIANGLE PROBLEM?? Sever their connection because he ASSAULTS HER??? Even though it’s TECHNICALLY not his fault, that is horrific. I dislike Jericho’s character even more after that because I just can’t like a character that does shit like that. I hate how the author did this. You can solve a love triangle in much easier ways. This was unnecessary and for shock factor. That’s a no for me. Also, where the hell did Jericho go? He DISAPPEARED straight up for the last 150 pages.
Side note: I LOVE TS WOODHOUSE IN THIS BOOK FOR SOME REASON!!!! Him and Evie are just so funny together. It’s such a weird alliance.
ROMANCES
My next issue: the love triangle between Evie, Sam, and Jericho. The whole prospect of a love triangle was so unnecessary from the get-go because you can obviously tell it’s going to be Evie and Sam together. They have way more chemistry and spend so much more time together. I did not really understand Evie’s attraction to Jericho because it’s been subtly developed and it just seems insincere. I can believe he likes her, but Evie having feelings for him back?? I don’t know, I did not see any of that chemistry or even much page time between the two of them at all. I strongly disagree with the way the love triangle was solved, like I said.
Wouldn’t it be better to just have it be Sam and Evie working on their relationship and developing it? They already have such a complicated relationship, it would be better for the story in general to only focus their attention on Sam and Evie rather than them and ALSO the possibility of Evie and Jericho.
Loved Memphis and Theta. I feel like Ling and Henry did not get much development with their relationships as the other characters. I dislike that EVERYONE is paired up now. Like who really cares?? This is not really a romance heavy series but now it is I guess.
Everyone is so much more noticeably horny in this book. There was literally a horny montage, just a bunch of split scenes of different couples getting it on. Dude, can they chill? Also I find it funny how Mabel is not a huge part of the story because she is left out of a lot of the Diviner stuff, but she gets the longest, most detailed sex scene? Girl what the hell was going ON in this horny montage?! It was so funny but was also weird and ridiculous. Like get it together, we have a plot to unfold!!!
This series continues to be very consistent and VERY entertaining. I am worried about book 4 though, because it seems like SO MUCH to wrap up since there was so much new information in this book. Regardless, I’m excited to finish the series!
This series just keeps getting crazier and crazier. We learned SO MUCH in this book, including the true identity of the overall villain of the series, which is the personification of greed & violence & sin in the form of a man named the King of Crows. I thought that the path the series took to get to this point was really interesting and I thought it was intelligent.
PLOT
My favorite part of the book was the whole asylum piece. That was so disturbing and I was on the edge of my seat. Personally, I think they needed to do stuff with the asylum a little bit more in the book because I feel like it got brushed aside in the second half of the novel so the first and second halves feel disconnected. We needed some more closure at the asylum and more stuff going on, not just a complete stop on the asylum content.
Let me just say, every time a character in these books dreams…they literally have the worst dreams OF ALL TIME. I would never want to go to sleep if I was them.
CHARACTERS
Let’s talk about things I loved in this book. First off, Sam. Of course Sam my Ukrainian king is still my favorite character and I really enjoyed his development throughout this book, as well as his relationship with the other characters.
I also loved the development of Theta and Isaiah’s relationship. It was so cute and sweet, how he grew to trust her and she would always be protecting him. I loved how he began thinking of her as an older sister.
I thought Bill Johnson’s arc was SUPER INTERESTING!! I disliked him so much for hurting Isaiah but then he had a sort of redemption arc at the end and really came in clutch. He is a truly morally gray character and I really liked that about him.
I loved Theta’s storyline and how she grew so much in this book.
I did not love Mabel’s storyline, I was not super invested and was kind of annoyed because she needed to chill and she was making so many obviously dumb decisions. I was SO SAD that she died at the end though. What the hell was that??? Her whole romance with Arthur?? What an asshole, he was the reason she got killed.
Another thing I didn’t really like: Jericho’s storyline. Holy shit, I did not care. I honestly would remember throughout the book “omg Jericho actually exists, I totally forgot about him” because he was not in MOST of the book. I’ve never really liked Jericho’s character anyway.
I am going to be honest, I HATED HATED HATED that one scene where Jericho gets under the influence of the serum and assaults Evie?? Seriously, THIS IS HOW YOU SOLVE THE LOVE TRIANGLE PROBLEM?? Sever their connection because he ASSAULTS HER??? Even though it’s TECHNICALLY not his fault, that is horrific. I dislike Jericho’s character even more after that because I just can’t like a character that does shit like that. I hate how the author did this. You can solve a love triangle in much easier ways. This was unnecessary and for shock factor. That’s a no for me. Also, where the hell did Jericho go? He DISAPPEARED straight up for the last 150 pages.
Side note: I LOVE TS WOODHOUSE IN THIS BOOK FOR SOME REASON!!!! Him and Evie are just so funny together. It’s such a weird alliance.
ROMANCES
My next issue: the love triangle between Evie, Sam, and Jericho. The whole prospect of a love triangle was so unnecessary from the get-go because you can obviously tell it’s going to be Evie and Sam together. They have way more chemistry and spend so much more time together. I did not really understand Evie’s attraction to Jericho because it’s been subtly developed and it just seems insincere. I can believe he likes her, but Evie having feelings for him back?? I don’t know, I did not see any of that chemistry or even much page time between the two of them at all. I strongly disagree with the way the love triangle was solved, like I said.
Wouldn’t it be better to just have it be Sam and Evie working on their relationship and developing it? They already have such a complicated relationship, it would be better for the story in general to only focus their attention on Sam and Evie rather than them and ALSO the possibility of Evie and Jericho.
Loved Memphis and Theta. I feel like Ling and Henry did not get much development with their relationships as the other characters. I dislike that EVERYONE is paired up now. Like who really cares?? This is not really a romance heavy series but now it is I guess.
Everyone is so much more noticeably horny in this book. There was literally a horny montage, just a bunch of split scenes of different couples getting it on. Dude, can they chill? Also I find it funny how Mabel is not a huge part of the story because she is left out of a lot of the Diviner stuff, but she gets the longest, most detailed sex scene? Girl what the hell was going ON in this horny montage?! It was so funny but was also weird and ridiculous. Like get it together, we have a plot to unfold!!!
This series continues to be very consistent and VERY entertaining. I am worried about book 4 though, because it seems like SO MUCH to wrap up since there was so much new information in this book. Regardless, I’m excited to finish the series!