Please Note: I receive an advance copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
After the horrifying
explosion that claimed one of their own, the Diviners find themselves
wanted by the US government, and on the brink of war with the King of
Crows.
While Memphis and Isaiah run for their lives from the
mysterious Shadow Men, Isaiah receives a startling vision of a girl,
Sarah Beth Olson, who could shift the balance in their struggle for
peace. Sarah Beth says she knows how to stop the King of Crows-but, she
will need the Diviners' help to do it.
Elsewhere, Jericho has
returned after his escape from Jake Marlowe's estate, where he has
learned the shocking truth behind the King of Crow's plans. Now, the
Diviners must travel to Bountiful, Nebraska, in hopes of joining forces
with Sarah Beth and to stop the King of Crows and his army of the dead
forever.
But as rumors of towns becoming ghost towns and the dead
developing unprecedented powers begin to surface, all hope seems to be
lost.
In this sweeping finale, The Diviners will be forced to
confront their greatest fears and learn to rely on one another if they
hope to save the nation, and world from catastrophe...
Review:
The supernatural series, The Diviners, by Libba Bray, has been a gothic horror delight. Each book has been filled with exciting characters with a creepy story set in the Roaring Twenties. This book, The King of Crows, is the grand finale. As an audiobook, this book was a whopping 22 hours, 21 minutes! Reading this book was a commitment, but one that was well worth it.
What I Liked:
Narration:
January LaVoy is an amazing narrator. Her many voices for each character are so convincing, it's hard to remember that only one person is performing!
Setting:
Previous books in the series all focused on New York City during the Roaring Twenties. The energy and excitement of the city fuels the story. This book takes us into rural America during that time. I enjoyed the contrast between the vibrancy of the city and the slower pace (and more modest lifestyle) of the smaller towns during that time.
Characters:
All the Diviners have strengths and challenges that play in to the story. All of them must face their fears and shortfalls as they confront the King of Crows.
One of the characters I really grew to like was Evie. Evie, who in earlier books was rather shallow, matures in this story. I liked that she started to think of other people's happiness rather than just her own.
Friendship:
I also loved that Theda and Evie become friends who can rely on each other. I don't see too many friendships develop slowly in the course of a book series. Usually friendships are either instantly deep or begin long before the book has even started. But in this story, their characters share many small moments that add up to a true friendship.
Themes:
This story is full of moments that explore larger themes such as racism, immigration, and what being American means. The characters realize their time is one on the precipice of change. Can the freedoms America espouses really be for all, or only for the elite?
Story:
The story is full of foreboding as the group moves closer to the final confrontation with The King of Crows. But before they ever get to him, they must evade the clutches of Jake Marlow, and his Shadow Men. The suspense and situations where they must fight their way out, are exciting and harrowing.
What I Was Mixed About:
Length of the Novel:
As much as I loved this book, it really should have been edited down. There were long passages expounding on the injustices of America. I think the author has a lot to say about America that is relevant to today. But it created a tone that was out of sync with the rest of the series.
Rating:
Release Date: February 4th, 2020
Genre: Gothic Horror/Historical Fiction
Author: Libba Bray
Audiobook Publisher: Listening Library
Audiobook Length: 22 hours, 21 minutes
Print Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Page Length: 560 Pages
Source: Listening Library
Format I Used: Audiobook
Recommendation: If you can make the commitment of time, this is a rewarding finale to a creepy series.
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Please Note: I received an advanced audio book from Random House in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way. Also, I have linked the book cover to Amazon. If you buy the book through this link, I will get a small fee.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
After battling a
supernatural sleeping sickness that early claimed two of their own, the
Diviners have had enough of lies. They're more determined than ever to
uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face
off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward's Island, far from the
city's bustle, sits a mental hospital haunted by the lost souls of
people long forgotten--ghosts who have unusual and dangerous ties to the
man in the stovepipe hat, also known as the King of Crows.
With
terrible accounts of murder and possession flooding in from all over,
and New York City on the verge of panic, the Diviners must band together
and brave the sinister ghosts invading the asylum, a fight that will
bring them fact-to-face with the King of Crows. But as the explosive
secrets of the past come to light, loyalties and friendships will be
tested, love will hang in the balance, and the Diviners will question
all that they've ever known. All the while, malevolent forces gather
from every corner in a battle for the very soul of a nation--a fight
that could claim the Diviners themselves.
Review:
Libba Bray does it again with a creepy third installment in the Diviners series. Set in the Roaring Twenties, and performed with gusto by performer January LaVoy, this is a creepy ghost story filled with action, romance, and plenty of social commentary. The book touches on domestic abuse, the labor movement, the treatment of the mentally ill, inter-racial relationships, immigration, and eugenics. This is a great example of how fantasy fiction can be used as a vehicle to bring up social issues in an entertaining way. This was a powerful, and scary, book.
What I Liked:
Audio Performance:
January LaVoy is an amazing performer. Each character has a distinct voice, and cadence. It is a virtuoso performance as Ms. LaVoy moves between being a twenty-year old flapper, to a little boy, to a streetwise Jewish hustler, and on and on. On top of the many voices she portrays, the intensity of the frightening situations pulls the listener in. If she told me a ghost story around a campfire, I would be too scared to sleep!
Setting:
The year is 1927, and the Roaring Twenties are in full swing in New York City. Libba Bray colorful descriptions bring that era to life. The slang of the characters, along with small historical details (such as Wall Street having been a auction site for slaves), put you in the heart of the times. The book also brings to life some of the public's obsession with religion, the occult, and (unfortunately) eugenics.
Story:
With a backdrop of the Twenties, the book's story encompasses many of the social issues of the time, including the struggle of labor movement, the terrible conditions in mental hospitals, inter-racial, gay, and ace relationships, racism, poverty. This is powerful, and frightening, and I haven't even gotten to the Diviners part yet!
The story of The Diviners continues as the gifted friends learn more about their powers, and band together to face evil. We learn much more about Project Buffalo, Jake Marlow, and the pasts of Theda, Sam, and Evie, and the King of Crows. Together, the Diviners join forces to find answers, and see if they can stop the Man in the Stovepipe Hat from gaining any more power,
Gothic Elements:
This is a truly scary book! The scenes in the mental hospital will keep you at the edge of your seat. When the Diviners go out into the fog, filled with ghosts, the tension is palatable. And there are some truly gruesome descriptions of monsters and murders, enough to give you nightmares.
What I Was Mixed About:
Romance:
Several
couples finally get together in this book. This puts the book firmly out of the YA category and should be meant for older teens and up, as there is sex on the page. While it's
certainly not as graphic as many steamy books, you may not like this if
you want "clean" romance.
Tangents:
This is a whopper of a book, with a listening time of over twenty-one hours! Part of the reason for this comes from several long passages about the terrible past of racism, the treatment of people in mental hospitals, and the annihilation of Native Americans. These are beautifully written passages that add depth to the story. But, my problem with these passages is that they bring the action to a screeching halt. I suppose that there needed to be a breather in the action to even out the pace of the book. But, as much as I appreciated the writing, and ideas presented, I wanted to get back to the present story.
Rating:
Release Date: October 3rd, 2017
Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse
Genre: Historical Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Audio Book
Performed by : January LaVoy
Publisher: Listening Library
Listening Length: 21 Hours, 26 Minutes
Page Length: 560 Pages
Recommendation: A Gothic tale of the supernatural set in the Roaring Twenties. With strong characters and situations, if the ghosts don't scare you, the social ills of the time should.
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