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 have received an advance audio copy of this book from Listening Library in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Around the time that Freya
loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans
to run away from everyone he has ever loved, and Nathaniel is arriving
in New York City with a backpack, a desperate plan, and nothing left to
lose. When a fateful accident draws these three strangers together,
their secrets start to unravel as they begin to understand that the way
out of their own loss might just lie in helping the others out of
theirs.
Review:
Although most readers know Gayle Forman from her popular YA books, such as If I Stay, I have only read her recent general fiction novel, Leave Me. I really enjoyed it, so I happily started listening to this audio book. With an eclectic mix of main characters, this book pulled me in and I couldn't stop listening.
What I Liked:
Characters:
There are three main characters, each with a powerful backstory: Freya, an aspiring singer, Huran, a boy from a traditional immigrant family who is secretly gay, and Nathaniel, who has been neglected by a parent with mental health issues. Each is wrapped up in their own problems when a chance incident in New York's Central Park throws them together.
I really liked Freya, and was fascinated by her quest to become a famous singer. But is this her dream (to impress an absent father), or her mother's? After showing some talent in a Youtube video, Freya is packaged and groomed to flourish on social media by her pushy mother. Everyone seems to want to cash in on Freya's talent. This is a potent reminder of how young people are treated in the music industry. No wonder there are so many one-hit wonders out there!
Huran, is also a wonderful character. We follow his backstory going back to his childhood when he first understands he is gay, to present day, where he must find the courage to come out. He loves his family, religion, and culture and feels he will be ostracized if his family knew he was gay. When he finds love, he must face losing his boyfriend, or losing his family.
I was less enthusiastic about Nathaniel, but I will get to that later.
Themes:
All three characters show a longing to have a strong, supportive home life. I think this is something everyone needs, particularly teens, today. With so much divisiveness, and cruelty in this world, shouldn't our families be filled with loving, accepting people who will have our backs? I know lots of teens and it breaks my heart that some of them can't find this at home. Even though the three teens have very different problems, it all boils down to them desperately wanting a support system.
Audio Production:
This is one instance where I think listening to the audio book is preferable to just reading the novel. Not only are the narrators (Nicole Lewis, Sunil Malhotra, and Michael Crouch) wonderful, but there is original music that is important to the story, as well. With words and music by Gayle Forman, an Libba Bray (who knew?), this is such a lovely song. It really adds so much to the story.
What I Didn't Like:
Characters:
I had some problems with Nathaniel. While I was really rooting for him, and was touched by his difficult circumstances, I felt some of his actions were beyond credible. Without giving too much away, Nathaniel is neglected to such a degree that something life-altering happens to him. Rather than getting help, he just pretends that everything is okay. He doesn't even seem that upset about this extremely terrible thing that will change his whole life. The father's oft quoted line, "Don't tell your mother", is taken to beyond reason. I don't know of any teen who would have accepted this.
Rating:
Release Date: April 1st, 2018
Author: Gayle Forman
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Listening Library
Listening Length: 7 Hours, 29 Minutes
Page Length: 368 Pages
Source: Listening Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: With solid performances and original music, this is a very entertaining novel about every teen's need to be loved by their family.
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Synopsis (From GoodReads):
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-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926,
and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish
pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will
and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll
discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought
her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded
with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her
gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong
into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that
never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A
chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named
Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and
evil has awakened.
Review:
Wow! I just finished listening to this book as an audio book and I was blown away by the historical details, characters, and creepy story in this book.
What I Liked:
Setting:
The novel is set in the Roaring 20's, and it is filled with wonderful details of this era. The slang ("It was swell-ski"), the fashion, even the haircuts were essential details that brought this time to life.
The Characters:
The author, Libba Bray, found a way to show a variety of people in New York City, including African-Americans, Polish immigrants, and spoiled Midwestern teens. Each character comes from a different background. As their individual stories are told, they intersect with the other characters (which I found thrilling as a reader). I loved Theta, the jaded Ziegfeld girl with her secrets, Memphis, the African-American teen who is trying to protect his family, and Evie, the flapper who wants all the excitement Manhattan can offer.
The Story:
I also loved how complicated the central mystery was. This is not actually a whodunit. We know who is killing people. What we don't know is why, or how. It takes Evie and Will a long time to unravel what is happening, and they needed to explore many groups of people to do this. This gave the author the perfect opportunity to bring in religious fanatics, unscrupulous reporters, thrill-seeking party-goers, and older adults who can't understand the restlessness of youth.
What I Didn't Like:
Teaser Ending:
Listening to the audio book, I was surprised to see that after the main event of the book was resolved, there was still an hour left to the book! Why? How could the wind down take so long? As I listened, it became clear: this was all a set up for a second book.
While I am a fan of book series, I also don't like to be strung along. This book could have should have ended earlier. But the author just had to throw in several unresolved plot points to ensure her readers would want to come back for more. This was completely unnecessary, as all of this could be introduced at the beginning of book two. They will need to be retold in book two anyway for those who have not read the first book, and for those of us who won't remember everything that was thrown at us in the last chapters. For this reason, I am taking 1/2 a star off my rating.
Rating:
Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Genre: YA Horror Historical Fiction!
Source: Public Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: A wild, creepy ride back to the Roaring 20's. If you ever wondered what your great-grandmother might have been like as a teen, this book should help you feel that world.
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