| Title | : | Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0316126047 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780316126045 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 613 |
| Publication | : | First published August 25, 2015 |
| Awards | : | Audie Award Young Adult (2016) |
After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.
Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.
As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?
In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.
Lair of Dreams (The Diviners, #2) Reviews
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5 STARS. AMAZING. FANTASTIC. WONDROUS. WOW.
Here's a quick list of reasons you are sleeping on The Diviners series:
-Black mc
-Irish-Chinese, disabled, asexual mc interested in women (last two pieces of info are revealed in book 3)
-Gay mc
-Jewish mc
-1920's New York City setting
-Ghosts, supernatural abilities, murder mysteries
-Extremely lovable, well developed characters
I'm continually more and more blown away by The Diviners series. It's very rare that I enjoy a sequel more than the first installment, but Lair of Dreams really takes the cake. I genuinely cannot recommend this series enough. -
Opening sentences: Every city is a ghost. New buildings rise upon the bones of the old so that each shiny steel beam, each tower of brick carries within it the memories of what has gone before, an architectural haunting.
Back in 2012, I fell in love with
The Diviners. I know and understand why it wasn't everyone's cup of tea but, for me, it offered a whirlwind blend of genres - historical, supernatural, horror, humour, romance - and balanced them all perfectly. It became an instant favourite.
Is
Lair of Dreams as good as its magical prequel? Not quite. But it is a worthy second book. One which reminded me why I was so easily drawn into this alternate 1920s New York City that Libba Bray has created. There are new faces, new horrors, new mysteries and yet, beneath it all, the book maintains the pull introduced by
The Diviners. I can sum it up in one completely underrated word - atmosphere.They’re too tired for bathing, but they’re not too tired for dreams. For dreams, too, are ghosts, desires chased in sleep, gone by morning. The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.
Bray has weaved a fictional supernatural story into a very real historical setting and it works beautifully. The historical aspects are full of what we would expect from this era - flappers, jazz, speakeasies, illegal liquor, as well as the darker side - racism, suspicion and fear. Libba Bray has chosen her words carefully, making you almost able to smell the air and hear jazz music playing somewhere in the distance.
Into this setting comes the supernatural (this time featuring a sleeping sickness and dream walkers) and it is no less atmospheric than the historical. Imagine that alongside the jazz clubs, flappers and speakeasies there also exists a world of ghosts, Diviners and the occult. Imagine New York City in all its wonderful, messy glory... full of mysteries, full of the supernatural.
The atmosphere was as strong as I remember. I was also thrilled to see the familiar characters of Evie, Sam and Jericho, though they appeared less in this book to make room for Ling, George and Henry. If you follow my reviews, you probably know that I hardly ever give out five stars and four stars is a high rating for me.
The Diviners was a rare five star book. This one, however, just missed out because the supernatural mystery wasn't quite as strong or deliciously creepy as the last one. And, really, who can compete with Naughty John? *shivers*
Not that it wasn't an engaging and frightening idea:In sleep, their fingers stiffen as they try to fight back against the terror invading their minds. For the dream knows their fears as well as their desire. It can make them see anything. Unspeakable nightmares surround the men now.
The Diviners is a difficult book to follow, that's for sure. But I don't think fans will be disappointed.
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1.)
The Diviners ★★★★
People who could have my damn whole life: Ling & Henry
➽
#DivinersReadalong Liveshow:
Sep 13th: 9PM EST / 6PM PST
@Madalyn's channel
➽ Trigger warnings: death, death of a loved one, racism, homophobia.
(Thank you so much again to
K's amazing review!)
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Buddy read with
Madalyn,
Jane, &
Chelsea! ❤
-
I'm leaning somewhere between 3.75-4 stars for this one.
It was a long audiobook, but once again the narrator was perfection! I loved the new characters we meet, and the old ones we get to learn more about as well.
I did feel like the first half was a bit slow at times, things didn't pick up until later on in the story, but when it did- WOW! -
“Every city is a ghost.”
Wow, okay, so this was EVEN BETTER than book one. See, a lot of reviews have said that this book is slower than book one. But I think this book is simply an expansion on book one - a slower one, but one where I connected to the characters a crapton. It took this long for the themes to really come to the surface, but guys, this book is way thematically stronger. Lair of Dreams is a book about identity masking itself as paranormal historical fiction. And it's brilliant. Holy shit.
What I loved about this book is its focus on the outsiders of the 1920s. The Diviners is not about the elite of society; it is a story fundamentally written
about the outcasts. Jericho struggles with wanting not to be a medical experiment. Ling, who’s Chinese, queer, and disabled, struggles with a world that can see her as nothing else. Henry struggles with feeling alienated by a world in which he is not allowed to expose his sexuality. Theta struggles with fear of herself, Memphis - who is also black - struggles with his doubt in himself. Evie is hiding herself, Sam is hiding himself, and Mabel doesn't yet know herself. Every single character is, in their own way, on the outside.
Even ignoring the major themes of the book, the focus on marginalized characters here is so strong. There's the budding solidarity between Henry and Ling, obviously, but I think it's the little things that stand out to me. One of my favorite lines in the whole book involves “an unspoken understanding” passing between Ling and Memphis after Ling is confronted by police. It's so good and so important to me.“So. Tell me,” Marlowe tried gamely, “what do you think is man’s greatest invention?”
Jericho turned his head just slightly toward Marlowe, looking him straight in the eye. “God.”
Aaaaah, okay, now that I’ve spent so much time talking about narratives, let’s talk characters! First of all: Ling. My girlfriend. My wife. My everything.“This is how it is now. There is strength in acceptance, Ling. Your legs have been taken from you. But how you choose to live with that has not.”
I love her so much and I am so excited to see her get even more development in book two. And Henry - oh my god his fucking backstory chapters are so freaking horrible and beautiful. Henry is such a freaking well-developed character and I love him so deeply. And Theta? Oh my god. Her development next book is going to kill me, I just know it. But can we talk Memphis and Theta, because their relationship is literally the purest thing in this entire book. Besides Henry and Louie's relationship. Kill me.
While Ling, Henry, Theta, and Memphis are quickly becoming my favorite leads and the holders of my favorite storylines, I’ve also gotten so much more invested in the original four love triangle leads. Turns out I ship Sam and Evie. A lot. Which is really surprising, considering how hard I was antishipping last book.“Okay. That’s fair. Abso-tive-ly fair. Let’s say the tables were turned. If I were about to walk off a cliff, what would you do?”
Evie pursed her lips. “Push?”
“I don’t believe that.”
“You would on the way down.”
I CAN'T NOT SHIP THEM.
Also turns out I love Mabel with my whole heart and think she's about to get the best fucking character arc of all time. Also turns out I think Mabel and Jericho would make the most wonderful banter-y couple. And did I mention I sort of love Jericho?“No. He and Will spoke in newspaper articles about ghosts. They conversed through the careful curation of supernatural knickknacks. And Jericho couldn't help but feel cheated at how little he'd gotten when he'd needed so much more.
Why was there so much silence between men?”
It’s funny - I thought this book was far less scary than its predecessor. Rather, there’s a sense of melancholy to this book - despite terrifying sections, the book as a whole is more a mournful cry than a horror story. And though it leads to a slower pace, I found this book so utterly engaging that I didn’t even mind. This series has gone from a fast-paced and interesting paranormal story to a far more thoughtful exploration of America and a story primarily driven by its characters. While some might lambaste that as middle-book syndrome, I think this book is a leg up for this series as a whole.
The Diviners - ★★★★☆
Lair of Dreams - ★★★★★
Before the Devil Breaks You - ★★★★★
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What on earth happened to the covers for this series? Now it looks like any other stereotypical cookie-cutter thriller, which DIVINERS decidedly was NOT.
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Re-read 9/7/19: This was my first re-read post Before the Devil Breaks you and I would once again like to note that Libba Bray is a fucking MASTER foreshadower and I am shook to my core over it. If you haven't read this series- READ THIS SERIES RIGHT NOW. I still just die over Evie and Sam and Henry and Memphis and Ling and it's just so damn good. I feel like every time I read one of her books I have a new appreciation for different characters or different parts of the story and this re-read was just 100% *chef's kiss*
Re-read 10/4/17: Omg. Okay, so upon re-read I loved this SO MUCH MORE than I did the first time I read it. This was so good. A little long, I’ll admit. And I wasn’t as into the main dream-walking plot line as I was with the main plot line of the Diviners, but omg I loved this. Sam and Theta and Evie and Henry and MEMPHIS. I die. I pos-i-tute-ly loved this. I need to get my hands on the next book NOW.
Original read 9/6/15: 3.75. I love this world and all these characters SO MUCH. I just feel like for this being such a long book, not very much really happened and that we didn't get very much in terms of new character development. HOWEVER. I did very much enjoy this and I feel like Libba Bray really set it up to bring the heat in the next book. I cannot WAIT to find out what's going to go down. -
“We are made by what we are asked to bear, Ling Chan,” he’d said.
This review contains *spoilers*.
I was really hesitant about wanting to pick up Lair of Dreams because of the new cast of characters. But, wow, I definitely needn’t have worried.
A lot of the characters were right up my alley, particularly one named Ling Chan. She was snarky, witty, and everything I needed to keep flipping page after page.
In my review for
The Diviners, I wrote that I wanted to visit the girl with the green eyes in the next novel and color me surprised when Ling turned out to be said girl. And, of course, also a dream walker that can speak to the dead.
“Ling didn’t know why she had the power to manifest the spirits of the dead inside dreams. They didn’t come for long—usually just long enough to answer the question posed to them, and then they were gone, back to wherever their energy was scattered.”
Diviners were big and getting bigger, but so far, no Diviner was bigger than Evie O’Neill—better known now as the Sweetheart Seer.
“The cabbie cleared his throat. “Say, uh, ain’t you the Sweetheart Seer?”
Evie sat up, thrilled to be recognized. “Guilty as charged.”
“I thought so! My wife loves your radio show! Wait’ll I tell her I drove you in my cab. She’ll have kittens!”
“Jeepers, I hope not. I’m all out of cigars.”
After a supernatural showdown with the Pentacle Killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.
Despite my initial hesitations, I really liked that the focus shifted to the minor characters. Evie in Lair of Dreams wasn’t really as compelling as she was in the previous book. And like I mentioned in my review for
The Diviners , Ling and Henry were really to my liking. Ling had the tendency to be quiet and keep her thoughts to herself. We were alike in that way.
Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City. There were no presenting symptoms, no fevers, aches, or cough. People simply went to sleep and did not wake up.
And so, the first time Henry and Ling met (in real life) was pretty fascinating, if I do say so myself.
“Do excuse me,” Henry said, walking to the back. He came around the screen and stood beside the girl’s table, his shadow falling across her open book. “So you do exist.”
The girl looked up at him. Her eyes were a hazel-green, greener in the light. Though she was a slight girl, there was something of the boxer’s quality to her, Henry thought; this was someone ready to show knuckles at a moment’s notice. Her mouth opened in an O of surprise, and then, just as quickly, she caught herself.
“I’m afraid you have mistaken me for someone else,” she said with pointed politeness.
“I don’t believe I have. I’ve seen you in my dreams.”
The girl gave him only a disdainful upward glance. “Corny.”
And when they met up a second time while dream walking, I was ecstatic:
“What’s it like to speak to the dead?” Henry asked at last, a stab at conversation. “Is it frightening?”
“They don’t scare me. They only want to be heard. Sometimes they have messages for the living.”
“Like what?”
“‘Marry on the eighth day of the eighth month of next year.’ ‘This is not the time to test your luck—you must wait one month.’ ‘Tell him I know—I know what you did,’” Ling said, recalling some of the information she’d carried back from the dead.”
I love it when books feature stuff like this. It's my Achilles' heel.
And I got really weak when we were told more about Ling's history:
“But the worst part was the pain it brought to her parents. Ling could hear them just outside the door, asking the doctors and nurses again and again if there was any new hope of a cure, or at least an improvement.
Stop hoping, she wanted to tell them. It’s easier that way.
Secretly, she thought: I deserve this. I brought it on myself. No matter how much Ling believed in science, in the rational, she couldn’t escape the clutches of superstition, of luck—both good and bad—shaping her life. After all, she spoke to ghosts. Deep down, she couldn’t help thinking that it was her pride that had brought on her illness.”
She broke my heart with that last sentence. I love her character arc so damn much.
Also, the concept of dream walking kind of reminded me of the movie Inception, which I found such a fascinating idea to explore in writing.
Then the story circles back to my favorite guy - the dashing Sam Lloyd- and his 'relationship' with Evie. And let me tell you, Libba Bray sure knows how to keep a girl happy:
“Consider it done. And, of course, we’ll want to arrange press for the happy couple.”
“Oh. Well, gee, I-I don’t know. It’s all rather new,” Evie said. Her voice had gone high, like she’d been given ether.
“Nonsense.” Mr. Phillips glowered, his bushy brows coming to a terrifying, angry V mid-forehead. “We’ll arrange it. The public’s appetite must be fed. I want you and your fellow”—Mr. Phillips stole a glance at the newspaper story—“Sam out as often as possible. Every night if you can. Now that Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald are in Europe, Americans are hungry for a modern couple to take their place.” He lowered a finger at her. “You two are it.”
Everyone loves a great romance (especially one with Sam Lloyd).
I mean, their first outing as a "couple" had me almost on the floor.
“Every head turned as Sam rose to greet Evie.
“Lamb Chop!” Sam clasped her hands and gave a small sigh.
“Makes me sound like dinner,” Evie muttered through clenched teeth.
“Does it, my little Venison De Milo?”
Evie glared. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Sam whispered into her ear, “More than you can imagine.”
A waiter appeared. “Shall I bring you the Waldorf salad, Miss O’Neill?”
“Yes, thank you. And coffee, please.”
“Mr. Lloyd?”
Sam gave a small sigh. “Usually I feast on our love, but since the lady’s having something, I’ll take a Reuben. Extra horseradish. And an egg cream.”
“As you wish, sir,” the waiter said. “You two must be very happy.”
“Over the moon. Who’d’ve thought a regular schmoe like me could land a gem like Baby Doll here,” Sam said.”
Literally cry-laughing over this. My love for fake dating in books is literally out of this world.
“By the way, we’re being watched.” Sam flicked his eyes in the direction of a table full of gawking flappers whispering excitedly to one another.
Evie raised an eyebrow. “No kidding. I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, you know.”
“We should give them a little something for their trouble.”
“Such as?” Evie said, wary.
Sam leaned forward and took both of Evie’s hands in his. He stared into her eyes as if she were the only woman in the world. Like a traitor, Evie’s stomach gave a slight hiccup."
This guy...
And not to sound insensitive, but Jericho's reaction to Evie and Sam made me roll my eyes so hard, it hurt. (Actually.)
“Jericho dropped the newspaper in Sam’s lap. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Gee, Freddy,” Sam said quietly, pushing the newspaper aside. “I, uh, didn’t want to rub it in.”
“Seems exactly like something you’d want to do. And don’t call me Freddy.” Jericho crossed to the fireplace, poking at the embers till they blazed.
“Did you ever consider that maybe you got me figured all wrong?” Sam said.
Jericho didn’t turn away from the fire. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got you figured exactly right. You’re a thief. You steal things. And people.”
Usually Sam enjoyed the friendly competition over Evie’s affections, but just now, he felt like a real heel. He didn’t know exactly what had happened between Jericho and Evie. Maybe they’d kissed. Maybe more than that. But whatever had taken place was a romance of circumstances, he was certain. Surely Jericho had to know he was all wrong for Evie.”
Insta-love isn't love. And I was really hoping that the phony romance between Sam and Evie would give Jericho time to lick the last of his wounds and move on.
A girl can hope, right?
But back to my favorite "it" couple, I have to mention this next part:
“I’m sure we’re all dying to know how you two lovebirds first met.”
“Well—” Evie started.
“It was a moonlit night,” Sam interrupted. “A full moon, as I recall. Just the prettiest September moon you ever saw. I’d lost my dog—”
“Sparky.”
“Right. I was calling, ‘Here, boy, here, Sparky!’”
“It was the most heartbreaking sound you ever heard,” Evie said. “I wanted to cry just hearing it. I still want to cry when I hear Sam’s voice.”
Sam raised an eyebrow at Evie’s jibe. She smiled back. The smile was a challenge.”
Those pretty idiots. I’m still reeling from that interview.
“Yes. It had been a long journey from Ohio. Not that Sam minded what I looked like. He was just so surprised to be talking to a real girl. Girls don’t usually talk to you, do they, dear? Poor baby just never had a bit of luck with the female species. Why, it was almost as if dames were repulsed by you, weren’t they, darling? Didn’t you tell me they’d shrink from your touch?”
“But you could see the good deep in my heart, couldn’t you, Pork Chop?”
“Yes. I had to look with a magnifying glass, but there it was.”
(Side note: does anyone else think that Sebastian Stan is the perfect Henry?)
And speaking of perfect... I absolutely loved Theta and Memphis in this sequel.
“We could make our own stories,” Memphis said. “You and me.”
For a week, Memphis had been rehearsing this speech in the bathroom mirror. But now all his words failed him. So he took Theta’s hands in his, watching the light sweep across the room. “Theta…” He cleared his throat, started over. “Theta, I love you.”
Theta’s smile vanished. She didn’t answer.
“That wasn’t quite the response I was hoping for,” Memphis joked, but his stomach was as tight as piano wire.
“Gee, Poet. I just… I didn’t expect that.”
“Theta,” Memphis said, “I feel I need to warn you: In about five seconds, I’m going to tell you that I love you. There. Now you know to expect it.”
I was rooting for them with my whole heart.
But while I loved the new set of characters and what they brought to the table, the overall story was really slow going for the first half with little to no action.
I did, thankfully, find the dream walking really compelling— especially when Henry finally met up with Louis:
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Henry asked.
Louis replaced his frown with a smile. “Fine as morning. Kiss me once for luck, cher. And twice for love. And three times means we’ll meet again.”
Henry kissed him till he lost count.”
And in the meanwhile Ling finds a new friend in Wai-Mae.
“That part of the dream isn’t safe.”
“What do you mean? Not safe how?” Ling asked.
“Can’t you feel it?” Wai-Mae backed away, trembling. “Ghosts.”
“I’ve spoken to plenty of ghosts on my walks. There’s nothing frightening about them.”
“You’re wrong.” Wai-Mae reached the fingers of one hand toward the tunnel, as if drawn to it. “I can feel this one sometimes in there. She… cries.”
“Why?”
“A broken promise. A very bad death,” Wai-Mae whispered, still staring into the dark. With a shudder, she turned away, hugging herself. “I’m frightened of that wicked place. If we do not trouble her, she won’t trouble us.”
I, at first, had no idea what to take from Wai-Mae—Could we trust her?? Was she the villain or the hero??
And I quickly learned that for once in my life, I was right with being hesitant.
“The clues had been there for them all along. George had tried to make her see them. In the tunnel, he’d told her to wake up. He’d wanted her to know about the ghost, to see who it really was.
And who had warned them against going inside the tunnel? Wai-Mae. Wai-Mae was the ghost.
But what if some part of Wai-Mae didn’t know that? What if the dream was her way of fighting that knowledge? Ling needed to talk to Henry, desperately. She wished he weren’t drunk. He’d been so upset about Louis… because Louis never showed up.
Louis, too, never appeared aboveground, Ling realized. Like Wai-Mae, he was always waiting for them in the dream world, shimmering in the sun. Shimmering. Ling’s head went light as she realized at last what had been poking at her these past few days. It was Henry’s comment about the hat. She’d thought it was his. But it had been Louis’s first.
She’d told Henry from the start: She could only find the dead.”
But the dream walkers didn't know this as Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, until a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?
I honestly thought we wouldn’t have a creepy tune in this book, but boy was I wrong.
“The land is old, the land is vast / He has no future, he has no past / His coat is sown with many woes / He’ll wake the dead, the King of Crows.”
It might just be the spookiest thing in the entire Creepy Crawly.
Speaking of spooky...the section where a soldier came in with a gun pointed at Evie - and Sam saved her -, squeezed the breath out of me.
“Why did you do that today?”
“You’re honestly asking me that?” Sam looked at Evie, and suddenly, she knew. Don’t see me was more than Sam’s Diviner power; it was his entire worldview. It was how he’d gotten along in life, keeping hidden, only letting people see what he wanted them to see. His whole life was a sleight of hand. And he’d risked it all. For her.”
“But right now, in this moment, she felt a strong connection to Sam, as if they were the only two people in the world. She wanted to hold on to both him and the beautiful moment and not let go.
“Sam,” Evie said.
He turned his face to her. His mouth—why had she never noticed how perfect his mouth was? Impulsively, she kissed him once on those perfect lips and stood back, waiting. His expression was unreadable, and Evie’s stomach fluttered.”
I had to fight off tears because my favorites kissed. What is going on.
“Happy Diviner New Year, I guess,” Evie said, a little breathless.
“To hell with it,” Sam said and wrapped Evie in his arms, kissing her fiercely.”
He didn't just kiss her, he kissed her fiercely. That sure warms the heart on a cold day.
I was literally willing to beg for them to end up happily together.
And, of course, other stories appeared here and there:
• Memphis getting his healing powers back.
• Memphis's mother trying to stop him whenever he wants to heal someone. (Still gives me chills.)
• Theta and Henry are on the outs because he's obsessively dream-walking.
• Ghost— scary ghosts, friendly ghosts, hungry ghosts...
• People disappearing all over New York because of some unnameable infestation.
• Louis having an irrational fear of morning glories.
• The crow that followed Memphis throughout
The Diviners turned out to be his mother, if I'm not mistaken.
• Two eerily 'ordinary' men (Mr. Adams & Mr. Jefferson) follow Sam around.
• Stopping the veiled woman before it was too late.
And there was also so much foreshadowing, I almost couldn't handle it. I got so stressed every time Libba Bray dropped hints that something terrible was going to happen to a favorite of mine. I kept thinking, are you teasing me or ???
And when some particular plot twists were revealed, it felt as if someone were wringing the air from my lungs. Just...so much happened towards the end that I barely had time to wrap my mind around it. I was so worried for the safety of everyone. They all hold such important parts in unraveling this mystery, and it pained me to see them get hurt.
Also, can we also take a minute to talk about the fact that Sam's mother appeared in the very last chapter? Because I was just gone gone gone. My heart was hammering like crazy.
“The Shadow Man had left the newspaper. Miriam smoothed out the front page and placed a hand on the picture of her son and Evie O’Neill.
“Find me, Little Fox,” she whispered. “Before it’s too late. For all of us.”
Sam find her safely, please.
There are simply no other words that I could summon to communicate the magic of this story. Lair of Dreams read differently from the previous book. This piece was strange and lovely and haunting.
AND I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!
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Short Review:
Might be more of a 4.5 stars ... I don't know if I loved it quite as much as the first book. There were a few little things that irked me and I felt it was a little slow in parts. But otherwise, I really enjoyed it and it was worth the wait! Very scary, intense and creative, and I love the characters. Can't wait for the next book in the series--although I assume I will have to wait a long time. :P
Full Review:
Coming eventually!
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Pre-release Ranting:
Expected publication: March 11th 2014
Update:
AAHHH THERE'S A TITLE!!! Lair of Dreams ... I like it. Very mysterious.
Update on the update:
I just noticed the expected publication has been moved to April 22nd. You've got to be kidding me.
... And another update:
Yo, is that really the cover? Hmm I don't know how I feel about it ... it gives off kind of a sci-fi vibe to me, maybe because of all the green? It also doesn't really match the first book's cover at all. Buuut maybe it's just a mock-up thing and not the final one?
And another one:
Aaaand the release date has now been moved all the way to August 5th.
And the nightmare continues:
April 1st, 2015.
April. 1st. 2015.
Libba, why. WHY WHY WHY WHY WHYYYY.
And one more update:
*Long sigh* August 25th. AUGUST 25TH.
But according to
this, the release date will not be postponed again. After almost three years of waiting, THIS IS IT.
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Update - 10/04/14
2015. YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN?!?!
WAIT. Did this just get pushed back to AUGUST?!?!
WHY.
Update - 07/09/13
THAT COVER. WHY THIS UGLYASS COVER.
I'm sorry Libba Bray, I love you and your amazing books but this cover... My heart can't take it.
Update - 11/08/13
So I was finally over my feels for this book (temporarily of course) being all chill and like, the second book will come out when it does, when SUDDENLY, I see that we have a title AND a synopsis! The title is kinda cool and probably linked to our new villain's power. But the synopsis, UGH. 'America's Sweetheart Seer'? Yep, that's the Evie we know and adore. So... April 2014, right. Damn it.
So according to the amazing Ms Bray's tweet, this book will be coming to us in Spring 2014.
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Reread in 2020: It was painful to see how much this mirrors current world events. The roaring 20s are really back, huh?
Original 2016 review:
*insert unintelligible noises of anguish here*
I don't even know what to say other than I loved this so much! I wish it wasn't over!
Would have loved more Jericho in this book, but it's okay since we got to know Henry so much better. I really loved Henry and Ling's storyline.
I did predict a couple of twists from the start, but me guessing the ending is never something that I take stars off for if it's still done well. This new mystery kept me intrigued the whole time. It was creepy, and yet touching.
I love how Bray is packing punches with her depiction of the discrimination that is accurate to this time period (1920s) while writing strong, diverse characters (African American, Irish/Chinese American, Jewish, gay, disabled) that push back against that. The fact that she is juggling the historical setting, multiple mysteries, and an array of characters and does them all so well is amazing.
I did listen to this on audiobook and the narration by January LaVoy was FANTASTIC. Seriously, the best narration by a single voice actor I may have ever listened to.
The wait for book 3 is going to be mighty painful. -
I recommend people to read this book after you've read a few other things between Diviners. It has a different feel than its predecessor, but it is still just as wonderful and deliciously creepy as The Diviners was. I'm not going to give much away, but you are dealing with another type of spirit in a way in this book. I'm going to go by character again since there is so many!
PS: Listen to this! January LaVoy is literally my favorite narrator in the world's entirety. Please, oh please, get on the LaVoy bus with me!
Evie O'Neill
Evie, our flapper girl who now has her own radio show about telling people the messages left in the objects they bring her. She always has to put a positive twist on it with a dash of scandal to keep the listeners listening and her ratings high. She is positutely delicious. When her boss catches wind of a rumor she is engaged to Sam Llyod though, she makes a deal with said "fiance" to keep the media, and more importantly her ratings and her boss, happy. And lets not forget about her unclear feelings for Jericho Jones. She kissed him even though her absolute best friend Mabel has had a crush on him since she met him.
Who knew that a girl could be in more than one type of triangular love? And what happens when an object she reads for a guest doesn't tell her anything about their secrets, but her own?
Henry DuBois
I basically want to label this whole book "The Book That Henry DuBois's Character Gets the Attention The He Deserves". He drives a lot of this book. He's been trying to find his boyfriend from his hometown through dream-walking. That's right kids, this guy can walk through the dream world. Sure, it might make him paralyzed for a few minutes after he wakes up, but it will all be worth it in the end. Because who better to find the cure to the sleeping-curse going around town than someone who can walk through dreams?
How about two people who can walk through dreams?
Ling Chan
This is our representation of disability and race. I loved her so much. Her special gift? She can find the dead in dreams. So people ask her to find their dead loved ones a lot and ask them questions. So when she meets Henry and he asks her to find him in dream-world and then to help him find his friend, she reluctantly helps, even though Chinatown is slowly shutting down because of the sleeping curse. People just can't wake up and end up with all these scars and then one day.. they just die. Maybe their new friend, someone coming to America to be married off for her family's benefit, will be able to help them? Three is the magic number after all.
Sam Lloyd / Sergei Lubovitch
Sam knows that The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, or as locals call it, The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies is keeping some secrets, including something about his mother. The Museum is on its way out, being behind on payments and what-not, but Sam is eagerly trying to keep it afloat because he wants, no he needs to figure out what happened to his mother and what is Project Buffalo? And who does Evie think she is? Besides loud, beautiful, spunky, the cat's meow, the reason that his heart stops beating...
Theta Knight
You know the saying "There is no secret that time will not reveal" ? Because Theta is learning that real quickly. Her past, that she has been running from, is about to run her right over. Not only that, but she is in love with someone of a different race which is not accepted (on either side) in this time, her best friend / roommate is staying under in his dream walks longer and longer and it is hurting both of their careers, and his health, and her friend is randomly engaged to someone she thought she hated? Theta is unraveling quick, but can she outrun her own past to save her future?
Jericho Jones
Jericho is having a hard time with Evie not being around and basically avoiding him. Not to mention that Will is gone, the museum is going under, and his only friend seems to be the guy he loathes: Sam Lloyd. Sure, Mabel is around and he kind of gets the feeling that she has feelings for him, but she isn't Evie. And the one thing that is keeping him alive is hanging on a string. What's more important, his freedom or his life?
Will Fitzgerald
Will finally is coming to terms that what he thought wasn't going down is going down and now he has to go do something and he is super absent in this book.
Mabel Rose
Mable knows she isn't someone special. She knows her best friend Evie is the life of the party, she's the pretty one and Mabel kind of just goes along with whatever she does. Well, she's finally going to go and try to become apart of Jericho's life so he can see she is more than what meets the eye. But little does she know that because of her relations with Jericho, Evie (who is engaged to same now?) and Theta, her life is about to be flipped upside down.
Memphis Campbell
Memphis has a lot going on. He has an over-religious aunt who doesn't want Memphis and his brother Isaiah using their gifts, his brother keeps having fits, he is dating a white girl, and he has lots his power to heal. Or has he? His brother was miraculously healed.. does he have his power back? What keeps happening to him anyway? And why has Blind Bill all of a sudden become like a wannabe father to him and Isaiah?
This story is miraculous and I am so excited about the third book! I am literally obsessed with Bray and all the stories she has ever written; but this one takes the cake!
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I loved this so much. Libba always knows the way to my cold stone heart. Review to come! -
This was literally my face when I finally finished this gigantic, monster of a book. It was like the clouds finally parted and the divine rays of the heavens showered upon me for I have seen the light. The light being Libba Bray's amazing prowess, that is. There is no other reason why this happened except for one thing: that Bray's writing is legit god-level, and is therefore, heaven-sent.
I'm at that point where I would love to be this author's apprentice. I'd do her laundry, brew her coffee, do her every command, bring it all on - I just want to learn how she does it. How does she string words and sentences together and make them sound like a piece chewed out from Beethoven's musical fingers? I swear, her words are so mesmerizing and lyrical and just... simply fantastic. Half of the book, I said the words out loud. Do you hear that?! That's why it took me so long to finish it, because I loved it so much I didn't just want to read the words, I wanted to hear them, too.
But seriously speaking, even though I had some problems with the writing being in third person omniscient (ex. chapter starts with Evie's POV and then ends with Sam's), it cannot be denied that this installment was well-written. We waited three years for the second book, and you can easily tell that in that span of time, Bray wrote this book with care and love. Yes, it's true that it takes a long time for the book to set-up the setting first, the mystery our friends need to uncover, and pretty much the dynamics of our old and remaining characters, but I didn't care. Why?
Because every word was well-placed, every sentence had meaning, and every page contributed to the setting, the world-building, and the characterization and development of our characters. It was so, so immersive. I did not just read a story set in the 1920s, I felt it. You know, there are two kinds of reading - reading it and being conscious that you are reading a story, and reading something and becoming so engrossed you actually feel you're in the story itself, surrounded by individuals you're so connected to.
Hell, just the other day, this happened:My mother: Faye! I finally finished that pesky Cookie Jam level!
Faye: Cool! That's just the bee's knees, mom!
My mother: ...I think you mean beeswax.
Faye: No... I mean.... ah, nevermind.
Yup, I have all the slang in my head now. I can't help but put them in everything!
But really, the atmosphere is just amazing. It made me so engrossed in the setting and the language and the pop culture that I've been researching about them like crazy. Not only did it get that department right, but the mystery, paranormal, and horror aspects were so well-written, too. There was never a dull moment for me. Even though there were chapters where it would show someone else totally not related to the main cast, I gobbled them all up and they all still made me feel so many things - trepidation, anxiousness, exciteness, and fear. Fear for our friends, for our friends' friends, and for the rest of the people because so much is at stake.
Imagine being trapped in a never-ending nightmare, a state where you can never, ever wake up from. Now, imagine Bray writing said scenes in a creepy, intense way.
I don't know about you, but there were nights were I waited for the sun to rise before heading under the covers.
And the characters! Man, they were so vibrant and electrifying and so charismatic. I loved Evie and her sass. Even though she did some things and said some words I don't personally agree with, I loved that her character was so consistent, to the point where you'd go, "Ah! I may not like what she did but it's something her character would do." Henry was such a doll and I loved knowing more about him here. In fact, I'd wager this is more his book than Evie's and I loved it. He's so soulful and has a romantic, kind heart that all I wanted for him was to find his own happiness in a sea of uncertainty and unseen horrors. And Ling! The half-Irish half-Chinese fellow dreamwalker who was tough as nails and a welcome addition to the gang. I loved how strong-willed she was, how she didn't let her being a cripple get in the way. I didn't like Sam that much in the previous book, but here, he made my heart go swoony-swoon-swoon with his charisma and happy-go-lucky personality.
My only real gripe right now is the love triangle... man. It was kind of frustrating to see Evie's heart go fluttery for guy #1 and then have her stomach go butterflies for guy #2, and then be confused later with her feelings for both guys. Hopefully we will be done with this nonsense come book 3 (please don't take 3 years, though? PLEASE!)
All in all, what a solid and beautiful installment. It has everything - atmosphere, world-building, mystery, build-up, action, tension, characterization and development. The writing made it so easy to consume (trust me, you'll want this in audio because you won't be able to help but need to hear the words out-loud). I simply couldn't put it down. -
I loved The Diviners, it was one of my favourite books of 2014 but this just did not do it for me and I have to say I'm very disappointed. Nothing happened until the last 100 pages which for a 600 page book is just not okay. I'll do a video review and go more into my thoughts later but for now, I'm just kind of let down.
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4.5 Stars
I continue to adore this series! These are such highly recommended audiobooks, and I cannot agree more. Although they each last around 20 hours, it flies by and feels like you're watching a movie. All the characters have their own voices and turmoils and backstories, and it's such a masterfully done character study while also dealing with paranormal issues and plot.
There's some characters who I care about more than others, such as the fact that I love Memphis but I think Isaiah and Bill's chapters are annoying. I love the addition of Ling in this book, and Evie and Jericho and Theta and Henry remain favorites.
The conflict and paranormal aspects in this book I think were better done and more subtly crafted than in book one, so I liked that! However, it took a while to build to any real conflict, so that's why I took off .5 stars. I love the characters, but this book didn't really keep me on my toes at all. -
With her smudged eyes and her dainty red Cupid’s bow lips, she reminded Sam of a sparkling party favor on the cusp of New Year’s. “Evie,” he said, taking gentle hold of her hand. “The party can’t go on forever.”
Evie looked up at Sam, defiant but slightly pleading, too. Her voice was nearly a whisper. “Why not?”
i am absolutely, positutely in love with this series I have The Diviners a
glowing five star review, so if you want to know more about the series overall you should read that as THIS REVIEW is gonna mostly be about this specific book.
“Besides, things you loved deeply could be lost in a second, and then there was no filling the hole left inside you. So she lived in the moment, as if her life were one long party that never had to stop as long as she kept the good times going.”
LAIR OF DREAMS begins a few months after The Diviners. Evie has become a radio sensation (The Sweetheart Seer) after her abilities become public. Sam is continuing to chase down the project buffalo lead, a lead which is progressively heading into darker and more dangerous paths. Meanwhile, a sleeping sickness is spreading throughout the city and Henry, along with a girl called Ling who can walk in dreams, may be the cure to curing it.
so I didn't love this AS MUCH as The Diviners but I still really loved it. Lair of Dreams is on a much smaller scale than The Diviners, and that scaling down it what worked against it, in my opinion. I also think too much of this book felt like the first 100 pages, by that I mean it felt like we were just getting into things instead of INTO things for way too long.
But the character work was beyond good. This book follows Ling, the girl from Chinatown we briefly met in The Diviners, as well as Henry, Theta and Sam so much more closely and I LOVED getting to know these characters.
Ling is probably the standout character of this book, because she's the one introduced and developed most. She's the daughter of Chinese immigrants, with a disability, who can walk in people's dreams and see the dead in her dreams and oh my god .. I love her? She's adorable, hilarious and her friendship with Henry was too pure for words.
Henry had a lot of his backstory explained and uhh ... my heart is beyond broken. I love my sweet boy he deserves the world.
“For dreams, too, are ghosts, desires chased in sleep, gone by morning. The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.”
One thing I adore about these book is the amount of plots and subplots which are woven together into a larger tapestry. There's diviners, government conspiracies, the occult and supernatural, shadowmen, missing persons and ghosts. And so much more. And Libba Bray weaves it all together so well, and in such a clever way, and it keeps me constantly engaged. I genuinely have no idea where this is going next and I love it.
The setting is also done so well. Libba Bray explores ALL of the roaring 20's, putting away her rose-tainted glass to address the awful bits too. The resurgence of Eugenics and the Ku Klux Klan plays a large role in this, as does socialism and the union fights, government corruption, poverty and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. This book is so interesting and honestly educating in how it tells the story of the time period too and I love that.
FINALLY, we need to talk about how CREEPY this is. Between ghosts hysterically screaming DREAM WITH ME, actual demon murderers, dead people coming back and being creepy and horror flashbacks into the past I am significantly SPOOKED. The audiobook narrator January Lavoy does such an amazing job at really emphasising the horror aspects and honestly it makes it so much more enjoyable !
“They wish, too, that they could warn them about the gray man in the stovepipe hat, about the King of Crows. For not all ghosts remember, and the citizens have need of warning.”
Anyway to sum up.
•I love this series way too much
•I would put my life on the line for any and all diviners
• I have the spooks, because this is terrifying
• I CAN'T BELIEVE LIBBA BRAY MADE ME INVEST IN A LOVE TRAINGLE UNBELIEVABLE
EVERYONE READ THE DIVINERS. THANKS AND GOODNIGHT -
The writing was so rich and vibrant; I just adore Libba Bray's voice. What I love about this series is that it's so layered - there are so many characters and plots and subplots, but it's all intertwined somehow. Unwinding this story is seriously a magical experience. I can't even imagine where the story goes from here, but I can't wait to find out.
Still not over the awful cover change. -
الجزء الثاني من رواية سبب لي جزئها الأول كوابيس حقيقية

وبالصدفة، تدور أحداثه هذه المرة داخل الأجلام...أو بالأصح، الأحلام التي تتحول لكوابيس بسهولة
ولكنك لن تعود إلي نيويورك العشرينات فحسب... فالحبكة أعمق من ذلك ، عن أشباح المدن
الوصف، لغة اﻷبطال اللي استهلك من�� 4 ساعات قراءة لاول 30 صفحة عشان استوعب مصطلحات العشرينات
يمكن اني قريت اول صفحاتها في ستاربكس بموسيقي غربية ملائمة لجو الرواية العتيق...يمكن لانها كانت بتتكلم عن عاصفة وشهب وفعلا اخر يوم كانت نوة عيد الميلاد تضرب الاسكندرية بعنف
عاما ها نحن عدنا ﻷجواء الرواية، بنفس المكان..بالخريف هذه المرة..لنأمل أن الجزء الثاني بنفس المستوي
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after reading book one..I had this...
Dream Log ,14 Dec, 2013

..I wake up disturbed before dawn ,nightmare again...That hell of a novel "The Diviners" made me suffer many lately.
I can't sleep anymore,I went up to the roof..and it was our old house's roof! which is odd but I don't mind..cool breeze and a view on the park, Uh Oh,it looks different too...
But Who cares, I'm too sleepy to think..
I see a drunk man resting his head on the sidewalk..moaning some words I can't get, but it's more like "what we sumthin'"... but I'm no longer seeing him, only observing now the sun rising with its first shy rays invading the horizon.. that's what I see... A song comes out of a radio somewhere with a man singing :
"I'm Sitting On Top Of The World..Just rolling along...Just rolling along.."
I close my eyes listening,breezing and enjoying the sweet rays of the sun on my face...It's just like living some wonderful ending of a novel or somethin' :)
"...I'm quitting the blues of the world..Just singing a song..Just singing a song"
The Song still on..
"Just sin... Crick,crick!! "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag...."
That's really odd,the song changed and the sound is so creepy all the sudden , I open my eyes and see dark gray clouds covers all the sky all the sudden,and it's like turning the park and buildings into shades of gray too Oh not the novel.. don't make me start..
A creepy very tall figure coming from far point of the vast open park.."....and smile...smile...Smile.."
It's like a man..a very creepy tall man...like those stilt-walkers but even taller...and a weird freaky long hat as if his tallness wasn't enough...He's gray too..that wear in black..and He's getting nearer...nearer..
"....march up the way to be glad.."
Oh God...He's walking backward...I can't see his face,and he's really tall, Oh and getting taller ... his shoulders may reach the roof I'm sitting in when he'd reach here..
Damn that's soooo creepy...
Hardly getting on my feet as it's -I can't call that thing He- getting closer..I want to turn back and run,but my feet won't move ,can't even turn back..
"..Smile, boys, that's the style.... What's the use of worrying?.."
It's here..as tall as I expect..still walking backward..then it leaned a little and garbed the drunk...and that horrible song going on as if in slow-motion!!! I was paralyzed... I can't move..Don't want to see what's that freak going to do to the man..
"..It never was worth while, so..Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,.."
The drunk twitched in horror between the long fingers of the gray man. but so quick the gray man reached through the man’s chest with his long fingers and withdrew his tiny heart,squeezed it in his brittle fist. The blood seeped into the fertile ground drop by drop.
"..And smile, smile, smile.,.."
"Oh, dear, dear. What have you done?"
I turned to see who said that, it was a young lady in what looks like blue or purple old fashion style dress yet still pretty, she looks like "Emma Stone" -well that's who I chose to play Evie while I'm reading the novel- and she stirring at me,not that creepy tall man,as If I'm to blame..I paralyzed even more..
".. smile, smile, smile.,.."
The song like slowed till it just repeat this part over and over like a broken vinyl disk, I look at her then I look back to the tall man,And just don't see him anymore...like he vanished..
".. smile, smile, smile.,.."
So I look back to the young lady and she's not there anymore too...But something clear in the sky that coming out of the grayness
".. smile, smile, smile.,.."
A sun...no, more like a moon since it didn't hurt my eyes looking at it!!... something taking form in the middle of that moon..
.
".. smile, smile, smile.,.."
It's like ....an eye...an actual ,real,Huge as the moon itself EYE...
".. smile, smile, smile.,.."
A lighting bolt just come off it...that hits me and I...I .....
I'm falling ...
".. smile, smile....."
Mohammed Arabey
"I know it's like the worst dream ever...and my language skills sucks a bit "or much..:)" But I was like to share a nightmare like those creepy ones The Diviners got me for real.
Waiting for the next book and more to come..I really feel it will be a Great Series
The Diviners Review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... -
After years of waiting, the second Diviners book is finally here. Seriously, I got an ARC of The Diviners at my FIRST BEA, and I got Lair of Dreams at my fourth. Normally, I’d be really frustrated about how long it took for the books to come out, but I’ve pretty much resigned myself to this series finishing in about 2022. I mean, I can’t blame Bray at all because these books are BEASTS. Lair of Dreams is every bit as intricate and lovely as The Diviners.
Like The Diviners, Lair of Dreams is slow. In fact, I think it may have been more slow over all, because there isn’t as long and intense of a climax, which made the second half of The Diviners go really quickly. I wouldn’t call it second book syndrome, but there’s a sense of things building in Lair of Dreams. There were a few threads in The Diviners that hinted at future possible story lines, but there are so many questions in this one, so much more to come. In The Diviners, it kind of seemed like Naughty John might be the worst they had to face, but here it’s clear that solving the sleeping sickness is the smallest of their problems. Poor kids. It’s not jake.
Lair of Dreams is a rough book for Evie. Prior to now, she was sort of a shiny, daring heroine, the leading star of the series. She’s not shining quite so bright anymore, or she is but it’s mostly artifice. Evie’s no longer sure who she is or what she wants. Mostly she’s running scared from memories of what happened in Knowles End and from her feelings. Evie spends most of this book fucking up and making bad choices, and she’s not as central as she once was. It’s sad and a bit frustrating, but I like that Bray is following through with Evie’s character and letting others be important. It’s not just the Evie show.
Well, I guess it is the Evie show for Sam, Jericho, and Mabel. All of them care more than they wish they did about Evie, and, when she purchased a one way ticket on the hot mess express, they boarded too. The romance is a messy tangle, and I’m no longer positive how Bray’s planning to end this. Oddly, I’m still shipless, perhaps because, while I genuinely really like and care about these characters, they’re not REAL to me.
I was thrown at first by the addition of Ling Chan as a central character. If anyone is the central focal point of Lair of Dreams, it’s Ling, accompanied by Henry, who took a backseat in The Diviners. It took a bit of time for Ling to grow on me, adorable grouch that she is, but I love the added diversity and of course I adore Ling’s tenacity. Ling’s one of those lovable grouches who cares so fiercely once she lets you get close to her. She and Henry make a delightfully and odd and perfect friendship.
Memphis and Theta continue to be the ones I care about the least, but I have to say that I’m seriously worried for Theta. There are some terrible things coming her way in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up being most central in the next book, based on that ending. Also, Memphis needs to get Bill away from his little brother because some bad shit is happening there.
Totally called the ending of the whole sleeping sickness thing though. Totally called it at basically the first possible point. View Spoiler » Figuring that out didn’t really lessen my enjoyment of the book, but it did contribute to the slower pace because I did know what was going on.
These books are genius. They’re so ornate and gorgeous and unique and I just love that they exist. SO excited for the next one in like 2020 or so! -
evie being piss drunk for most of the scary encounters and never shutting up was one of the highlights of this book LMFAO we love a problematic queen with a motor mouth.
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4.5 STARS
Listening to this on audiobook, 4 years later made me appreciate this installment in the series so much more than I did when I first initially read it. This book takes its time exploring every characters’ Diviners powers, their past, and how their uniqueness or marginality sets them apart from the crystalline world of the 1920s where everyone seemingly seems happiest. It highlights the darker sides of American history to shed light on times where people’s fears towards cultures and people they can’t relate to caused violence and further divided our society.
I really enjoyed rereading this one because not only does it finally bring together our motley crew, but it also furthers the overarching storyline that the King of Crows is creeping closer to Manhattan.
Discussions of eugenics, xenophobia, the use of the N (N*gr*) word, sex trafficking, homophobia
Review from 2016
CAN SAM AND EVIE BE TOGETHER ALREADY? CAN THETA AND MEMPHIS JUST GO ON A SUCCESSFUL DATE? CAN THEY HAVE ONE NICE DAY IN THE CITY WITHOUT A GHOST TRYING TO KILL THE WHOLE GANG? CAN I HAVE THE NEXT BOOK? -
Everybody, READ this series right now, before the final book comes out!🤗
This story is just getting more and more awesome!!!
It’s historical and creepy, funny and so clever!
Gives me a bit of Twin Peaks vibes sometimes...
With so much background research, that it makes me Google the sh*t out of it while I’m reading the book.
ALL the characters are so well written, and there are just so many things happening, and I just wanna read more and more about them, ahhhh... this is really the elephant’s eyebrows! 🖤
The ending left me so excited and curious, I’m so happy that I can marathon the series, and I won’t have to wait too much to find out how it ends. 🖤 -
Review posted at
www.fantasyliterature.com:
"To believe in one's dreams is to spend all of one's life asleep." -- Chinese proverb
"Every city is a ghost." -- Opening line of this book
Dreams become traps and deadly nightmares in Lair of Dreams, the second installation in Libba Bray’s DIVINERS fantasy horror series. In 1927, a crew of men is opening up an old walled-off tunnel underneath the streets of New York City in order to build a new subway tunnel.
Look at this Wikipedia photo of an old NYC subway - someone got lazy and copied it for the cover of this book! Busted...
Anyway: The workers find a desiccated body in a walled-off area. Soon the men begin to die of a mysterious sleeping sickness, where the afflicted cannot be awakened and die after a few days. Then the lethal sickness begins to spread through the city. The sickness is blamed on Chinese immigrants, but really it attacks people regardless of age or race. It must be a job for theAvengersDiviners!
Lair of Dreams picks up not long after the events of the first volume,
The Diviners. It weaves together several other threads, including the story of Ling, a Chinese girl handicapped by the aftereffects of polio, who is a dream walker; Henry, another dream walker who is searching in both the dream world and the real world for the boy he fell in love with in New Orleans; and Memphis, a young black man struggling to deal with both his healing abilities and his forbidden love for a white woman. I thought these interrelated stories worked well together, and all of them were interesting to me, particularly with Ling and Henry meeting in the dream world, working together but each pursuing his or her individual interests and goals. The ghostly plot, though it involves many deaths, was intriguing, especially the dream world and its interrelationship with and effect on the real world – and it wasn't nearly as off-putting to me as the devilish serial killer spirit in The Diviners, although some readers may miss the higher level of creepy horror.
The overall plot had a few too many threads to it, risking loss of the reader’s attention from the frequent point of view switches and different plotlines. When the dream creatures enter the real world and start attacking people in the streets, the story strayed from its initial sense of dreamy horror. There are also several plot lines that are left unresolved, for the next volume in the series. Just as the book is wrapping up and most of the threads were being tied together, several pieces of the plot begin to unravel again with an extended epilogue that leaves the reader with some rather irritating cliffhangers.
However, Libba Bray is a talented author and has done a great deal of research that benefits the story, not just about the Roaring Twenties in New York City, but also about New York City’s Chinatown and the immigrants and citizens who lived there in the 1920s. Libba Bray also really has a way with creating a scene. At one point the Chinese population, who are being unfairly blamed for the sleeping sickness, are all being detained by the police:"You’ll be safe in here," her uncle said and shut the door. But Ling knew she wasn’t safe anywhere. Not when people could hate the very idea of you. Not when there were ghosts in your dreams. Ling shut her eyes and listened to the sounds of her neighbors being taken away in the night.
If you liked the first book in this series, I think you'll really enjoy Lair of Dreams. Personally I'm not a fan of the horror genre so I think I'm finished with this series at this point, but I'd certainly recommend it to those who like fantasy horror on the YA level.
Content advisory: Supernatural horror violence, disturbing, but the gore factor is pretty limited. Straight and gay relationships include kisses and non-explicit love scenes.
Advance copy received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! -
it is so rare that i find a series that has inclusion, racism, and oppresion so central to its plot while presenting it so well ?!??!! LIKE HELLO?? why did i not read this series earlier
“I hope our research into the great unknown of diviners and the supernatural world proves that we are all one, joined by the same spark of energy that owes nothing to countries or religion,”
— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
i forgot to mention in my initial review that ling is also disabled throughout this book (infantile paralysis)... so there's your disability rep in a book that isn’t just about being disabled (which i think we need more of). and once again shown in a way that makes sense and doesn't feel forced. i'm being redundant but it's the truth. this series honestly checks most of the diversity boxes and i appreciate that so much.
aside from the underlying commentary, the plot is seriously a huge improvement from the first book because that was what i was personally iffy about but i am just a sucker for a whimsical + dark theme. in this case: dreams + ghosts
literally one of the best combinations and worked perfectly for an urban fantasy setting. if you are looking for a ~not exactly light~ fantasy but won't feel too heavy on the heart, while still dealing with serious issues... i have good news: this is the next series for you :>
it’s still slow paced people, don't expect too many intense actions scenes, but I have since come to terms with that fact since i think it goes perfectly well with the build up of the story and the plot. if you have a problem with slow paced stories you might need to pull yourself through but this sequel was far more engaging, in my opinion, compared to the first book. It might also be because I was more attached to Henry and Ling but i was living for the Evie and Sam thing.
the plot feels more complex and layered, way less the stereotypical mystery that i did not care for in the first book. there were little tidbits that i expected but it was just so well executed that it didn’t matter to me because all the reactions were still coming out of me whether it was tears or screams. i might be overdramatic but i’m just happy i finally found a new book that makes me giddy again after a lot of disappointments.
while i did say to not expect intense action sequences, there are so many other aspects that were so intense to read about but at the same time, were fun and exciting... every chapter i was left wanting more.
THE ATMOSPHERE. just sucked me in and made me feel like I was in the 1920s *cough*racism*cough* but it was still easy to read/listen to. For most of the part it’s actually chill and like any other story except for the fact that you know a subplot is just lurking somewhere at first. Then you do get to the subplot and you’re like “oh, this is fine.” but by the end you’re gonna say “i expected this… but why am i still getting goosebumps”.
The way that libba bray made the DREAMS theme both whimsical and creepy is beyond me but I am living for it. The way she tied up the presence of ghosts with that ending…. *chef’s kiss*. If you’ve read it you know what I’m talking about. It’s obvious, but I was still creeped out.“For dreams, too, are ghosts, desires chased in sleep, gone by morning.”
— characters —
this is a public service announcement to those who did not like evie: she’s a little bit more bearable now… well, when she isn’t gushing about jericho when they have absolutely no chemistry at all and that built up was done poorly. BUT i am ON the sam x evie ship and sailing at full speeds ahead.
“In a city of 6 million dreams, Evie and Sam were the dreamiest,” This is a cheesy quote but you still bet it made me fangirl or in more accurate filipino term, “kilig”, over evie and sam. If you don’t know what that word means go search it up because there is no word for me to describe it in english.
(enemies -> friends -> lovers ... give it to me!) and enter my favourite romance trope: the fake relationship <3 you bet i was cheering them on.
there might be characters that i am biased of (henry, ling, theta) but all of them are written very distinctly and their own voices are so unique that i am dyinggg to know how they are going to manage working together in the future. i should also note that i’m pretty sure they are finally going to be a full team in the next few books and you have no idea how excited i am. it’s 40 hours worth of audiobooks before we got here but i am going to enjoy it.
Henry and Ling yessss!! the contrast between their characterizations was something i personally enjoyed and kept me going all throughout the book. their interactions are so pure and wholesome... to be honest he's is just that character you pair (platonically) with anyone and they will be my favourite duo of the book. in the first book, it him and theta so this theory is to be further tested in books 3 and 4.
it's not just henry and ling that were obvious contrasts, a lot of the other "pairs" were. it was so nice to read about them separately and helped create that layered plot i was talking about. there were so many things going on at one time but it never felt chunky. again: a very easy to follow multi-pov
i was.. surprised (in the good way)… at how mister bill johnson suddenly became this complex character whose motivation i completely understand but i just have no idea how far he is willing to go with… that.
there are a lot of tropes but they were written so well, with great built up and in a very atmospheric environment that i didn’t care if (some of) the characters themselves were a little cliche“The dead don’t scare me, it takes the living to do that,”
plus… january lavoy’s narration is to die for. one reason that I find the audiobooks for this series so appealing is that there seems to be this theme of a featured song(s) every book and january lavoy actually sings it like how it should feel. If it’s creepy, romantic, nostalgic, you’ll feel it.
Speaking of music, we need a dedicate second to just appreciate Henry. He got the spotlight that he deserves in this sequel and learning more about him, following his story, just made me want to send him to an island where he can live with Theta and [insert name of boy, i'm sorry i keep forgetting his name] forever away from all these ghosts.“There’s plenty of evil to fight in life without having to make up demons, devils, and ghosts.”
— diversity and depth —
the research and the obvious time that libba bray has poured over this series shows. even though i don’t have a degree in english lit or history, it’s obvious just based on the details and the world-building.
for an overview as far i understand: memphis and isaiah are black (+their family and more people mentioned in their neighborhood), ling is chinese (+again her family and her neighborhood). both neighborhoods were featured a lot especially ling’s family since this book does focus on ling
the sort of subtle but very present commentary on racism and prejudice was done so well and flawlessly written into the plot!!! there was also discussions on what people would do for money and conformation to society. setting the plot where it is in our timeline makes everything feel more tangible. it was important in that time period, it's important in this time period, it will always be an important discussion that needs to be placed in everybody's head. just the fact that those problems are still prevalent in our modern time should say a lot about the oppression lasting generations that need be stopped. i think it was explored really well especially when are in memphis' perspective but also just the prejudice that ling experiences, even though she was born on the same land... definitely needs to be thought about and i am glad that it was very present in this popular book.“i have never understood this obssession with where we are from, that we americans seem to have, we are from here, are we not?”
this is my last point but i just need to mention how beautifully i think the world building was executed once again. i only really learned to appreciate it in this second book but it was perfect because there was no point in the whole story wherein i felt "this was rushed" or "this part is laggy". even in the downtimes, i was still so curious and all the events felt important. it works up its way to every plot point and i am going to stop gushing about it now because i know that this won't be last time i talk about it since i still have 2 more books in this series to read.
amazing, phenomenal, important, character that you will love, will suck you in. read it!
this review was also way too long but thank you for reaching this part if you did“I would argue that every country is built upon dreams and violence, both leave scars.”
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GAHHHH. I THINK THIS IS AMAZING. BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK. GOT CREEPIER AND GAVE ME CHILLSSSS EVEN THOUGH I EXPECTED IT.
THE. BUILD. UP. WAS DONE SO PERFECTLY.
THE DIVERSITY. DIDNT FEEL FORCED.
REVIEW TO COME AFTER I GET SOME SHUT EYE because my review is currently a jumbled mess of notes and me screaming.
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REREAD JAN 2020:
Original review
some points
- in my original review, I say I liked this less than The Diviners, but on reread I liked it more
- EVIE O'NEILL
- Evie being drunk for like the entire showdown at the end #iconic #queen I love her so fucking much
- Sam Lloyd UWU
- Sam and Evie's fake romance easily the best part of this book
- NEEDED MORE MEMPHIS
- sorry to Henry but I find him ... not that funny? He's still my boy tho
- Mabel is so annoying lmao
- despise Jericho Jones
- the subplot about the government/diviners/conspiracy is the best part of the series
- i just lov the group dynamics
- evies relationship with James is probably my favourite thing
- evie's 'why can't the party go on forever' monologue to sam.... my fave of their interactions -
~ 2.5 stars ~
Buddy reading this series with wonderful
Yeganeh! I wouldn't have been able to get through this series without her. You can check out her review
HERE.
This book, and series in general is just wasted potential. It sets up interestingly, and then when things are supposed to become good, when the stakes are supposed to be high and my interest should be peaked the most, it ends up disappointing me. The execution for the plotline was weak and anticlimactic.
I did love the concept of this sleeping sickness and I do love the overall atmosphere of this series, which is why I was baffled at how underwhelming this book ended up being. There is no clear direction for the plot and I am finding it hard to care about what ends up happening to the characters.
Admittedly, I do like the banter and some of the character dynamics, but most of the characters individually fell flat. Henry, Ling, and Theta were the ones who intrigued me the most and the ones I genuinely wanted to read about. But on the other hand, Evie, our main character just annoys me and is barley likable or tolerable in my opinion.
Overall, I liked the first half of the book enough, and though I was disconnected from the story, I would not say that this book is one that is necessarily bad. There are redeeming aspects, but I need and want more than what I am getting. -
"For, what we do not study and reflect upon, we are in danger of dismissing and forgetting. What we forget, we are often doomed to repeat. Our ghosts, it seems, are always with us, whispering that attention must be paid.”
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ shook stars
Lair of Dreams is the direct sequel to The Diviners, a paranormal series that follows a diverse set of characters in the post-first world-war era, in New York City. The first book follows these characters as they meet and joins forces in a rather unconventional way to find the killer behind the most horrid murders in the city.
“the dreams are everywhere. From the first moment the people took their first breaths, they exhaled want until the air was thick with yearning.”
You see, in the first book I complained that, while the setting was vivid and peculiar, I thought we the essence of the 20s was barely touched upon (racism, homophobia, and sexism.) The second book focuses on racism against Chinese immigrants in the 1920s, informing the reader of the real-life events and laws, and the contagious fear of the ‘other’ that occurred, and still occurs today.
While being set in the 20s, this book manages to stay up to date with current events, which shows us, as readers, that things haven’t really changed, neither have people.
“There were ghosts everywhere in this country and no one seemed to notice. People danced while the dead watched them through the windows.”
Because Lair of Dreams isn’t a book about racism or rape, it’s a book about people, and these people’s lives aren’t shattered by their identities, or by what happened to them. These people manage to find acceptance and love in their friends and lovers, which brings a necessary light-heartedness to the story. Lair of Dream isn’t just a book that makes you check your privileges, it’s also a book that makes laugh, and swoon, as well as cry. This book is all of that and so much more that my words won’t even begin to cover, but if you are hesitant about this series, you shouldn’t be.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I absolutely adored Lair of Dreams and obviously gave it 5 stars. -
Spoilers
So boring. I enjoyed the first book but this one really didn't work for me. The story, characters, and relationships all fell flat.
-The plot dragged and dragged, I was waiting for something exciting to happen but nothing did. The main baddie/problem was some kind of sleeping sickness caused by ghosts that were greedy for dreams - it just wasn't interesting. At least the serial killer ghost in the first book was somewhat creepy and gave things a mysterious and dark edge, unlike the ghosts/sleeping sickness which wasn't even the slightest bit scary or interesting.
-None of the mysteries hooked me, they were just dull. I didn't care about the sleeping sickness, project buffalo, Jake Marlowe, the King of Crows or the stovepipe hat guy. Dull, dull, dull.
-Didn't much care about any of the characters, apart from Ling. They were all insufferable and/or boring/predictable/flat, most of them had no depth or engrossing qualities about them. The various romantic relationships didn't help, pretty much everyone was swooning over someone else and all the couples/potential couples had that cheesy he/she-is-my-true-lurve nonsense going on. I was expecting more actual story and less cliched romances. The absolute worst was Evie/Sam's fake romance which predictably turned from them kind of hating each other to them developing genuine feelings. I would have been more impressed if they'd realised their feelings were based on lust and nothing more, that would have actually been original.
-In the first book Evie was quite fun and likeable, in this one she was a whiny shallow irritant who was more concerned about fame, partying, and which boy to kiss. I hated her.
-Sam was the generic YA cocky whorey love interest who manipulated and used Evie every chance he got and then played the victim when he changed the rules of his/Evie's fake romance. Everything about him bored me, he was a huge cliche.
-Jericho was a dullard who did nothing but bitch and moan about Evie and Sam. He needed to get a life.
-Mabel was a desperate loser, all she did was pine and pant after Jericho when she knew full well he wasn't into her. Was I meant to feel sorry for her or something? She was a pathetic little cretin. It was obvious Jericho had no interest in her whatsoever, but the silly cow kept chasing him and then when he rejected her she got all bitter about it. She had no right to feel wronged when he'd made her no promises, she wasn't owed anything. She was a silly little loser.
-Really liked Ling, hated her at first but she grew on me by the end. I loved her friendship with Henry, it wasn't forced like all the other relationships in the story.
-Theta and Memphis's romance was unbelievably dull, they had no chemistry whatsoever.
-How stupid was Theta deciding to work in showbiz and pose for newspaper articles and whatnot when she was supposed to be in hiding from her abusive ex?! What an idiot.
-How did Ling not figure out Louis was a ghost? She had no trouble identifying other ghosts in the dreamworld so why couldn't she tell Louis was one? She spent enough time with him to more than figure it out. She only realised it towards the end when she should have clocked on straight away. Ling's convenient inability to recognise Loius as a ghost just seemed like a cheap way to keep Henry blissfully happy in the dreamworld so that he could experience some lame heartbreak, drama and angst when he found out the truth. Ugh.
-I found it kind of cliched how the main cast had such arty/entertainment type jobs/ambitions. Memphis with his poetry, Henry with his songwriting, Theta with her dancing, and Evie with her radio show. It just made me roll my eyes.
-The letters Jericho/Mabel found read more like stories than letters, there was dialogue and even descriptions of facial expressions. Yea, I don't think anyone writes letters like that.
-The unnecessary, repetitive POVs from random people who were dying/being attacked were so pointless and boring. The first few times were more than enough to set the scene of the coming danger/bad guy, there was no need for all the other random POVs.
-All the themes of racism, religion, fame and success were written in such a predictable and trite way.
-The random British-isms dropped in her and there felt out of place and didn't fit in with the setting/characters.
Ugh, I don't know how Lair of Dreams managed to fail on every level when The Diviners had so much going for it. All the charm and engrossing elements just disappeared. I'll probably only read the third one for completion's sake. -
DNF at 180 pages.
I’m obviously in the minority with my review but I’m really struggling to pick this book up.
I just can't get into Lair of Dreams. It could be that the span between when I read this book and The Diviners has been too long.
By the way, I liked The Diviners so I really wanted to give this book and series a shot!
But I read the first book over 6 years ago.
This could be one of those warnings to fellow readers that you shouldn't wait too long to read books in a series!
I couldn't remember any of the characters or the original plot of this series when I first started Lair of Dreams.
Because of that, I stuck in there.
Slowly, some of the characters started coming back but the overall plot of this book isn’t pulling me in.
One thing that I had issue with the most was the characters. Most seemed shallow and cheesy.
Only two characters really jumped out at me in terms of originality and that was Ling & Henry. They were at least not one dimensional.
I’m bummed too because I like paranormal themed books and historical fiction!!
A paranormal book that's set in the 1920s should work for me but it's not.
Another issue in the writing was the multiple side plots and lag time in Lair of Dreams.
And holy smokes does this book draaaaaaag.
I don't have issues with big books but Libba Bray could have cut about 150-200 pages from this book to get to the point. It wasn't a "world building" issue either.
In my opinion, I feel like there is a lot of unnecessary jumping around from character to character and not really furthering the plot from when I stopped reading this.
I think the main theme was about sleepwalking and unable to wake up from your dreams. I really wanted more of that plot and not all the unnecessary drama of the characters.
Maybe it gets better?! In conclusion, I'm moving on. -
“For dreams, too, are ghosts, desires chased in sleep, gone by morning. The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.”
WARNING: This review contains a few spoilers to The Diviners.
Once you get hooked by this series, it is very difficult to move on. It’s like my brain and my heart got stuck in the 1920s with the fictional people in this book. It has all the ingredients to catch your attention. The characters are fun and lovable, the mystery is very curious, there’s also a bit of science fiction, and somehow, the government is involved in covering things up. All these things led me to hours of googling just so I could further understand and unearth the facts of the Jazz Age that the author cleverly weaved into her story.
Lair of Dreams is the sequel to Libba Bray’s
The Diviners. The story starts a few months after the ending of the first book wherein Evie O’Neill, now known as the Sweetheart Seer, is very famous for her ability of reading objects. This book doesn’t focus that much on Evie but there’s a lot of her in the pages. Instead, the story talks about Sam as he searches for his mother with the help of Evie, and Henry and Ling as they walk through dreams. Meanwhile, people are dying because of a sleeping sickness.
Like the first installment of this series, Lair of Dreams is gorgeously-written. The difference between the two of them is that this goes kind of slower. So if you thought that the pacing of The Diviners was already too slow, I guess you may not enjoy this. In the first chapter of the first book, readers would already know who the antagonist/villain would be for that installment, but in this book you don’t. Reading this is like walking blindly or with eyes closed. You have to wait until someone hits your head with a little stone, or walk until you step on dog crap, and then you’ll have an idea where you are at the moment. I don’t know if you would take that description positively or negatively but it felt that way. It has its perks though; it makes the story more thrilling.
What didn’t work for me is that it was not as creepy as the first book. It’s about dream walks and it depends on the scene you’re reading if it’s going to be eerie or not. I think when it comes to the concept of the problem at hand, I prefer the first book. But when it comes to the development of the characters and the mystery factor, I prefer this one.
I adore almost every one of the characters now. I think I’m starting to get attached to them as well. My favorite characters are Sam, Evie, and Henry. Yes, I do have favorite characters in this series now!
Henry Dubois IV is one of them main characters of this sequel. Unlike before, wherein he was just like Theta’s shadow, Henry gained more importance in the plot. He was still the same kind, loving, and caring guy, except that this time I got to see the bigger picture of his story before he went to New York. It broke my heart.
Ling Chan is a new character. Ling, like Memphis, is experiencing the side effects of racism for being of a different race, a Chinese, in that time in America. She was really tough but at the same time chooses who to fight against, and I like that about her. I like how her friendship with Henry developed because Ling is the kind of girl that is not-that-friendly.
FINALLY Mabel Rose’s character is developing and I’m starting to like her! She’s starting to act on her own and I really appreciate it. I just really hope that this continues on.
Blind Bill Johnson was now turning creepy and annoying. I am not happy with how mysterious he is. I don’t know what he wants, and based on his actions, I am quite confused if he is really a bad guy or not.
Sam Lloyd is my most favorite Character! I LOVE HIM. He’s really funny and swoon-worthy. More things about him unraveled and I love how his character is getting more of the spotlight. I love how he interacts with the other characters, especially Evie. He’s the kind of guy you would want to follow everywhere for an adventure.
Will Fitzgerald and Margaret Walker were out of the story for ninety-five percent of the book. There’s a big mystery growing behind the curtains that I would love to figure out. I have no idea what they were up to and I could not wait for the next book.
I want to talk about the many ships of this awesome novel so far. First is Sam and Evie. Let me start with a shout from the rooftop: I AM PROUDLY CHANGING MY SHIP!!! I am so happy to change from the Evie-and-Jericho ship to the Evie-and-Sam’s, but at the same time I am also really scared because there are still two more books in the series and there’s a possibility that my ship would sink. This is why I avoid books with love triangles as much as possible. Anyway, what I like about the two of them is that they are really hilarious together. I am utterly entertained by their banters and arguments. I could not help but swoon.“…Let’s say the tables were turned. If I were about to walk off a cliff, what would you do?”
Evie pursed her lips. “Push?”
*Sighs* They are so adorable! I really do hope that Evie ends up with Sam.
Next is Theta and Memphis. I loved these two now more than how much I loved them in the first book. Their situation is very realistic. The issue of racism that the two of them are dealing with since Theta is White and Memphis is Black is something that touched my heart. If I remember correctly, I think Memphis was half-Haitian. I want to hug the two of them and tell them that everything will be okay. Theta and Memphis are really strong together and that’s what I like most about them. It’s like they could go through anything and everything as long as they have each other.
I still have mixed feelings towards pairing Jericho with Mabel. I might ship them in the future. I haven’t decided yet.
I didn’t expect the twists that led to the climax and conclusion of this installment. My eyes almost jumped out of their sockets in shock. I could give it a standing ovation. Also, I was crying, almost bawling like a baby, as my heart was twisting inside my chest. Apologies to my cousin who lend me her book; I tried my best to dry the tear stains.
There are so many things to wait for in the third installment! I wonder what will happen to Theta and to Jericho. I want someone to ship with Henry and I would love to see more of how he would be able to rise to fame. Who is the Man in the Stovepipe Hat? What do the two men in the sedan want? And also, I don’t know if this should be any of my concern but… Is James really dead? What happened to him? He’s been dead since the very beginning but I am really curious about what happened to him.
I can’t wait for the next book! I highly recommend this to everyone actually because I really love it. If you like history, particularly set in the 1920s, if you like mystery, then you have to read The Diviners series. It will pique your curiosity and leave you with a hangover.
Updates/Theories (December 28, 2016 – Audible)
Here is a list of my theories on the next two books of the series:
