Review: Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners #3) by Libba Bray

Summary from Goodreads:

New York City.
1927.
Lights are bright.
Jazz is king.
Parties are wild.
And the dead are coming...

After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that early claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough of lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward's Island, far from the city's bustle, sits a mental hospital haunted by the lost souls of people long forgotten--ghosts who have unusual and dangerous ties to the man in the stovepipe hat, also known as the King of Crows.


With terrible accounts of murder and possession flooding in from all over, and New York City on the verge of panic, the Diviners must band together and brave the sinister ghosts invading the asylum, a fight that will bring them fact-to-face with the King of Crows. But as the explosive secrets of the past come to light, loyalties and friendships will be tested, love will hang in the balance, and the Diviners will question all that they've ever known. All the while, malevolent forces gather from every corner in a battle for the very soul of a nation--a fight that could claim the Diviners themselves. 

My Review:



What I Liked:

Characters. The main reason I adore this series is the brilliant characters that Bray has created. I can't pick just one that I love because she has created so many great and unique/diverse characters. 

Audiobook. I read the majority of the novel in audiobook format and I recommend checking it out. The narrator does an amazing job voicing all of the various characters and it is easy to get sucked right into the story. 

Plot/Historical Elements. Bray has created such an ambitious and amazing plot, that incorporates american history and paranormal elements. She manages to mix together fiction and historical elements in a balanced way. I'm glad that this series was not a trilogy because I don't want to leave these characters just yet, and it is such an intensive plot it needs more than three novels to tell it. 

World Building. Bray has crafted a great paranormal series that takes place in a realistic setting (New York). It has the feeling of magical realism because of the mixture of a real setting, the historical elements of the period, with the paranormal elements. But the main reason it is such a great series is how well Bray has created and expanded on the paranormal/powers of the characters. 

Writing. 

Cliffhangers/Twists. Bray had me on the edge of my seat by the end of the novel. She answered questions but also left the fate of characters hanging in a way that has me excited for book four.  

Atmosphere/Horror. It could be because of the audiobook format but this time around the horror element was done extremely well and sections of it were utterly frightening. Bray was able to craft an eerie setting and terrifying creatures that had my skin crawling while I was listening to the audiobook and reading the print version.  

What I Disliked:

Love Triangle/Sexual Content. I won't spoil anything, just be warned that it includes a love triangle with some of the main characters. Plus this one has more adult scenes than the others in the series. 

I recommend checking out this well-crafted and intense paranormal series and I suggest listening to the amazing audiobook! :)

My Rating:

5 Stars Out of 5 Stars