Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners #3) Review

Hello, all!

I fell in love with The Diviners series by Libba Bray last year (you can read the reviews of the first two books here and here) and this third book, Before the Devil Breaks You, quickly became my favorite.

*Potential spoilers ahead*

Pub Date: 10-3-17
YA - Paranormal/Historical Fiction

After defeating a sleeping sickness that threatened to take two of their own, the Diviners have decided they've had enough of being fed lies. Evie and the gang have been pushed to their limits battling one supernatural foe after the other, and all they have to show for it is more questions. When they're once again faced with a mysterious enemy, they're more determined than ever to get to the bottom of how exactly their powers came to be and just to what extent they can use them. The Diviners agree to work with Evie's uncle Will and his partner Sister Walker to hone their abilities, but nothing can prepare them for the terror they're about to face.

Away from the bustle of the city lies Ward's Island, a mental institution full of lost souls and people long forgotten. When murders start cropping up and cries of hauntings start making their way around the city, the Diviners step in to investigate and come face-to-face with the sinister King of Crows. With long-buried secrets finally coming to light, the Diviners will find their loyalties and relationships tested as they are forced to question everything they've ever been told. All the while, dark forces have been gathering which will threaten not only the Diviners but the entire nation itself.

I was initially a little wary going into this because I found the beginning a little slow and it took me longer to fully fall into the story, but boy when I did, I fell hard. Bray is out here messing with everyone's emotions. Let's start with the plot itself. The ghostly aspect was so unnerving and it made this one the creepiest yet. It's so atmospheric and there were times the suspense had me on the edge of my seat. Then there was the character growth and development. I loved how this one seemed to focus more on Mabel and Theta and enjoyed how they got their time to shine. Especially Theta because I just think she's great and has this fascinating backstory and power. Then there's just the writing itself. I'm always so impressed with how Bray weaves together a story that is somehow true to the period while also feeling like it represents the modern-day as well. She doesn't shy away from depicting darker topics such as racism, bigotry, classism, or homophobia and I think that's so important. My favorite part of this though was learning more about the history of Project Buffalo and how all the Diviners came to be and how it ties into the King of Crows was so compelling. Even though this answered some of my questions from the first two books, it left me with so many more and I can't wait to see how it all plays out in the final book.

Rating: 5/5