You know that feeling, when you completely fall head over heels in love with a book, that you have no idea how to express just how amazing you think it is, other than being very, very glad there's a whole series to look forward to? This, and more, is how The Diviners made me feel.
In The Diviners, we are taken back to 1920s New York. It is a city full of wonder and dreams and possibilities and is a whole world away from boring old Ohio, where Evie O'Neill has been exiled from by her parents after her antics of revealing a damaging secret about the town's golden boy. Evie could not have been more thrilled about leaving the backwards town behind and embraces the chance to be somebody in that great big city where dreams come alive. She moves in with her uncle, the curator of the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition and the Occult, and here her adventures begin.
But there are strange things afoot in the city and Evie, her uncle Will and a cast of other interesting characters are drawn further into these unusual happenings when they are enlisted to help the police investigate a series of occult murders.
The Diviners is an enormous book which can appear extremely daunting, but do not let yourself be intimidated! It is a worthy read which I devoured in two days simply because I could not put it down (aided by some hot weather that made it hard to sleep). Ms. Bray has created a fascinating, intricately woven world of the supernatural, mingled with the culture of 1920s New York City and hidden from the masses. The backstory was brilliant and it is evident this novel was well researched. The plot was ever building and suspenseful, the writing full of evocative imaging that will send a chill or two up your spine. Not for the faint of heart, I found as I delved further into the story and was presented with some grisly details that only made the story seem more authentic.
You know you've encountered a talented writer when they take something you wouldn't believe if someone told you it was true - and makes it really damn believable. Hell, I want to believe in Seers and Healers and all sorts of Diviners!
This book played host to a number of characters, all unique and interesting in their own way. Some of them are confused, some are empowered by what they can do, some use their talents for good and others not so good. All of them are searching for something. Their personal histories are elaborate but engaging and important. I'm looking forward to the forthcoming books in this series and following the characters and story through further developments and to see where it all leads.
A thrilling, exciting read of all those 'things that go bump in the night'. Fantastic.