While I believe Before the Devil Breaks you to be another huge success, it dragged and I did not get as emotional as I thought I would but that might be me not the book. Anyhow, I digress, if you have not read The Diviners by Libba Bray yet, you are missing out and you need to hop to it
I give this book a 4/5, spoilers under the break
THINGS I DISLIKED
- I am so tired of the “I can’t be with you for _____ reason so I’m gonna break up with you and purposely make you hate me, therefore effectively destroying your heart and mine because I don’t know how to properly communicate” trope and it has happened multiple times within these books. Multiple. Times. Between Theta and Memphis in this one but I believe it was the same deal for Evie and Jericho when they were still a thing. This trope needs to die.
- I wish Sam and Evie would’ve waited like they almost did. I think it would’ve sent a better message of “it is okay to be nervous or afraid and it’s okay to wait” I mean, at least she kinda got it in there but she ruined its impact by having them go through with it anyways
- I am so happy Ling is asexual! Like, so happy! But she also falls under the normal stereotypes for asexuality and while that is still totally okay because that is Ling’s character and it makes sense, I would still like some diverse ace’s that do not follow under normal stereotypes!
- Transitions. Sometimes this book lacked them. They weren't unpleasant but they were kinda awkward. Like one moment Bill is there saving the day, and then there’s like zero closure for what he did and then he's just gone because Memphis and Theta are too busy snogging. Sometimes it just switches perspectives too quickly without putting resolve to what was just happening, you know what I mean? It just felt disjointed and fake.
- This book is huge and it can have it’s slow moving parts. I’m busy with school and was constantly pushing homework away to finish this book and by the time I was near the end, I was more focused on finishing than mourning and being sad over the characters. This is a personal issue but one that affected my enjoyment of the book nonetheless. I wish I had had more time to enjoy it and experience it
- Also, as a side note, if she continues to screw the relationships in the next book and doesn't let them settle like they’re starting too, I'm fighting.
THINGS I REALLY DIGGED
- DID I MENTION LING IS ASEXUAL AND ALSO SHE IS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED AS A LESBIAN (I KNEW IT!!!) AND NOTHING BETTER HAPPEN BETWEEN HER AND ALMA AND ALSO I WANT MORE OF HER AND ALMA
- Honestly I had zero trust or respect for Arthur. Until he used a condom. I still didn’t trust him, but I respected him a whole lot more after that and I came to genuinely believe he cared for Mabel. Of course that doesn't excuse what he pulled Mable into and the choices he made. Make no mistake, I did not think Arthur was a good man.
- Although they all got there supernaturally fast, I love the scene where the gang stopped Theta from killing Roy and they all went to eat afterwards
- I’m glad Bill isn't so morally gray anymore and we can trust him to at least watch out for the Campbell's
- I love how facetted Marlowe is. He is a despicable human being but he can be so deceiving.
- I love Ling and Henry's relationship, gah, it's so perfect
MISCELLANEOUS
- Whatever happened to Jericho lol he completely disappeared, I thought he would’ve gotten to the gang before the end but I guess not
- Okay so I hated Evie and Sam as anything more than friends in the first two books, but after the events with Jericho (RIP my ship) and how much more supportive I felt like Sam was in this book, I’m okay with them being together
- Sarah Snow’s backstory like what
- Who is the creepy little girl in Nebreska?????
- Luther Clayton didn't deserve that
- Conor Flynn did not deserve that
- MABESIE DID NOT DESERVE THAT
- Jericho didn't deserve that either like crap man, talk about effed up
- Will did not deserve that like I’m actually super sad??? I really really liked Will and I miss when he and Evie were close??
- They shoud’ve listened to the ghosts instead of destroying them smh
- Also so is the ghost problem eradicated or??? Because they dissipated after that whole roller coaster of a party but they’re obviously still a threat??? I need to reread
- I’m more sad about Memphis’ burned recommendation letter than I am about Papa Charles dying
- So I totally thought Roy was gonna be a ghost because how else would Theta have gotten all those notes without anyone saying anything or seeing anything. I’m honestly still low key convinced he's just a very corporeal ghost whoops
- I’ll miss Adelaide Proctor
- It’s so weird that the King of Crows is an active character now and not an abstract ghost at the edge of the story
Anyways thanks for reading my rambling and subpar grammar, I’m sure there are things I’m forgetting to mention, feel free to add your own
