Looking back over my past blog posts, I see that this will be my be my third review of a Libba Bray book. She is one of my favorite authors after all. I recently finished her Before the Devil Breaks You, the third book in her Diviners series. I believe there is to be one more book in the series. Usually I have a hard time rating books and avoid doing so, but I did give this one 4 stars on Good Reads. I thoroughly enjoy her writing. The series is about a group of young people that have special abilities. One can read an object's past when she touches it. Another can heal. Another can keep people from seeing him. There are two that can walk in dreams, etc. Not necessarily a new idea, but Libba Bray makes it her own. The books take place during the 1920s, the age of prohibition and flappers, and sure enough we see plenty of drinking and partying. In addition to the special abilities there are ghosts, sleeping sicknesses, and other paranormal bits. There are also important issues, such as racial and LBTQ inequalties and workers rights. These books work it all in. The haunting King of Crows, in his tall stovepipe hat, acts as the antagonist of the stories, though he's mostly in the background. I imagine he's going to come to the forefront in the final book. So to summarize, flappers, powers, ghosts, mysteries, bit of romance, ethical issues, and superb writing ability, makes for a top notch young adult series that I highly recommend.
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