The WordSmithe
I love a good book! Young Adult, New Adult, Adult and nearly any genre. If it’s well-written, I’ll read it. And, I love to talk about what I’ve written.
I have a WIP–a new adult dystopian novel. I’m also exploring short fiction.
Find my reviews here, on Wordpress, on Tumblr, on Facebook (The Word Smithe), Goodreads.com, and Amazon.
If you’re an author and you’d like me to review your book, just drop me a line. I’ll be happy to read an ARC. I always give an honest review. And, even if I didn’t particularly go crazy for your story, I will stay positive. I believe something redeeming can be found in nearly every book.
Pos-i-tute-ly Outstanding
Libba Bray’s The Diviners is a brilliantly awesome historical paranormal! It is creepy and well-written with very strong imagery. This epic tale was very well-researched and included snippets of all of Bray’s efforts.
I loved the characters! My favorites were Evie, Theta, Memphis, Sam and Jericho. Evie was the perfect protagonist. She was strong with tons of spunk and moxie. She was surrounded by a cast of complex, well-developed characters. Theta, Memphis and Sam were tortured souls with survival instincts embedded in their DNA. The epitome of tortured souls was Jericho who was simply a victim of circumstance. He never asked for the life he was given, and Evie accepted him just the way he was.
Bray ingeniously worked in so much research in every detail. The nightlife in Manhattan and Harlem, the buildings and even the fashion at the time. She even placed a thread of steampunk in this tale. I won’t divulge how she did it. I don’t want to give away any of this fabulous story.
Mind you The Diviners is a lengthy tome. Nearly 600 pages, but it’s so worth the read!
My favorite passage in Bray’s imaginative story was delivered by Will, Evie’s uncle: “There is no greater power on this earth than story….People think boundaries and borders build nations. Nonsense–words do. Beliefs, declarations, constitutions–words. Stories. Myths. Lies. Promises. History.”
Simply outstanding!
The second book, Lair of Dreams, is due this month.
