Book Review – Before the Devil Breaks You (Diviners #3) by Libba Bray

I read the third book of The Diviners, Before the Devil Breaks You in anticipation of the last book of The Diviners series, The King of Crows, which comes out February 4, 2020. This series just gets better and better with each installment. SPOILER WARNING!!! If you haven’t read the first two books of The Diviners series then stop here…Spoilers ahead!

About The Book 📚

Title: Before the Devil Breaks You

Author: Libba Bray

Publication Date: 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Suggested Reader Age: 16+

Genre: YA Fantasy (Paranormal), Historical Fiction

My Review

› February, New York City, 1927. Memphis (the healer), Isaiah (seer), Evie (object reader), Jericho, pickpocket Sam, Ling (dream walker), Henry (dream walker), Mabel (Evie’s friend), Theta (Memphis’s girlfriend) are at the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult. A Diviners meeting has been called by Evie’s Uncle, Professor William Fitzgerald (the Museum Director) and Dr. Margaret Walker (known as “Sister Walker”). Will called the meeting to give them a message…

“Evil has entered our world. A force from beyond. It is spreading across the country, getting worse by the day.”

The Diviners are trying to figure out the source of their powers, determine who the man in the stovetop hat is, and how the ghosts are showing up all over the country. Also, Sam still wants to know more about Project Buffalo and discover what happened to his mother. There’s also some shady stuff going on with Blind Bill Johnson and Isaiah.

“Bill let the power trickle down from his shoulder to his fingers and into Isaiah, connecting them…”

Famous inventor, Jake Marlowe, is bribing Jericho in order to make him be a part of Marlowe’s “Future of America Exhibition” which will be coming to town in a few months. Jericho is still in love with Evie, Evie has feelings for Jericho, yet there’s still something about Sam. Sam shoots his way up to one of my favourite characters (and Jericho makes his way to the bottom). Henry is heartbroken over Louis and trying to help Ling figure out how she feels about a certain sexy performer.

We still don’t know who the Shadow Men are, or why they’re following Evie and Sam. AND Mabel gets involved with a resistance group who are trying to show how Marlowe is mistreating mine workers. She’s sick of being in the background and is faced with the question of whether the end justifies the means.

“Didn’t you have to break the rules to win against the Devil?”

› Theta and Memphis‘s romance is so wonderful. They are my favourite relationship. Her struggle with accepting her past and her identity is emotional.
Dearest Theta, Eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, Symbol of Eternity, My Creole Princess, Today I saw your face in every crowd…I can’t say what the future holds. That is my brother’s gift, not mine. I only know my heart as picked yours from the multitude, a secret sign, a small piece of the Divine, and it will not let go.”

› The scenes at the Asylum are thrilling and The Diviners will finally come face-to-face with the King of Crows.

› Final Thoughts
• Before the Devil Breaks You is not just a fluffy YA novel about superpowers. This thrilling read deals with some heavy topics like racism, sexism, immigration, abuse, murder, and sexual assault and carries a message of HOPE. It reminded me of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo and The Renegades series by Marissa Meyer (which reminds me I still need to read book 2 and 3) and The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! FIVE STARS!