Book Review #80 – Lair of Dreams, by Libba Bray

Hello readers!

My review today is about Lair of Dreams, by Libba Bray.

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I read The Diviners last summer and was absolutely blown away by it. It was beautiful and scary and everything I really wanted in a book. I love the Jazz Age, specially in New York, and paranormal so this series has me completely hooked. Lair of Dreams is the second volume.

New York City has been attacked by a mysterious virus: the sleeping sickness. While this can be trivial to someone like Evie O’Neill, the most popular of the Diviners, others like Henry DuBois and Ling Chan, dream walkers, are in the center of all this danger.

What surprised me the most, and it was pretty clear from page one, is that this book isn’t about Evie, like the first volume was. You’re used to having series following the same main character throughout every book, but this is not the case. The Diviners is an ensamble series, and all of the powered people are the main characters in this story. Although I love Evie, she isn’t a particularly nice or a good person in this book, so I’m glad the spotlight was on someone else. Specially if that someone is as cool and amazing as Ling. She’s my new favourite. But, at the same time, the attention fell too much on her and Henry, and I felt like it neglected other characters, like Memphis and Theta, my otp. You barely see them half of the book.

Although I loved the plot of this book, I have a few problems with it. Mostly, it’s too slow. I would personally cut some chapters out, since I don’t see how they’re that important or relevant to the whole story. And the other thing is, it wasn’t as scary as I was expecting. The Diviners was hella scary, like crazy scary. But this one wasn’t as much. I have bad dreams constantly. Seriously, I think I’ve had more nightmares than good dreams in the course of my life. Since the topic is close to me, I was expecting to feel a bit more threatened. But I never really got the full sense of that.

But my favourite thing about this series is still the amazing written of Bray. She captures that time perfectly. I love how the characters talk, all the expressions and mannerisms particular to that time really make you feel like you’re there. The little things made my day. And in this book she makes constant amazing arguments about dreams, chasing them, and their importance in american culture.

Besides the sleeping sickness plot, there’s also a lot of stuff that ties in the whole Diviner story. There’s Sam’s mom, Will and his work in the Paranormal Division, the mysterious men in black, Blind Bill’s story and the King of Crows. Those little details and progression in the story seemed at times a bit random but I was really interested in them. I just wish they were more deepened but I guess I’ll have to wait for the other books!

Honestly, I really liked this book. It’s massive but I powered through it like nothing. It was entertaining and a very good sequel. It didn’t touch me quite in the same way as The Diviners did but it’s an amazing book nevertheless. I’m so posi-tu-te-ly excited to continue the series!!

Here’s a beautiful quote:

For dreams, too, are ghosts, desires chased in sleep, gone by morning. The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

Any Diviners fans out there? Tell me your thoughts on this book!

Until next time,

Cat.