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Before the Devil Breaks You
(The Diviners #3)
by
New York City.
1927.
Lights are bright.
Jazz is king.
Parties are wild.
And the dead are coming...
After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward's Island, far f ...more
1927.
Lights are bright.
Jazz is king.
Parties are wild.
And the dead are coming...
After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward's Island, far f ...more
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Hardcover, 552 pages
Published
October 3rd 2017
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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Rachel
October 3rd 2017!!!! And it now has a cover!
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners, #3)
AMAZING FANTASTIC WONDERFUL SPECTACULAR
I seriously love The Diviners series so much and Before The Devil Breaks You was no exception. Libba Bray is genuinely one of the most talented young adults authors to ever exist. I'm blown away by her ability to masterfully create an ever-expanding, historically accurate, well developed world with complete, well-rounded interesting characters.
I am DYING for book four. ...more
I seriously love The Diviners series so much and Before The Devil Breaks You was no exception. Libba Bray is genuinely one of the most talented young adults authors to ever exist. I'm blown away by her ability to masterfully create an ever-expanding, historically accurate, well developed world with complete, well-rounded interesting characters.
I am DYING for book four. ...more
“He’ll be looking for you,” the boy said, drawing Henry’s attention again. “He’s looking for all of us. You should go now. Before he sees you. Before he finds you.”
Before the Devil Breaks You is such a perfect creepy book for Halloween. I have been taking a little longer to read this than I usually would, but that is because I have been savouring it (hell knows when we'll get the next one!), wanting to linger as long as possible in the glitzy, jazz-filled horrors of this paranormal 1920s New ...more
Dec 14, 2017
Elle (ellexamines)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
y-2017releases,
z-2018reads,
x-audiobook,
nonfiction,
z-2018favs,
identity,
sff-specfic,
5-star,
x-series
Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him.
So earlier this year, just in CASE you’ve never heard from me before, I spent several weeks this year dedicating my life to the audiobook narration of Libba Bray’s Diviners series. and I’m trash!!
I think what I like about this series is how it makes the personal political. This is a story set in the freaking 1920s, a time that could easily be whitewashed dry of racism and discrimination. Easy to make unpolitical. But this ...more
Oct 09, 2017
Chelsea (chelseadolling reads)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
books-ive-reread,
queer
Re-read 2/3/20: Y'all, this series, MY FAVORITE SERIES OF ALL TIME, concludes tomorrow and I AM NOT READY FOR ALL OF THE TEARS THAT I KNOW ARE TO COME. I love all of these characters so, so much and I am NOT READY to find out how everything turns out for my children pls send hugs and prayers oh my GOD
Re-read 10/10/19: Forever crying over this series, I just love it so damn much. I cannot believe the final book with ALL OF THE ANSWERS is coming out in just a few short months!!!! I'm nervous but S ...more
Re-read 10/10/19: Forever crying over this series, I just love it so damn much. I cannot believe the final book with ALL OF THE ANSWERS is coming out in just a few short months!!!! I'm nervous but S ...more
May 22, 2018
✨ jamieson ✨
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
2018-reads,
audiobook,
historical-fiction,
lgbtqiap,
favorites,
gay-mc,
owned-books,
romance,
paranormal,
2020-reads
REREAD 2020 i lov my bitches so much
okay I love this series so much and just thinking about how it could be 2 years until the finale comes out makes me want to check out and live in a cave and this was me favourite of the series, which is an unpopular opinion. But oh my GOD the payoff !! the character development !! the threads coming together !! ...more
“The land is old, the land is vast, he has no future, he has no past, his coat is sewn with many woes, he'll bring the dead, the King of Crows.”
okay I love this series so much and just thinking about how it could be 2 years until the finale comes out makes me want to check out and live in a cave and this was me favourite of the series, which is an unpopular opinion. But oh my GOD the payoff !! the character development !! the threads coming together !! ...more
Oct 01, 2019
Melanie
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Melanie by:
Madalyn (Novel Ink)
Shelves:
young-adult,
lgbtqiap,
historical,
ghosts,
paranormal,
buddy-reads,
read-in-2019,
romance,
fantasy,
f-f
Nov 17, 2017
Trina (Between Chapters)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
2017,
supernaturals,
trigger-abusive-romance,
young-adult,
historical,
2017-favorites,
2020,
audiobooks
Content warning: abusive romance; attempted rape; human experimentation; racism and prejudices toward disability, mental illness, and same sex relationships that are a depiction of the time period. All of these things are quickly challenged and not glamorized.
Representation: African American main characters. Jewish main character. Irish/Chinese American, disabled (uses crutches), asexual main character with a f/f romance. Gay main character with a m/m romance. I believe one main character is sai ...more
Representation: African American main characters. Jewish main character. Irish/Chinese American, disabled (uses crutches), asexual main character with a f/f romance. Gay main character with a m/m romance. I believe one main character is sai ...more
Definitely my favourite so far!
Also, the audiobooks are really special, please give this series a listen.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, attempted rape, racism, prejudice against interracial and same-sex relationships, mental health, disability.
Also, the audiobooks are really special, please give this series a listen.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, attempted rape, racism, prejudice against interracial and same-sex relationships, mental health, disability.
“This is a book about ghosts, for we live in a haunted house.”
Only Libba Bray could make me burst into tears during an author’s note. Before the Devil Breaks You is not only an amazing continuation of a phenomenal series - but also an incredibly important and timely book.
Only Libba Bray could make me burst into tears during an author’s note. Before the Devil Breaks You is not only an amazing continuation of a phenomenal series - but also an incredibly important and timely book.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS
Libba Bray has stepped up her game SO hard. This is one of my favorite novels of 2017. She speaks out about the ghosts of American history and how it haunts the world. She speaks out against racism in the 20's and denounces anti-immigration rhetoric that is used often at that time.
Ugh. It was great.
WARNING: There is a sexual assault scene in the chapter The Übermensch. Please take care of yourself when you read this. This scene was unnecessary and I'm upset that it was ...more
Libba Bray has stepped up her game SO hard. This is one of my favorite novels of 2017. She speaks out about the ghosts of American history and how it haunts the world. She speaks out against racism in the 20's and denounces anti-immigration rhetoric that is used often at that time.
Ugh. It was great.
WARNING: There is a sexual assault scene in the chapter The Übermensch. Please take care of yourself when you read this. This scene was unnecessary and I'm upset that it was ...more
I'M. NOT. OKAY.
“We are a country built by immigrants, dreams, daring, and opportunity. We are a country built by the horrors of slavery and genocide, the injustice of racism and exclusion. These realities exist side by side. It is our past and our present. The future is unwritten. This is a book about ghosts. For we live in a haunted house.”
Libba Bray's Before the Devil Breaks You dug me up a grave and I am now properly haunting its vicinity!
The Diviners have started exercising t ...more
Dec 16, 2015
Cameron Cassidy
marked it as to-read
Libba officially announced today DIVINERS #3 is coming out spring 2017!!!! Commence the heavy breathing
Edit-
Fall 2017 NOOOOOOOOO!! Libba POR QUÉ! PORQUOI! PER CHE! ПОЧЕМУ! WARUM! يلهجضصرِ! WHY IN EVERY LANGUAGE!!
Edit-
Fall 2017 NOOOOOOOOO!! Libba POR QUÉ! PORQUOI! PER CHE! ПОЧЕМУ! WARUM! يلهجضصرِ! WHY IN EVERY LANGUAGE!!
“Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him.”
Oh hell, I’m impressed. This was by far the best book in The Diviners series, having exceeded my expectations by a considerable amount. The character development paired with the constantly moving plot and relentless new revelations made for something really great.
In this instalment, the Diviners band together in order to take on the threat of lurking spirits. All over the country, people have begun reporting visions of ghosts and ...more
2020 reread:
Oddly, this book was not my favorite the second go round. I still obviously loved it, but I think I like book 2 the best now! I am dying to get to King of Crows now after that cliffhanger.
I reread as part of the Diviners Club readalong. You can watch our liveshow discussion on my channel: https://youtu.be/dmOX1ZOdpyk
Booktube | Instagram | Twitter
--
2017 read:
THIS
BOOK
RUINED
MY
LIFE
...in the best way possible. This series seriously keeps getting better and better. I don't even know ho ...more
Oddly, this book was not my favorite the second go round. I still obviously loved it, but I think I like book 2 the best now! I am dying to get to King of Crows now after that cliffhanger.
I reread as part of the Diviners Club readalong. You can watch our liveshow discussion on my channel: https://youtu.be/dmOX1ZOdpyk
Booktube | Instagram | Twitter
--
2017 read:
THIS
BOOK
RUINED
MY
LIFE
...in the best way possible. This series seriously keeps getting better and better. I don't even know ho ...more
Oct 09, 2017
Roshani Chokshi
added it
This series. Y'all. It's phenomenal. Beautiful, timely, intoxicatingly real and meticulously researched. Libba is a genius. Do not sleep on this series. Though when you start, I'm not sure you'll be able to find sleep anyway.
...more
**Trigger warnings: depression/alcoholism, attempted rape, domestic abuse/sexual assault, racism/prejudice against interracial relationships, gore
I will admit that my reading experience of this was a bit tainted because it took me so long to finish. During my listen of this (a 21 hour long audiobook), I was moving out of my dorm and coming home for the summer, and once I was home, I found very little time to sit down and listen for more than an hour at a time, so it was pretty choppy. However, I ...more
I will admit that my reading experience of this was a bit tainted because it took me so long to finish. During my listen of this (a 21 hour long audiobook), I was moving out of my dorm and coming home for the summer, and once I was home, I found very little time to sit down and listen for more than an hour at a time, so it was pretty choppy. However, I ...more
A star for every hour I cried for.
I don't agree with that title, there's nothing remotely uncertain about the sound of my heart breaking, is there? Before the Devil Breaks You? Sounds like a fucking lie, gone there, done that, RIGHT? And we have no release date for book four? HAHAHAHAHAHA now that's just mean.
SEE ME though. SEE ME. 😭😭😭 (view spoiler)
5 stars minus one star because sexual assault should never be a plot twist. (view spoiler) ...more
SEE ME though. SEE ME. 😭😭😭 (view spoiler)
5 stars minus one star because sexual assault should never be a plot twist. (view spoiler) ...more
RARELY DO I EVER LOVE A FULL CAST OF CHARACTERS SO MUCH. EVEN CHARACTERS THAT I THOUGHT I WAS COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT TOWARDS.
Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray is the third book in the Diviners series, so don't worry, no spoilers! The Diviners has been all over BookTube in the past six months as everyone has been gearing up for the release of the fourth and final installment. The Diviners is one of the most beloved YA series in publication and it is such for good reason. It takes the glamorous setting of Manhattan in the 1920's and infuses it with the supernatural. Libba Bray doesn't shy away from the harsh
...more
I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST READ THAT. these plot twists make me want to scream (I did) and throw my phone (I did not)
I have no idea how y’all survived 3 years waiting for The King of Crows, *sends a thousand virtual hug*
— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
🌚 reps: poc main characters, asian main character with physical disability, african-american main character, lgbtq main character, latinx main character, side ...more
I have no idea how y’all survived 3 years waiting for The King of Crows, *sends a thousand virtual hug*
“It was impossible to imagine that such harm could happen under the promise of such a blue sky.”
— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
🌚 reps: poc main characters, asian main character with physical disability, african-american main character, lgbtq main character, latinx main character, side ...more
An emotional and terrifyingly eerie chapter of the Diviner series!
This has taken me a while to write because I was so emotionally drained after the ending of this book! Also I was a little intimidated by some of the stellar reviews on this! I'm gonna add my thoughts on it anyway!
"Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him. Beware, little sister. Beware the King of Crows!"
I just love reading about these characters! I'm at the point where I would basically read about anything the ...more
This has taken me a while to write because I was so emotionally drained after the ending of this book! Also I was a little intimidated by some of the stellar reviews on this! I'm gonna add my thoughts on it anyway!
"Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him. Beware, little sister. Beware the King of Crows!"
I just love reading about these characters! I'm at the point where I would basically read about anything the ...more
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star Rating: —>> 5 Stars !
[quick review- possible more in depth RTC?
on to The King of Crows... can’t waittttt one more seconddddd to read it! *bites fingernails* ]
(I mean, every book in this series has been a 5 star read for me...)
Boy was this one emotional
My heart physically hurts- my goodness...
(Pain Scale level = 10/10)
Holy effing moly.
My goodness, I haven’t barreled through a series with individual books that are each 500 plus pages this fast- since... I have no idea how long! I think i’v ...more
[quick review- possible more in depth RTC?
on to The King of Crows... can’t waittttt one more seconddddd to read it! *bites fingernails* ]
(I mean, every book in this series has been a 5 star read for me...)
Boy was this one emotional
My heart physically hurts- my goodness...
(Pain Scale level = 10/10)
Holy effing moly.
My goodness, I haven’t barreled through a series with individual books that are each 500 plus pages this fast- since... I have no idea how long! I think i’v ...more
5 out of 5 stars.
This is going to be a long review guys.
I want to look at The Diviners series as a whole first. It’s a narrative constructed around identity, first and foremost, and young adult is the perfect age group for the audience and these characters; it allows the characters to change, to discover, and encountering consequences for the first time (and this, particularly, is made clear in the third book, where a lot of the characters start to suffer because of this).
The Diviners series is ...more
This is going to be a long review guys.
I want to look at The Diviners series as a whole first. It’s a narrative constructed around identity, first and foremost, and young adult is the perfect age group for the audience and these characters; it allows the characters to change, to discover, and encountering consequences for the first time (and this, particularly, is made clear in the third book, where a lot of the characters start to suffer because of this).
The Diviners series is ...more
Oct 15, 2017
Aleksandra
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
2017-releases
First thing you need to know is that I love this book and it is the best book I've read in 2017.
Second thing you need to know that Before The Devil Breaks You is the third book in the series, I highly recommend to read the series (first book is The Diviners, the second is Lair of Dreams) and as it's the third book, I won't be saying any detailed thoughts on plot or character development, because spoilers.
Third thing you need to know that I'll be overusing words like amazing, gorgeous and favorit ...more
Second thing you need to know that Before The Devil Breaks You is the third book in the series, I highly recommend to read the series (first book is The Diviners, the second is Lair of Dreams) and as it's the third book, I won't be saying any detailed thoughts on plot or character development, because spoilers.
Third thing you need to know that I'll be overusing words like amazing, gorgeous and favorit ...more
*re-read update, bumping rating to 5 stars*
4.5 stars
I just absolutely love diving deeper and deeper into this fantastically haunting world the Libba Bray has created. Before the Devil Breaks You continues the adventures of our incredible cast of characters as they learn more about their Diviners powers and the ghostly threat looming over ...more
4.5 stars
“There was a lot to fight. The future battle was daunting. But right now, this moment, was a time for hope, too. For fresh starts. For forgiveness.”
I just absolutely love diving deeper and deeper into this fantastically haunting world the Libba Bray has created. Before the Devil Breaks You continues the adventures of our incredible cast of characters as they learn more about their Diviners powers and the ghostly threat looming over ...more
5 stars!
This series started with the author saying to herself: "I want to write an American ghost story." What resulted was the most beautiful blend of 1920s Manhattan, Americana-gone-sour, what happens to a dream deferred, some extremely symbolic ghost-y business, and a lot of period references. I love this series, and this book is a shining example of why.
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★
This is the third book in The Diviners series - STOP HERE if you haven't read the others! For my t ...more
This series started with the author saying to herself: "I want to write an American ghost story." What resulted was the most beautiful blend of 1920s Manhattan, Americana-gone-sour, what happens to a dream deferred, some extremely symbolic ghost-y business, and a lot of period references. I love this series, and this book is a shining example of why.
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★
This is the third book in The Diviners series - STOP HERE if you haven't read the others! For my t ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Flat out, January LaVoy is the best audiobook narrator, ever. She's phenomenal. But now, onto the book.
This was a phenomenal, spooky, and often times downright scary book that thrilled and enthralled me. I adore these characters, I am incredibly invested in the plot, and I want more, always. There was so much going on in this book and all of it was amazingly done. It's diverse, it speaks to social issues our country has dealt with and continues to, and it discusses good/bad and forgiveness vers ...more
This was a phenomenal, spooky, and often times downright scary book that thrilled and enthralled me. I adore these characters, I am incredibly invested in the plot, and I want more, always. There was so much going on in this book and all of it was amazingly done. It's diverse, it speaks to social issues our country has dealt with and continues to, and it discusses good/bad and forgiveness vers ...more
I love this series I can’t wait till the 4th and final book comes out !!!!!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Procrastinato...:
Before the Devil Breaks You (October 2020) Buddy Read Discussion ~ Mina & Jen K & Althea & Michelle & Selina
|
38 | 25 | Oct 29, 2020 08:41AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners #3) by Libba Bray - Restarting January 10th 2020 | 56 | 140 | Dec 26, 2019 07:44AM | |
| The GANG's Experience at Jake Marlow's Place | 3 | 37 | Nov 11, 2018 02:38AM | |
| The Diviners by L...: Book #3 | 1 | 16 | Jun 08, 2018 10:18AM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: #62 Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray | 1 | 7 | Apr 30, 2018 11:51AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Before the Devil Breaks You/Libba Bray/5 Stars | 1 | 18 | Apr 04, 2018 09:26AM |
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I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. ...more
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Other books in the series
The Diviners
(4 books)
Articles featuring this book
Something diabolical this way comes. The author of Before the Devil Breaks You answers your questions about spooking readers and mucking up magic.
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“We are a country built by immigrants, dreams, daring, and opportunity. We are a country built by the horrors of slavery and genocide, the injustice of racism and exclusion. These realities exist side by side. It is our past and our present. The future is unwritten. This is a book about ghosts. For we live in a haunted house.”
—
77 likes
“There was such fear in the world. But love was everywhere if you looked. It was the best thing about humans. That they could stare into the abyss and still open up their hearts. A spit in the eye to fear.”
—
45 likes
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