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The King of Crows

(The Diviners #4)

Libba Bray (Goodreads Author),

January LaVoy (Narrator)

4.29 · Rating details · 822 ratings · 309 reviews

The breath-taking finale to the epic New York Times bestseller, The Diviners, from Printz winner and beloved author, Libba Bray.

After the horrifying explosion that claimed one of their own, the Diviners find themselves wanted by the US government, and on the brink of war with the King of Crows.

While Memphis and Isaiah run for their lives from the mysterious Shadow Men, ...more

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Hardcover, 560 pages

Published February 4th 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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· 822 ratings · 309 reviews

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Start your review of The King of Crows (The Diviners, #4)

Jun 03, 2018 ✨ jamieson ✨ rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, fantasy, series, owned-books, completed-series, audiobook, 2020-reads

Maybe for of a 3.5 but uhh, I can't believe how ... just okay this was.

I Loved Before the Devil Breaks You so much (and this whole series) but this was .. so boring? At one point it was almost a chore to pick it up. Nothing happens for most of it, the characters just wander around. All the momentum from the end of the last book is lost. Some of the character arcs didn't make sense to me and the climax was unsatisfying and way too easy/quick. I don't even want to talk about it, it hurts me to ...more

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Feb 05, 2020 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-releases

Wow, I cannot believe my favorite series of all time is OVER. I sobbed pretty much non-stop for the last 100 pages and I feel EMPTY as heck now that it is done. There were a few things about this conclusion that I wish had gone differently, but overall this was such a satisfying and emotional end to the series and I loved it SO MUCH. I am going to re-read it IMMEDIATELY now that I know how everything ends up and I won't need to be anxiously flipping the pages for 10 hours straight, haha. Wow ...more

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May 27, 2018 vivika rated it liked it

Shelves: lgbtqia-read, tears, read-in-2020

let it be known that i would do anything for theta knight

//
what do you mean no title? what do you mean no cover? wHat dO yOu mEan nO reLeasE yEAR? WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO SYNOPSIS? WHAT DO YOU M E A N

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Apr 15, 2019 Lance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, found-family, koi-no-yokan, fave-protagonists, family-dynamics, gorgeous-writing, urban-fantasy, paranormal, lgbtqia, mythology

“But if you abandoned the idea that such a paradise awaited you, and believed that you would live this life over and over again, would you not live the life you had more thoughtfully?”

“Make a better history."

4.5 stars rounded up. The King of Crows, while not the perfect finale, is a solid book and ending to a series that has found its place in the deepest parts of my heart and soul. I'm not going to lie, I was initially disappointed with this finale after finishing reading it. But after “But if you abandoned the idea that such a paradise awaited you, and believed that you would live this life over and over again, would you not live the life you had more thoughtfully?”

“Make a better history."

4.5 stars rounded up. The King of Crows, while not the perfect finale, is a solid book and ending to a series that has found its place in the deepest parts of my heart and soul. I'm not going to lie, I was initially disappointed with this finale after finishing reading it. But after thinking on the book and series as a whole, I am going to go ahead and rate this book 4.5 stars.Like the rest of its predecessors, The King of Crows is at once an actual ghost story and a story about the specter history leaves on the present. From prose, to atmosphere, to plotting and pacing, to characters, and romance, Libba Bray succeeded in crafting a multi-faceted story that I was destined to fall in love with in all aspects.

Prose. Bravo, Libba Bray. If I left it at that, that'd be sufficient I think to describe Bray's writing style and the impact it leaves on its readers. Her writing is a poem, written in blood. A gut punch, described in ink. A grainy photo, haunting and blurry. Bray chooses to frame the story in omniscient third person tense, jumping from character to character's thoughts in the same scene; what this achieves is a flowing, tense narrative that allows her to keep the pace of the novel going while not neglecting her characters and the importance their thoughts and motives have on the narrative. I don't know how Libba Bray does it, but her descriptive and almost purple prose allows her to both paint a portrait of the 1920's and all of its glamour and rot while still keeping an intimate focus on her characters. Somehow, her writing allows the reader to both see the minor and the major, and keep characters and setting both at the foreground. Her writing is superb in the way that it somehow describes character thought, muses on history and stories and more, and builds the atmosphere these novels are so well-known for brick-by-brick. All with the same finesse.

Atmosphere. I think when you think of The Diviners, atmosphere is the first word that comes to mind. Unlike the previous novel, the characters are not in the New York City for the whole novel. This time, the atmosphere takes the form of the old, intimate, and a bit claustrophobic air of small, rural, and forgotten towns of the 1920's. It's a bit quieter, but twice as terrifying as there is no city noise to cover up the risen ghosts of the past. The atmosphere casts that old, black-and-white 1920's movie magic on the series. The Roaring 20's comes alive with Libba Bray's writing and readers ache with nostalgia for this time; a time when most, if not all, of her readers weren't even alive. The atmosphere and aesthetic this book series brings to the table is honestly unmatched.

Plot and pacing. If I had to describe the plot of this book in one world, it would be homecoming: all of the characters, in one way or the other, are forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts. Whether it'd be a place where they had once lived, a person they once knew, or a combination of one or the other. Libba Bray splits off our cast into different groups, placing characters together who you never thought would be together in situations that force them to travel together. (view spoiler) I loved this aspect of the novel. Each individual character is forced to confront something that lied in their past. Some highlights include (view spoiler) As for the pacing, it fit well with the events of the novel and although I was lowkey a bit miffed when (view spoiler) But honestly, yet another almost perfect facet of this book.

Characters. Hands down, the best part of this series and book. I fucking love each and every one of them. Do I have favorites? Sure (Evie, Henry, Ling, and Sam). But ultimately, The Diviners as a found family are second-only to The Crows from Six of Crows in terms of love. I just love each and every one of them individually and together. Libba Bray is a fucking master at character work; I think the best marker of this is the fact that by the start and end of this novel, none of the characters are recognizable from the way they were at the beginning of the series or when they were introduced for the first time. They've all developed so much and I knew going in to this novel, I wasn't going to get out unscathed because I was attached to all of them in some way. I would go into each of them individually, but then I'd reach a character limit on this review. Also, I love all of the romances in this novel bar one.

Which brings me to why this is a 4.5 stars rather than a full 5 star rating: (view spoiler)

Conclusively, thank you for whoever read this behemoth of a review. I cannot express enough gratitude to Libba Bray for writing this series. A queen. While this is my least favorite of my quartet, I still love every page of it. If you haven't picked up The Diviners, go pick it up now. I promise you. It uses speculative elements to examine issues like racism, xenophobia, and homophobia. It contains all the glitter of the 1920's while not neglecting its dark underbelly. This book and series will find its way into your soul and haunt you long after you pick it up, in a good way. I guarantee you.
...more

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Apr 16, 2019 Tara ☽ marked it as to-read

If Sam dies we riot at dawn

flag 98 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2020 Nick marked it as to-read

I thought this series was over????

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Aug 07, 2018 Ivy marked it as to-read

Shelves: coming-soon-20

i made this in two minutes in picsart and forgot to add a 'the' to the beginning but i'm proud of it so you can freak off, okay

I'm very clever, I know

flag 76 likes · Like · see review

Oct 29, 2019 preoccupiedbybooks is currently reading it · review of another edition

Here we go friends!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't mind me, I'll just be the one crying in the corner, waiting for February 4th... ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Elise (TheBookishActress) marked it as 2019

Shelves: anticipated-sequels

LADS I’m dying waiting for this

hey hey hey here's a post by my friend full of theories for how this series will end

flag 57 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2020 Clemlucian (🏳️‍🌈the villain's quest) rated it liked it

Shelves: lgbtqia, young-adult, 3-stars, real-friends-stab-you-in-the-front, 2020-releases

Instagram | review on youtube

3/5.

MHM.... OKAY.
RTC

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Feb 09, 2020 ;3 rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourites, paranormal, audiobooks, likeable-main-character-s, diverse-group-of-vibrant-outcasts

that clip of spongebob crying into a cup and then drinking his tears and crying again was me during the last half of this book

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Feb 08, 2018 sofia (sam willows) marked it as to-read

school should give me three days of free absence to finish this series, and the fact that i literally don't have time to read this is homophobic

2017 thoughts:

holy shit I just saw that this has no release date... here I go again loving a series that doesn’t have an ending yet, and probably wont end in the next 2 years

great

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Jan 26, 2020 Anna Luce rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lukewarm-reads, disappointing-reads, netgalley, 2020-reviews

3 stars

I hate to say it, or write it, but The King of Crows wasn't a very satisfying conclusion to The Diviners series.

“Who got to decide what made somebody an American? America, the ideal of it at least, was its own form of elusive magic.”

While it isn't as drawn-out as the finale to the Gemma Doyle series (which was around 800 pages) it struck me as being similarly anticlimactic.
In The King of Crows the pacing of the story is all over the place and the characters have very rushed and ...more

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Oct 05, 2018 bella farren marked it as to-read

Shelves: desperately-awaiting

2020?

I don't even know what to do with myself right now. that cliffhanger. I still haven't recovered.

but that cover is giving me life

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Aug 23, 2018 ambsreads marked it as to-read

i regret my choice to read this series when this book wasn’t out. i need answers!!!

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2019 Eva B. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, best-romances, metaphorical-tears-were-shed, eat-his-heart-in-the-marketplace, mental-health-rep, queer-rep, best-villains, badass-ladies, fwendships-are-magic, i-own-this

Not to be overdramatic or anything but this series changed my life. It makes me want to be a better writer and a better person, and it's literally my favorite series of all time.
The King of Crows stuck the landing.

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Oct 20, 2015 ABookishGift Reviews (Max) marked it as to-read

WAIT I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY GONNA BE A TRILOGY

SCJ,HVFSHV,SJDHVJKHSDHVKJDSJHVM

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Feb 14, 2020 Ashley rated it it was amazing

Star Rating: — > 5
[million gazillion, beautiful, life altering] Stars

ERM. Okay.

I am NOT okay.
Like, I reallyreallyREALLY am positively not. okay.

I truly can’t believe my journey within the world of the Diviners is... Over. After a 5 day journey through over 2000 pages... suddenly there are just... none .

I am full of so much emotion right now that I may need to take a walk. Hell. My mind is already racing & pacing. My body is screaming at me to move, BUT I CANNNNN’T i’m literally ...more

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Apr 15, 2019 maya marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, instant-buy

how is this only 336 pages
how is everything going to be okay???

WHAT DO YOU MEAN LIBBA BRAY????????????
also

2020........

ahhhhhhhhhhhhusgajdvsjdshhsvsidbsgdgshsgshehrgejzgdgsushehsishsbhahzhzusbsbKsguzbsosbduh

update: sooooooooo
this book is now 560 pages???
i’m not angry just confused but also kinda happy but also kinda like how?
anyway i’m ready to fucking collapse when i read this book because it’s going to be that good

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Feb 06, 2020 Rachel rated it liked it

This wasn’t a bad conclusion, I just felt for how long it took to reach, it was a really fast and easy resolution. Overall, a fun series.

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Feb 04, 2020 Tea.Books.Magic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

KING OF CROWS BY @libbabray

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS

𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Sam, Evie, Theta, Memphis, Isaiah, Jericho, Bill, Ling, Willl, Woody and Henry.

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Jake, The Shadow Men and the racist 1920s Americans.

𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: I have binged the entire Diviners series in less than a week, two days per book and all I can say that it is has completely captured my heart. The books are an intense journey, the plot is so thoroughly intricate that I doubt any one is able to ...more

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May 04, 2018 fablesandwren marked it as to-read

Shelves: physical-shelf

sOoOoOoOoOoO... do we know anything about when book four will come out or what it is called or what it will look like or what pieces of my heart will be left after I read it?

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Feb 06, 2019 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WRITING THIS REVIEW IS GOING TO KILL ME SEND HELP. *sobs*

Holy shit A&U, that fucking cover is just... thank you. It is perfect. 11/10 would sell my soul for an ARC. I love you. Please add the ISBN so I can pre-order it. =D

********

EXCUSE ME A&U I KNOW Y’ALL ARE BUSY BUT I NEED THE AUSSIE COVER FOR THIS BOOK BEFORE I LEGIT DIE A PAINFUL DEATH KTHX. Seriously, I’m checking basically every other day at work and I’m honestly ready to cry because... BOOOOOOOK. Need.

********

WE HAVE A TITLE ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 ♡ Dakota ♡ (Sarcasm is my middle name) marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2020-new-releases

You mean they aren’t changing the covers all over again for the final book? How disappointing!

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2019 Virginja ↢ 99% imp added it

Please change the covers again because every time I see the new ones I JUST WANT TO VOMIT. ...more

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Oct 27, 2018 ☆ Mira ✷ marked it as tbr-series

Shelves: i-want-it-now

need need need

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2019 rin (￣ヘ￣) read/watch mo dao zu shi marked it as arcs-i-have

surprisingly enough i got an arc but when will i learn how to read

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Nov 25, 2019 Gaia marked it as to-read

happy endings for everyone are REQUIRED. no one (else) is allowed to die (except jericho).

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2018 Erica rated it it was amazing

i pray that the cover style for this book goes back to the same style as book 1 which was by far THE BEST COVER!

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2019 Rue rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-releases, 2020-reads

Fuck me.

I need to mourn. Or cry. Or something like that. Because this book defeated me. Hello, best book of 2020.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

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Last chapters felt rushed, anyone else agree? (spoilers ahead)	3	14	Feb 17, 2020 06:51PM

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About Libba Bray

Libba Bray

13,719 followers

What is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.

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