Format: Hardcover, 613 pages
Release Date: August 25th 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher/Library
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy
The second supernatural thriller in THE DIVINERS series by New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray
The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.
Piano-playing Henry Dubois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret--for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.
As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess....As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?
In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.
Lair of Dreams is the second installment in author Libba Bray's The Diviners series. After the events of The Diviners, Evie O'Neill has been labeled as "America's Sweetheart Seer." Her uncanny ability to read people's secrets, has given her an opportunity at her own radio show and stardom. Evie is a party girl, simple and without any arguments. She would rather hang around in speakeasy's, get drunker than a skunk, and is pos-i-tute-ly absolutely a flapper girl from her to her toe.
Evie is pretty self-centered and perhaps a bit too-care free at times. Her distrust for her Uncle Will is still at the top of her emotional baggage. Thankfully, for the most part, Evie is shoved aside for a brilliantly written character named Ling Chan. Don't get me wrong, Evie does play a role in this story, but it is more as a character who makes more noise than offers anything of importance to what is happening to the other characters she supposedly calls friends. Even the way she treats her best friend Mabel Rose, or the way she messes with emotions of Jericho Jones and Sam Lloyd.
Ling is a character who is part-Irish, part-Chinese, and totally amazing in the way she handles herself throughout this story. She has the ability to walk in dreams, just like another character we've met named Henry DeBois. Ling has problems that none of the others, except or maybe Memphis, can understand. Ling's problems begin when her best friend falls to what is being called the sleeping sickness. As Ling tries to find her friend, she discovers Henry who is searching for his lost lover. Ling also has a disability that makes others look sideways at her, but the most disturbing issue in this story is the bigotry and racism she faces as a young Chinese girl looking to make her way in the world. Especially when the sleeping sickness is blamed on her race.
I appreciate way that Bray intermingles the paranormal with the historical setting of NYC. You can really put yourself in the story and feel the vibes flowing off the pages as the characters find themselves wrapped up in a multitude of issues and situations. For me, Evie was a huge let down, but I do have hopes that she rebounds in the next installment. The story could easily have been 300 pages shorter if the author cut out all of Henry's wanderings and bemusement, and gave more to understanding to what is happening between Theta and Memphis. This romance is hot, adorable, and filled with challenges most of us can't understand. The creepy factor in this story once again raises the bar. Holy Cats. I also think we need to talk more about Mr. Adams & Mr. Jefferson and the organization they work for.
“Find me, Little Fox,” she whispered. “Before it’s too late. For all of us.”
Oh Sam, whatever shall you do?
OOh nice! I STILL need to read this one as well! And with the new one coming out this year, I'd better get on it soon! Nice review!
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