I love Libba Bray, and I enjoyed this one so much more than I remember enjoying the Diviners, which as admittedly still living in the Gemma Doyle shadow when I first read it (Gemma Doyle was one of those defining trilogies of my teen years, ya know). Anyway, I think part of it is that the characters start to gel together more here and we get to know them even more. Also, I'm not a huge Evie fan, though I felt like I "got" her more here, so I enjoyed she was just another part of the ensemble. Though I will admit I did really like her main romantic storyline here. I think it works better. I think I have a ship. 
 I love the way history is explored here. It has all the glorified trademarks of the roaring 20s that people drool over, and it also highlights the ugly underbelly. In a series that trades primarily in malignant spirits, it seems fitting that we must own up to the ugly spirits of our past, while seeing how they daily impact beloved characters. 
 Meanwhile, I am keeping myself guarded because I know that Bray can break my heart in a flash. Here I saw parallels to the Gemma Doyle trilogy in the dreamscape, that idea that building up a beautiful delusion for ourselves hides a sinister reality. It really worked for me.