Divergent by Veronica Roth
RATING: ****
SERIES: Divergent Trilogy #1
GENRE: YA Dystopia
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
MY THOUGHTS:What a roller coaster ride this book is! I love the style of writing Veronica Roth has as it enables me to really get inside the situation and feel all the emotions the characters are.
The characters in this novel are built really well. The main character Tris is a fantastic example of a strong female lead in YA literature. You really connect with Tris and feel sympathy for the awkward situation she finds herself in. She is also a brilliant example of 'nobody's perfect' and I think this makes you like her even more.
The other main character in this novel is Four - a hunk of a man. He is everything you dream about and more. He is dark, mysterious, handsome, strong, athletic, caring, funny - the list goes on! Four plays a fabulous role in the novel bringing the air of mystery to a high level. The romance established between Tris and Four is very suitable to the story line and it's power. A full blown mushy love life would not have suited the powerful story line and dystopia Chicago and I think Veronica Roth has created a very relevant relationship.
The only let down to this book is the pace of the novel. It took a good hundred or so pages to get into the story line as I believe the beginning wasn't as gripping as the latter part of the book is. The mystery of the 'Divergent' takes a VERY long time to be uncovered, making the start very boring. The length of the mystery does not increase the tension and suspense as probably expected but just slows down the pace. Also, for the length of the book, not much happened. I felt some parts could have been cut out with no loss to the plot.
Overall, a great start to a promising series with amazing characters if not slow at the beginning.
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
RATING: *****
SERIES: Divergent Trilogy #2
GENRE: YA Dystopia
Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.
The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.
I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.
Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.
Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.
MY THOUGHTS:Definitely the best book of the series! I usual find that (like The Hunger Games), in trilogies the second book tends to be the best. This is because it is the height of the action. Insurgent definitely did not disappoint.
Again, the superb standard of the characters and the world is maintained. Before starting this book, I viewed the trailer for Divergent and afterwards regretted it. This was because I thought that the image of the characters when reading would now be those in the movie. However, the characters are so strongly built that my image overwrote the actors. (Not that I think the actors are bad).
The good traits associated with Divergent are multiplied in Insurgent. I became an emotional wreck at many points following the ending of Divergent made worse by Tris' struggle to cope. The action is fantastic in Insurgent and I still remain in love with Tris and Four. In Insurgent, I also became closer to characters such as Uriah which I believe didn't have enough of a role in Divergent as they deserve.
The main plot twist in Insurgent (who is the betrayer?) was an utter shock to me! I have spoken to may people who have read this book and no one seems to have saw it coming. It is a total shocker and not someone you would expect. The revealing made me cry and I had to put down the book to let the information sink in.
In Insurgent, the identity of the factions is really built upon. each faction is easily distinguished, a trait which was not as present in Divergent. The building of the faction leaves you speculating on which you and others belong to thus, immersing you more into the world.
The change in Tris in Insurgent is a large part and some of the decisions she makes did frustrates me. However, over time, this just leads me to love her even more as she shows her bravery and sacrifice.
The ending of Insurgent was very good, a definite cliff hanger. Again, it was another surprise that lead me sprinting straight to my bookshelf to pick up Allegiant. I am glad I waited until all three were out to read them.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
RATING: ***
SERIES: Divergent Trilogy #3
GENRE: YA Dystopia
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.
But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.
Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.
MY THOUGHTS:A book with great potential set by their predecessors but did not live up to my expectations.
Again, as mentioned before, the characters are built strongly and their relationships with the reader are maintained. I did not like the alternative points of view as it ruined the trend of Tris' mindset which I have gotten so used to previously. It also made me suspicious about a possible death in the end as I saw no other reason for it. As this split POVs only occurred in the third book, Tobias' voice was not as strong as Tris. Again, this is down to the fact it only occurs in Allegiant.
As the largest book in the trilogy, I think the pace is really slow and things are not in as much detail as I would have liked them to be. There are many issues such as 'The Fringe' which are only briefly touched and I would have loved for this to have played a larger role. I felt there is so much to do with that concept that was never used.
As this book is set in a different location to the other two, I felt the majority of the book is spent explaining situations and environments. The little action mentioned is only briefly mentioned, therefore making the book very hard to carry on with.
There were no real surprises or twists and turns within this book but I believe there was opportunity for some amazing ones. The ending, though VERY emotional was not at all satisfying and I think not all ends were tied up as well as they could have been. One positive of this is that it leaves room for further possible installment (wink, wink).
Overall, a disappointing end to a fantastic trilogy, however I would still recommend it, especially to fans on The Hunger Games.
MOVIE TRAILER:
I have´t read Allegiant yet so I skipped that review but I totally agree with you with Divergent and Insurgent. I can´t wait to watch the film plus Four is HOT!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!