Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: October 22nd 2013
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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:

Okay, you guys, here goes nothing. *deep breath* After devouring Insurgent when it was released, I couldn't wait to see how it was all going to end. I was super stoked, like SUPER stoked, because I loved how the Divergent series was. It's the one that had me the most captivated of all the series I've gotten into. When the final book came out, I had to get it. Even though so many people were giving mixed reviews (mostly negative), I crossed my fingers that I wouldn't want to throw the book out the window.

Unfortunately, crossing my fingers didn't prevent this.

*heavy sigh* Anyone who has read the book will know all the reasons why it fell short of being amazing. I won't get all spoiler-y, because I don't like to when I'm able to. The bottom line, for me, is that the story just wasn't well-developed, it was sloppy, and nothing seemed to lead to anywhere definitive. The world was a hot mess, and the relationship between Tris and Tobias was a downhill battle with very few positive plateaus. It was nice to read from both of their POVs, but I would start reading a new chapter and sometimes have to check to see whether it was Tris or Tobias. And the very end? Yep. Book. Out. Window.

I gave Allegiant two stars (on Goodreads) because it didn't suck entirely. If it didn't end the way it did, I may have given it three, but even THAT is iffy. I get why Veronica Roth ended it the way she did, I really do; it fits personality profiles and whatnot, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. It would have just been nice to have a decent ending to a trilogy and not have it end poorly for once.

My Rating:

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Source: Purchased
Genre: Dystopian YA
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

This book. THIS BOOK. Was probably. The greatest thing since I read The Hunger Games.

I adored everything about it. Dystopian novels are becoming an absolute favorite of mine. Tris is so strong, and you can empathize with get in her thoughts and her views of society (the society she lives in and the society of people). The society has good ideas, valuing the different aspects a person can have. When they all work together in harmony, they can achieve anything. Yet, no matter what, corruption happens. People think they can control it but one person can set off the worse events, exploiting the worse qualities in others.

Let me tell ya… Four is my favorite book boyfriend now. FAVORITE. He is amazing. The way he treated Tris and helped her out in so many ways. He knew her strength, and eventually she knew it too. I pretty much fell in love with him. I kept looking forward to the next moment she would be in his presence.

Her mom was, wow, the BEST mom. It makes you think about your own parents, where they stand and how they live their lives to protect you. How there are so many thing we never know of our parents until we are adults and can look back on it.

The end was epic and perfect. Enough of a cliffhanger to make you want more. And enough of an end to make you sigh with a little relief and walk away happy and not overly anxious.

All in all, Divergent has this quality that pulls out your own sense of self and of justice. You are right there in the midst of it all and you never want to leave. You want to fall in love and go fight for what it right alongside Tris (or, you just want to BE Tris, I know I did). There were so many quotes I loved. I ended up tweeting a couple of them. They reminded me of myself and my thoughts on life. All the words jump off the page and into your heart forever to cherish them. Veronica Roth is outstanding. I am SO glad the second book, Insurgent, is coming out VERY soon (May 1st). Can’t. Freaking. Wait.

My Rating:

Exceptional: Stay up until at least 1 AM