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: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
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Caution: Will contain spoilers from first book in series!

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One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I was lucky to read Divergent a couple months before Insurgent came out. Why does that make me lucky? I didn’t have to wait too long. I have to wait much longer NOW, but that’s all part of falling in love with a series while the author is still writing it.

The story picks up right where it left off at the end of the first book, on the train. Tris is struggling with the aftermath of the losses in her life, and her role in them. At Amity, they try to find refuge and help, and come up dry. On the move to Candor, and things don’t seem to be looking up there either. The factions stay separate, except for the group of Dauntless that sided with Erudite. So the good group of Dauntless take over Dauntless headquarters again. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the end. The Erudite find a way to make this choice have repercussions.

Throughout the story, Tris jumps from being fragile and vulnerable to sometimes smart and daring. At times I wanted to smack her around and tell her, “Get over yourself!” Then I remind myself that she’s only human. She just lost both of her parents in one night, and killed one of her close friends. She did, however, make up for it with her selflessness and the ability to use her intelligence to her advantage. She made some risky moves, very risky. When it came down to it and Tris had to own up to what happened to Will, Christina was upset. It took some time, understanding the circumstances, but when she came around and forgave Tris, I appreciated this, especially the fact that it didn’t happen immediately.

I thought when Tris made the choice to surrender herself it was a poor one, but in the end, I loved the outcome. That moment when she breaks Jeanine, oh my god, I was literally beaming with pride. And then, the escape, aided by the most unlikely person, Peter. That blew me away. Brilliant.

Now let me tell you about Four. Our dear Tobias. He is tremendous. His feelings are so deep, you want to cry over how much he cares. His devotion to Tris is unparalleled. All men should look to him and tap into that wonderful mind. I love this man. I want to marry him. I really do. He’s just flipping awesome. The whole package.

Insurgent was unequivocally a masterpiece of epic proportions. Veronica Roth kept the story going in the best way possible. Every time all hope is lost you’re surprised by something unexpected that opens the way to moving on. By the time you reach the end, you’re just floored and amazed. Next year cannot come soon enough.

FAVORITE QUOTE (which I added to Goodreads, add it to yours HERE):

“Be careful, though."
"Aren't I always?"
"No, I think the word for how you usually are is 'reckless.'”

My Rating:

Exceptional: Stay up until at least 1 AM

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