Veronica Roth created a post-apocolyptic type society following the main characters of Beatrice (Tris) Prior and Tobias (Four) Eaton.
Divergent
Published: February 28th, 2012
I Completed: February 14th, 2014
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This book follows Tris in a society where the community is divided into five factions. Abnegation (selfless), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Dauntless (brave) and Erudite (intelligent). These factions represent different qualities that their congress should represent. The book begins on "Choosing Day". Basically, a test is run (very sci-fi!) to determine which faction you belong to. Tris happens to be Divergent - meaning the test did not determine not just one faction. The special-ness of Tris is that she not only tested well for two, but for three Abnegation (where she came from), Erudite and Dauntless. She is told by her test instructor to hide the fact that she is Divergent - which she comes to find out is not something you want anyone to know.
The book then follows her during her initiation into the faction of her choosing (Dauntless) where not every initiate becomes a member of Dauntless. If you fail to get through initiation (this goes for all of the factions) you then become faction less - the faction less is not a desirable position in their community. They provide the city with the jobs that no one wants and basically are either forgotten about or detested. Tris's brother: Caleb switch from Abnegation to Erudite, which came to the entire family as quite a shock.
She proceeds to make friends and enemies - as well as push herself to the limits. Dauntless do crazy things such as jump off moving trains, and off of buildings, they fight (to be graded on) absolute insanity! It really tests who a person is.
Without ruining the book for you - it is filled with action and tests. Tris is a very relatable character. She uses her abilities to think and be selfless (the other factions she tested into) and the book takes you (via Tris) through the initiation process as well as her getting to know her instructor: Four. ;)
There is a movie coming out in the next few weeks, and I happen to be extremely excited about it.
Don't continue if you want to read the books....spoilers are inevitable.
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| Faction Symbols from L to R Dauntless, Erudite, Candor, Abnegation and Amity |
Insurgent
Published: May 1st, 2012
I Completed: February 22, 2014
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This book begins directly after book Divergent ends. Following the Dauntless attack (forced by Erudite) on Abnegation. Tris tries to deal with what she did during the attack (she killed her best friend's boyfriend and watched both of her parents die).
Four finds out that his mom (Evelyn) is not dead, and she has been living with the faction less.
Erudite then begins to become a force of nature through Jeanine Matthews (she wants to kill all Divergent) and attempts to collect a secret that Four's father (Marcus - leader of Abnegation) holds in order to destroy it. No one knows what the secret is, but they know it shouldn't be destroyed. Four doesn't believe in his father (due to abuse as a child), but Tris does. Four starts working with his mother and her faction less troops. When they set out to overtake Jeanine (and Erudite with it) (oh btw - Caleb is working with Jeanine), Tris works with Marcus to attempt to release what information is hidden.
A bunch of other stuff happens - but at the end, a video is released explaining what they are there for and why. Basically, the world went to hell in a hand basket and they reset a whole bunch of people's memories and set them up in this city. Built the idea of factions to eventually begin to create evolved beings - the Divergent.
Allegiant
Published: October 22nd, 2013
I Completed: March 1st, 2014
My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Again - this book begins after the previous installment (Insurgent). Without giving too much away (felt like I had to give some stuff away in the previous two), Tris, Four and others flee the city to go beyond the fence - not knowing what is there.
They proceed to find out that they are a surveillance community and they are a "test" city.
The battle of what is right and wrong - who to believe and who not to is a constant struggle throughout the series - but particularly in this one. Basically, everything these "refugees" have known has been a lie and they have to determine if they let it continue or not.
My Final Thoughts:
Lots of deaths throughout the series - like a few in each book. I was prepared to hate the final book because everyone else said it sucked. I completely see their point of view - but I guess I was so prepared to hate it, that it wasn't as bad in my mind as I thought it could have been.
I liked the world that Roth created- as well as her writing style. Though the third book was written in either Tris or Tobais' (Four) POV which was a difference to get used to. I think if she wants to, she could even continue the story - not in anyone in particular's POV but just as a "History of the Experiment" type thing. And the best thing this book did, was pull me through the emotions of the characters. It was very Hunger Games-esque, but went a very different route - more so science fiction - set further in the future.
I know I wrapped these up pretty quickly, but I did not want to over-share (I know, me, right?!?) and ruin it for anyone who does want to read them all. However, you can check out the Divergent Wiki site if you want to know details and skip the reading part - but I know I'm excited for them to turn the books into movies!!
I know some of you disagree with some of my thoughts, but would you care to share them? Have you read them or want to?
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