*THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE
ENTIRE SERIES*
I know, I know,
I know. I have NO idea why it took
me SO long to start this series, but eventually I started it after all the
books were available. First of
all, I am a big fan of stand-alone novels; I just feel like sometimes a trilogy
or a longer series is too much commitment at one time. However, I thought I should read this
before the movie comes out, and well, now I’m obsessed. (I ended up finishing this trilogy back
in April of this year so plenty of time before the movie.) Thanks a lot Veronica Roth.
Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica
Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Genre: Young
Adult, Dystopian
Publisher:
Katherine Tegen Books
Publication
Date: April 25, 2011
Pages: 487
Out in
Paperback?: Yes; February 28, 2012
My Rating: 5/5
Review:
Goodreads Summary:
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.
Characters:
I can’t believe
how much I loved these characters!
Tris was shy and reserved in the beginning, but I loved that the reader
could see that she was curious and a little adventurous, too, such as watching
the Dauntless students every morning and asking questions at dinner. Readers could tell that there was more
to Tris’s character, and I LOVED watching her develop throughout the first
novel. I also loved Four! I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this,
either! :) I really enjoyed watching him react with
Tris and grow to get to know one another.
Often times, I am frustrated by “instant love;” however, I thought that the
relationship between Four and Tris developed nicely throughout the book. The side characters, like Tris’s mom
and dad, her brother Caleb, and her friends in the Dauntless faction, were also
all equally interesting to read about and watch as they too developed, some for
the better and some for the worse.
Plot:
I think I was so
hesitant to start reading this series is because I had just finished the Hunger Games and fell in love with that dystopian story. I was afraid that this plot line would be too similar, and
the dystopian genre would begin to feel repetitive. However, that was not the case at all! I felt that this book had a unique
storyline, beginning with the factions, the ability to change your faction, and
the initiation process. Each
element to the way that this society was run felt very well thought out. As the novel follows Tris as she
changes from Abnegation to Dauntless and through the initiation process, the
action (with a nice contrast of romance) is constant and compels the reader to
continue on!
Writing Style:
I really loved the
writing style of this novel so much!
I feel like I often complain about a Young Adult novel sounding immature
and too young; then I think to myself, “well it is a young adult novel, right?” But this novel is the perfect example
of what I love to see when reading!
It is a young adult novel that is written brilliantly with incredible
description. Overall, I absolutely
loved the writing, as it worked perfectly when world-building during the story.
Movie Review:
I am posting
this review a little later than I wanted to, but I have just now watched this
movie after it was released on DVD.
And then I watched it again a couple days later. I am obsessed! LOL. I thought it was such a great movie! The casting, the acting, and the plot
in accordance with the book were spot on! I don’t think I could say enough good things about it. Although it has been a while since I
read Divergent, I thought the movie
followed along quite well with the book.
Plus, now I have a new love … Theo James :)
So of course you have read this
book. I think everyone has at this
point. Have you seen the movie
yet? What did you think?
Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica
Roth
Series: Divergent #2
Genre: Young
Adult, Dystopian
Publisher:
Katherine Tegen Books
Publication
Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 525
Out in
Paperback?: Yes; April 30, 2014
My Rating: 5/5
Review:
Goodreads Summary:
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.
Characters:
As I mentioned
earlier, I just continued to love these characters. The growth of Tris throughout the entire book is incredible
as she begins to truly transform into Dauntless. However, you can still see her ability to think like an
Erudite as well as Abnegation. Her
relationship with Four also grows as it is tested throughout the book because
of the extreme circumstances that the two are put through. I loved to watch the transformation of
several of the other minor characters as well, such as her brother, her best
friend, and the leaders of the different factions.
Plot:
I loved this
book almost as much as the first!
The action and suspense throughout the book kept me reading and wanting
more. There were so many ups and
downs as well as twists and turns as the plot progressed. Tris and Four were constantly on the
move from one faction to the next, coming up with plans to stop the Erudite
from overtaking all the other factions.
Writing Style:
I absolutely loved
the writing style, again, in this book.
I felt like several parts were perfectly described so that the reader
would be able to picture the action sequences. I really enjoy her writing!
Have you heard any new information about
this movie or its release date?
Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica
Roth
Series: Divergent #3
Genre: Young
Adult, Dystopian
Publisher:
Katherine Tegen Books
Publication
Date: October 22, 2013
Pages: 526
Out in
Paperback?: No
My Rating: 5/5
Review:
Goodreads Summary:
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.
Characters:
As the story
progresses, I still continue to feel for these characters. I feel like I really got attached to
them, as I watched them grow and become new and better individuals. Tris has grown completely throughout
the series, and I really saw her new, more confident self in the third
book. Tobias, growing as well,
struggles with ups and downs during the novel but grows immensely. I also really enjoyed learning more
about Caleb and Peter; although this came at the end of the novel, I still
enjoyed getting a peak into their thoughts.
Plot:
For whatever
reason, this book took me a while to get through. Definitely longer than the first two books in the
series. I don’t know if this was
because it was the last book so I didn’t want it to end, or because I had heard
that something major happens in the end, and I was trying to avoid it. Either way, it took me a little bit
longer to get through, but I still felt that there was a nice balance of
action, suspense, and romance, as Tris and Tobias adapt to their new home and
new life in the Bureau, while discovering important and dangerous secrets.
Writing Style:
No surprise
here, but I loved the writing once again.
I think Veronica Roth is an amazing author. She describes the characters, world, and action very well,
creating a great picture in reader’s minds. This book did switch back and forth between Tris’s and
Tobias’s point of view, which I really did like, but I also found a little
difficult to get into simply because the whole first two books were from Tris’s
perspective. Although the ending
was heart breaking, I did appreciate and respect the writing style of the
entire trilogy.
I heard this movie was going to be made
into 2 parts! Do you know where
they would split it up?
I recently read Four as well!
Absolutely loved it! Have
you checked it out yet? A review
will be coming shortly!
FTC Disclaimer:
All items
mentioned were purchased by me. This is not a sponsored post. All
opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used.
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