Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

 Insurgent

by Veronica Roth

(Divergent # 2)

I really wanted to love this book.  It is one of the few YA books I can say I went out and got on release day because I was so excited to read it.  I loved the first book and the whole premise of the world.  The parallels that the different factions have with real life and their traits have with real people.

This book picks up pretty much where Divergent left off and Tris and Tobias are left running for their lives in a sense.  We are still trying to figure out what the big mystery everyone has been hiding is and how this will play a role in the coming war.  And war is coming.

To fight this, Tobias and Tris end up teaming up with the factionless as well as others unexpected allies, while Tris is a target because of the fact that she is resistant to the simulations and can't be controlled.

I was expecting to see more from Tris in this book.  I wanted her to toughen up a bit more and take charge.  A lot of things where happening TO her instead of her MAKING them happen.  She is very powerful and I can't wait to see her growing comfortable in her own skin and skills.  But, sadly, this book just showed her more immature, annoying side.

But my main complaint with this book and why it got a 3 star rating even though it's not a bad book is the fact that for the most part this book was a bit bland and not much happened until towards the end of the book.  Then things started unfolding, revelations, action, betrayal, help when you least expected.  I wanted to see more of that throughout the book instead of the moping around regretting the past that I got.

Like I said the ending was pretty good, and I really didn't see that coming although I probably should've so great job on that.  I am very curious to see this all play out in the next book.

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

Divergent # 1

Young Adult

This was one of the most anticipated (and maybe hyped) YA books of the year, and usually when I hear all that I get scared that the book won't actually live up to my very high expectations. I don't really know what I was expecting before I started reading, but it was definetely NOT what I got... and that's really a good thing.

This book surprised me, in regards to world building, plotting and storyline. It was a little slow but interesting nonetheless. It's a very unique tale of a dystopian Chicago where people have actually been divided into factions.

There are five factions:

* Abnegation (selflessness): you are not allowed to entertain any thoughts about your own well being, you shouldn't show love, you shouldn't care about your personal appearance and in fact they all dress in clothing that won't show their bodies. They should live to serve others.
* Amity (peace): maybe the least developed one in my opinion, but the name says it all.
* Candor (truth): it is said that people from Candor CAN'T lie.
* Dauntless (bravery): show no fear, be brave and willing to do anything and risk anything!
* Erudite (knowledge): know-it-alls!

So we meet Beatrice, she's 16 and at this point in her life she has to go through an aptitude test to determine which faction she should go into. She was born into Abnegation but she's never fit in. Except when she takes that test, her result comes back as Divergent. Divergents are dangerous, they can manipulate the tests and excel at many things, but they are also persecuted and the government or higher-ups want them all dead. So Beatrice has to hide who she really is from EVERYONE, including her family, and make a decision on which faction to take.

But she choses Dauntless. Of course, it's not a simple matter of chosing, the Dauntless have to chose her as well, and all "transfers" from other factions have to undergo a training and testing period to qualify and become Dauntless, the ones who don't make the cut, will end up without a faction. If you don't have a faction you live in the poor outskirts of town, your life would be ruined!

Beatrice grows out of her shell slowly in the book, even though at times it seems she's a little psychotic. But with the help of a few key players she actually uncovers and helps prevent the overthrowing of the current government, as well as protect herself from anyone noticing she's Divergent.

Along the way she gets a few tattoes, changes her appearance, meets some good friends, betrays those friends, makes peace with them, and of course, meets a hot and sexy guy, Four. Yes, his name is Four (or that's what they call him to be exact) but I won't tell you why, you have to read it to find out. She has a constant internal struggle with what she should do, should she help this person or would that be showing Abnegation, should she climb higher to show she's dauntless. I have to say I'm not a fan of Beatrice, even though she's ok. But she does need to grow up more. But I am excited to see where this world will go next and I'm looking forward to the next book.

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