Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3) ★★☆☆☆ 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. I’ve been looking forward to this book’s release for months. I love the Divergent series and recommend it to everyone. But I feel like even two stars is generous for Allegiant. I was really disappointed with it; Roth’s world-building just completely fell apart, the believability of Tris’ world suffered, and the ending just sucked. SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT The main part of the plot seemed really disconnected from the first two books, for starters. The Bureau for Genetic Welfare and the whole idea of “damaged” genes was really hard for me to believe. The science behind it is pretty shaky, and it was a totally different direction from where the books were going at the end of Insurgent. It’s like Roth panicked and changed her mind at the last second, then scrambled to make it connect. There were also a lot of plot points that seemed thrown in or unnecessary, like Uriah’s death. Just to injure him in the attack would have been enough, and his death was glanced over. In the past two books, when a character’s death was barely noted, it was always because they were in the middle of a battle and there was no time to grieve, but there was no such excuse for Uriah. Not to mention the ending. There was absolutely no reason for Roth to kill Tris. Her death was unnecessary and I hated the way Roth handled it, almost glancing over it until Tobias is told. I could rant on for hours about this, but I won’t. I’ll just say that I think killing Tris was the worst decision Roth could have made. Overall I almost hated Allegiant. If Roth had ended it better, without killing Tris and then tying things in a pretty bow, it might have been okay. It still would have been a strange turn for the series, but the ending just ruined it, and nearly ruins the whole series for me. My advice is not to read it and pretend Tris’ story stopped at Insurgent.
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Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2) ★★★★★ One choice can transform you, or destroy you. 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. I love this series. Roth’s worldbuilding is incredibly detailed and thought through. Her characters are intoxicating and vibrant. The premise of the story is unique, and well done. I hate saying this - but I love who Roth decides to kill. Not because I wanted them to die, or they were minor characters. God knows I nearly dropped the book every time a character bit it. But in real life, war is messy, and the people you want to survive it don’t always make it. I like that Roth keeps it realistic that way, and she lets Tris deal with their deaths realistically. The ending of the book was a little confusing, but then again there’s a third book set to be released, so I hold out hope that my questions will be answered. I can’t wait to read the third book in the trilogy. Divergent by Veronica Roth ★★★★★ ONE CHOICE decides your friends. ONE CHOICE defines your beliefs. ONE CHOICE determines your loyalties - forever. ONE CHOICE CAN TRANSFORM YOU. Roth’s debut couldn’t be more perfect. Tris is an amazing character, one who is many-sided and fully created. She’s easy to relate to and her story is gripping, keeping you turning pages until the end. The relationships in the book are wonderfully realistic, as well as the characters in them. Tris will have you rooting for her to the end. Roth’s writing style is part of what makes Divergent such a good read. We don’t hear Roth’s voice, but Tris’. She’s woven the story with a multitude of details that only add to its brilliance, and there are a number of unexpected plot twists along the way. Overall, Divergent is one of the best dystopian books I have read. |
Once Upon a Time...As a longtime lover of stories and a believer in the power and magic of books, I've spent my life seeking out the best reads. This blog is dedicated to reviewing the books I read - good, bad, or magnificent - to help other readers find their next favorite books. Currently ReadingKing Zeno
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