Review - Insurgent

by Veronica Roth
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: May 1, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 525
source: purchased
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

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.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

The wait has been long but oh, so worth it.  Insurgent picks up right where Divergent leaves off with Tris and Four as they make their escape from Dauntless headquarters and flee toward Amity's compound.  Tris's world continues to change as the full extent of Jeanine's plot comes to light and a new force begins to emerge with a plan all their own.  As Tris struggles with her inner turmoil and tries to do what's right in the face of a would-be tyrant, she must make some tough decisions.  Buckle up, because things are just getting started.

In Insurgent, the full scope of Tris's divergence begins to become more apparent.  Along with it she has some major guilt and grief to deal with, all of which proves her to be a character with a complex range of emotions.  Four is also becoming a more intriguing character (if that's even possible!), as it turns out that there is still much to learn about him.  As a result, the dynamic between Tris and Four is even more intense than ever before.  You know something has been done right when you show outward reactions to what you're reading, which happened more than once.

Insurgent has all of the plot devices and all of the excellent pacing that was present in Divergent.  Getting completely sucked into the action is no problem whatsoever.  In fact, quite the opposite is true, as I had trouble putting the book down at times when I really needed to!  There is both action and intrigue to be found within.  You won't be left wanting on either count, as the two are blended so well as to completely arrest your attention.

Veronica Roth has, once again, written a phenomenally riveting book.  If you enjoyed Divergent, you've got to get your hands on Insurgent as soon as humanly possible.  Insurgent will leave you feeling as if you have just leaped onto a speeding train and are being carried away to places unknown.  The Divergent series just keeps getting better and better.  You won't want to miss out on Insurgent for much longer, and if you haven't started the series yet, I implore you to do so.  It's perfectly stunning and should be read by all.

Buy Insurgent at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Waiting on Wednesday: October 5, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)

This week, I am waiting on book two in a series that I read the beginning of just a few months ago. That book is Insurgent by Veronica Roth, set to be released on May 28, 2012. I loved Divergent and can not wait to find out what happens to Tris and Four next.

From Goodreads:

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.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Review: Divergent

by Veronica Roth
publisher: Harper
date published: May 3, 2011
format: eBook
pages: 299
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
challenges: Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge; 2011 E-Book Reading Challenge; 2011 YA Reading Challenge

From Goodreads:

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.

What I Thought

Divergent is another fine example of all the YA dystopian novels that have been coming out in recent years. I especially enjoyed this offering by Veronica Roth for its combination of detail, tension, and moments of clarity. From the very start, Beatrice is an interesting character as she prepares to choose what path she will pursue for the rest of her life. She is faced with a very tough decision: become a member of the faction she was raised in (Abnegation) or listen to her own inner-workings and set out for a life in another faction. As she is tested and eventually makes her decision, Beatrice reveals herself to be a very contemplative and daring character. I appreciated several of her qualities, such as her willingness to go for her own goals rather than give her life over to the whims of the majority. Though she may come across as somewhat meek, what lies beneath is a spine made of iron. She is a most formidable character and I really enjoyed getting to know her.

The setting for the story was as interesting as the book's heroine. Set in a Chicago many many years in the future, we are shown a society that has undergone vast restructuring. Due to the combative nature of humanity that nearly destroyed everything, society has been split into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Dauntless, Erudite, and Candor. Abnegation, whose purpose is to live life in as selfless a manner as possible, is the faction in charge of the city's government with the understanding that they are less likely to become corrupt. However, as becomes apparent, things are not so simple as all that and conflict is evidenced at several points throughout the book. Things are not always as they seem as evidenced by the relationships between the five factions. As far as the landscape of the story goes, there is a decidedly urban flavor, although there is not a great sense of the city being technologically advanced. There are some hints at the existence of highly technological devices (such as the virtual reality simulations used in Dauntless training), for the most part the citizens seem to get along mostly by their own skills. This made for an interesting world to observe. The minimal focus on technology provided more opportunities for getting a sense of the people in the world Ms. Roth has created.

I was very pleased with the story provided in Divergent and am looking forward to the next book in the series. My favorite aspects included the heroine (Beatrice/Tris); the idea of factions based upon personality characteristics; and the inner-workings of said factions. Ms. Roth has created an intriguing world that I look forward to diving into again soon. I give Divergent a very well-earned 5 hoots.