Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
5 out of 5 Stars!
Publication Date: May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books
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.
For some reason or another, I had not read Divergent yet…despite the fact that it’s been sitting on my shelf since it was released. I even had it signed by Veronica Roth herself at ALA! (She was very nice, btw) Even when my fellow bookish friends yelled urged me to read it, I still kept putting it off. What the heck was I waiting for!?!?! Slap me now, friends, because I did not act when you yelled urged me and I now understand.
Divergent is one of the best Dystopian books I’ve read to date. It comes close to knocking The Hunger Games off their number one spot in my book. I can’t say for sure because I’ve only just read Divergent, but ask me again at the end of this year.
It was everything you can ask for: incredibly unique world-building, fierce yet approachable heroine, sexy, mysterious, protective love interest. In those three respects, I think it surpasses The Hunger Games, honestly.
I love this world Veronica Roth created, where you live your life according to what attribute is best from your character. Of course, no world can every live in harmony forever, even if their way of living seems to be working. Greed always plays a part in destruction. I honestly couldn’t tell you which faction I would choose for myself though. I think Erudite, but, well…lol No thanks. There’s NO WAY I could be Dauntless!! I am NOT a fighter! And I’m not selfless or religious enough to be Abnegation. With the amount of things I like to keep to myself, there isn’t a possibility I could be Candor. That leaves Amity, which I can live with. I can be peaceful and friendly…I promise!! :)
Tris really is the best heroine out there. She is brave and selfless, but ruthless when she needs to be. She’s kick-ass! I ended up really admiring her character and her actions. I don’t think I’d ever survive had I been in her shoes. I hated that her “friends” could not be happy for her when she started doing really well. HATED! I yelled at the book and then ranted about it to my fiancé at three in the morning! HAHA He was very amused by my outburst thankfully, lol.
Ok…you know what’s coming next, don’t you?
Oh, my Four. Four was the perfect combination of fierceness, and kindness, and sexyness, and respectfulness, and smartness, and vulnerabilityness…*sigh* Yeah, all that. His character, like Tris, had so much depth! I really, really loved those two.
I don’t think there’s a Dystopian that will soon top Divergent for me, but I look forward to the challenge. If, like me, you are insane enough to continue putting off reading this book, tell me now so I can yell urge you until you do, as my friends did me. I guarantee – no – I PROMISE you’re missing out.
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