Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Released Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: Hardcover (358 pages)
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Divergent #1
Genre: Dystopian
Author Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/
Overall Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)
Description: 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.

Book Trailer:


Memorable Quotes:

"I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. "I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though."

"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others."

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just...want to see it again. Want to see you awake."

"Scrubbing the floor when no one else wanted to was something that my mother would have done. If I can't be with her, the least I can do is act like her sometimes."

My Musings: Let me just say it has been awhile since I have fully connected with a book inside and out. This book has all the elements of greatness: danger, romance, comedy, and action. There is never a dull moment in any portion of the story. I finished the book in one day because I could not put it down for the life of me.

I know alot of people have been comparing this series to The Hunger Games, but I think the main reason is that there are many different dystopians that are trying to compete with it and have failed. Well, let me tell you this that I believe Divergent is rival for that series. It carries very dark themes that make you sit back and have real hard look on our society.

Beatrice is such a likeable character. She is very unsure about herself in the beginning, but her growth throughout the book keeps you wanting to learn more about her.

Peter, who is the main antagonist, is such a little prick. There were moments where I just wanted to jump right into the book and strangle him. Veronica did a fantastic job making such a crazy villian like him.

The romance is just purely perfect. I don't want to give it away about who she falls for, but the development of the relationship is beautiful. This may sound cheesy, but it slowly blossoms into something beautiful, amazing, and can stand the testament of time.

Overall, I think this book is wonderful. It is always awesome to see an author not araid to touch upon dark themes like rape, war and gore. I only wish I didn't have to wait a whole year to read the next installment. I need to know what happens next!!!!!!

Cover Art: Love the cover, but it would have been nice if there was people on it.

Reading Order:
Divergent
Untitled #2
Untitled #3