Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth

Title: Allegiant

Publication: October 22, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 544

Audience: 15 and up

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis (from the cover): 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- wile facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

My thoughts:
 I finished this book a few days ago. I actually started the book back in October right after it came out, but a friend of mine ruined the ending...so I kind of put it off. I'm also doing that to another series. I hate it when people do that, but I eventually get over it because I get to experience the journey. It's just I know I won't have a raw/true reaction to that event because I'm expecting it. Anyway, I'm really not sure how I feel or what I think about this book. I read some reviews about it, and I think the best one described it as Katy Perry's song, Hot and Cold. I think that perfectly sums it up. 
Unlike some fans of the series, I did enjoy reading the book for the most part. I did not like the varying viewpoints because to me Tris and Tobias were written so much alike, that I would forget whose perspective I was in until another character said something, then I was thinking, "Huh? When did we switch perspectives?" 
Of course, Mrs. Roth has no issues killing off her characters. In a way, I respect authors who want to rip your hearts out, but after a while, I start to detach myself from the book and characters so I'm not hurt every three chapters or so. I think she did an overkill for the series, even though it is a dystopian series, she killed off way too many loveable characters. She killed off one of my favorite characters and I had to stop reading at that point and let myself be angry and upset over it. I'm pretty sure I'm still not over it.
As for the ending, I felt one ending was too abrupt for one character. The other character's ending was a bit fluffy and sugary sweet for my taste. Otherwise, the book was fine. It was a conclusive ending to the trilogy. I honestly liked it. There were a couple of quotes about information and one about love that I wrote down to remember. I can say I like Divergent and Insurgent better, but Allegiant makes an okay ending for the series. What do you think? Were you a lover or hater of Allegiant?

 

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Audiobook)

Author: Veronica Roth
Narrator: Emma Galvin

Title:Insurgent

Publication: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Length: 11 hours 22 minutes

Pages: 544

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from Amazon.com):
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.

My thoughts:
Wow! I really wish someone had forced me to listen or read this series sooner. Veronica Roth is great at writing dystopian novels. This novel starts off where Divergent left you. This time though, Tris has changed. Her actions and their consequences have left her in pieces. So you watch her deal with her grief. It can be frustrating at times, but grief is such an odd emotion that takes time and patience. In her grief she is also dealing with guilt. I think it made Tris more human. To mull over what she did and how it changed her. Anyone in the same situation would probably do the same. However, the grief and guilt causes a riff between Four and Tris. I think they should just sit down and talk it all out, but with an uprising and possible war in their future, talking about feelings is the last thing on their minds. There is a scene towards the end of the middle (if that makes sense. It is a large book!) and it actually made my heart hurt and my eyes tear up. I think I may have shed a couple of tears. It was such a well written scene and Emma Galvin read it with such emotion that it made me emotional. I hugged my fiance' a little tighter that night. It made me appreciate all that I had a little more. So this dystopian, young adult book really effected me in a way that a book hasn't been able to in a while. This book is full of death, sadness, guilt, and grief. It was harder to read at times with all the emotions, but that is what made it a wonderful read at the same time. Of course, this book also ends on this huge bombshell. I cannot wait for October to roll around because I'm buying the darn book and reading it. I'll listen to it later because I think Miss Galvin is a fantastic narrator, but I need to know what happens next!

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Audiobook)

Author: Veronica Roth

Narrator: Emma Galvin
Title:Divergent

Publication: May 3, 2011

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult

Pages: 487
Length: 11 hours 11 minutes

Audience: 15 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Overdrive Audiobook

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): 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.

My thoughts:
I am so late to the Divergent train. My fiance enjoyed book and has tried for a while to get me to start the series. Several of my friends have read it and enjoyed it as well. After seeing the novel is being made into a movie, I had to read it. My fiance read the novel after reading The Hunger Games and told me it was much better than The Hunger Games. I'll be honest and admit I was not the biggest fan of The Hunger Games, but I'm not sure how you could compare this novel to The Hunger Games in a fair manner. The only similarities are the corrupt government (dystopian setting) and how people are separated into different groups. I will also admit this, I did enjoy Divergent much more than The Hunger Games.
Beatrice is your everyday teenager who is trying to find her place in the world that is different from your typical dystopian novel. In this novel, there are factions. I kept trying to decide which faction I would be in while I was reading. As much as I would love to have picked one, they were all corrupt in their own ways and had their flaws. If I had to pick, I think I would be Erudite, I love to learn new things. Anyway, back to the story. The characters are realistic. You have your bully who is Peter, the two true friends who are Christina and Will. Then you have Al, whose role is in a grey area until his place is cemented in the story line. Four is well, I'll leave that for you to find out. There are many different characters who may not seem important, but they all fulfill their roles to the storyline in due time. 
To me, Veronica Roth has created this world and seamlessly tied all the ideas and people together. It is a splendid novel. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was fantastic. Emma Galvin kept my attention and Veronica's story played through my mind as I spent hours in my kitchen cooking, preparing, and cleaning just so I could listen to the next sentence. It took time for me to read it because I've been busy, but once you pick up this book it is hard to put down. I highly recommend it!