Divergent by Veronica Roth

Trigger Warning: This novel and review discuss the following: survival, death, murder.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

Series: The Divergent Series

Review:

I know, I know… another series that everyone had either read or heard of, and I’m yet again super late to the fanwagon. But guys… I GET IT NOW. I devoured Divergent in two days, and I’m just itching to start Insurgent, which is currently at home on my bookshelf, just calling my name…

For those of you who haven’t read the series (or seen the movies) like me, here’s a relatively short summary. Beatrice Prior (Tris) lives in dystopian Chicago. At sixteen, she is about to make the biggest choice of her life by decided what faction she is meant to live in. Growing up Abnegation, she has always felt a part of her doesn’t belong in the selfless  and reserved faction, and her curiosity has her admiring the Dauntless, who are brave and appear to fear nothing. On the day of her aptitude test, she learns that she doesn’t specifically fit into any of the factions- Abnegation, Dauntless, Candor, Amity, or Erudite- but has an aptitude for multiple factions… making her Divergent. Unsure of what this means, Beatrice chooses Dauntless, and through her guilt tries to convince herself of the saying, “Faction before Blood”. As she sheds her old identity and becomes just Tris, her initiation is nothing like what she expects. Determined to make it through initiation, Tris learns more than what it takes to become Dauntless- she learns what it takes to be Divergent.

(Photo Credit: Google Images)

I’m not sure if it’s the dystopian setting, the strength of the main character, or the barrage of intense action scenes, but I am HOOKED. Like, I even did the “What faction are you?” quiz. (Divergent, with Amity as the highest score). But I’ll contain my fangirling and keep this professional. Roth’s writing had me completely absorbed. I could imagine the Chicago trains always in motion, the Dauntless leaping on and off. I could see Tris’ train of thought, not as if I was reading her mind, but as if I was doing the processing myself. I could barely breathe during the fight scenes, and felt the punch in my gut when Tris states, “The bullet hit him in the head. I know because that’s where I aimed it.”

I’m so glad that this book lived up to the hype…in my opinion, it’s actually better. Highly recommend that you read it if you haven’t, and stay tuned- I know it won’t take me long to finish the rest of the series!

(Photo Credit: Google Images)

TL/DR: Divergent by Veronica Roth is a young adult dystopian novel, featuring a female lead named Tris Prior. It’s the first book of the bestselling series, which has been made into a series of movies.

Read it? Yes! You won’t be able to put it down!

Recommend it? ABSOLUTELY. I didn’t trust the hype until I cracked the first book, and believe me, the hype is REAL.

Buy it? YES!

If you liked this novel or review, check out these similar reads:

• Insurgent by Veronica Roth
• Allegiant by Veronica Roth
• Four by Veronica Roth