Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 3, 2011
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Sixteen year old Beatrice Prior has a huge decision to make. In dystopian Chicago, sixteen year olds must choose which of the society’s five factions they want to be a part of for the rest of their lives. Beatrice must choose between staying with her family in Abnegation, or making her own decision and beginning a whole new life somewhere else.

When Beatrice decides to join the Dauntless, the strong and brave faction, she changes her name to Tris and begins to undergo several intense challenges leading up to her initiation into the faction. Life is certainly different in the Dauntless. Tris learns how to use a gun, how to fight and quickly learns who are her friends, and who are her enemies. Along the way, an unlikely romance blooms.  As Tris competes with several others for just a handful of spots at initiation, she transforms into someone; someone she never thought she could be.

Tris quickly learns that things aren’t as they seem within the five factions. Something bigger is brewing; something that whether she realizes it or not, Tris will play a role in.

The way I described this book on Twitter was, “SO good and SO unlike anything I’ve ever read before.” This statement could not be more true. I’m on a bit of a dystopian kick in 2011, but this book was seriously unlike the other dystopians that I’ve read and loved this year. DIVERGENT was dark, scary and kept me on my toes.

I loved Tris. My emotions for her as main character ran the gamut: I loved her, worried for her, feared for her life, admired her courage and yearned to learn more about her intricate personality. Tris was both strong and smart. Even though she was small, she used her knowledge and turned her weaknesses into strengths. She was quick on her feet and even after 16 years of living one way, she so quickly transformed into a Dauntless.

I loved all of the characters in this book. Roth did an excellent job developing not only Tris, but also several other secondary characters. My favorite secondary character though is definitely Four (*swoon*). Four absolutely captivated me from beginning to end. Even though he was only 18, his experiences made him wise beyond his years and someone I found myself attracted to, even when he came across as harsh. Roth perfectly writes this subtle romance, with perfect pacing and excellent character development.

Readers will quickly find themselves lost in the world Roth has built. I was so captivated by the five factions, and found myself trying to figure out what faction I would have chosen if I were made to choose. I was fascinated by all of the small details about the Dauntless from the tattoo parlor to their mode of transportation. These details truly make the book and make the reader feel as if they are right there, part of the terrifying action.

I find it hard to believe that Veronica Roth is only 22 years old- she writes as if she’s been professionally writing all her life! Roth excels at writing fight scenes. I never thought I’d write a review praising an author for their skill in writing down and dirty, bloody fight scenes, but DIVERGENT has opened my mind to a whole new genre of books that I might appreciate.  Roth also expertly writes this book in such a way that I literally could not  put it down. I spent an entire day reading this book (I even attempted reading while making soup on the stove…friends, I wouldn’t try this at home). I am absolutely blown away by Roth and DIVERGENT and I cannot wait until the next book in this trilogy comes out.

5/5

Thanks to Steph Su Reads for sharing her review copy with me!