Book Review: Divergent (Divergent #1), Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Published: 02/02/2012, HarperCollins Childrens Books
Pages: 489
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4/5

Three flying birds... one for each member of the family I left behind. 

Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.

So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.

The hardest choice lies ahead.

Why did it take me so long to get around to reading this book? Since finishing it this morning, I went straight to Book Depository to buy Allegiant (I already have Insurgent) then when I was picking my mum up from work I bought the film.

Anyway, to my review... Divergent is a dystopian novel therefore it's quite similar but, at the same time, completely different to the likes of The Hunger Games and The Selection. I mean if you enjoy those it's safe to say you WILL enjoy Divergent. I did!

The setting and world building of Divergent is on point. I loved it and couldn't find a fault in it. The way in which the society is divided into factions is just so unique and so well thought out. There is a small insight into why society has adopted this lifestyle, but I hope to learn more when I get around to reading Insurgent. I suppose it's hard to write a "different" dystopian novel these days with the sheer number around at the moment but Veronica Roth does it so well and I am in complete awe of her.

And of course, like any good dystopian, the setting and world building ties in perfectly with the plot and the characters. Divergent has a very unpredictable plot and I never knew what to expect next. This meant Divergent was an extremely thrilling read and I struggled to put the book down. And then the ending... oh my God! Be prepared!

Divergent is told from the first-person perspective of Tris, the main protagonist. This gives an excellent insight into how Tris feels both before her faction choice and after when she is an Initiate of Daunting. It really highlights Tris' struggles with discovering who she is and wanting to feel like she belongs somewhere. I really liked Tris. She isn't your typical kick-ass protagonist though she does have her moments. Her Abnegation upbringing has made her quite quiet and "proper" at least compared to the other Initiates. She isn't used to wearing her heart on her sleeve and struggles with the different social interactions she witnesses, particularly PDA. It's quite hard for her to shake off her upbringing making her somewhat of an outcast, but she really does try.

I want Four in my life! Where can I find him? He is just... ugh, no words. At first he seems like such a "bad boy" Daunting boy with his tough attitude, probably to make an impression on the Initiates and keep them in line. But as Tris spends more time with Four, we see a softer side to him that is really rather cute. His development is one of the best I've read. It's just so gradual and woven into the story so nicely that you barely notice. He seems like a totally different person by the end, but at the same time still the same Four we first met. I think he is just as unsure of himself as Tris is of herself. I love the slow growth of his relationship between Tris. They actually get to know one another before they even contemplate the idea of a relationship and it's really refreshing to read.

I really enjoyed Divergent and I really can't believe it took me so long to read it. It's definitely a book I would recommend to all dystopian fans young and old. I will definitely b carrying on with the series - hopefully reading Insurgent next week.

COYER Scavenger Hunt #44: Read a book that has been turned into a movie.

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