Divergent - Book Review (repost/reread)

 

Divergent (Divergent #1)

by Veronica Roth

What is it about:

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.

What did I think of it:

This was a surprisingly cool read.

I did have some trouble with the world view of this book at first. The factions and how they function didn't seem very believable, but for the sake of the story I decided to take them for granted.

And I'm glad I did.

The story is suspenseful, intense and really cool.

I really liked Tris and could understand her struggle to try to fit in. And even though I was still a bit skeptic about the factions they did make for a very interesting setting.

The initiation Tris goes through is brutal and made for some really intense moments. There was lots of cool action as well. I did wonder how the initiation for other factions would be and luckily for some of them it is explained.

The romantic storyline was very nice, though slightly predictable, but at least it wasn't yet another love triangle or square, so that made me all happy.

Very late in the book a second major storyline gathers speed and plunges Tris in even more intense situations. This leads to an ending that makes you want to pick up the next book in this series right away.

This is certainly one of the more interesting Dystopian stories I've read lately and I will try to get hold of book 2 as soon as possible.

Why should you read it:

It's an action packed, intense Dystopian YA

Thoughts on rereading:

With a re-imagining/alternate storyline/thing coming out later this year I decided to do a reread of at least the first book in this series to be able to compare the new books to the original.

And this reread was fun!

I still think the world building is strange, but it makes for a fun story. I had forgotten there's a bit of a religious message near the end, but it's so minor I didn't mind. Overall still a cool Dystopian read. I'm curious about the new duology.

Ark - Book Review

 

Ark (Forward series)

by Veronica Roth

What is it about:

On the eve of Earth’s destruction, a young scientist discovers something too precious to lose, in a story of cataclysm and hope by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent trilogy.

It’s only two weeks before an asteroid turns home to dust. Though most of Earth has already been evacuated, it’s Samantha’s job to catalog plant samples for the survivors’ unknowable journey beyond.

Preparing to stay behind and watch the world end, she makes a final human connection.

As certain doom hurtles nearer, the unexpected and beautiful potential for the future begins to flower.

Veronica Roth’s Ark is part of Forward, a collection of six stories of the near and far future from out-of-this-world authors. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single thought-provoking sitting.

What did I think of it:

When reading Emergency Skin I noticed it was part of a loosely connected series of SF short stories. So I decided to try another one of the books in this series.

And this is yet another cool story.

Samantha works on cataloging plant samples at the seed vault in Svalbard in the days leading up to evacuating earth. She has decided to stay behind once the last ship leaves earth to see the world end as she feels like there isn't much to look forward to. Those leaving earth will be living out their lives on the ships and will never see the new planet humanity is traveling to.

I loved getting to know Samantha and her past. And then she starts to connect with another scientist who has decided to stay.

Their talks, Samantha's inner thoughts, the whole atmosphere captured me and reminded me what I loved in the Divergent series before the last book soured it all.

I might have to pick up my copy of Carve the Mark one of these days.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful bittersweet short read.

buy from Amazon

We Can Be Mended - Book Review

We Can Be Mended (Divergent #3.5)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
We Can Be Mended is a short-story epilogue that focuses on Four and takes place five years after Allegiant, the conclusion of the Divergent series.

As Tobias struggles to understand and move past his fears, the world he once knew has changed beyond recognition. Fringe-dwellers, ex-faction members, Bureau dropouts, and migrants now coexist in the rebuilt streets of Chicago.

It’s a new, better world—one where he isn't sure how to belong. As everyone else seems to move forward, Tobias is still haunted by those who couldn’t. But new connections from old friends help him begin to heal—and mend.

What did I think of it:
This story was originally a pre-order reward for Carve the Mark. It was a country specific reward however, so the only way back then for me to get it, would be to buy the Dutch book and receive the Dutch translation of this short story. I didn't want that, so now that it's finally available online I could get my trotters on it.

And this is a nice epilogue to a rocky series.

I loved the first two books and the story collection Four, I hated Allegiant, and not because of the ending I will confess, but because they were acting stupid and because I didn't like the reason behind the worldbuilding.

This short story is a pleasant little view into life after Allegiant, and how Tobias finally finds the way to heal and move on. I'd advice this short story to people who loved the trilogy - or even parts of it - and who don't expect Tobias to keep pining forever.

Why should you read it:
It's a short and sweet epilogue.


Buy from Amazon

Four - Book Review

Four: A Divergent Story Collection (Divergent 0.1-0.4)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation’s faction leader did the same. Tobias’s transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened “Four,” he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future—and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling DIVERGENT series, told from the per-spective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here—THE TRANSFER, THE INITIATE, THE SON, and THE TRAITOR—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the DIVERGENT trilogy.

What did I think of it:
I preordered this book back in September 2013, before I read Allegiant. At the time I thought this book would release in April 2014, but it turned out I preordered the paperback that wouldn't release until August 2015.

If Allegiant had been a better book I would probably have cancelled my preorder and bought the hard cover of Four. Allegiant being what it was, I was done with this series for a while, so I almost forgot about this preorder.

Then earlier this year I reread Divergent, which I still really love, and I actually started to look forward to reading Four. So when it finally arrived I immediately picked it up.

And it's a really nice read.

The four stories in this book fit together and give a good view on Four and on Dauntless. I liked finding out a bit more about how Dauntless functioned, and about what made Four who he is. I discovered that even though I still really don't get the world building, I actually do like it.

Maybe that's why I was so disappointed by Allegiant. I wanted a good reason for the cool, but nonsensical, world building in Divergent and Insurgent, but was left with a reason that made no sense to me.

All in all this is an enjoyable read, and like Divergent and Insurgent it will certainly be reread. Still not so sure about Allegiant though.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice read for fans of Divergent.

Divergent - Movie Review

Divergent (2014)
movie

What is it about:
Set in a futuristic dystopia where society is divided into five factions that each represent a different virtue, teenagers have to decide if they want to stay in their faction or switch to another - for the rest of their lives. Tris Prior makes a choice that surprises everyone. Then Tris and her fellow faction-members have to live through a highly competitive initiation process to live out the choice they have made. They must undergo extreme physical and intense psychological tests, that transform them all. But Tris has a secret that she is Divergent, which means she doesn't fit into any one group. If anyone knew, it would mean a certain death. As she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, this secret might help her save the people she loves... or it might destroy her.

What did I think of it:
I loved the first two books in the Divergent trilogy, so I had to see this movie. I will confess I was a bit apprehensive: often if you read the book, the movie disappoints. I also had my doubts about the actor they cast as Four.

Still my curiosity was greater than my apprehension, so on April 3rd (the release day of the movie here in the Netherlands) I managed to drag my owner and her best friend (who hasn't read the book) to the theater.

And it was awesome!

I will confess my owner and I both wished Jai Courtney (who plays Eric) had been cast as Four, but we also had to admit that Theo James grew on us eventually. That aside: the casting was very well done. Special kudos to Kate Winslet, who I loved in her role as Jeanine.

They stayed close to the book, cutting out a lot of scenes of course, but I think the movie captured the important things that were in the book. I didn't feel like I was missing important things. The visual world building fitted with how I had imagined it in the books as well.

The camera work was luckily not as spinning and dizzying as some other movies these days. Instead it stayed close to Tris in a way that drew me into the movie and kept me there. The action scenes were well executed and, although fast paced, easy to follow. I was totally invested in the story from beginning to end.

All in all I loved the movie and it made me want to go reread the book right away. Only my towering TBR pile is stopping me.

Afterwards I of course asked my owner's best friend what she thought of the movie, curious to know how someone unfamiliar with the book would experience the movie. She loved the movie as well, and apart from not completely understanding the motivation of the bad guys, she felt like the story was easy to follow. She even loved it so much, she will be picking up the book.

So I can only say I think this movie is a success!

I can advice anyone who loved the book to go see it. And if you have a friend who hasn't read the book you can drag him/her along without being afraid they will be lost.

Why should you see it:
It's an awesome Dystopian story with lots of action

Allegiant - Ranty Book Review

Allegiant (Divergent #3)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
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—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

My ranty review:
I will start with telling you a secret:
My owner is a princess!

What? You don't believe me? You want proof?

Ok, here's my proof:
My owner owns a tiara! Why would she have a tiara if she's not a princess?
There's no reason to own a tiara if you're not a princess, right?
So there you have it:

My owner is a princess.

Convinced?
I sure hope not!

And there you have the one thing that annoyed me in Allegiant!
Not the ending, which seems to enrage so many people.

False arguments and people falling for it!

I wanted to kick Tris and Tobias for believing what others told them. And when they did ask for proof, they got bogus proof and didn't question that bogus proof. It was so frustrating. At one point of the story I really hoped Tobias would get killed or hurt for acting like a brainless idiot.

And let's not forget the reveal!
We finally get an explanation for the weird world building in this series...
Yeah...

I won't spoil, but I was not impressed.

And don't get me started on Tris' holier than thou attitude, or the fact that Tris and Tobias sounded so much alike I got confused at times which viewpoint I was reading.

So when I finally got to the ending that had so many people angry and upset, I felt underwhelmed.

So was it all bad?
Well, to be honest it was an entertaining read, although it was so much less than I hoped. I will say I loved the second book in this trilogy best, and I will probably reread the first two books in this trilogy when I'm in the mood for an action packed Dystopian read. I even already preordered the short story collection that will release in a couple of months, before picking up this book, and I will read that as well.

This book however...

I most probably won't reread.

Why should you read it:
It is an entertaining though flawed Dystopian YA read.

Shards and Ashes - Book Review

Shards and Ashes - Anthology
by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Veronica Roth, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Rachel Caine, Nancy Holder, Beth Revis and Carrie Ryan

What is it about:
Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

What did I think of it:
Because this is an anthology I'll give a short commentary with each story about what I thought of it.

Hearken by Veronica Roth
This was a story with really intriguing world building. It was nicely written, but I didn't like the message that was a bit too clearly stamped upon the story. I wouldn't mind if Roth would write more in this world though.

Branded by Kelley Armstrong
This was a really cool story. Great world building, solid story and a great heroine. I really hope Armstrong will write more in this setting.

Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
This story had a great plot, but that got a bit lost in the way it was written.

Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
I loved this story. It's disturbing and suspenseful. With a minimum of world building Caine succeeds in dragging me into the story and cheering on the lead character. Best story in the book in my opinion.

Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
I liked the world building at the start of the story, but soon the story went to places where I couldn't follow.

Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
This story couldn't really grab my attention.

Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
This was a really nice story. I liked the world building, it felt very believable. I might try other books by Garcia.

Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
A very intriguing story. It's set on a spaceship and I really liked the setting. I think I'll add Revis' books to my wishlist.

Miasma by Carrie Ryan
This was a lovely story. Bittersweet and just a bit disturbing. I wouldn't mind if Ryan wrote more in this setting.

Overall this is a great anthology with some really cool settings and stories. I can recommend this to anyone who loves a good Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic setting.

Why should you read it:
It's a great anthology with cool Dystpian YA stories.

Insurgent - Book Review

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
This book was even more suspenseful and intense than Divergent.

I loved the main story and almost couldn't put the book down. There's so much happening in this book, so much intrigue, lies, secrets and distrust. You keep guessing what's going to happen and who will betray whom next. At times I was chilled by how people reacted to the things that are happening and at the naive way some of them looked at the world.

I had some difficulties with Tris and Four. Egh... They were acting so teen angsty and sulky towards each other at times. I would almost rather have had a love triangle than this sappy nonsense to keep the romance 'interesting'. I really think they should have communicated more and wanted to slap some sense into them.

The world building still didn't make sense to me and some things happened that made me frown even more, but once again I decided to take it for granted for the sake of the story. It seems book three might give me more insight in the inner workings of the setting though.

In the end I very much enjoyed this book. It's an entertaining and gripping story and I look forward to reading the next and final book in this trilogy, but I'll have to wait until fall 2013.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful Dystopian YA read.

Divergent - Book Review

Divergent (Divergent #1)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
This was a surprisingly cool read.

I did have some trouble with the world view of this book at first. The factions and how they function didn't seem very believable, but for the sake of the story I decided to take them for granted.

And I'm glad I did.

The story is suspenseful, intense and really cool.

I really liked Tris and could understand her struggle to try to fit in. And even though I was still a bit skeptic about the factions they did make for a very interesting setting.

The initiation Tris goes through is brutal and made for some really intense moments. There was lots of cool action as well. I did wonder how the initiation for other factions would be and luckily for some of them it is explained.

The romantic storyline was very nice, though slightly predictable, but at least it wasn't yet another love triangle or square, so that made me all happy.

Very late in the book a second major storyline gathers speed and plunges Tris in even more intense situations. This leads to an ending that makes you want to pick up the next book in this series right away.

This is certainly one of the more interesting Dystopian stories I've read lately and I will try to get hold of book 2 as soon as possible.

Why should you read it:
It's an action packed, intense Dystopian YA