Apparently, I was one of the few people in high school that hadn’t read this series yet, so I finally picked it up and gave it a shot. Since this series is so popular, I decided to write a review on it so the world can see what I think of this interesting series.
What is the Divergent Series?
Divergent is a young adult fiction novel by Veronica Roth that’s set in a dystopian world in the future of the United States of America. It mostly takes place in the home city of Tris (the main character) until you get to the third book where they explore the world outside their city. This review will contain spoilers for the series, so if you have not read Divergent yet, feel free to skip to the end of the article where I will give my overall opinion and say whether or not I recommend this series.Divergent
Divergent, the first of three books in its series, follows Tris, a sixteen-year old girl who grew up in the selfless faction of Abnegation, as she leaves her family to try to be true to herself and find out what being Divergent really means.This book hooked me instantly with its fast-paced plot and gripping excitement.
This book is something you want to read if you like scenarios that make you think. The factions and the way they work together in the city is really fascinating. I enjoyed exploring all the ins and outs of this society. It really seems like the author put a lot of thought into every aspect of how they lived.
This book hooked me instantly with its fast-paced plot and gripping excitement. I finished this book in under a week; I haven’t read something that fast since I first read the Harry Potter series.
The characters are really in-depth as well, and most of them feel like they could be actual people. As someone who rarely feels like they would enjoy meeting a character in real life, I was pleasantly surprised by this. Even if a character wasn’t extremely in depth, they still felt like they had their own personality that made them separate from other characters that also weren’t thoroughly explained.
The ending was just as exciting as the rest of the book. I had to finish the last couple chapters in one sitting because I didn’t want to leave the story hanging for too long.
Insurgent
Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent trilogy, takes place after the attack simulation has been shut down. Tris and Tobias have to find a way to take down Jeanine and prevent her from killing anyone else in her quest to hide the truth.The action seemed to have no end. I found myself turning page after page for hours at a time not wanting the story to stop. Somehow, this book felt even more fast paced than the first one. There was danger at every turn, and so many secrets were revealed in this book, and it was very interesting to see the way the characters addressed trust issues between them.
However, there was a bit too much romance in this book for my liking. I know that some people enjoy romance, but I guess I don’t understand the appeal and can’t fully appreciate it. In fact, it made the book almost painful to read at times.
I found myself turning page after page for hours at a time not wanting the story to stop.
The ending was an amazing reveal to top off all the action and adventure in the book. It made you really consider what could happen in the next book and get you really excited for it without being an annoying cliffhanger. It was a very well balanced cliffhanger which isn’t always easy to pull off.
Allegiant
Allegiant, book three in the Divergent series, begins with Tris and her friends allying themselves with an organization known as the Allegiant, who have made plans to rebel against the factionless and bring back the factions. Afterwards, Tris leaves her home to see what is beyond the fence and help those on the outside.Even though I was slightly confused at the beginning, I almost enjoyed the fact that everything I knew about this world had been turned on its head.
I found the conclusion to this series just as gripping as the first two books. Although my opinion on the romance remains the same, I still found it very difficult to put down. Even though I was slightly confused at the beginning, I almost enjoyed the fact that everything I knew about this world had been turned on its head.
However, it was during this book I realized how many characters had died, and I couldn’t figure out why anyone would make all of these in depth, entertaining characters just to kill off half of them. Sure, I appreciate a character death every once in a while, but too many can ruin a good book similar to the way too much seasoning can ruin a food dish. Once I realized that, the action and suspense was the only thing that kept me reading. I forced myself to make it through the emotional pain, telling myself, “All you have to do is finish this book, and you’re done.” The final character death probably would have hit me harder if I hadn’t lost so many characters along the way. I almost felt like I was expecting it to happen rather than being surprised by it happening.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the climax and resolution of this book. In my opinion, it’s a fitting conclusion to this exciting series.
Conclusion
I feel like certain things about this series ruined the rest of it for me. There were some parts that I really enjoyed, but they don’t stick in my mind as much as the parts that were hard to get through. However, it could also be that writing this review is what ruined the series for me similar to the way writing a book report will ruin a good book.I know that there is a prequel to the series, but I don’t think I’m going to read it. I feel like the original three books are enough for me. Even though this series was very exciting and enjoyable, it’s not necessarily one of my favorite series that I’ve read.
Overall, I’d give this series a 6.5/10.
Would recommend if: you like fascinating concepts of how to run a society, exciting plot twists, and endless action and suspense.
Would Not recommend if: you don’t like romance, get easily attached to characters, or don’t enjoy dystopian young adult novels.
Finally, to keep with the theme of this slowly becoming a book report, some lessons that we can take from this book series are: if people in power are corrupt then we should rebel against them, don’t create a rebellion unless you realize that people might not make it through to the end, and don’t write a book report on something you actually want to continue enjoying.
