Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Title: Divergent
Hardcover, 496 pages
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Source: Friend
Buy: Amazon
Book Summary:
One choice
One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs, and determines your loyalties . . . forever.
Or, one choice can transform you.
In Veronica Roth’s debut novel, Divergent, a perfect society unfolds into a dystopian world of electrifying decisions, stunning consequences, heartbreaking betrayals, and unexpected romance.
Review:
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Which is quite amazing because it had a lot to live up to, since I read it immediately after the third Jenny Han book, which ALSO made my all time favorites list.
Divergent is a book set in a different world, split into five faction. Each individual is born into a faction that they live with (and follow the rules for) until they are a teenager. At that point they are given a test which tells them which faction would best suite them, and they choose which group they want to live with for the rest of their lives. The factions are based on personality traits – one is very selfless, one is full of risk takers, one is very honest, etc – meaning most people fit very well into a faction.
Some don’t fit so well, and you find out more about that as the story progresses. But let me just tell you – it is PURE AWESOME.
Veronica Roth is not messing around here, folks. She has carefully crafted a world that will enthrall you. You’ll be wondering which faction you’d fit in while worrying (or hating) the characters that you’re reading about. The world building is so complete that a movie was playing in my mind, and I was not confused one iota (which is quite the feat for me, as fantasy and dystopians can really throw me off).
The relationships between each of the characters are dynamic and realistic. There are friends, there are enemies, and there are even love interests (for those of you hoping for some sort of romantic sub-plot).
The cover of this one threw me off a bit at first because it seemed more action/science-fictiony than I would normally like, but I am so very glad I gave it a try. When I was finished (which was within a day), I immediately handed it over to my husband Steve to read, because I’m sure he will love it, too – meaning it has crossover appeal not only from young adults to adults but from men to women.
What a great, great book. I hope this is one you seriously consider ordering or pre-ordering, as I believe it will be one of the top reads of the year.
Buy: Amazon
Related Posts:
Related Posts
-
Review: Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
Posted on Jul 23, 2011
-
Waiting on Wednesday: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Posted on Jul 20, 2011
-
Steve Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Posted on Jul 19, 2011
-
Review: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison
Posted on Jun 30, 2011
Tags
Share This
Twitter: missyreviews
I was excited about this before, but the more reviews I read the more excited I get! Everyone is absolutely raving about this. I seriously can’t wait to get my hands on it! Why oh why isn’t it May yet????
It is definitely worth being excited for – if I were to tell someone 1 thing to preorder this year, this would be it!
Yay! This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, too! I am so glad to hear that so many people are loving it. Cannot wait for the next in the series!
I can’t wait, either! I am glad it didn’t leave us with a total cliffhanger though. I appreciate that.
Twitter: booksandwine
I’m freakin psyched to read my copy of Divergent, but I feel like I have to wait until Mid-March or maybe even April to read it.
So glad you enjoyed it and that the world building rocked!
ALSO I hope stupid assholes don’t send you mean emails about you building early buzz.
Hahaha hope I don’t get any e-mails, either! I’m hoping to get a few to think about preordering it this way
This is already my pick for 2011. <3
OMG. What a review. I have this on my wishlist to pre-order and now am thinking I need to make sure I do!
I LOVED everything you had to say about it ~ sounds intruiging and a bit wild and very thoughtful.
Awesome review!
xo Nomes
You DEFINITELY need to make sure it is on your list! Glad I was able to sway you a little more!
It’s official. I think I need to pre-order this one. Thanks for the awesome review!
Do it! You won’t regret it.
I’ll definitely buy my hard copy when it comes out!
I completely agree with your review. Of the books I’ve read in 2011 (which there are MANY), Divergent is one of my favorite books (Stolen by Lucy Christopher being the other top pick; if you haven’t read that, please do!). Divergent has brilliant pacing and Roth makes me really CARE about Tris, unlike some dystopian books (*cough* Matched *cough*) where I just wish the heroine would shut up.