The Divergent Trilogy

Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant

Dates Read

Book 1: Sometime last summer

Book 2: 17.4.15 - 21.4.15
Book 3: 1.5.15 - 10.5.15

General Thoughts

I was halfway through the first book when the movie came to the theaters. So I watched it. And it hooked me almost as much as the book. It is Theo James we're talking about after all.

Divergent had it all: thought-through back story, ingenious plot-thickening, haunting romance and honest, sharp characters.

The Writing

Veronica Roth's writing is elegant, though simple, nonredundant (is that even a word?). Her language flows through the pages, easy to get lost into. She uses present tenses to talk through Tris which, unusual as it is, I've always found to be quite enjoyable.

The narrating

Tris' voice is sharp, witty and heartbreakingly honest, especially considering Candor was not a faction she had an aptitude for. Although reckless, and occasionally annoying, she is considerably easy to relate to.

In the last book Tobias' voice takes turns narrating, and I think I've read enough failed attempts of female authors to bring their male protagonists to life to say that this isn't one of them.

The characters

Tris Prior

Strong. Selfless. Kind. Determined. She managed to pull off stupid decisions without looking like a witless character, managed to take reckless action without making it seem like she's only acting for the sake of acting. Her decisions and her actions were perfectly justified by her train of thought and the circumstances. Honestly, she's one of the few not to look like a stupid main character after so many mistakes. They only made her look human. Earthly. And very endurable to culprits.

Tobias Eaton

Or "Four" because he only has four fears. In the first book we are introduced to a tall, dark, determined and fearless stranger. In the second the relationship between him and Tris goes through a rough patch (because of Tris' reckless behaviour) but, still, they get over it. In the third book we get to see his "soft" side, and, although he never coddles Tris, he still manages to look like the caring, tough boyfriend every girl wants, there for her as an anchor through all the changes and hardships.

Where was I again?

The ending

SPOILER ALERT (Unless you've read the book, do not proceed!)

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Someone should have stopped Veronica from socializing with John Green and tricking her into believing that killing off your main character to give the books a big finish is ok.

*Deep Breath

When someone spends even a minimum amount of time on WeHeartIt, it is almost impossible to avoid the spoilers. So I had a vague idea of what was going to happen. But after Tris' near death experience in Insurgent (Yes, I watched  the movie first and after so many hints on WeHeartIt I was so sure she was dead) I thought everything was going to be ok. I mean, you can't almost kill your character so many times and then actually kill them, right?

No. Not right. Obviously surviving multiple near death experiences does not promise the survival of the main character through the last book!

And she died for what? Nothing! Beatrice Prior died for nothing. The world wasn't a better place. A bunch of people lost their memories, making Tobias look crazy to her own killer when he wanted to rip his throat out but the world hadn't changed. Tris didn't ensure peace or even Chicago's fate. Johanna did. So, basically, her death meant nothing to no one but the friends she left behind.

But.

Although it felt rushed and didn't really sit well with the rest of the books (or my stomach for that matter), I understand what the author wanted to say. I realise that Tris' death was proof of the long way she'd come, since the first book, leading her, through so many hardships, to the realization of what selfnessness really is, and making the ultimate sacrifice.

And I didn't cry.

I didn't cry when Tris was shot. I didn't cry when Tobias came back to the city, clueless as to the heartache that was waiting for him inside. I didn't even cry when the news were delivered to him. I didn't cry when he tried to take the memory potion.

It was when he shouted, heartbroken, for Cristina to shut up, when she reminded him of what Tris would've thought of his decision, that I broke down.

Seriously. Not. OK.

XOXO

Aggie Pearson

PS. And, of course, a song I've matched to the books (Ellie Goulding's "Beating Heart").
PS2. Find out what Veronica herself says about the ending of Allegiant on her blog, here.