Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent #1)
written by Veronica Roth
published by Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I have been wanting to read this book for awhile. I finally picked up because the movie is out this month, and I talked our book group into reading it for April.

Also, I received my copy of Divergent from the fabulous Ashley at A Cute Angle during the Books ‘n Bloggers Swap.

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. I read it every free chance I had. The last half had me glued to my book. The first half took a bit to get through. I could put the book down during that and not have to pick it up again.

Tris is a fantastic heroine. She is up there with the best of them — Katniss and Hermione. (Sadly, I can only think of two right now off the top of my head.) She finds strength, power, knowledge, courage. Finds may be the wrong word. She always had it in her. She just didn’t know it. Her love interest is great. Four is such a gem. I loved the cake comment. (Read the book. You’ll understand.) They aren’t sappy and it definitely wasn’t insta-love. I got to see it develop. It was sweet.

(This next part isn’t a spoiler but it will be cryptic.) I was surprised by the ending and how fast it all wrapped up. The ending made me sad. I would have loved to know more about some people. I was surprised by the actions of some people. I wasn’t surprised by those of others. But I wish it hadn’t ended the way it did.

Would I recommend it: Absolutely.

Will I read it again: Probably, but first I want to read the rest of the series.

About the book – from Goodreads: 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.