GUEST REVIEW: Insurgent - Veronica Roth

GENRE: Dystopa/Futuristic
PAGES: 576
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 3 Stars

This review may contain spoilers for the first bok.

SUMMARY

I have done bad things. I can't take them back, and they are part of who I am. Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future. Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever...because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

REVIEW

Following on from the popular ‘Divergent’, the second book in the series picks up just as the last book ended. We already know that the series is set in future Chicago, where society is divided into ‘factions’ of human traits, such as the Abnegation (selflessness), Candor (honesty), Amity (peace), Erudite (knowledge) and Dauntless (bravery). However, in this book, the factions are on the cusp of war, so most of the book is based around Tris, Four and their allies trying to find out the truth about their society.

The story is still gripping, with lots of action scenes and rebellious characters and it was also interesting to read about the other factions and how they live. However, I thought that the romance element was a bit over-exaggerated in this one (TMI!) I didn’t really want to read over-descriptive scenes of kissing and cuddling – not my thing! I found Tris and Four’s relationship to be a little frustrating and feared Tris would turn into a mopey lovesick teenager. When will they actually be honest with each other? However, Roth just about gets away with this, as she provides enough action with the uprising of the factions. The important thing to remember is that Tris and Four don’t just have to contend with their changing relationship, they have to deal with the Factionless and hunt the truth about who they really are, which is really where my interest lies.

After getting over the amount of futile character deaths, I did enjoy the book, despite its predictable ending. Just like Tris, I am on the ‘fence’ with this one, but I do recommend it as a gateway to the final book, which is the one I am most looking forward to reading and hopefully find out what is really on the outside of the ‘fence’.

- Ami.

GUEST REVIEW: Divergent - Veronica Roth

PAGES: 496
PUBLISHER: Harpercollins
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 4 Stars

SUMMARY

For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead..

REVIEW

Desperate to read this before the I saw the film, I frantically searched for a copy of Veronica Roth's Divergent. The prestigious and reputable Waterstones came to the rescue and fuelled my YA book craving! It certainly wasn't difficult to find, as Divergentfinds itself in the dystopian sci-fi category (and it's not like this category is popular or anything!) I approached the story with an open mind, having read a mixture of reviews - some quite negative and too busy comparing it to The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), but most were positive and highly-engaged with the main character Beatrice, as she finds herself choosing her future, torn between family and what is right.

Set in a future divided into factions, each representative of 'the best' human traits, Beatrice belongs to Abnegation, a community dedicated to human kindness and selflessness, but she finds herself torn when labelled 'Divergent'. Will she leave her family to find her 'real' self? Can selflessness and bravery go hand-in-hand? You can read it to find out!

Beatrice, in her journey of self-discovery, comes across a whole host of characters, some stronger than others. I found Four a little bit unrealistic, but I guess there needs to be a love interest that isn't the cliche of Edward Cullen (sparkly vampire fromTwilight fame). I was glad that he had flaws and was, at times, a little rude to his 'Tris'. However, don't let the idea of a love interest put you off, as the main storyline is very effective. Beatrice not only has to contend with, at times, an ignorant love interest; she has to contend with her own survival! This is where the action begins and does not end. The novel is action-packed from start to finish and made breathing at a normal rate difficult!

As you read on through the novel, Beatrice becomes more confident and about as kick-ass as it gets. She jumps off buildings, climbs Ferris wheels and faces her fears. But the main plot-line of the trilogy doesn't come into focus until the end of the novel; I felt like too much of the time was spent developing her character in this one, but this was necessary to build to the main storyline of the trilogy. It definitely left me wanting to see the film and read the next two rather urgently!

- Ami 

(@mama_roach)