Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Reading Level: Young Adult

Release Date: Available Now

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 496

Source: Received from publisher for honest review

Summary: 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. Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review: In my opinion, Divergent is the epitome of dystopian fiction. Perfectly crafted from page to page, Veronica Roth marks herself as a top contender in this growing genre of visionary and chaotic societies. At sixteen years old, every teenager had the choice to either stay in their born right faction or join another at the expense of leaving their families behind. The five factions were masterfully created in a way where my curiosity was heightened instantly. I couldn't get enough of how different the factions were in looks, personality and overall lifestyle. Now, besides the strong foundation, the classification of each character was meticulously done to the point of excellence. Thus, giving me the chance to bond not only with one character but a few.

Tris, the protagonist, was raised in the Abnegation faction, where selfless behavior was key. Her choice of faction came as a shock considering her background. However, the spunk and thrill seeking attitude made it that much more real. Now, let's talk about the oh so sexy, Four. As one of the leaders of her group, I couldn't control my underlying lust for this man. I know he is a fictional character, but damn was he a mysterious bowl of hotness. Okay, let's wipe the drool off, the secondary characters in Tris's faction were also likable, with a dose of hatred towards the villainous seeds. All in all, I don't want to give too much away, hence the vague review. This is a debut that needs to be read by every YA reader, I swear I'm not just saying that, it's really that amazing! I'm addicted to the start of this series and I will be patiently waiting for the sequel. Thank you Veronica for shining your brilliance into my book collection -- I look forward to seeing where your creativity leads us!

My Rating:

Book Trailer:

Author's Info:

Veronica Roth graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing. While she was a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. It was indeed a transforming choice. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth lives near Chicago. Divergent is her first novel.

For more info on Veronica, visit her sites:

-Website

-Twitter

-Facebook

-Divergent Fan Site

-GoodReads