Divergent by Veronica Roth

April 2011, Harper Collins

Paperback

Review copy 

Young Adult, Dystopian 

Controlled society, social unrest, rule following & breaking, cruel regimes, division, dissent, rebellion, secrets, families/friendships made and broken, tragedy, surprises, betrayal, persecution, interesting world concepts, some violence & gore, mystery, teen romance (mild, occasionally moderate), some humour, tissues will be needed

Summary from Harper Collins

She turns to the future in a world that’s falling apart.

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….

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Tris....she's yet another character who is so like me that it's scary (although I actually quite like some aspects of the Abnegation faction). Her voice is engaging, there is heaps of action and I could feel everything she did. 

Is there another character that deserves a special mention? Tris's mother - wow, just pure wow!!!! (can't say any more without spoiling the story)

How evil/nasty is the enemy? There's the overall enemy, who is very evil because forcing people into battle is at the top of immoral acts, then there's Tris's personal enemies, who are cold hearted and merciless. I fear both of them the same. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? Oh yes - loads! Tris never knows what's coming next, and neither did I. 

One of my favourite parts was...the entire book. Seriously. It's brilliant! Enough action, intrigue, drama, weapons (lovely weapons! (I think my love of weapons stems from video games) for me. 

I'd give this an 11/10 if I could, but it'll have to be 10/10 for a heart warming and heart wrenching, action packed read. Glad to hear it's a trilogy! 

Find out more about Divergent and Veronica on her website.

Suggested read

As I don't have a view of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series (bad me), check out Inside Out by Maria V Snyder