Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent Trilogy #1)

onyxdarkling
Feb 4, 2014
2 min read

( In a post-apocalyptic Chicago, society is divided into five "factions" - groups that each provide the city with a service it needs to function and survive. There are the Dauntless, who are famous for their daredevil stunts and reckless acts, and who work as soldiers and guards. The Amity are peaceful and kind, growing food to feed the city. The ever-honest Candor work in the justice system, the knowledge-craving Erudite take on rolls such as teachers, doctors, and scientists. The selfless Abnegation run the city's government and help the poor.

When each child reaches their sixteenth birthday, they must choose a faction to spend the rest of their lives in. Many who choose other than the faction they were born into will never see their parents again. During a test to see which faction she will best fit into, the main character, Beatrice Prior, learns that she is Divergent, meaning she would fit into several factions. This is dangerous, and Beatrice must hide from other people who are hunting divergents. If she is caught, she will be killed.

Beatrice leaves her birth faction, Abnegation, behind in favor of the faction Dauntless, changing her name to simply "Tris". However, if she wants to stay with the Dauntless, she will have to complete a brutal training process. Even more chilling, Abnegation's rival faction, Erudite, seems to be pulling strings in the world of the Dauntless, and Tris feels like the views that the Dauntless have on bravery have become twisted. Her views seem to be shared by Four, her perplexing trainer. After a trainning exercise gone wrong, Four learns Tris's secret - and is willing to keep it. Tris and Four begin to untangle the twisted net of lies that has ensnared most of the Dauntless, and they then learn a terrifying plot.

This was a fresh, original read. I enjoyed the faction idea and also the thoughtful views of the characters. The story line is exellent and the plot is well paced. All of the characters give you something to dwell on and the book's messages are powerfull and shouldn't be quickly forgotten. I know many people are saying that Divergent is a lot like The Hunger Games, but I really don't see many simularities. I loved loved loved it! 5/5 stars!