Tag Archives: Divergent Series

Four by Veronica Roth

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Four

TITLE: Four
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

 

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
Fans of the Divergent trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Collection, a companion volume that includes four pre-Divergent stories plus three additional scenes from Divergent, all told from Tobias’s point of view. This collection also makes a great pick for fans of the blockbuster movies who want to delve deeper into the character played by Theo James.

Readers first encountered Tobias as “Four” in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character’s back story told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias’s life. The first three pieces in this volume—”The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” and “The Son”—follow Tobias’s transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, “The Traitor,” runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.

Also includes three additional scenes from Divergent, told from Tobias’s point of view!

Buy it HERE on Amazon! 
THE CRITICAL POINTS

WRITING: Veronica Roth takes us deep into Four’s perspective with this one, and she doesn’t disappoint.

STORY: Four, the 4th book in the Divergent Series is actually a set of novellas. What it reminded me, after the disappointment of Allegiant, is that I really enjoy Roth’s storytelling and the world she created within the Divergent Series. Seeing her world through Four’s eyes was a great way to wrap up the series and give her readers the closure we didn’t get with Allegiant.

I won’t give anything away, but I will say even if you were disappointed with Allegiant, you have to pick up Four! Give Roth another chance and read these awesome novellas. It’s a fast-paced read, I think I finished it in one night… maybe two. You won’t be disappointed.

If you’ve already read Four, what did you think? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

APPEARANCE: The cover blends well with the rest of the Divergent series books and fits the story VERY WELL! I love the imagery as well as the meeting behind the Ferris wheel.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.”

“Dead people can be our heroes because they can’t disappoint us later; they only improve over time, as we forget more and more about them.”

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

NOT YET RECORDED

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

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Allegiant 1

TITLE: Allegiant
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★ (4)

 

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that captivated millions of readers and film fans in Divergent and Insurgent. This paperback edition includes bonus content by Veronica Roth!

One choice will define you. What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

Told from a riveting dual perspective, this third installment in the series follows Tris and Tobias as they battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and their selves—while facing impossible choices of courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Buy it HERE on Amazon!

THE CRITICAL POINTS

WRITING: I have enjoyed Veronica Roth’s writing style with this series, however it changed in book 3. Books one and two were told from Tris’ point of view, which I LOVED. Book 3 however, jumps back and forth between Tris and Four… it was jarring and seemed out-of-place for the series.

STORY: I love the idea of this story and the trilogy is very good, especially books one and two. However, book three seemed repetitive, not with the other books but with itself. Jumping back and forth from Tris’ perspective and Four’s perspective led to reading the same information multiple times with a slight change in thought. It felt like Roth was pushing us toward the end of the story instead of letting us just come along for the ride.

The ending was a giveaway, I guessed it early and wasn’t to pleased. Not only because I like a good surprise, but because it seemed like the predictable choice.

I read each of the first two books in two or three sittings, but book three seemed to drag. It took me much longer, almost a full week, to read because I just didn’t feel as invested in the story. I love a good story line that pulls me into the action, character development, and relationships, but after a while of listening to Tris and Four go head to head with their back and forth love you – don’t trust you – love you – don’t trust you… I found myself disconnecting.

The last thing I will say is this… Not every story has a happy ending, and I’m ok with that, but this one builds you up to the hope and real possibility of a happy ending, just to let you down in the end.

Still, it is a good story and a must-read trilogy! If you’ve read it, I’d love to know your thoughts, so comment below and tell me what you thought of Allegiant or the whole Divergent series.

Next week, I’ll be reviewing Four, book 4 in the Divergent series.

APPEARANCE: The cover is a swirl of water… a wave. The symbolism is there… in one of Tris’ fears, but could be easily lost in the content of the book. Although appealing, I don’t know that the cover of this one connects to the story as well as the covers on books one and two.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

“I wonder if fears ever really go away, or if they just lose their power over us.”

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater. But sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life. That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

NOT YET RECORDED

Check out the official movie trailers here:

https://youtu.be/0G0C-vMHcQY
https://youtu.be/2CY5TQ0K1Ls
https://youtu.be/_fLg8PsLWQ0

allegiant 2

 

Movie Information:
After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four beyond the wall that encircles Chicago, to finally discover the shocking truth of the world around them.

Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Noah Oppenheim, Adam Cooper, and Bill Collage (screenplay) / Veronica Roth (novel)
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jeff Daniels

Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Divergent 1TITLE: Divergent
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth

RATING OVERVIEW
Writing: ★★★★★
Story: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★ (4.5)

AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
This first book in Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel the inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series, Divergent and its sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant, are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Fans of the Divergent movie will find the book packed with just as much emotional depth and exhilarating action as the film, all told in beautiful, rich language.

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior’s society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she’s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

Buy it HERE on Amazon!
THE CRITICAL POINTS

WRITING: Veronica Roth’s writing style reminds me of Suzanne Collins. She is a fast-paced story-teller who uses a lot of great descriptive language. She paints a picture in your mind without forcing the details down your throat over and over again.

STORY: Let me start by saying, I had never heard of the Divergent series when I first picked it up. I had seen a movie trailer for the first film in the series and quickly decided I needed to read the book before the movie hit the theatres. I’M GLAD I DID!

If you liked the Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, then you’ll love Divergent. Divergent is the first book in the series, and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat page after page. This YA novel is full of characters every YA reader can either relate to fall in love with. Our heroine starts out as a young, quiet, innocent girl in the Abnegation faction but quickly claims her spot as a fearless Dauntless initiate.

Roth is an excellent character builder. The reader gets to know Beatrice, and the others, as if they are our friends and family. They struggle and you struggle along with them, they get excited and as a reader you get excited too. Roth brings these characters to life.

Have you seen the movie? Me too! I have to say; the first movie did a pretty good job keeping up with the book. However, they missed some key character-building moments and friendship building moments that were prominent in the book. The effects weren’t terrible in the first movie, but because of what was missed, the later movies suffered – In my opinion.

APPEARANCE: The cover is eye-catching. The blaze of fire in a ring of fire caught my attention right away when I passed it in the bookstore. I didn’t know anything about the story at the time, but the cover drew me in!

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.”

Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.

NOT YET RECORDED

Check out the official movie trailers here:

Movie Information:
divergent movie

In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she’s Divergent and won’t fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it’s too late.

Director: Neil Burger
Writers: Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor (screenplay), Veronica Roth (novel) 
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet