eBook Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Synopsis:
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.

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In a dystopian world in the future, the society is divided into 5 different factions. Beatrice Prior, who is a part of that society, should choose one faction by her 16 years old. There, a faction means a lot to each individual. Faction before blood, they said. Community is more serious matter than family connected by blood. Actually, before Beatrice choose a faction where she will belong for the rest of her life, she and other teenagers must pass a test. Surprisingly, her test result is not what she has expected before. She does not belong to one faction. She belongs to no one indeed because she is a "Divergent". This status is not a pride. In fact, it can absolutely endanger herself to death.

By the test ends, she is suggested not discussing about her result to everyone. But she is still required to choose a faction where she will belong and secretly to avoid any danger related to her "Divergent" status. Then, she prefers to choose Dauntless, the brave one, which means she should leave her family from Abnegation. Before she becomes the member of Dauntless, she should pass a very competitive even cruel initiation. There she meets Four, an initiate trainer. Through the initiation as well, she figures out many suspicious things in her new faction. Regarding that, some people, who also know that, try to warn her about something hell which is happening. Everyone is in danger. The people she loves are in danger too. And as a Divergent, she has a better chance than everyone else to stop it and save the society against a very lethal enemy. But she cannot fight alone, can she?

~o~

Divergent is an awesome debut by Veronica Roth. The dystopian world she build by taking the setting in Chicago in the future is very impressive. Further, the cover of the book is eye-catching that I cannot resist to stare at it for such a long minutes. Ridiculous, isn't it? By the way, I like reading this book and enjoy the storyline since there are many things interesting and imaginative for me. Besides, this book is filmed and soon on March 2014 it will be released.

The main characters involved in this book are Beatrice Prior, Caleb Prior, Mr. and Mrs. Prior, Four, Eric, and Jeanine Matthews. Beatrice Prior, or known as Tris afterwards, is the central character of this book. She is described as a short girl who is brave and a bit stubborn. She prefers to transfer from her original faction to a new faction where she thinks she fits into. Another central character in this book is Four, which is not his real name. Four is the man who always gives the best support and hand to Tris. Four here is described as someone who is very brave, smart, handsome, and of course desirable. The other characters who are the antagonist ones are Eric and Jeanine Matthews, but mostly it is about Jeanine Matthews.

The setting of this book is in a dystopian world of Chicago. It is somewhere in the future where people live mostly with technology and anything there is mostly programmed by computers. It is very interesting to imagine the setting. Sometimes, I feel weird to describe the setting of place in my mind. But, it is worth it.

The conflict presented in Divergent book is more about struggling against the powerful ones to save the weak ones. It is quite related with political issues, including corruption issue and authority issue. Some powerful people who rule the society try to beat one another to get the top authority to rule the whole society. This idea triggers a very catastrophic war in which most people do not know who they fight against and who they fight for.

The plot of this story is easy to follow that I enjoy it very much. I like the story in which Veronica Roth takes the view from Beatrice's point of view. There are balanced ups and downs which do not make the storyline boring. But one thing I do not really enjoy is the ending. I admit that this book has 2 following sequels which probably make the Divergent book has bad ending. Bad here is not about sad ending, but bad here is about how the author execute the ending. I'm sorry but I have to say that the ending is disappointing for me.  

Over all, I like this book and enjoy the story, but not the ending. The cover of this book is very attractive. FYI, the flame symbol on the cover is the symbol of Dauntless, the faction where Tris belongs after the transfer. Moreover, the characters are also original. However, there is something annoying my mind related to the storyline. As I have read Hunger Games, I find that there is something quite similar on the issue (some people also said the same on Goodreads). I feel like I am reading a retold or something. That makes me a bit disappointed, even though I don't know how it can happen. But, I will not blame anyone here because it's unfair. Absolutely, I don't mind reading this book and the next sequels, though. This book is worth reading.

The quotations I like the most:

"Decade ago our ancestors realized that it is not political ideology, religious belief, race, or nationalism that is to blame for a warring world. Rather, they determined that it was the fault of human personality-of humankind's inclination toward evil, in whatever form that is." (Chapter 4)

"Maybe. Maybe there's more we all could have done," he says, "but we just have to let the guilt remind us to do better next time." (Chapter 24)

"You can't be fearless, remember?" I say. "Because you still care about things. About your life." (Chapter 26) 

"I watched you because I like you." (Four, chapter 26)  

"I have something to tell you," he says. I run my fingers along the tendons in his hand and look back at him. 
"I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. 
"I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though." (Chapter 39)

The Book's Information:

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Edition: I/eBook English Version

Published: March 2011

Pages: 487

ISBN: 978-0-06-207701-1

Genre: Young-adult fantasy, dystopian, thriller, romance

My rating: 3 out of 5 crowns

~Happy Reading~
xoxoxo