Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Title: Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: October 22, 2013

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered--fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobia will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths chance the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature--and of herself--while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent. 

SPOILERS AHEAD, KEEP READING AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I was away from home when Allegiant was released. I had to wait a week in order to be able to read the book, and as a result, all I saw were people freaking out over the end. And that made me beyond nervous to read Allegiant. But I should have just trusted that Veronica Roth knew what she was doing.

Showing the video was supposed to change things. It was supposed to help get the city back. But Tris soon discovers that she may never get her city back. Now that the Factionless have taken over Chicago, there is very little Tris and Tobias can do to fight back. There only hope is to set foot outside the fence, to discover what really lies outside the city limits. But what Tris and Tobias find outside the fence is even more troubling than what they left behind in the city. Now it's up to Tris and Tobias to make impossible choices, ones that will change everything forever.

BE WARNED, THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS. IF YOU DON'T WANT THE END OF THE TRILOGY SPOILED, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU STOP READING NOW.

There's so much that can be said about Allegiant and I'll try my best not to ramble too much. Here's the thing, there's only so many ways this story could have gone that would have made sense and that would have resulted in a satisfying ending. From the start, I knew that it would be a painful story to read. Not because it would be a bad story or because it was poorly written, but because I knew what had to happen…or at least I had some inkling of it. It didn't help that I had witness all the uproar over the ending for an entire week before I was able to read Allegiant. So I was majorly apprehensive and maybe a little scared when I started reading. But I really shouldn't have been. As much as there were moments when my heart was ripped to pieces, I knew why it was happening, and that it would be for the greater good (not that it made it any less painful). And that brings me to the ending of the story. Veronica Roth knew what she was doing when she wrote Allegiant. In hindsight, the alternating points of view between Tris and Tobias should have been a big tip-off as to what would happen (or that line about Tobias having found someone he was terrified of losing--maybe I was just in denial about what had to happen). But it still hurt when it came down to it and all of a sudden there was only one point of view left. But if you want my honest opinion, I don't think that the story could have ended any other way. Don't get me wrong, I was bawling when Tris was killed. But it wouldn't have worked any other way. Knowing what I knew about Tris, I would have been more frustrated if Tris had let Caleb go and sacrifice himself (not that I've forgiven Caleb for what he's done). In ending the story this way, Veronica Roth was true to her story and true to her characters. Yeah, it was painful (ask my roommate, she found me crying in the kitchen over breakfast while I was reading), but it was a satisfying ending, one that showed me that there was still hope for the characters. And it was finally a story with an epilogue that didn't piss me off.

I've loved Tris from the start. Even when it didn't seem like it, she was the strongest more courageous person in that story. In Allegiant, that strength and that courage shone through. Admittedly, that's especially through in hindsight. And though I love Tris for that courage and strength, there were still moments where I wanted to smack some sense into her. But she wouldn't have been the Tris I knew and loved if she hadn't been that person who was both selfish and selfless, who sometimes could have used someone to talk some sense into her. And that was especially true in the moment when she made the decision to sacrifice herself in Caleb's place (admittedly, I'm still not sure if that was Tris being selfish or selfless, to be honest). What I loved about Allegiant though, was getting to be inside Tobias's head. I found it so interesting to see that more often than not, he wasn't that strong and powerful leader everyone saw him as. I could tell that there were many times when he was still that younger boy being abused by his father. And in those moments, I just wanted to hug Tobias. And reading Tris's death from his perspective simply broke my heart. The way he just shut down. But I was also happy to see that he was able to start to move on, knowing that the pain would never go away but that it could eventually become easier. The person that surprised me the most in Allegiant was actually Peter. Before this book, I always saw him as a sociopath who cared about no one and nothing but himself. But in Allegiant I was able to see a different side of him, and find out that he knew he had a tendency to be a despicable human being and hated himself for it. I just found that aspect of his personality to be so different from what I expected, and it surprised me. And the same can be said about a lot of the other characters in Allegiant.

This is my very long-winded way of saying that, despite what a lot of people have thought, I might actually have loved Allegiant. I loved that Veronica Roth wasn't afraid of making choices for her story and her characters that not everyone would like. Allegiant really couldn't really have gone any other way. It was a powerful story, one that at times broke my heart and left me in tears, but it was also the satisfying ending I was hoping for.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2013 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Books on my fall TBR list.

I will preface this post by saying that some of these books have already been published, others are books that will be published at some point in the next few months. Regardless of if the book has been published or not, I am looking forward to reading all of these in the coming months.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth - There is a strong likelihood that Allegiant is on just about everyone's list and I totally understand why. After everything that went down in Insurgent, I can't wait to see how it will all come together. Plus we get Four's point of view.

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes - I found myself liking Falling Kingdoms last year so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I've had an ARC of Rebel Spring sitting on my bookshelf for a few months and now that the release date is getting closer, I have the perfect excuse to read it.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead - Richelle Mead. Adrian Ivashkov. Enough said.

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - The premise of Perfect Ruin is that it takes place in a utopian world. And it's written by Lauren DeStefano. That's pretty much all I need to know in order to know I will want to read this book.

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry - My heart broke a little in Dare You To with what happened to Isaiah so I can't wait to finally read his story in Crash Into You. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, Katie McGarry can do no wrong.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno - I was lucky enough to get an ARC of How to Love while at BEA and I proceeded to read it on the bus ride back from NYC. But it's one of those books that I really, desperately want to reread. So since it's coming out soon, I'll most likely be doing just that.

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White - So far I have loved everything I have read by Kiersten WHite. And now she writes a book about mythology? Count me in.

Resist by Sarah Crossan - I loved Breathe. I want to know what happens next (though I may need a refresher between now and then). And that's all that really needs to be said about Resist.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - Vampires and Holly Black. Do I really need to explain this any further?

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - I only just recently read The Raven Boys but the moment I finished, I wanted the sequel. And now I have it. So you can bet I'll be reading The Dream Thieves and Ronan's story quite soon.

What books are on your fall TBR list?

Summer Reading - 2013 Edition (3)

Among my friends, I'm known as the book person. As a result, whenever someone is looking for a book recommendation they come to me. This time of the year, this happens a lot since summer is fast approaching and a lot of my friends are typically seasonal readers--as in they read when they have time to do so and that time is often summer. Like I did last year, I thought I would post these recommendations--by genre--here on the blog as well. Up this week, some fantasy and science fiction recommendations.

- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few weeks, then you've probably heard all about how amazing The 5th Wave is. And I'm here to tell you that it is even better than everyone has been saying it is. Basically, the story takes place after aliens have wiped off most of Earth's population, and the world as we know it is gone. Even if you aren't into aliens, you will like these books. These books are not the kind of aliens you imagine. And the story is awesome and filled with action. Seriously, read this book.

- Breathe by Sarah Crossan - Picture a world where everyone lives in a dome where oxygen is controlled and rationed because there is no longer enough oxygen in the planet's atmosphere. Now add three teenagers being stuck outside the dome, with dwindling supplies of oxygen, trying to make it to a Resistance stronghold. Sarah Crossan's Breathe felt incredibly realistic while I was reading it and for that reason it makes a great dystopian. If you are looking for a book that will make you think about what could happen in our planet's not-too-distant future, than I strongly recommend Breathe.

- Possession trilogy by Elana Johnson - Here's the thing about Elana Johnson's Possession trilogy, I wasn't entirely convinced after reading the first book, Possession. But then I read the second book, Surrender, and I was sold. There is just so much happening in these books and a certain level of complexity that makes you really think while you are reading. Bonus side: the final book, Abandon is going to be out in just over two weeks so you won't even have to wait too long to find out how it all ends.

- Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth - If you haven't been living under a rock you should have heard about Veronica Roth and Divergent at this point. Between the movie being made and the final book, Allegiant, coming out in September, this trilogy is practically everywhere. But this trilogy totally deserves this attention because it is that good. Divergent is a fast-paced and action-packed dystopian story. This is the kind of book you will pick up and not want to put down again until you have read it all. So if a page-turner is what you're looking for, then Divergent is the way to go.

- The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano - This was on my list of recommendations last year and I still stand behind it a year later. Though I will admit I still have to read the final book, this is a series I have loved so far. Lauren DeStefano's writing is reason enough to read this series. Reading these books will transport you to another world and another place. If nothing else, they will provide you with the perfect escape for a few hours. And on the plus side, the entire trilogy is out so you can read all three books back to back if that's what you want to do.

Like I've said every week, this is not an extensive list by any stretch of the imagination. If you are looking for some more dystopian or post-apocalyptic recommendations, you are free to check out my recommendations from last year. And if this is not the type of book you are looking for, be sure to come back next week for my last batch of summer reading recommendations

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors, War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

I have been waiting to read Insurgent be Veronica Roth ever since I read the final page of Divergent last year. Since I loved Divergent, I was a little worried about Insurgent despite eagerly awaiting it. Well it didn't disappoint, and if anything I liked Insurgent even more than Divergent.

Still recovering from the simulation attack masterminded by the Erudite, Tris is trying to figure out a way to prevent another faction from being massacred the way Abnegation was. But with Dauntless split, that may be easier said than done. But there might be more to what the Erudite are up to, especially when it becomes clear they're going after people who are Divergent. And that includes Tris and Four. But Tris won't go down without a fight and won't hesitate to make sacrifices, including sacrificing herself. Except that first, Tris has to figure out who she can trust.

Before I say anything else, let me just apologize if the rest of my review is slightly incoherent. Putting all my feelings for Insurgent into words may be somewhat difficult. So. Saying I loved Insurgent doesn't even begin to describe how I felt while reading the book. With the second book in a series, I'm alway sa little worried that it won't be as good as the first. With Insurgent, I was blown away. Veronica Roth didn't waste any time getting to the action, and right form page one I was dragged into it with the characters. And from then on, the action didn't let up and there was always something happening. And throughout there were plenty of twists that I definitely didn't see coming. And the ending, while it wasn't a cliffhanger in the traditional sense, definitely left basically begging for more.

What I love about the characters in this series is that they all have a tendency to be quite unpredictable and put themselves in tricky situations. Tris is the expert in doing this if only because she is always willing to sacrifice everything to help the people she cares about. That makes it so Four is often forced into similar situations. But at the end of the day Tris and Four are good for each other and their relationship feels completely real because it isn't perfect. They argue and fight but at the end of the day, they go back to each other. In terms of other characters, there were some that took me by surprise a lot more than others, one in particular completely blindsided me. As in, I didn't see it coming AT ALL. But it's hard t say anything else without spoling it, so I'll leave it at that.

If you loved Divergent, you won't be disappointed by Insurgent, you might even find yourself loving it more than the first book. Veronica Roth more than hit the mark with this sequel and once again, she leaves you begging for more. At least, that's how I felt with I finished read Insurgent.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: April 25, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

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 into the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

2011 has been the year of the dystopians and Divergent was another amazing one. Veronica Roth is an absolutely fantastic new writer and the story she wrote was just as amazing. I loved it and just couldn’t find it in me to put it down once I started reading it.

The time has come for Beatrice to choose what faction she’s going to live in for the rest of her life. Will she stay in Abnegation to stay close to her family or will she transfer to another faction? On Choosing Day, Beatrice decides to join Dauntless, the faction known for its bravery. On that day, Beatrice becomes Tris and begins the initiation process that will reveal if she has what it takes to be Dauntless. But becoming Dauntless may prove to be more difficult than Tris ever thought. And everything may not be exactly as it seems on the Dauntless compound. Not only does Tris have to survive the Dauntless initiation but she also has to figure out what is being planned because the lives of her family may just be in danger.

Can I just begin by saying “WOW!” Divergent was absolutely amazing. I knew people were saying it was a great book but I never imagined it was this great a book. And believe me, it was. I don’t even know that there are any words to describe just how great and amazing Divergent was. Veronica Roth is a brilliant new writer. The dystopian world she created was captivating and made me question what would happen to our world in the future. As far as the factions are concerned, I don’t have a clue which one I would choose. By process of elimination I would probably end up in Dauntless or Erudite. But I would lean more towards Dauntless if only because I don’t think I could spend my whole life studying. Though I’m not sure how well I would fare in Dauntless.

I loved Tris. She was a great protagonist and I loved seeing her grow and come into her own. As far as my favorite heroines go, Tris is pretty high up there on the list. She was just a very interesting character, especially when she was struggling to figure out how her Abnegation past and her Dauntless future fit together. Four puzzled me. At first I didn’t really understand him and didn’t think he would be as important as he ended up being. But the more I got to know him, the more I liked him. Now, I really like him. I loved seeing him open himself up to Tris more and more and see their relationship develop.

I’ll say it again, Divergent was absolutely amazing and Veronica Roth is a fantastic writer. It is by far one of the best books I’ve read this year and there is no way I can wait until next year to find out what happens next.