Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 544
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 5/5

Book 1: Divergent

Synopsis:

In Divergent Tris discovered that she was Divergent, meaning she has an aptitude for more than one faction. Each faction has like-minded citizens, and Tris breaks the mold. She was told to keep it a secret and choose a faction to blend within, she chose Dauntless, a faction that prides themselves on being courageous. When simulations take control of the citizens, Tris discovers that she has the ability to control herself while the simulation takes place around her. Insurgent picks up right after Divergent, Tris and a few others have survived a simulation and have escaped. A possible war looms between factions, and Dauntless has been split apart. The faction has inner turmoil, and Tris, Tobias (Four) and the remaining survivors must fight for what they believe. Tris survived the simulation but now she grapples with grief, and guilt. She has lost her parents, a best friend who she had to defend herself from and life as she knows it, has forever changed. Tris still has Four, but their relationship is currently rocky.



Review:

Insurgent was a great follow up from Divergent. Roth spared readers all of the history, and dived back into the storytelling. I had very little time to read which usually frustrates me, but I sought every opportunity to read Insurgent, and I was very happy to get through it. Tris is my favorite character, and her emotions are so strong and realistic. She is in complete turmoil, as she tries to figure out her new role during this upheaval. She’s lost her parents, and had to kill a best friend who was under a simulation and threatened her life. She has tremendous guilt, and readers see the impact of this on her. Her relationship with Four is shaky, and understandable. Their lives have been turned upside down, and both are defensive and frusterated. They are flawed and real. We see less of them as a couple, and more of them separately, coping with the situation. Roth did an amazing job portraying all of the characters.

This book certainly doesn’t suffer “middle-book” syndrome. It did take me a few chapters to get back into the story, because there is little to no background knowledge. Roth picks up the pace, and continues to build a strong, realistic dystopian society filled with many twists and turns. Divergent was great, and I think I enjoyed Insurgent even more. Roth’s character and world development has really impressed me. If you haven’t read Divergent, please pick it up! Honestly, I can’t wait for the next book in the series.