Insurgent (Divergent #2)

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Veronica Roth continues the epic Divergent trilogy with her novel, Insurgent. Immediately following the conclusion of book one, Tris and Tobias are looking for the truth with a side of revenge. With her parents both dead, Beatrice has only her brother and Tobias, but can they be trusted? Can anyone? 

Beatrice is the main character of this series and readers continue following her as she attempts to reveal the truth behind the attack on her home faction. With Jeanine Matthews trying to capture all Divergents (those who cannot fall under simulation), she and Tobias must try to survive. And Tris has really bad survival instincts. After she shot Will in the first book, she struggles to hold a gun. She's wracked with guilt. Especially the guilt that her parents died for her and their cause. Now she is losing grip on her will to live. Readers will connect with Beatrice based on these emotions as well as the continuing love story with Tobias. 

However, what Tris really needs (besides the will to survive and finish this) is the ability to trust. It's true that many people in this series have their own agenda. But lying to Tobias? Siding with a common enemy? I'm all for following your gut feeling and using logic to become one step ahead of the enemy, but at least tell the truth. How are fellow characters and readers supposed to trust Beatrice if she doesn't show trust in anyone else? Telling her allies what the plan is doesn't mean she has to let them stop her. Beatrice really struggles with accepting what she's done and what needs to be done. Not doing it, but actually owning up to it. I'm worried that this characteristic will be her fatal flaw. 

The plot of Insurgent follows Beatrice through her journey to find the truth behind the execution of an entire faction and the revolt leader, Jeanine Matthews. While Jeanine is trying to find the Divergent population to "save society," Beatrice discovers that there's a rather big secret being kept from the entire population. She decides to trust an enemy to look further into the matter while the factionless and non-traitor Dauntless join forces, planning to attack Erudite, the faction that protects Jeanine. And trust me, this secret will change how you view this series. But I won't tell you what it is... yet.

Rating: 4/5 Cups