Allegiant (Divergent #3)

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 Tobias 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 change 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.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Veronica Roth concludes her captivating Divergent series with the final book, Allegiant. After spending the first two books confined to a city where factions and power-hungry opinions rule, the main characters of the series decide to join the Allegiant and leave the city. They are (surprisingly) greeted by members of the Genetics Bureau and thus a new twist revealing a much bigger problem. 

Tris and Tobias share the point of view in this novel, each chapter referencing who is speaking, which does get quite confusing. When the concept of genetically pure versus genetically damaged is introduced, they each react a different way. Tris refuses to believe that genetically damaged people are any less equal to the genetically pure, while Tobias struggles to accept that he is not divergent and essentially damaged. At least, readers finally get a glimpse into the mind of Tobias. It connects readers to him to know the thoughts behind his actions, finally solidifying a bond that goes back generations. (Who didn't love her mom, Natalie?!) 

Tris is her strongest in this novel, with many difficult decisions to make that will ultimately hurt one group or another. She still acts a little immature and makes quick decisions without thought to consequence a few times in the novel, but Roth is writing a teenage character so can we really blame her? Probably not. The character/reader connection was strengthened through the discovery of some information about her mother and father. When Tris found out that her mother wasn't born in the city experiment, but joined later, readers witnessed a very emotional reaction, therefore, creating a deep-seated bond. 

The plot follows Tris, Tobias, Christina, Caleb, Peter, Uriah, and Cara out of the city experiment and into the Genetics Bureau, where it is revealed that there was a genetic war and the experiments were implemented to heal the genetic damage over time. Though they all struggle with their feelings about this new truth, they all agree that something must be done to change the the course of history and it will call for the greatest sacrifice of all. Quite a wonderful, angering, tearjerker, twister of a novel. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (85)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Allegiant by Veronica Roth. The final book in the Divergent series. Can't wait to really get into this one after that huge twist at the end of book two.

02. Recently Finished:
Silk Armor by Claire Sydenham. The tale of an American English teacher a Turkish student that fall in love and face the consequences. The very dire consequences.

03. Reading Next:
Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club by Liz Stauffer. When the ladies of the breakfast club find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery, with one of the own confessing to the task, they pull together to prove her innocence. And catch the real culprit, of course.

Teaser Tuesday (98)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Allegiant (p.1)
   - Veronica Roth

She was shot during our desperate attempt to reveal the Edith Prior video to our city. At the time we had no idea what it would say, or that it would shatter the foundation we stand on, the factions, our identities.

WWW Wednesday (84)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Silk Armor by Claire Sydenham. A novel about English teachers working in Turkey focusing on a relationship between a male teacher and a female Turkish woman told from a third party perspective. Interesting so far.

02. Recently Finished:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Opening novel in the Mortal Instruments series that introduces readers to the world of Shadowhunters.

03. Reading Next:
Allegiant by Veronica Roth. The final book in the Divergent series. Cannot wait to see how this amazing story concludes.

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

WWW Wednesday (81)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Insurgent by Veronica Roth. The sequel to Divergent and the second book in the trilogy. It's such a gripping novel but the main character is evolving into a girl I don't know if I can relate to. We'll see how this one wraps up.

02. Recently Finished:
Rapunzel (Demon Tales) by Kerianne Coombes. A demon on a journey to keep a promise made to his dying mother comes across a Fey Princess locked in a tower. Love and adventure ensue. :)

03. Reading Next:
Codename: Chimera by J.K Persy. A murder mystery with a link to Ancient Greece. Sounds quite exciting.

Teaser Tuesday (94)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Insurgent  (p. 424 on Kindle)
   - Veronica Roth

"What is it?" he says.
"I still can't fire a gun." I look up at him. "And after what happened in Erudite headquarters..."

WWW Wednesday (80)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currenty Reading:
Rapunzel (Demon Tales) by Kerrianne Coombes. A novel about the meeting of a demon and a wondrous woman trapped in a tower.

02. Recently Finished:
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. The final installment in the Infernal Devices series. A wonderful wrap up of Tessa's journey to discover herself and help the institute of shadowhunters.

03. Reading Next:
Insurgent by Veronica Roth. The sequel Divergent where Tris continues after an attack on her home and family that ended the first book.

Divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Veronica Roth takes readers to a futuristic world where separation of people, based on character traits, keeps the population safe in her book, Divergent. But things are about to change. An unexpected war is coming, as a certain group plans to betray the others. Within this main plot, a young girl is planning her future: which includes leaving her home behind and finding out what her true character is. 

Beatrice was raised to be selfless but has always struggled. She's a courageous and brave girl with a dynamic personality. She was raised to be quiet and to serve, to put others before herself, but she wants to speak, to act, and to be free. Readers will connect with Beatrice based on her desire to find herself and stand strong as an independent person. She craves the chance to live without strict rules and regulations. When she chooses to switch to a group that she believes will give her that chance, Beatrice has no idea that she's going to play a key role in the war that's coming. The war that begins in this first book of Roth's series. 

The plot of Divergent follows Beatrice through her choice to switch from Abnegation to Dauntless and through the initiation process to become a true member. It's a terrifying and thrilling experience that readers share with Beatrice as she jumps off of buildings, leaps from trains, learns to shoot and kill, all while competing with the other initiates. Because when it comes to the Dauntless not everyone becomes a member. And the ones who don't either die or become an outcast of society. Divergent is an intense novel that traps readers in a brewing war and a deadly competition making it an unsettling read that is nearly impossible to put down. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (84)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I have two teasers this week! :D Just because I couldn't pick between them.




Dark Chatter (Kindle Loc. 956-57)
    - Andrew Branch

Peter did sleep eventually, knowing he would. It was his understanding of Newton that if a man lies down, an apple or a nap'll fall on him.









Divergent (p. 27)
    - Veronica Roth

It has a gray band and a glass face. If I tilt it right, I can almost see my reflection over the hands.