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.

Silk Armor

Her name is Didem, a young Turkish university student. Though she has left her veil behind in the provincial village she grew up in, she is still watched over closely by her father and certain friends. But when she meets Victor, an American instructor at the university, and they fall in love, Didem is propelled into an entirely new and dangerous future. The obstacles and threats they face lead Didem and Victor into plans of escape, an escape Didem must keep secret. SILK ARMOR follows her adventure through her battles with her community, her culture, her traditions and conscience, leading to her realization that though these battles may be lost her war can still be won.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Claire Sydenham unveils a Turkish story of love, betrayal, hope, and despair with her novel, Silk Armor. Told from a third party's perspective, the romance between an American man and a Turkish woman is shared as the world works against this imagined kismet. 

Though Claire is the narrator, she isn't part of the main character cast. She's the hub that holds each spoke of this story in place, connecting them and allowing them to rotate around her. The story is really about Victor and Didem. Victor is an alcoholic English teacher who traveled (with Claire and others) to Turkey in order to share his language skills. He is an unforgiving brute who knows nothing of morality. Yet, he bears his shame, even accepts it, condemning himself before others have the chance. 

When Victor first meets Didem, he is enamored with lust. Didem is portrayed as a naive girl who believes that she can force the hand of fate by falling in love with an American, an escape from the oppressive veil of Turkey. Though her experiences far outweigh her naivete and she seems to evolve in the eyes of the narrator into a very calculated character. 

Readers will connect with the beauty of the love affair, falling themselves for the fated meeting of Victor and Didem, until all is revealed and death comes to the love that blossomed so quickly. 

The novel follows the story of the love affair through Claire's eyes as she travels back from Turkey to the U.S. for summer vacation. The entire book is a remembrance with a peek at the consequences and what became of Victor and Didem. Though, there remains a question that I can't shake even after the conclusion of this tilted and temptation-ridden book. Can Claire be trusted as the narrator? She obviously despises Victor and doesn't hold much respect for Didem, or perhaps she has too much for another character, which leads me to believe that the true story is not complete. Silk Armor is definitely a book that demands a second-look, a deeper investigation, to satisfy the itch it leaves behind. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

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.