La sexta facción

The Sixth Faction #1

by Veronica Roth, Pilar Ramírez Tello (Translator), Manuel de los Reyes García Campos (Translator)

El fenómeno mundial como nunca lo habías visto.

Adéntrate en una intrépida nueva saga de Divergente de la autora bestseller del New York Times Veronica Roth.

Beatrice Prior está a punto de tomar una decisión a la que todos los habitantes de su mundo deben cinco facciones. Cinco futuros. Cinco vidas. Su escoger la opción más arriesgada y abandonar Abnegación para unirse a Osadía, aunque eso signifique dejas atrás a su familia. Pero, cuando su Ceremonia de Elección se ve marcada por la tragedia, todo su mundo, sus planes e incluso ella misma. Y, por ello, Beatrice escoge un camino que la situará en el punto de mira de una rebelión clandestina… y la hará cruzarse con un chico cuyos secretos son tan peligrosos como los suyos. Un chico cuyo único nombre conocido es un número.

Una decisión puede cambiarlo todo.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

531 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

Veronica Roth is the New York Times best-selling author of Seek the Traitor's Son (coming 5.12.26), When Among Crows, Arch-Conspirator, Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, the Carve the Mark series, and the Divergent series. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and dog.

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Reviews

[axenia ౨ৎ · Rating 0.5 out of 5]

i know money is tough but girl i was writing the same sh** on ao3 back in 2015 🤣🤣

[Kelcey | felinebooktrovert ✨️]

So is she finally agreeing that Allegiant was unforgiveable and giving us what we deserve??

[Sahil]

alexa play beating heart by ellie goulding

[꧁ ༺Minne༻ ꧂ (Back :))]

Roth is releasing a series set in an alternate universe WHERE TRIS DOESN'T PICK DAUNTLESS. Again Tris. Does. Not. Pick. Dauntless. This is either going to fix everything or prove that girl was doomed no matter what 😭

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆]

⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (10/6/2026): HAPPY RELEASE DAY! Y’all know the drill at this point…if I see spoilers, you’re getting ✨blocked✨

⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (4/19/2026): Hunger Games movie coming out this year? Check. Justin Bieber performing his old hits? Check. Divergent book coming out this year? CHECK. You know what? Close enough. Welcome back, 2013.

(If you hear screaming that’s 13-year-old me)

[T ✩ Handmaiden Of Amidala]

This sounds stupid. Count me tf in

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I genuinely had SUCH A FUN TIME reading this. As a HUGE Divergent fan back in the prime time of YA dystopia - I was SO excited and so curious to see what this alternate reality version of the story would be like. I am so happy to say, it did not disappoint.

Don't want to say too much, but I will say Veronica Roth gave us the perfect balance of nostalgia + new material. We have a story that feels so true to the original, we have some of our favourite iconic moments interwoven into a completely new story. I was actually shrieking and giggling while reading parts of this book.

This version definitely gives us more insight into the different factions and how they operate, which I really appreciated. We immediately get more of an ominous political story, diving into the darker parts of this dystopia vs the original - where we started out a bit lighter, faster & easier if that makes sense. I can also very clearly see the improvements in Veronica Roth's writing since the original trilogy. The world building feels more nuanced and integrated into the story naturally, the characterization feels deeper. While all staying very true to the essence of the Divergent we love.

I will say... I'm UNSURE of something huge that happened at the end. Still muddling over it in my head, but I cannot make sense of it and the intention behind it. But I am very curious to see how book 2 progresses and cannot wait to finish the duology and see where we go from here!

All that to say, if you loved Divergent - definitely pick this one up! I NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS!!!!

[phideɭia]

wow, fanfiction by the own author.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back into the world of Divergent was something I was both excited and nervous about. There is something about revisiting familiar characters and seeing how different choices can change their stories that really appealed to me. Tris is still fierce, determined and loyal to the people she loves, and I enjoyed seeing her face a different set of challenges. Four was another highlight, and their relationship was interesting to follow in this new version of events.

I liked getting another look at the factions and seeing how the story unfolds when things don't go as expected. I did feel that there was a lot happening at times, and some of the changes felt a little weird. While I enjoyed seeing familiar characters in different situations, I wasn't always convinced that every decision felt true to the characters I remembered, but I suppose people change when they face different decisions.

I'm glad I returned to this world, and I can appreciate what Veronica Roth was trying to do with a story that takes a different path from the original. I'm curious to see where the next book takes these characters, but this one left me with mixed feelings.

SPOILER NOTE:
This book was marketed with, What if Tris didn't choose Dauntless, and yet some how she still kind of followed the path there anyways. Not a bad thing, was just hoping for a different path throughout the entire book.

[Elizabeth]

New Divergent in the big 2026???

[Frank-Intergalactic Bookdragon]

Losing my fucking marbles over this

[fer bañuelos · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Este libro es todo lo que podría pedir.

Estoy todavía procesando como escribir esta reseña, pues jamás en mi vida pensé que estaría hablando de un nuevo libro de Divergente. Spin off, secuela, segunda serie, Universo Alterno, lo que sea. Pensé que la puerta hacia este mundo se había cerrado con Leal, y a diferencia de muchas persona, al menos yo sí estaba satisfecho con eso. Aprendí a adorar la historia con los elementos que no me gustaron, con lo que sentía respecto a ciertos personajes, incluso con el final odiado que al menos a mi me parecía poético.

Entonces, obviamente cuando se anuncia este libro, y se nos platica el concepto, lo primero que pensé es "no lo quiero".

La idea de "reescribir" Divergente me encontró automáticamente en negación, pues creo que no era necesario en lo más mínimo. He seguido de cerca a Veronica Roth desde que empecé a involucrarme en las redes literarias entonces me consta la relación agridulce que tiene con este trabajo, pero me daba miedo que el escribir Divergente partiendo del mismo punto que la serie original pero tomar decisiones distintas de cierta manera estaría eliminando todo lo que la historia significa para mi. Pero puedo decir que ese no es el caso.

La Sexta Facción es un intento exitoso en darle una segunda vida a la historia que ya conocemos de Divergente. Desde un inicio lees a una Veronica Roth mucho más experimentada, más en sintonía con sus palabras y sus habilidades, por lo que el mundo de Chicago explota en tu cabeza de una manera que no habíamos leído antes. Descripciones más detalladas, un world building más exuberante y complejo (que en vez de alejarse de lo que ya conocemos agrándese y profundiza mucho más en el sistema de facciones, la corrupción de estos y el hilo que inevitablemente terminan uniendo a los que no pertenecen a ninguna), y personajes que se sienten como aquellas personas que conocimos hace muchos años pero traen algo distinto en ellos.

Este libro creo que nivela muy bien ambos factores: le da su espacio a los elementos originales de la historia, los honra, reconoce donde es que está el corazón de Divergente y, al mismo tiempo, cambia el juego lo suficiente para que también como lector sientas que esta nueva serie sí tiene un valor nuevo. Fue divertidísimo estar leyendo escenas icónica ahora volteadas, ver los pequeños cambios que brillan por su novedad y por lo bien que quedan dentro del escenario de la historia (Tris y Caleb son gemelos aquí? Likeee eso es buenísimo!), y también fue lindísimo para mi el poder seguir viendo y rocordando el porqué adoro esta historia con mi vida.

Desde un inicio YO me prometí que, pasara lo que pasara, iba a llegar a este libro con la mente abierta, que iba a tener la perspectiva de no permitir que la trilogía original sesgara esta nueva serie y que iba a hacer lo mejor para tenerlas separadas, por el simple hecho de darle una oportunidad justa a este libro. Y déjenme decirles que no fue necesario todo ese rollo; La Sexta Facción, estos nuevos Tris y Cuatro, la nueva rebelión y conflicto y todo dentro de este libro se defiende por si mismo.

Eso, para mi, ya es un éxito inmediato.

Al igual que en el primer libro original llega un momento donde la trama se detiene un poco para darle paso a la cementación del conflicto. Conocemos más de las facciones, de los conflictos internos dentro de estas y también de las relaciones detrás de escena entre los líderes que, poco a poco, se van mostrando más siniestras. Como les dije en un inicio, de verdad que la construcción del mundo aquí es impresionante. Hay tanto Lore nuevo de las facciones que ahora viéndolo en retrospectiva hace que se sienta que siempre estuvo incompleto hasta este momento. Es tan rico en desarrollo, en caracterización, que la idea de las facciones se siente más reforzada que nunca. Sí gracias a esto el libro se vuelve un poquito lento en partes pero es un Happy Problem.

Lo único medio "negativo" que diría de aquí es que para mi el romance se siente un poco menos desarrollado. A ver, ya conocemos a Tris y Cuatro, ya sabemos hacia donde van las cosas, pero justamente debido a las decisiones diferentes que se toman tenemos a dos protagonistas que no estan juntos gracias a la facción, por lo que sus encuentros son más esporádicos y tampoco cuentan con la proximidad que tenían al ser instructor + alumna, y por eso creo que como se va formando la pareja no se me hace con el tiempo y espacio suficiente. La sentí como muy rápido, chance me habría gustado que se esperara al segundo libro, o mínimo con más tiempo entre los dos para sí sentir que están cayendo el uno por el otro.

En fin, estoy inmensamente feliz de que este libro exista, de que me haya encantado, de haberle dado la oportunidad. No puedo esperar a Febrero para tener The Last Testimony y ver hacia donde va todo! Tengo muchas teorias de lo que podría cambiar Veronica Roth y sea lo que decida hacer yo lo voy a recibir con los brazos abiertos.

WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK!

-------

Un nuevo libro de Divergente en el año de nuestro señor 2026... Creo que jamás habíamos estado tan de vuelta.

Tengo mis dudas por el concepto, pero el libro preordenado está, y el 6 de octubre de 2026 a las 12:01AM empiezo este sin falta.

Prepárense para estar HARTOS de mi.

[dak · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

i LOVED being back in this world. one of my favorite book worlds ever 🖤🔥👁️🌳🤝⚖️ nothing will ever make me forget the way i did after reading the first Divergent book, talk about altering my brain chemistry permanently (we won’t even mention how i felt reading the last book i’m still very unwell many years later 😭😭💔) but wow i really liked this!! obviously its very nostalgic but i really enjoyed where the story went in this. so many things are different but so many things are the same and it’s just so fun!!! now Mrs Veronica Roth are you going to break my heart again? i guess TBD 🤔

[Giulia ❀]

I can’t wait, I’m SO excited! I really hope this book is gonna be very different from the original series, but at the same time I hope it’s gonna give me the same amazing feelings… just remember to not fucking repeat that mistake you made in Allegiant’s ending Veronica or I’m gonna be really pissed at you girl

[Nicole Walls · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

“Like a wild animal, the truth is too powerful to remain caged.” 🤝🔥👁️🌲⚖️

was this as good as the original? no, but i DON’T CARE! i’m just glad to be back in my divergent era! i didn’t know what to expect going into this book. in fact, i was SCARED, but i had nothing to be scared about! this book was fantastic and super intriguing! it absolutely has the divergent magic that i missed immensely.

the plot!! 🤝
what would be different about divergent if tris didn’t pick dauntless? what if she just….. decided to stay in abnegation, even though it clearly isn’t the right choice for her? i mean, we all know she’s meant to be dauntless, but that’s not what she chooses this time. what would happen? who would she meet? would she still befriend the same characters? would she still meet four?

as i already said, this was INTRIGUING!! divergent was the first dystopian series i ever read, so it means a lot to me. i mean, i even have an allegiant poster in my room. this book was like a breath of fresh air for me. it was like coming home. it was like being 13 again.

the characters!! 🔥
now, this is going to be a bit of a spoiler, but we meet a lot of the characters that we already knew from the old series, but we also meet some new ones. four (the love of my life) is just as amazing as ever. i mean, how could he not be? he’s four! he’s the blueprint!

tris was definitely an interesting character this time around. we see her making choices we know she shouldn’t be making, and that’s aggravating, but it’s supposed to be aggravating! this is practically fanfiction, people! it’s supposed to be different! it’s supposed to be plot twisty! get used to it! anyways, in the end, she gets right where she’s supposed to be, and that’s all that matters.

the ending!! 👁️
ms. roth does something that i am absolutely SHOCKED about! i mean, my jaw absolutely DROPPED. if i wasn’t lying in bed, i would’ve stood up! am i happy about this change? i mean, yes!! good riddance!

i’m totally looking forward to the next book! i’m excited to see how different it’s going to be from insurgent and allegiant. i just hope that you-know-who doesn’t you-know-what at the end because i will LOSE IT AGAIN!!!! i remember when i read that in allegiant, i was sick in bed and home alone. it was AWFUL! i cried SO BAD!! anyways, let’s not do that again.

would i recommend this book? ✨
yes!! don’t read this if you haven’t read the divergent series first of course, but if you have, don’t be scared to read this! it’s so good and so fun to experience the same story in a different way!

would i read it again? ✨
i would!! i could live in the divergent world forever. amity for life!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH.MY.GOD. 🥹🥹

BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR ME!! ❤️❤️

✨ 5/5 stars ✨

Spoiler free review!

The Divergent series came out when I was ending middle school/going into high school and I’ve ALWAYS loved the series. Except Allegiant, hated the ending for obvious reasons 🙃 it was so cool to read this with the movies being made and being able to imagine characters, scenes, and parts of the book! There are a handful of things that are very similar, if not the exact same, but Veronica Roth did an AMAZING job making this its own story, since it’s an alternate universe. The synopsis is so fun because we truly don’t know what Tris picks and how it all pieces together with Four. Chef’s kiss 😚

The Sixth Faction though??? Dare I say I loved it MORE than Divergent? Friends, I think this is how Divergent should’ve been written. Granted, I haven’t read Divergent in a good 10+ years but this is so beautifully written. I genuinely think this plot, the entire beginning, middle, and end, make SO MUCH SENSE. I actually liked the ending of this and it just pieces everything together better for me than the ending of the original series.

I still LOVE Tris and Four so much. My favorite dystopian couple everrrrrr. Their love for each other 🥹😭 SOBBING. This is YA and that hasn’t changed because of the ages of the characters, so that helped it ring true to the original Divergent series.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!?!? 😭😭😭😭

You definitely don’t have to read the original series or what the movies to read this, but I definitely think it will help with the overall understanding and just appreciate for this book!! 💖

Anyways, while I patiently wait for the next one, here are some of my favorite quotes to convince you to read this masterpiece:

🖤 “I thrust my hand out, and my blood falls on the stones. And in that moment I know, I know, I know it’s the wrong choice”
🖤 “I think caring about them doesn’t mean I owe them a version of myself that isn’t real”
🖤 “She always talks to me like she knows me, even though I do my best not to know anyone”
🖤”It’s okay to be free.”
🖤 “I told her she didn’t know me, and that was a lie. She knows too much, sees too much.”
🖤 “You’re remarkable.” He reaches back and hooks his pinkie finger around mine
🖤”It’s a reminder that we don’t really know what’s going on with people, even if we think we do. Other people are mysteries to us, which is one of the wonderful things about getting to know them.”
🖤 “You’re a flame. I’m a moth”
🖤”Tobias’s eyes are so dark. Like the night sky after sunset, when it’s still a deep blue. Like how I imagine the deeper parts of the ocean look, so far from the sun that its light only just penetrates”
🖤 “I’ll try to be worth what I cost you,” he says.

I will be thinking about this for forever 🥹😭🖤

———————————————————————————

I CAN’T PUT INTO WORDS HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS 😭💖 I was such a Divergent girlie in middle/high school and am so ready for this!! This better be good bc the end of Allegiant made me so mad 😭

[Tami · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I finished The Sixth Faction feeling... meh. Underwhelmed, mostly. Not because I thought it was a terrible book, but because it was an okay book that ultimately disappointed me. And for a while, I couldn't quite figure out why something about it felt so off.

I think part of the problem is that I have a complicated relationship with Divergent and Veronica Roth's decisions regarding the series. I was genuinely traumatized by Tris's death in Allegiant, and I still strongly disagree with that ending. Then came We Can Be Mended, where Roth decided to pair Tobias with Christina, of all people. As if killing Tris wasn't enough! 😭 I hated that decision, too, and I wasn't alone in my reaction. What frustrated me even more was Roth's response to the backlash, particularly her suggestion that readers didn't have to consider the novella canon if they didn't want to.

I understand that authors have the right to make whatever creative decisions they want, even unpopular ones. But readers also have the right to criticize those decisions. And personally, I think Roth damaged the legacy of her own series with the choices she made.

So when The Sixth Faction was announced, I wasn't particularly excited. I questioned its existence before I even started reading it, and now that I've finished it, I'm still questioning it. Why revisit this universe after everything that happened? What was the point?

I'm a completionist, though. Once I start a series or become invested in a fictional universe, I want to read everything connected to it, and I don't DNF books. So naturally, I had to read this one, even if I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it.

And I want to make something clear: I never expected this alternate universe to undo Tris's death or give me closure. I knew from the beginning that these were two completely separate universes. Roth herself has explained that they're separate, with differences extending beyond the characters' choices to the technology and certain cultural aspects of their worlds. This isn't the same Tris who died in Allegiant. That Tris is still dead. So seeing another version of her alive didn't make me particularly happy or emotionally connected to her.

I was willing to judge this alternate story for what it was. Unfortunately, I just didn't find it especially compelling.

The question I couldn't stop asking: Why does this book exist?

I actually looked into Veronica Roth's explanations for writing The Sixth Faction, hoping they might help me understand what she was trying to accomplish.

According to Roth, the project began as a playful writing exercise. Years of criticism surrounding Divergent, particularly the backlash to Allegiant, had negatively affected her relationship with her own work. She wanted to rediscover the joy of writing in that universe and stop feeling embarrassed about something she'd created when she was younger.

She chose an alternate universe because it gave her the freedom to experiment without being constrained by the original trilogy's continuity. She has also acknowledged that, as a more experienced writer, there were aspects of her original worldbuilding she wanted to improve.

At the same time, Roth has maintained that The Sixth Faction isn't an attempt to fix Divergent, and that she still stands by the original ending, even if her feelings about it have become more complicated over time.

I find that interesting, and a little frustrating.

On one hand, I understand the distinction between wanting to improve certain elements of an old story and wanting to correct the story itself. Those aren't necessarily contradictory intentions.

On the other hand, if you're revisiting a universe partly because you recognize weaknesses in your original writing, while repeatedly emphasizing that you're not trying to fix anything, I can understand why that explanation might sound somewhat defensive.

And honestly, I still question whether Roth is as satisfied with her original decisions as she says she is. That's my personal impression, not something I can claim to know about her actual feelings.

Apparently, writing this book helped her rediscover her love for Divergent, and she has said that the project accomplished that personal goal.

Well, I'm glad she found her joy again. But an author's personal satisfaction with a creative experiment doesn't automatically make the resulting book worthwhile for readers.

If the original purpose was personal, I can't help wondering why that experiment needed to become a published story. Maybe she hoped revisiting the universe would rekindle readers' love for it, too. I don't know.

But it certainly didn't do that for me.

After Allegiant and We Can Be Mended, I honestly think Roth should have left Divergent alone. To me, this feels like beating a dead horse.

And the problem isn't simply that I didn't want another Divergent book. It's that Roth chose to revisit this universe, but the result didn't convince me that revisiting it was worthwhile.

Understanding why she wanted to write it hasn't changed that feeling.

The same story, but different

One of my biggest problems with The Sixth Faction is that it feels simultaneously familiar and different, but not necessarily in ways that make it better.

The alternate universe is somewhat interesting, and I appreciated some of its differences. But nothing about it felt particularly groundbreaking.

The core concepts remain largely intact, including the factions, and the story follows essentially the same general direction as the original trilogy.

Tris makes a different choice, encounters mysteries surrounding her society, discovers unsettling information, becomes involved in conflicts between factions, and finds herself caught up in events involving familiar characters and threats.

The details change, sometimes considerably, but the overall trajectory feels recognizable.

And that's where I struggled.

An alternate universe offers so many possibilities. You can explore how different circumstances reshape familiar characters, change the direction of major events, or examine entirely different consequences of the same underlying ideas.

But here, I often felt like I was reading a variation of something I'd already experienced, rather than discovering a genuinely compelling alternative.

It was different enough to remind me that these weren't the characters I originally knew, but similar enough that I couldn't stop comparing their stories.

And those comparisons became frustrating.

I actually had the original Divergent open while reading The Sixth Faction, partly because I wanted to compare certain details. But something unexpected kept happening: I'd start reading the original and become so absorbed in it that I'd forget about The Sixth Faction.

That says a lot about my experience.

The original has something that immediately captures my attention and makes me want to keep reading. This version never managed to recreate that feeling.

I was constantly conscious of reading an alternate version of Divergent. I never became so immersed that I forgot about the original.

Of course, alternate-universe stories naturally invite comparisons. I don't think comparing the two is inherently unfair. But ideally, those comparisons should make the alternate story more interesting, not constantly remind me of what I find lacking in it.

And unfortunately, that was often my experience here.

Following breadcrumbs without a satisfying payoff

The plot itself was okay. Not terrible, not particularly impressive.

My reading experience was inconsistent. Sometimes something interesting would happen and I'd become invested, only for the story to become boring again. Then another development would catch my attention, followed by another stretch that didn't particularly engage me.

It was a constant cycle of interesting, boring, interesting, boring.

And I think a lot of that had to do with how the mystery unfolded.

The entire book felt like following a trail of breadcrumbs.

Tris discovers something strange, like a bullet. She asks someone about it, which leads to another question. Then she goes to someone else, notices something suspicious, follows another person, overhears something she doesn't fully understand, and discovers another small piece of information.

And on and on it goes.

Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with a mystery built around gradually uncovering clues. That structure can be incredibly engaging when the discoveries build toward satisfying revelations.

But here, I kept waiting for those breadcrumbs to lead somewhere more substantial.

I wanted that moment when everything finally starts coming together, when you understand what was really happening and why.

Instead, I reached the end still feeling like I was missing too many pieces. I didn't fully understand everyone's motivations, the complete plan, or why certain characters had done what they did.

And yes, I know this is the first book in a duology.

I'm perfectly aware that some mysteries are intentionally being saved for the sequel. That's not my complaint.

A first installment doesn't need to answer every question, but it should reveal enough to make the journey satisfying while leaving you excited to discover more.

There's a difference between finishing a book thinking, I can't wait to find out what happens next! and finishing it thinking, Wait, that's all we're getting?

Unfortunately, my reaction was closer to the latter.

And despite all those unanswered questions, I'm not particularly excited about the sequel. I'll read it because I'm a completionist and don't like leaving things unfinished, not because this book left me desperate for more.

For a story that spends so much time building mysteries, that's disappointing.

Tris and Tobias were surprisingly the best part

Now, here's something I genuinely didn't expect.

My favorite part of The Sixth Faction was the relationship between Tris and Tobias.

I really wasn't expecting to enjoy their interactions as much as I did, especially considering my feelings about the original trilogy's ending and everything that followed.

But I did.

There was something genuinely lovely about watching these alternate versions of Tris and Tobias find each other.

Even in a different universe, under different circumstances, with different experiences shaping who they are, they still end up together.

And I love that.

Their interactions were probably the most consistently enjoyable aspect of the book for me. While the larger plot struggled to keep me invested, their relationship offered something I could actually appreciate.

It's interesting because Roth has mentioned enjoying the experience of writing Tris and Tobias together again, and that enthusiasm seems to have translated into one of the stronger elements of the story.

I also have to mention Christina.

After We Can Be Mended, I was practically triggered the moment Christina and Tobias appeared on the page together. 😂 I still haven't recovered from Roth pairing them up in that novella, so seeing them in the same story immediately brought back those memories.

Thankfully, Roth didn't have them interact very much.

Although, of course, Tris does briefly wonder whether there might be something more between them.

I suppose that was a little nod to the original universe and what eventually happened there.

Small mercies, I guess.

I'm just glad Roth didn't decide to revisit that particular relationship in any meaningful way.

And while I enjoyed seeing Tris and Tobias find each other again, I'm not getting too comfortable. Considering Roth's history with these characters, I genuinely wonder whether she'll kill Tris again in the sequel.

Hopefully not.

But then again, maybe she'll kill Tobias instead. At this point, who knows? 😭

Caleb's death: A shocking twist that didn't work for me

This was probably my biggest problem with the actual story.

Tris killing Caleb to save Tobias felt so completely out of left field that my immediate reaction was basically, Wait, WHAT just happened?

I understand the situation Roth created. Caleb was threatening Tobias, and Tris was forced into an impossible choice.

I also understand what Roth seemed to be exploring: a version of Tris who ultimately chooses romantic love over her family, making a dramatically different decision from the Tris we knew in the original trilogy.

But understanding what an author is trying to accomplish doesn't mean I find the execution convincing.

And I didn't.

We're talking about Tris killing her own twin brother to save a guy she's known for what, two or three months?

I know Tobias wasn't just some random guy to her, and I understand that Caleb posed an immediate threat. But the decision still felt unbelievable to me.

Maybe I could have accepted it if the circumstances and relationships had been developed differently. If Roth had spent more time building toward that moment, perhaps it would have felt like a tragic but believable culmination of this Tris's character arc.

Instead, it felt like Roth wanted to deliver a huge, shocking twist without doing enough to earn it.

And what makes it even more jarring is the contrast with Allegiant.

In the original trilogy, Tris literally sacrifices herself after taking Caleb's place on a mission they know is fatal.

Despite everything that happened between them, despite Caleb's betrayal, she ultimately chooses to take his place.

In The Sixth Faction, she kills him.

I understand that these are different versions of Tris, shaped by different experiences and circumstances.

But different doesn't automatically mean better, and a dramatic departure from the original doesn't automatically make for compelling character development.

To me, this wasn't a fascinating exploration of how different circumstances could change Tris. It was a decision that didn't feel sufficiently believable or emotionally earned.

And then there's the timing.

Caleb dies practically at the end of the book. Within roughly three chapters, the story is over.

We're talking about Tris killing her own twin brother, one of the most significant decisions she could possibly make, and there's barely any room left to explore the emotional consequences.

I wanted the story to give that moment the weight it deserved.

Instead, it felt like an enormous event introduced for shock value, followed by an ending that arrived before I could properly process what had happened.

The problem wasn't simply that Roth made Tris do something shocking. It's that the story didn't convince me that this version of Tris would make that choice, or give me enough time to feel the full impact of it afterward.

And that's a shame, because the contrast between the two versions of Tris could have been one of the most interesting aspects of the entire alternate-universe concept.

An interesting idea doesn't necessarily make a compelling book

I think this is where everything starts coming together for me.

The Sixth Faction isn't a terrible book. It has interesting ideas, some enjoyable moments, and a relationship I genuinely liked.

But the more I think about it, the more I feel that the book's biggest weakness is that it never gave me a compelling enough reason to care about this particular version of the story.

The alternate universe was interesting, but not especially original. The plot was okay, but followed a familiar direction. The mystery kept introducing new questions without providing enough satisfying answers. The pacing was inconsistent, and the biggest twist felt more shocking than believable.

And although I liked Tris and Tobias, their relationship wasn't enough to make the overall experience particularly memorable.

There's also an interesting contradiction in how I experienced the book.

The story was too similar to the original to feel genuinely fresh, yet some of its biggest departures felt too extreme to be convincing.

I think that explains a lot of my dissatisfaction.

It's not that I wanted Roth to rewrite Divergent exactly as it was. I already have that story, and despite my feelings about its ending, I still appreciate what made it compelling.

But if you're going to revisit an established universe and explore an alternate version of its characters, I want those differences to feel meaningful. I want to understand what this new version brings to the table.

And by the end, I still wasn't convinced that The Sixth Faction had brought enough.

Perhaps that's why I kept finding myself more interested in the original book whenever I opened it for comparison.

The original Divergent has a sense of momentum and emotional investment that this one never managed to recreate for me.

And that's especially disappointing when Roth has openly discussed wanting to revisit the universe with the experience and skills she's gained as a writer.

I understand that she's grown as an author, and I don't doubt that she approached this project with genuine enthusiasm. But being a more experienced writer doesn't automatically mean that a new version of an old story will be more compelling than the original.

For me, it wasn't.

My complicated feelings about Veronica Roth

I also think it's important to acknowledge that my history with Roth's books influenced my experience.

I went into The Sixth Faction carrying years of disappointment over Allegiant and We Can Be Mended. I wasn't excited about returning to this universe, and I couldn't completely separate those feelings from my reading experience.

But I don't think that automatically invalidates my criticisms.

After all, I still found things to enjoy. I genuinely liked Tris and Tobias's interactions, and there were moments when the mystery caught my attention.

So it's not as though I'd decided beforehand that I was going to hate everything about the book.

I gave it a chance, and it simply didn't win me over.

What frustrates me about Roth's approach to Divergent is that I sometimes get the impression she wants readers to appreciate her creative decisions without fully understanding why certain choices were so upsetting to them.

I know that's only my impression, and I can't speak for her actual feelings or intentions.

But from my perspective, she made decisions that deeply damaged my relationship with a series I once loved, and her subsequent attempts to revisit that universe haven't repaired it.

I also recognize that she doesn't necessarily owe readers that repair. She doesn't have to change her mind about Tris's death, and she doesn't have to write the story I would have preferred.

But equally, I don't have to appreciate every creative decision she makes simply because it's meaningful to her.

And that's ultimately how I feel about The Sixth Faction.

I'm glad writing it helped Roth rediscover her love for Divergent. But her personal experience with the project doesn't change my experience reading it.

To me, this feels like a universe that should have been left alone after We Can Be Mended.

And if Roth was going to revisit it anyway, I wish she'd given us something more compelling than a weaker variation of the original story.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, The Sixth Faction was an okay book that disappointed me, rather than a genuinely bad one. I enjoyed certain moments, especially Tris and Tobias, but I finished it feeling... meh. Underwhelmed.

The original Divergent made me want to keep reading. The Sixth Faction made me want to finish reading.

After everything, I'm still left with the same question:

Why did this particular story need to be told?

I understand why Veronica Roth wanted to write it.

I just wish she'd given me a better reason to want to read it.

[Anila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I would revisit the world of Divergent again, especially not after that traumatizing ending (yes, I’m still scarred to this day!!). But honestly? I had so much fun coming back to this series.

Tris was just as strong, brave and loyal as I remember. I loved watching her take charge and come into her own and just be a freaking badass. And Four!! He has been on my list of top book boyfriends for years and this book just proves that I’ll always love him in every universe. What a MAN!! I loved how their relationship developed. Tris and Four just understand each other so well a were a great match.

The first 40% moved a bit slow, but it did pick up in the second half and then I was hooked. I can’t go into too much detail on the plot because I feel like it would spoil the book for some, but Tris’ journey was different here. And so, there were some elements that I loved so much from Divergent that just didn’t get to appear in this book. The new aspects were interesting but I just don’t think it was as good as the original series. The stakes didn’t feel as high either until maybe the last third of the book. Also Caleb was as annoying as ever. His POV chapters were needed for the plot but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

But overall, I still really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the second one!! Plz give me the happy ending I deserve🙏🏻

————

The trauma that I experienced with Allegiant needs to be fixed with this series or I’m gonna crash out again😤🫠

[Dinija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins and Veronica Roth for the proof in exchange for an honest review.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD - NOTHING FOR THE STORY THOUGH.

We return to the ruined Chicago in this AU version of Divergent where the premise is - what if Tris didn't choose Dauntless? After an attack during the Choosing ceremony, Tris decides not to join Dauntless, instead she makes a different kind of a choice.

Listen, I love myself a good AU. I think they're a fun way to explore different dynamics and once again meet the characters you love and have missed. And it has been quite a few years since I ventured into the Divergent world (so much so, I've unhauled the books from my shelves). This time, however, we have more than just Tris' POV as we venture into the story, we have two others - Four's and Caleb's.

Honestly, Caleb's POV, with how limited it was, felt useless. We got like 5 chapters of it, and that was it. I think I would have preferred a POV, if it's in such limited quantity, from one of the adult's. Natalie Prior, Janine or even Eric. Make me understand why they believe things they do. Why are they acting this way? Why these choices? Caleb just felt shoehorned in because the last time we had a dual POV from Tris and Four, we all know how that ended...

I also had a major issue with some inconsistencies in the story. During the Choosing ceremony, through a speech, it is established that the archaic beliefs like religion, were shed to create the faction system, and that is one of the reasons it functions. However, constantly on many many occasions, Tris talks about Abnegation's religious ceremonies. How can you have religious ceremonies, if the concept of religion was eradicated? Also, when Tris "swears" with words like "goddamn" etc, she does call it swearing, which would only count that way, if you do believe in a religion and think such words are blasphemous... but religion was shed, as were politics and other systems... so, which is it? It seems like such a small, tiny inconsistency, however, I couldn't help but see it, and it kept bugging me. I'm not saying that swearing the same way we do in our world would be eradicated, but the words would not hold the same kind of meaning, if they don't have the same worldly tether and context.

I think also reading this story at the age of 27, makes me realise how little the set-up of the Divergent world makes sense as a whole, that I could not see when I was a teen, so I was hoping that with certain tweaks and with time having passed since the original trilogy came out, Roth would have found a better way to explain why having only one personality trait and sectioning the city off in that way, was a good idea. But no... you have a whole AU to retcon and shape reasonings, and yet I feel like it was wasted. A book about how Divergent came to be would have been a more interesting read.

Ultimately, AUs are about changing things. It's about making different choices and seeing a different outcome. But this book, unfortunately, isn't that, and left me with a very big, unanswered question - who is this story even for?

Mainly, because not a lot changes compared to the first book. We sort of end up at the same place where we ended up in Divergent with the characters. And if that is the case, then what is the point of this story even existing?

Is this nostalgia-bait? Is this Veronica Roth trying to fix the universally hated ending of Allegiant? Is this a cash-grab because we're getting more of The Hunger Games, and she's seeing dystopia getting back on the top of YA genres?

The Hunger Games is giving us new stories, new things and concepts to think about, reshaping what we thought we knew and shedding new light on the darker corners. It is a series that has something to say.

But this cannot be compared to Hunger Games, because we're meeting all of the same characters at the same starting point, and our perception is not being changed of them. We're not getting a new perspective of what we already knew or thought we did, like we did in Sunrise on the Reaping and Haymitch with his games. In The Sixth Faction, the characters are the same, motivations are the same, and arcs are the same, it's just been given a different packaging with a slightly different ingredient list.

Overall, I am a bit sad, because I am unsure as to why this book has been written. I feel like there really isn't a reason for it to exist, because not much changes with the character and the arcs felt about the same how it did in Divergent. But maybe in the second book of this AU, it will be answered. I will read it once it comes out, because I do wish to see if it leaves me feeling like all of this had a point. Currently though, no. It feels like it doesn't, and I'm very sad to say so.

[Lari]

The essence of Four is sleeping with and starting a relationship with his late girlfriend’s best friend. It doesn’t matter what alternate world we’re in. It is what it is.
With an mmc like that, i’m not touching this book even with a ten-foot pole

[Anna Nygren · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Veronica, I never doubted you for a second. This addition to the Divergent Universe is exactly what the fans didn't know they needed. In fact, I'd argue that this book provides a deeper understanding of the original trilogy, and confirms what we already know to be true. Between things that stayed the same, things that changed, and things left somewhere in the middle, this was a well written book.

I enjoyed many aspects of this book, though I'll spare you the long list for both time sake and to avoid spoilers. I'm very greateful to have been allowed to read and review this early!

[Cassandra Lynn Reads · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

You know what, I had fun and that's all I really wanted.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acceptable. Got bored many times.

[trix]

i'm sorry, what on earth is this?? ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
a new divergent book?
in this economy??

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Factionless isn't the worst thing I can imagine, not anymore. It's living a life that isn't mine."

Hey so this book had no right to make me near tears 92357237 times??? This was genuinely spectacular and I absolutely LOVED every single aspect of this book. I cannot wait for the sequel!!!

The Sixth Faction is truly such a marvelous book. I read Veronica's blog posts talking about how she was able to rediscover her love for the Divergent world writing TSF and it genuinely made me emotional reading those because you can really feel everything she went through since it's release and just how much TSF means to her, which made me love it even more. And it really shows how much fun she had writing this.

"But if you change the historical record, you can shape people's understanding of the present. And if you shape their understanding of the present, you can change society itself. Who's in charge. Who's to blame. Who's the enemy."

I reread Divergent before jumping into TSF and oh if it wasn't so much fun spotting the differences and similarities between both worlds. The way we got to see so many iconic scenes from the original series and not one thing in TSF felt repetitive--it somehow felt new while being nostalgic. And I love how Veronica expanded into the worldbuilding and plot right from the beginning and delved more into the political aspects like YES (it's hilarious because I always thought of Erudite as the only evil/insane ones in book 1 but oh boy...). I had enjoyed my reread of Divergent but you can immediately tell how much she's grown as an author since that era and the way she expands into SO much was such a blast. The relationships between specific characters had to be my favourite part about this book because omg they were amazing I love so many of them😭 We get more of Tris's relationship with her parents (like !!!), Four's relationship with his friends from Dauntless, and OF COURSE between Tris and Four! (which I will get into more later on in this review) And so many more well-written relationships but those would be spoilers if I mentioned specifics so you'll just have to read it for yourself ;)

"I think caring about them doesn't mean I owe them a version of myself that isn't real."

Tris was an absolute delight. I loved her in Divergent but believe it or not, she's even more amazing in TSF. No amount of words would ever be able to express how much I adore her. I genuinely just love being in her head so so much. Watching her internal struggles from the beginning to the insane events that kept happening around her and to her?? The amount of times my jaw dropped?? And then the gradual development in her character as she experiences so many different things... no because genuinely I can't explain how much I loved the realizations she came to and the freedom she felt. LIKE YEAH THAT'S MY GIRL. I was cheering so much. I love how much more confident Tris is here in comparison to the original book--like it makes sense why because of everything but oh if it wasn't so satisfying to witness. Also please, someone give Tris a hug. Protect her from this world!!!!

AND FOUR!!! Oh my gosh it 100% helped that we got his POV like that was the greatest blessing to come from this book🥹 I LOVED being in his mind. His relationship with Shauna and Zeke was actually everything. Four acting silly with them??? Oh my heartt I loved the friendship so much. And then we see his loneliness and how he doesn't have that sense of belonging with the Dauntless and it was SUCH an interesting perspective to see! Seeing his vulnerability so early on and the little details that we never knew in Divergent was just !! Like wow omg?? You really get to understand Four on a deeper level and I loved it. And of course he's the sweetest as always🥹 (side note: when they had their first kiss and Four was the one who was so giddy and smiling a lot to himself omg it was so cute!!)

"But he looks at me like I'm not seeing the whole picture. Like instead of not being enough of all those things, I'm actually more."

Which brings me to the romance. THE ROMANCE GUYS. Tris and Four are really looking to be one of my fav couples why are they so cute they actually have no right to be this adorable !! Divergent had insta-love and while I didn't mind it too much in my reread (because most books back then had it so its like whatever), I was SO happy to see that their relationship here felt wayyy more natural!! No insta-love here! The initial distrust because of the circumstances they meet in to respect and awe as they discover more about the other to trusting and finding comfort with the other and then those feelings growing more and more- yeah it was everything. I love the idea that in every universe they'll find each other and fall in love, like that's soulmates right there. They're so silly and cute, I kept grinning like an idiot. I can't wait to see how their relationship grows from here (AND DON'T KILL EITHER OF THEM PLEASE).

Then the other characters!! Caleb had his own POV chapters (I was shocked) and though there weren't many, it was so interesting seeing his perspective on some things. It's actually amazing how often my feelings on him kept changing. One thing for sure though I totally didn't expect a certain thing regarding his character oh my gosh. We see Christina again and GUYS I ADORE HER???? I know majority of the fandom disliked Christina in Divergent but she rocked here. Absolute queen, I need more of her. Then there were some new characters from the factionless who were awesome (shoutout to Rory and Colin!!) and I really hope it stays that way. Extremely curious about how things will turn out with them after how this book ended!! And then of course there were not so great characters... many in which I wanted to punch and unfortunately they were just as awful here as they were in Divergent... and it's also crazy how certain people still had the same things happen to them even in an alternate universe like damn😭 I really love how different this book is while feeling the same.

I am still reeling over that ending (seriously my heart was racing so fast) because WOW did those take some turns I did not expect??? The last one especially!!! I'm both relieved but sad for Tris, someone give this girl a break fr😭 I'm actually going to die (again) if The Last Testimony ends the same way as Allegiant LIKE PLEASE NO I'VE ALREADY BEEN TRAUMATIZED ONCE. I have no clue which direction this story will take next and it both thrills me and terrifies me. I've never been more glad that the sequel releases in February.

"I’ll try to be worth what I cost you."
"You already are."

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

A warning there will be spoilers all over this review.

SPOILERS

Please do not read my review if you don’t want to see spoilers.


People you have no idea how excited I’ve been to read this story. It seems like centuries ago I read and immediately became a super fan of the divergent series.



I fell in love with Tris and four and I fell in love with Veronica Roth . I read all three books. I tested myself and my families and my Friends.

I received Amity. I was pretty sure I would. I strive above all else to keep peace and harmony. But I have a bit of candor in me. Yes I would’ve been divergent without a doubt, but I still felt connected to Amity.

But I will rely on my candor skills to do an honest assessment of this book which everybody who enjoyed the original series really should read.


First, I must comment on the original series. I of course, was disappointed in the ending like everybody or a lot of people. I childishly wanted Trish and For to stay together for all of eternity. And I read the follow up short story we couldn’t be mended and I was furious at that too.


But I was AGHAST To hear about how so many readers took their anger out on the author. Perhaps that’s the amity in me speaking. Perhaps there were just a lot of dauntless who read the book! But it is always unacceptable to personally attack any author. Even when I give a book a low rating, I always strive to find something nice to say about it. Yeah I think it’s definitely the Amity in me.


I’m not gonna rehash the plot in its entirety as there were already hundreds of reviews doing that. It does take place in an alternate universe. Many aspects are the same , many aspects are different. Many of the characters are the same. Evil Peter is still with us, though in a much more limited fashion.


Kristina still there and Evalyn. I mean basically everybody still there they just have different ways of finding each other.


Tris? She’s still Tris. Brave and soulful and intense and deep and ferocious and sassy my gosh how I love her.


Four is still himself as well. I really liked how the relationship unfolded in this book. It was hotter somehow than in the first series and more natural. I’m not even a romance reader, so I kind of ignored in that aspect in the original divergent series the romantic part because that didn’t really get my interest, but it did in this one.

I think the relationship develops faster, but it still has that level of mystique and intensity that makes them such a great couple with such a strong chemistry.


Here’s where the spoilers really start. The sixth faction is the factionless. That is where she chooses to go. She does not choose dauntless as many people have noted without spoilers. I might add.


It was a very interesting experience reading about all the characters. A little of my frustration came from trying to figure out how book two is going to end. Please please please don’t kill her again!pleeeassseeee!


I love reading about the whole faction system and how they work. Now let me just say a few words about Caleb.


He was always my least favorite character. I even had an AI chat about him! I asked AI why he was such a dickhead . Well he IS a dickhead! I think that’s something most if not all of us can agree on.

Caleb is the original dickhead and he’s a wimp besides. I had absolutely no sympathy for him so I guess I’m not a true amity because in Amity you’re supposed to be kind to everyone and if Caleb was in front of me, I’d look him in the eye directly stare him down and say why oh why are you such a damn wimp?



A couple of people have said Caleb‘s fate in this book is not realistic and what Trish did is not realistic. I am dictating this review and it is not spelling out her name Tris. So please make do with Trish. I’ve had a stomach bug this week and I’m too lazy to go and edit this whole very long view.


I think what happened to Caleb is most realistic. I think Trish would’ve done anything to keep her boyfriend alive. I think she and Tobias would do anything for each other. There is a wonderful shining quality to the relationship that you just don’t see a novels very much these days.



Now, why did I give it a 4.25 and not a five? Well for one thing it did not have the fresh new mystique that it did when I first read the franchise. But it couldn’t. For anyone who’s read it before you’re going to recognize certain scenes.

There’s no way you could come across that raw, that new feeling but I’m just so glad she wrote this. I think I’m going to consider this the real divergent. I really had problems with the first one with so many people I cared about dying and the tragic and unnecessary way it happened.


I also would’ve liked to see more of Peter and Alex and Shawna and Edward. They were so vital to the first book that I felt they could’ve been expanded in the second but that’s a minor critique.



The bottom line is Veronica. Roth has grown as a writer. You can really see it. I’m a writer myself though I don’t write books I write political articles. I do it daily though, and I can see the difference in my own writing over many years.


It’s also hard to rated it as a five if I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the second book yet. I am guessing it’s going vary significantly from the second book in the original divergent series, but I’m not sure.

Roth has a habit of continually surprising her readers by pulling mysterious rabbits out of mysterious hats, and one never really knows which way the story is going to go. I just hope the romance survives and neither of the two main characters died. I realize I sound like an idealistic child, but let me just dwell on that for a moment.



I think Veronica Roth should feel extra special good about the negative feedback she received at the end of the first series. I think this because in my humble opinion, she did too good at job – think about it. She gave us a couple who people came to love like family, and when one of them was killed people all over the world mourned her like family. It’s not just any author who could do that, and I think that says a lot for the continuing appeal of divergent and the divergent series.



I loved it so much when I first read it. I still remember I was sitting in the basement of my own house and I opened it up and started slowly reading and I mean I was captivated in about five seconds. I immediately got to know the factions and wanted to know which one I would be a member of I tested my wonderful parents both who have passed away since. May they rest in peace.


My mom was Abnegation, and I think she would’ve loved this book so much if she was still with us she’d probably send Veronica Roth a fruit basket. That was my mom‘s way. Anytime somebody did anything she liked she would send them flowers or a food basket. She was a true Abnegation..


I can’t remember who my dad got but I think I’m pretty sure he was Candor, but I think Candor and Amity were almost a tie for him and that fits. He is a Brooklyn, New York born walking talking wave of Joy who would break out into song, loved Paul Simon, and would be perfectly happy in Amity, listening to guitar music and chasing me across Apple fields.



But he was also a practicing psychologist and was brutally honest, hence the candor!


As for me? I would’ve been quite content to chase my family and friends across fields of apples and lie in the sun listening to those I cared about strum their tunes. It sounds like a beautiful way to live. I just don’t love the color red. Might I wear turquoise instead?

In closing – this book was wonderful. Since I wasn’t feeling well, I did have to have to take periodic breaks which I usually do not have to do but like I said, I’ve had a stomach bug all week. I also have found that since my dad passed away six months ago my attention to be hyper focused isn’t as good as it used to be so I finished this over several days rather than in a few hours. But that doesn’t take away how utterly joyful I am that she released This.


Bliss!


I love seeing the relationship. Trish had with her parents and I’m glad they were featured so prominently.

Caleb though – I wish Veronica Roth would sit down for an interview, but make it strictly about Caleb and explain whether she wrote him deliberately to be a whiny pain in the ass or not. I think I know something. ELSE that Caleb needed and let’s just say it’s X-rated. Oops that sounded a bit dauntless! There’s my divergence again. But it’s true in Caleb‘s case.



I have no idea what’s going to happen in part two. Part one leaves us pretty much where the original divergent did although though there are differences, I must say. Someone survives at least for now who you would not expect to survive. When I closed the bookThe whole gang was heading to Amity. I wish I could be there to welcome them.



So yes, if you’ve read the original divergent and even if you have it – please read this. You’ll feel so good afterwards like you would going on Safari, or dancing in the rain or feeling the mushy delicious love of a dolphins kiss.



It’s just pure joy and that’s how much the divergent series meant to me, still means to me and means so much to millions upon millions of others all over the world. So thank you very much. Veronica Roth for writing an excellent book and I can hardly wait to read part two.




.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

When Veronica Roth first announced that she was rewriting Divergent, I was so curious to see how she was going to change this story that is well known and beloved by so many people, myself included. I’m happy to report that what we got was the same world and characters that we love, but with a closer look at what happens when Tris goes to the Choosing Ceremony and makes a different, life-changing choice.

My favorite part about this book was that we got a better understanding of how all of the factions work because we actually got to experience all of them firsthand in a way we didn’t in the original trilogy. It made Tris a more well-rounded character because she wasn’t only experiencing the world through the eyes of Abnegation and Dauntless. There were always certain aspects of the Divergent world that I wanted more clarity and insight into, and I’m so happy Veronica decided to explore these parts of the world more.

The Sixth Faction felt less like a redo and more like a parallel to the original. While Tris, Four, Christina… might not take the same paths as they did in Divergent, you still see their characters shine through, even when they’re thrown into different situations. Tris is trying to find her place in a world that rejects her, and Four is trying to force himself to belong in a place that doesn’t feel like home, no matter how hard he tries.

The chemistry between Tris and Four is still electric, even though the development of their relationship is different. Veronica Roth has this uncanny way of taking these two, placing them in different situations, and still having them get together in an organic way. They feel like star-crossed lovers, two people who will find a way back to each other, no matter what happens.

The last third of the book felt a little rushed and underdeveloped compared to the rest of the story. In many ways, there were benefits to Tris making different decisions this time around, but this led to certain plot lines and characters being sidelined and ultimately hindered the impact when the action kicked in.

Whether you’ve read the original trilogy or have only seen the movies, The Sixth Faction is a must-read and a fun new addition to the Divergent book universe.

Thank you to Epic Reads for gifting me an early copy of this book ahead of its official release.

[Yonnela Montiel]

I am here for the fan fiction of Divergent written by the same author. Lol. I am glad she loves her book that much I thought she hates it. Who needs Fourth Wing when you have the new Divergent? (Fourth Wing is a bad fan fiction of Divergent) Can't wait to devour this.
Later edit: look at the cover: absolutely gorgeous! P. S I hate the new covers of the original series.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das hat mir sooo viel mehr Spaß gemacht als ich erwartet hätte! Fand es richtig gut und spannend, wollte die ganze Zeit weiterlesen und wissen ob das was in der ursprünglichen Geschichte passiert hier auch passiert, einfach mega! Der Schreibstil ist sehr simpel und unsere Protagonistin ist 16, ist halt eine YA Dystopie das darf man nicht vergessen. Aber ich hab’s geliebt und freu mich auf Band 2 🤭

[Larareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

26 BOOKS IN 2026 CHALLENGE: 14/26

Actual rating 3.25 ⭐️

When I first saw that Veronica Roth wanted to publish this I was sooo freaking excited. The Sixth Faction became my most anticipated read for this year so I was disappointed that I actually didn't love this as much as I thought I would.

I absolutely adore Tris in this book, she is funny and fierce and so so loyal to the people she loves. One thing that left me very confused is some of the choices she makes, because the old Tris would have never made them, especially what happened at the end. It left me completely speechless.

There was actually a lot happening and I honestly don't say it as a good thing. There were so many new things, but she also saved some moments from Divergent that I sometimes felt that they just didn't match this book and they were all over the place.

The relationship between Tris and Four actually developed more naturally and I loved it a lot more, but Four and Tris only meet at about 30%, it was a little hard to focus on the story when all I could think about is when they would finally meet.

I loved seeing the new characters that she meets in the new Faction and even though I didn't love this I'm so excited for the second book. Hopefully Roth won't break our hearts again!!!