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The Divinity Bureau
The world is overpopulated.
As resources dwindle and pollution throws the world in chaos, it's up to a government agency known as The Divinity Bureau to decide who lives and who dies.
However, when IT Technician Roman Irvine sees a nineteen-year-old girl sentenced to die, he can't help but wonder if there's more than what meets the eye.
When April meets Roman, she immediately doesn't trust him. After all, he works for the same government agency that sentenced her father to die just a year earlier.
But Roman is also sweet, kind, intelligent, and impossibly difficult to forget. As the two fall into a passionate but forbidden affair, the deeper they fall into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies.
The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in this addicting must-read.
As resources dwindle and pollution throws the world in chaos, it's up to a government agency known as The Divinity Bureau to decide who lives and who dies.
However, when IT Technician Roman Irvine sees a nineteen-year-old girl sentenced to die, he can't help but wonder if there's more than what meets the eye.
When April meets Roman, she immediately doesn't trust him. After all, he works for the same government agency that sentenced her father to die just a year earlier.
But Roman is also sweet, kind, intelligent, and impossibly difficult to forget. As the two fall into a passionate but forbidden affair, the deeper they fall into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies.
The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in this addicting must-read.
316 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2017
16 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 11, 2018
I give The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare 5 out 5 of Romantic Dystopian Stars! Wow, what a book! I haven’t read a dystopian novel in a while and after reading this story I will be sure to pick up more for sure. Even though this was a bit of a slow read in the beginning, I was captivated from Chapter One!😄 I fell in love with the characters and loved seeing April and Roman’s romance unfold.
I highly enjoyed how this story was told from a dual perspective and how the plot was nice and solid. The intensity, danger, betrayal and romance made this a YA masterpiece that I won’t soon forget. This story was action packed and think it would make an excellent film. I was up late turning pages and was just stunned at how quickly I devoured this novel. My only problem Ms. Clare is that I have to wait for more! To find more of this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
I highly enjoyed how this story was told from a dual perspective and how the plot was nice and solid. The intensity, danger, betrayal and romance made this a YA masterpiece that I won’t soon forget. This story was action packed and think it would make an excellent film. I was up late turning pages and was just stunned at how quickly I devoured this novel. My only problem Ms. Clare is that I have to wait for more! To find more of this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
February 17, 2018
An unlikely love story in a dystopian world where THE DIVINITY BUREAU decides who shall live and who shall die. Once again, corruption in government has taken world overpopulation, under production and deadly pollution and turned it to its own advantage by selecting who can “live forever” and who has been elected to die. Meanwhile, the population blindly assumes everything is for their own good until a group of activists begin to create a groundswell of rebellion.
Roman works for the Divinity Bureau in IT. he see a computer screen all day long, names flow past, but they don’t register as humans until one name stands out, one name slated to die and he cannot fathom why. April is young, intelligent and the daughter of a political figure who was “elected” to die. She knows her father still had much to give the world. She knows there is more to the Divinity Bureau than meets the eye, she is one of the growing number of activists and rebels making themselves heard. For her, Roman could be "the enemy."
What Roman sees is the girl of his dreams, but she is mistrustful of a man who would work for such monsters. In a tale told through both Roman and April’s eyes, love will grow in a world that has grown cold and its leaders are not to be trusted. Witnessing Roman’s less than suave approach and April’s clear amusement with his bumbling nature, these two make a formidable team when they realize that, just maybe they can make a difference and just maybe no one has the right to play god with humanity. Meanwhile, their budding romance seems far removed from the nightmares of their reality, but someone has to change the world…
Tessa Clare has taken just a slice of a dystopian world filled with death and darkness and allowed some sunshine in with young love! Not only are we given food for thought, but we see that love can grow in the bleakest of times! I enjoyed this read from start to a finish because it didn’t start out as a “Rebel’s Cause” type read, it started out as a love story that grew with all of the human pitfalls we can relate to as well as characters that grew before our eyes!
I received a complimentary copy from Tessa Clare!
Publisher: Asset Creative House; 2 edition (September 21, 2017)
Publication Date: September 21, 2017
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Print Length: 327 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Roman works for the Divinity Bureau in IT. he see a computer screen all day long, names flow past, but they don’t register as humans until one name stands out, one name slated to die and he cannot fathom why. April is young, intelligent and the daughter of a political figure who was “elected” to die. She knows her father still had much to give the world. She knows there is more to the Divinity Bureau than meets the eye, she is one of the growing number of activists and rebels making themselves heard. For her, Roman could be "the enemy."
What Roman sees is the girl of his dreams, but she is mistrustful of a man who would work for such monsters. In a tale told through both Roman and April’s eyes, love will grow in a world that has grown cold and its leaders are not to be trusted. Witnessing Roman’s less than suave approach and April’s clear amusement with his bumbling nature, these two make a formidable team when they realize that, just maybe they can make a difference and just maybe no one has the right to play god with humanity. Meanwhile, their budding romance seems far removed from the nightmares of their reality, but someone has to change the world…
Tessa Clare has taken just a slice of a dystopian world filled with death and darkness and allowed some sunshine in with young love! Not only are we given food for thought, but we see that love can grow in the bleakest of times! I enjoyed this read from start to a finish because it didn’t start out as a “Rebel’s Cause” type read, it started out as a love story that grew with all of the human pitfalls we can relate to as well as characters that grew before our eyes!
I received a complimentary copy from Tessa Clare!
Publisher: Asset Creative House; 2 edition (September 21, 2017)
Publication Date: September 21, 2017
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Print Length: 327 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 19, 2017
In short, this book was an incredible read. If only life hadn't gotten in the way, I could've had this guy read in a few days!
The first thing I must comment on is Tessa Clare's world building. In a dystopian novel, (my favorite kind of novel mind you so I am very picky!) I am such a stickler for good world building. It has to make sense as to why the world is the way it is and it has to be believable. The world of The Divinity Bureau was all that and more! Tessa Clare went into lots of detail about the structure of the overpopulated world and how it got to be that way. I really appreciate that attention to detail. I hate it when authors just expect the reader to accept that the world is screwed up with no explanation as to why.
Next the characters. I felt like I knew Roman. He was such a believable and relatable character (I too have a master's degree and still struggle to find work!) April was the strong female lead that I CRAVE for in all Young Adult lit! Yes, it is a love story between her and Roman but she is not the type of helpless, sappy, weak female lead whose life depends and revolves around her romantic endeavors. She is strong with or without Roman but like all great relationships, both April and Roman bring out the best in each other.
I also loved that we got both Roman and April's point of view. The chapters alternated to both Roman and April telling parts of the story. It was extremely well done. Reminded me of everything I loved about Marie Lu's Legend.
I don't have much bad to say about this book. I didn't feel like it drug in any place and the story really moved and pushed forward.
This book is set to be released on both Amazon and Barnes and Nobel on September 21st. So is it worth your time and hard earned money? Short answer: absolutely!! If you are looking for a fun, action packed, romantic, plot driven book then look no further than The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare!
Read more of my reviews at novelsandhops.wordpress.com
The first thing I must comment on is Tessa Clare's world building. In a dystopian novel, (my favorite kind of novel mind you so I am very picky!) I am such a stickler for good world building. It has to make sense as to why the world is the way it is and it has to be believable. The world of The Divinity Bureau was all that and more! Tessa Clare went into lots of detail about the structure of the overpopulated world and how it got to be that way. I really appreciate that attention to detail. I hate it when authors just expect the reader to accept that the world is screwed up with no explanation as to why.
Next the characters. I felt like I knew Roman. He was such a believable and relatable character (I too have a master's degree and still struggle to find work!) April was the strong female lead that I CRAVE for in all Young Adult lit! Yes, it is a love story between her and Roman but she is not the type of helpless, sappy, weak female lead whose life depends and revolves around her romantic endeavors. She is strong with or without Roman but like all great relationships, both April and Roman bring out the best in each other.
I also loved that we got both Roman and April's point of view. The chapters alternated to both Roman and April telling parts of the story. It was extremely well done. Reminded me of everything I loved about Marie Lu's Legend.
I don't have much bad to say about this book. I didn't feel like it drug in any place and the story really moved and pushed forward.
This book is set to be released on both Amazon and Barnes and Nobel on September 21st. So is it worth your time and hard earned money? Short answer: absolutely!! If you are looking for a fun, action packed, romantic, plot driven book then look no further than The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare!
Read more of my reviews at novelsandhops.wordpress.com
July 17, 2018
The Divinity Bureau is here! It's been a long time coming and I hope you guys enjoy :)
April 21, 2018
*Spoiler free*
I usually don't read anything that has a futuristic setting; so for me I could tell that this was instantly going to be a different journey than usual. I typically find myself pulled to sword and sorcery or horror, so I found myself a little hesitant when it came to meeting the characters.
Roman - an IT major in college who works for the Divinity Bureau: a government entity that determines who lives and who dies based on the ability to afford immortality. Although Roman works for the organization, he is actually a kind hearted and good person. But, once he makes a discovery he has to choose between going against the organization or staying safe in his role with them.
April - Daughter of a wealthy politician who passed away and protestor of the Divinity Bureau. Even with her families wealthy background she finds what the bureau does is wrong and has even been arrested for bitting a police officer. She meets Roman when he visits the coffee shop she works at (one of the last coffee shops that uses humans instead of machines).
What I really liked about this book is how it uses our social issues of today and takes them too the future. The concept of the wealthy controlling who lives and who dies is a controversial topic today. In the story the concept lives in, with people protesting those in power; along with interaction between the homeless and other characters of the story.
The modern elements don't end with just social inequalities; over population and pollution cover the world in Divinity Bureau. The bureau was started to attempt to prevent the world from being over populated and the air is often mentioned to be polluted and flirty. Leading to characters wearing masks when outside.
Although, not my common type of read, it became rather enticing. I was pulled in by how modern concerns within our society have become a full reality in the future. Seeing what happens when checks and balances are uneven and a group of people control who lives can be frightening. Tessa Clare could not have picked a better time to write this book based on the social position of the world and the underlining topics in her book.
I usually don't read anything that has a futuristic setting; so for me I could tell that this was instantly going to be a different journey than usual. I typically find myself pulled to sword and sorcery or horror, so I found myself a little hesitant when it came to meeting the characters.
Roman - an IT major in college who works for the Divinity Bureau: a government entity that determines who lives and who dies based on the ability to afford immortality. Although Roman works for the organization, he is actually a kind hearted and good person. But, once he makes a discovery he has to choose between going against the organization or staying safe in his role with them.
April - Daughter of a wealthy politician who passed away and protestor of the Divinity Bureau. Even with her families wealthy background she finds what the bureau does is wrong and has even been arrested for bitting a police officer. She meets Roman when he visits the coffee shop she works at (one of the last coffee shops that uses humans instead of machines).
What I really liked about this book is how it uses our social issues of today and takes them too the future. The concept of the wealthy controlling who lives and who dies is a controversial topic today. In the story the concept lives in, with people protesting those in power; along with interaction between the homeless and other characters of the story.
The modern elements don't end with just social inequalities; over population and pollution cover the world in Divinity Bureau. The bureau was started to attempt to prevent the world from being over populated and the air is often mentioned to be polluted and flirty. Leading to characters wearing masks when outside.
Although, not my common type of read, it became rather enticing. I was pulled in by how modern concerns within our society have become a full reality in the future. Seeing what happens when checks and balances are uneven and a group of people control who lives can be frightening. Tessa Clare could not have picked a better time to write this book based on the social position of the world and the underlining topics in her book.
February 19, 2018
This book honestly put me in such a good reading mood. I loved it <3 I loved the concept, the romance, the conspiracy, the characters! Full review to come! <3
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!
The Divinity Bureau was perfect for me because it was equal parts romance and sci-fi. The world pulled me in right away because of the possibility of immortality and the lottery the essentially determined if you lived or died. It posed an interesting possibility of the future with all the problems it could have: overpopulation, food shortages, economic troubles, pollution--I loved how well thought out the setting was for the story. It was an interesting concept that I could really get behind.
But, besides the world, I also fell in love with the characters. Roman was an IT tech working for the Divinity Bureau who discovers what he believes is a mistake in the system. Caught between losing his job--that he needs desperately--and saving a young girl, he sets out to meet her and see if she's worth saving. It's that was choice that puts him and April on a dangerous path.
Roman was the kind of person who liked to play things safe. He didn't go around looking for trouble and preferred to play along. He was also very kind, respectful, and kind of shy at times. It made him adorable, to be honest, and I loved him for it <3
It was a little different with April. She was strong-willed, outspoken, and outgoing. She was the type of person to stand up for others and who tried to make a difference. She was ruled more by emotion and lived in the moment.
With Roman and April being near opposites, it was interesting to see them come together. I enjoyed the way things developed between them because they rubbed off on one another at times. I liked those moments when Roman would take a page from April and speak his mind, act boldly. Or those moments when April would try to be more like Roman and think things through. I think they worked well together because they made smarter choices that way.
As for the plot, I was hooked. As I said, I loved the story and the characters so I was invested in seeing them make it through to the end. I wanted to see them survive the mess they'd been pulled into but I liked that the story didn't jump into the craziness right away and that we could see the romance aspect play through as the plot came together.
The ending was something I could accept. It didn't all fall together the way that Roman and April (and I) had hoped, but I liked the hint of the storm coming with April saying that it wasn't over yet. It made me really eager for a sequel. I'd love to see how the battle against the Divinity Bureau continues!
Overall, I think this was a really solid good book that's bound to keep you hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend it!
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
❝ If you can afford immortality and you choose to opt for it, it comes at a cost: you will be put on this list. And if your name is selected, you will die by lethal injection. Fortunately, with millions of people on the list, your odds of being selected are low--at least, until fate catches up with you.❞
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!
The Divinity Bureau was perfect for me because it was equal parts romance and sci-fi. The world pulled me in right away because of the possibility of immortality and the lottery the essentially determined if you lived or died. It posed an interesting possibility of the future with all the problems it could have: overpopulation, food shortages, economic troubles, pollution--I loved how well thought out the setting was for the story. It was an interesting concept that I could really get behind.
But, besides the world, I also fell in love with the characters. Roman was an IT tech working for the Divinity Bureau who discovers what he believes is a mistake in the system. Caught between losing his job--that he needs desperately--and saving a young girl, he sets out to meet her and see if she's worth saving. It's that was choice that puts him and April on a dangerous path.
Roman was the kind of person who liked to play things safe. He didn't go around looking for trouble and preferred to play along. He was also very kind, respectful, and kind of shy at times. It made him adorable, to be honest, and I loved him for it <3
It was a little different with April. She was strong-willed, outspoken, and outgoing. She was the type of person to stand up for others and who tried to make a difference. She was ruled more by emotion and lived in the moment.
❝ I stare back at her, unsure of what to say next. I trust her in most things. I trust her words and that she'd never lie to me. I trust that she'd never do anything to hurt me. I trust with my heart. But April is too selfless to be trusted with her own life.❞
With Roman and April being near opposites, it was interesting to see them come together. I enjoyed the way things developed between them because they rubbed off on one another at times. I liked those moments when Roman would take a page from April and speak his mind, act boldly. Or those moments when April would try to be more like Roman and think things through. I think they worked well together because they made smarter choices that way.
As for the plot, I was hooked. As I said, I loved the story and the characters so I was invested in seeing them make it through to the end. I wanted to see them survive the mess they'd been pulled into but I liked that the story didn't jump into the craziness right away and that we could see the romance aspect play through as the plot came together.
The ending was something I could accept. It didn't all fall together the way that Roman and April (and I) had hoped, but I liked the hint of the storm coming with April saying that it wasn't over yet. It made me really eager for a sequel. I'd love to see how the battle against the Divinity Bureau continues!
Overall, I think this was a really solid good book that's bound to keep you hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend it!
March 9, 2018
The world is over populated and has limited resources for the populous. The Divinity Bureau has stepped up to take care of this situation by creating a random selection method to start thinning the herd or killing people. Of course people believe that this is all for the best until a rebel group starts pointing out that it’s convenient that a select group is never chosen from for this lottery.
Enter Roman Irvine, a technician at The Divinity Bureau. All he does is stare at a computer screen full of names on a daily bases. That is until he sees the name April McIntyre. April’s father was a political that was open about who was in the selection process and was chosen to die. April knows his death was a cover for The Divinity Bureau and is one of the rebels trying to get the information out to the people.
When Roman see’s April’s name on his computer, he knows that he has to protect her. April see’s Roman as a cog in The Divinity Bureau’s machine. But the come to an uneasy truce arises where Roman and April are going to have to work together. Of course there is a beautiful relationship that comes from this.
Everyone knows I’m a sucker for a great dystopian series and The Divinity Bureau is going on the top of that list. You have a well-developed world that sucks you into the struggles of Roman and April. I loved the “great” idea of how to control the over-whelming population. Of course those of power and influence would come up with this kind of solution. It also works well for those that try to bring attention to the down falls.
But better than that struggle is the sweet romance of Roman and April. They are nearly polar opposites but come together to end this mindless killing. You couldn’t ask for a better couple.
This is a great first book from Tessa Clare and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. This is one book you HAVE to add to your collection.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Enter Roman Irvine, a technician at The Divinity Bureau. All he does is stare at a computer screen full of names on a daily bases. That is until he sees the name April McIntyre. April’s father was a political that was open about who was in the selection process and was chosen to die. April knows his death was a cover for The Divinity Bureau and is one of the rebels trying to get the information out to the people.
When Roman see’s April’s name on his computer, he knows that he has to protect her. April see’s Roman as a cog in The Divinity Bureau’s machine. But the come to an uneasy truce arises where Roman and April are going to have to work together. Of course there is a beautiful relationship that comes from this.
Everyone knows I’m a sucker for a great dystopian series and The Divinity Bureau is going on the top of that list. You have a well-developed world that sucks you into the struggles of Roman and April. I loved the “great” idea of how to control the over-whelming population. Of course those of power and influence would come up with this kind of solution. It also works well for those that try to bring attention to the down falls.
But better than that struggle is the sweet romance of Roman and April. They are nearly polar opposites but come together to end this mindless killing. You couldn’t ask for a better couple.
This is a great first book from Tessa Clare and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. This is one book you HAVE to add to your collection.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
April 5, 2018
I live for dystopian novels tinged with corruption, and was delighted when Clare asked me to read and review this. The world has discovered how to achieve immortality, and this has a crippling effect on the government’s ability to provide for its citizens. To combat the problem, the government runs a deadly ballot each quarter to determine which of its people should present themselves for lethal injection. If you think this sounds absolutely mental, you’re right.
Clare uses a dual narrative technique to allow us a fully rounded view of goings on. Roman is an IT technician for the bureau, with unlimited access to the names on the list, and the ability to remove these, despite this being a criminal act. April is a nineteen year old girl whose name appears on the list unexpectedly, as she’s outwith the criteria for selection. Roman notices her name on the list, which sets in motion a whirlwind of intrigue, corruption, and activism, resulting in an utterly breathtaking finale. I am desperately hoping for a sequel.
The skill Clare has here is more than apparent. She masterfully explains the world she has built, how it has come to be, and the reasons for the widespread acceptance of what is, quite frankly, mass murder. She scrapes and scores her way into each of the characters backstories and motivations, carving out an engaging plot peppered with tension, passion, and futuristic machines. I would probably consider putting myself into a death ballot if I could only own a robot which would make me scrambled eggs and bacon.
My only criticism here would be that although the first and final thirds of the novel were completely devoted to either explaining the dystopian world, plunging us into an unknown arena, or exploring the corruption evident within the government, the middle third focused on Roman and April’s blossoming relationship. It’s a personal taste thing, but I much prefer to read of anti-utopia than the paradise of romance.
A wonderful concept, and executed brilliantly. It’s clear Clare has a colourful mind, and I thank myself lucky not only that she’s able to articulate her brilliance, but also that I had the opportunity to experience it - thank you.
Clare uses a dual narrative technique to allow us a fully rounded view of goings on. Roman is an IT technician for the bureau, with unlimited access to the names on the list, and the ability to remove these, despite this being a criminal act. April is a nineteen year old girl whose name appears on the list unexpectedly, as she’s outwith the criteria for selection. Roman notices her name on the list, which sets in motion a whirlwind of intrigue, corruption, and activism, resulting in an utterly breathtaking finale. I am desperately hoping for a sequel.
The skill Clare has here is more than apparent. She masterfully explains the world she has built, how it has come to be, and the reasons for the widespread acceptance of what is, quite frankly, mass murder. She scrapes and scores her way into each of the characters backstories and motivations, carving out an engaging plot peppered with tension, passion, and futuristic machines. I would probably consider putting myself into a death ballot if I could only own a robot which would make me scrambled eggs and bacon.
My only criticism here would be that although the first and final thirds of the novel were completely devoted to either explaining the dystopian world, plunging us into an unknown arena, or exploring the corruption evident within the government, the middle third focused on Roman and April’s blossoming relationship. It’s a personal taste thing, but I much prefer to read of anti-utopia than the paradise of romance.
A wonderful concept, and executed brilliantly. It’s clear Clare has a colourful mind, and I thank myself lucky not only that she’s able to articulate her brilliance, but also that I had the opportunity to experience it - thank you.
May 20, 2018
**Reviews can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
I think the description included in the synopsis for The Divinity Bureau of "Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet" was pretty spot on, with the world split into have nots vs the haves, as well as the almost impossible love between the two main characters (except not painful like Romeo and Juliet, because I really hate that play!). There was some hard world stuff, including death and poverty, but there was also hope and suspense that kept the pacing of the plot engaging and a fast read.
I am such a sucker for dystopian stories, mainly because the future could potentially be terrifying and fiction is a great medium to vocalize fears, hopes, crazy twists, science experiments, terror... Pretty much anything is possible and I love seeing all the different directions that authors will take their futures in. Divinity Bureau was was a realistic, science filled, dark version of what the world could be if we create technology that can cure people of illness, basically making humans immortal and overpopulation an imminent issue. A yearly lottery will select who will have their life ended since resources are short and space limited. But really, who is in control of the selected people, and what if corruption is the reason someone is selected?
And yes, there is romance, what kind of world would it be for me to read something without at least a little romance thrown in? I will admit that I was a little hesitant about how the romance would play out (because let's be honest, Romeo and Juliet did not have a positive outcome!) but I was willing to give it a try. The narration alternated at chapters between Roman and April, letting the reader see into the lives and motivations of both characters. I loved Roman right from the start, he was cute, quirky, awkward and sincere and I instantly rooted for him to get his happily ever after, whatever that may be in this sad world. He wanted to keep his head down and just do his job, but his morality and conscience got the best of him. The only downside to Roman was his repetition at times, talking about his education and years working repeatedly until I wanted to force him to stop. April and I had a much more rocky start because I could not relate to her, she seemed slightly unemotional and disconnected but by the end of the book I liked her character growth and choices. I did find it interesting in the author's note after the story that she also had a hard time relating to April, which makes me wonder if that is really how she is subconsciously suppose to be.
Overall I thought this was a really enjoyable read that I am glad I had the opportunity to pick up. Besides the interesting world building, the slow building romance was the best part- no insta-love here, just the run of the mill crush turns to misunderstanding turns to real love over time. I look forward to more from Tessa in the future.
I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy of this book.
I think the description included in the synopsis for The Divinity Bureau of "Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet" was pretty spot on, with the world split into have nots vs the haves, as well as the almost impossible love between the two main characters (except not painful like Romeo and Juliet, because I really hate that play!). There was some hard world stuff, including death and poverty, but there was also hope and suspense that kept the pacing of the plot engaging and a fast read.
I am such a sucker for dystopian stories, mainly because the future could potentially be terrifying and fiction is a great medium to vocalize fears, hopes, crazy twists, science experiments, terror... Pretty much anything is possible and I love seeing all the different directions that authors will take their futures in. Divinity Bureau was was a realistic, science filled, dark version of what the world could be if we create technology that can cure people of illness, basically making humans immortal and overpopulation an imminent issue. A yearly lottery will select who will have their life ended since resources are short and space limited. But really, who is in control of the selected people, and what if corruption is the reason someone is selected?
And yes, there is romance, what kind of world would it be for me to read something without at least a little romance thrown in? I will admit that I was a little hesitant about how the romance would play out (because let's be honest, Romeo and Juliet did not have a positive outcome!) but I was willing to give it a try. The narration alternated at chapters between Roman and April, letting the reader see into the lives and motivations of both characters. I loved Roman right from the start, he was cute, quirky, awkward and sincere and I instantly rooted for him to get his happily ever after, whatever that may be in this sad world. He wanted to keep his head down and just do his job, but his morality and conscience got the best of him. The only downside to Roman was his repetition at times, talking about his education and years working repeatedly until I wanted to force him to stop. April and I had a much more rocky start because I could not relate to her, she seemed slightly unemotional and disconnected but by the end of the book I liked her character growth and choices. I did find it interesting in the author's note after the story that she also had a hard time relating to April, which makes me wonder if that is really how she is subconsciously suppose to be.
Overall I thought this was a really enjoyable read that I am glad I had the opportunity to pick up. Besides the interesting world building, the slow building romance was the best part- no insta-love here, just the run of the mill crush turns to misunderstanding turns to real love over time. I look forward to more from Tessa in the future.
I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy of this book.
January 22, 2018
The Divinity Bureau sets the stage for government conspiracy and corruption while successfully weaving in a romance for the ages in this new young adult, dystopian novel by debut author, Tessa Clare. In a world of overpopulation the United States, South America and Canada have been divided into colonies. Within these colonies the government holds the control to randomly select who lives and who dies every quarter. But, when 19-year-old April McIntyre’s name is selected Bureau IT employee, Roman Irvine, decides it must be a mistake, in an age of immortality no one under age 100 is ever selected.
The Divinity Bureau delivers a fast paced read as Romeo and Juliet meet modern day Hunger Games. In fact it would come as no surprise to see this romance for the ages one day hit the big screen. Be sure to pick up a copy and follow Tessa Clare as she proves an author to watch out for.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Divinity Bureau delivers a fast paced read as Romeo and Juliet meet modern day Hunger Games. In fact it would come as no surprise to see this romance for the ages one day hit the big screen. Be sure to pick up a copy and follow Tessa Clare as she proves an author to watch out for.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2017
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author
I got caught up in the dystopian craze along with everyone else some years ago when every second book published was dystopian. I couldn't get enough of them. But it wasn't long before I was all dystopian-ed out. Reading the synopsis for this novel, I was slightly worried that I would feel the same blah feeling that I normally get.
I didn't.
It was really the Romeo and Juliet aspect that kept me going. Star-crossed lovers are exactly my cup of tea and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the story line between April and Roman. They were great together. I think the only thing negative I would have to say is I didn't really connect with them. Their characters kind of fell flat for me as individuals. I would compare it to watching one episode of a television series. You can enjoy the show, and you can feel for the characters but because you haven't watched the whole series, you don't feel for them as much as you're supposed to.
Regardless of that part, this was an extremely enjoyable novel. I loved the world building and it was a breath of fresh air to see a dystopian about over-population instead of a crazy war that brought on the events. The authors imagination and creativity is mind-blowing. It kind of reminded me of a short story I had to read in English class when I was in highschool: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I remember really enjoying the story.
If you're looking for a fresh take on dystopian novels, definitely check this one out!
I got caught up in the dystopian craze along with everyone else some years ago when every second book published was dystopian. I couldn't get enough of them. But it wasn't long before I was all dystopian-ed out. Reading the synopsis for this novel, I was slightly worried that I would feel the same blah feeling that I normally get.
I didn't.
It was really the Romeo and Juliet aspect that kept me going. Star-crossed lovers are exactly my cup of tea and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the story line between April and Roman. They were great together. I think the only thing negative I would have to say is I didn't really connect with them. Their characters kind of fell flat for me as individuals. I would compare it to watching one episode of a television series. You can enjoy the show, and you can feel for the characters but because you haven't watched the whole series, you don't feel for them as much as you're supposed to.
Regardless of that part, this was an extremely enjoyable novel. I loved the world building and it was a breath of fresh air to see a dystopian about over-population instead of a crazy war that brought on the events. The authors imagination and creativity is mind-blowing. It kind of reminded me of a short story I had to read in English class when I was in highschool: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I remember really enjoying the story.
If you're looking for a fresh take on dystopian novels, definitely check this one out!
September 19, 2017
Set in the future, North America is ravaged by overpopulation due to a discovery that allows people to opt into becoming immortal. In an effort to control population The Divinity Bureau has enacted a lottery that chooses from a pool of those who have opted into immortality, and then those elected are executed. Roman works for the Bureau and when he finds something odd on an election report that leads him to April he changes not only her life but his as well.
Though I admit at times I was a little confused by some of the more political aspects and the inner workings of the bureau I was definitely invested in April and Roman and their story. I recognized some things from my favorite dystopian series but they were spun in a way that felt fresh, so I didn't feel as if I was reading the same story over again. In an odd twist I found myself happy with the ending as it was, so I wouldn't have been mad if it were an open ended standalone but I believe there are plans for more so I'll take it!
Though I admit at times I was a little confused by some of the more political aspects and the inner workings of the bureau I was definitely invested in April and Roman and their story. I recognized some things from my favorite dystopian series but they were spun in a way that felt fresh, so I didn't feel as if I was reading the same story over again. In an odd twist I found myself happy with the ending as it was, so I wouldn't have been mad if it were an open ended standalone but I believe there are plans for more so I'll take it!
September 11, 2017
Super Dystopian Romance
The Divinity Bureau is a page-turning New Adult read, full of danger, suspense and romance. It has a thought provoking plot, with well-rounded and believable characters, which kept my interest throughout.
In the novel science has found a way to render the lucky few who can afford it immortal. The ensuing overpopulation has resulted in an environmental and economic catastrophe where there are huge divisions in society. To manage the population the government has set up the Divinity Bureau, an organisation which decides by random selection who can live or die. Although this is brutal Roman, an IT Technician for the Bureau, has accepted it as a necessary evil. However, he inadvertently discovers evidence that the selection is not as random as he believes, a discovery that will change his life and that of another...
Roman's actions save the life of April, a young woman of privilege, whose own father was selected for death. Their growing friendship and romance, against the backdrop of growing civil unrest, is a sweet one. It is also full of danger and suspense as both Roman and April find themselves under threat, a threat that for April may result in her death. I enjoyed how their relationship develops and how they come to empathise with each other despite their differences in social standing and personalities. I appreciated how the author slowly revealed the secrets at play and the motivation behind the threat that hangs over April, which made for a page-turning read.
Roman is an out an out geek, but clearly a good guy and his actions are honourable throughout, even if he is less than truthful with April. He has a lot to lose and must tread carefully, lest he lose all he has achieved. Can he step up to the mark, reveal all that is rotten at the heart of the Bureau, save his skin and protect April in the process? It is a tall order and I was totally gripped at how the story develops!
April is a young woman who wears her heart on her sleeve and will not shy away telling it like it is - a character trait that has got her into a lot of trouble in the past. She is nonetheless a poweful individual, due to her family background. When she discovers exactly what and who she is up against, she must re-evaluate her close relationships, including that with Roman, and the couple must decide where their loyalties lie.
I don't want to say any more about the characters and plot, except to say that it's a super dystopian read. I would love to see other books set in this world. Highly recommended.
Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
The Divinity Bureau is a page-turning New Adult read, full of danger, suspense and romance. It has a thought provoking plot, with well-rounded and believable characters, which kept my interest throughout.
In the novel science has found a way to render the lucky few who can afford it immortal. The ensuing overpopulation has resulted in an environmental and economic catastrophe where there are huge divisions in society. To manage the population the government has set up the Divinity Bureau, an organisation which decides by random selection who can live or die. Although this is brutal Roman, an IT Technician for the Bureau, has accepted it as a necessary evil. However, he inadvertently discovers evidence that the selection is not as random as he believes, a discovery that will change his life and that of another...
Roman's actions save the life of April, a young woman of privilege, whose own father was selected for death. Their growing friendship and romance, against the backdrop of growing civil unrest, is a sweet one. It is also full of danger and suspense as both Roman and April find themselves under threat, a threat that for April may result in her death. I enjoyed how their relationship develops and how they come to empathise with each other despite their differences in social standing and personalities. I appreciated how the author slowly revealed the secrets at play and the motivation behind the threat that hangs over April, which made for a page-turning read.
Roman is an out an out geek, but clearly a good guy and his actions are honourable throughout, even if he is less than truthful with April. He has a lot to lose and must tread carefully, lest he lose all he has achieved. Can he step up to the mark, reveal all that is rotten at the heart of the Bureau, save his skin and protect April in the process? It is a tall order and I was totally gripped at how the story develops!
April is a young woman who wears her heart on her sleeve and will not shy away telling it like it is - a character trait that has got her into a lot of trouble in the past. She is nonetheless a poweful individual, due to her family background. When she discovers exactly what and who she is up against, she must re-evaluate her close relationships, including that with Roman, and the couple must decide where their loyalties lie.
I don't want to say any more about the characters and plot, except to say that it's a super dystopian read. I would love to see other books set in this world. Highly recommended.
Please note that an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
March 19, 2018
*Received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much! This doesn’t affect the review in any way. My opinions are, as always, my own.*
4.5stars
This was so addicting! You guys have no idea... Even working, I caught myself trying to read it, which yeah, I shouldn't. But the lunch hour passed so fast, and I wanted to continue! Ahh, I really liked this!
So, this book talks about a world suffering from overpopulation, due to BIONs that make you immortal. The Divinity Bureau took charge by creating a random selection process where their job is basically thining the population, or if you prefer killing it, to give space to others. Some people believe it's a good thing, others not so much, especially after discovering that that random selection might not be as random as they think.
Roman Irvine works as a technician at The Divinity Bureau. His job balances between fixing technical issues and staring at a computer screen full of names on a daily basis. Until the name, April McIntyre pops up. She is not immortal, neither is she old enough for being selected. But April’s father was important as a politician who according to some in the Burau did things differently from what they preferred. April knows his death was not casual, it was a murder, and she will do anything to prove how the Bureau is corrupt! Roman, after meeting her, starts falling for her and starts seeing things differently... Was it a glitch, her name being on the list or... was it not?
The book is divided into April's and Roman's POVs. They are two extremely different characters but I enjoyed both. Although I must say I do love Roman. He is the geekiest, cutest cat lover ever! He is an extremely good guy, he is respectful, sensitive and full of good intentions. Plus he has brains. He was an extremely believable character and I loved him! But more than that... I loved him with April.
April was very stubborn, always fighting, always trying her best, always doing what she thought was right. She didn't need anyone telling her what she should and shouldn't do. If it was the right thing, she was there, even if it wasn't necessarily convenient. She was an inspiration and a hell of a character. Their relationship is not the typical one that I usually read about and they just fitted together like soulmates.
The world is also incredibly well described and realistic. It's believable that our world could end up in a situation like this. The writing and the pacing were just perfect. Extremely addicting, no infodump and with a beautiful love story.
This book was, in a sense, scary for how realistic it felt. It was also addictive and bittersweet, which I always enjoy. I loved it and I would definitely highly recommend it!
4.5stars
This was so addicting! You guys have no idea... Even working, I caught myself trying to read it, which yeah, I shouldn't. But the lunch hour passed so fast, and I wanted to continue! Ahh, I really liked this!
So, this book talks about a world suffering from overpopulation, due to BIONs that make you immortal. The Divinity Bureau took charge by creating a random selection process where their job is basically thining the population, or if you prefer killing it, to give space to others. Some people believe it's a good thing, others not so much, especially after discovering that that random selection might not be as random as they think.
Roman Irvine works as a technician at The Divinity Bureau. His job balances between fixing technical issues and staring at a computer screen full of names on a daily basis. Until the name, April McIntyre pops up. She is not immortal, neither is she old enough for being selected. But April’s father was important as a politician who according to some in the Burau did things differently from what they preferred. April knows his death was not casual, it was a murder, and she will do anything to prove how the Bureau is corrupt! Roman, after meeting her, starts falling for her and starts seeing things differently... Was it a glitch, her name being on the list or... was it not?
The book is divided into April's and Roman's POVs. They are two extremely different characters but I enjoyed both. Although I must say I do love Roman. He is the geekiest, cutest cat lover ever! He is an extremely good guy, he is respectful, sensitive and full of good intentions. Plus he has brains. He was an extremely believable character and I loved him! But more than that... I loved him with April.
April was very stubborn, always fighting, always trying her best, always doing what she thought was right. She didn't need anyone telling her what she should and shouldn't do. If it was the right thing, she was there, even if it wasn't necessarily convenient. She was an inspiration and a hell of a character. Their relationship is not the typical one that I usually read about and they just fitted together like soulmates.
The world is also incredibly well described and realistic. It's believable that our world could end up in a situation like this. The writing and the pacing were just perfect. Extremely addicting, no infodump and with a beautiful love story.
This book was, in a sense, scary for how realistic it felt. It was also addictive and bittersweet, which I always enjoy. I loved it and I would definitely highly recommend it!
May 10, 2018
Very recently, Kyleigh and I had a conversation during which we lamented the lack of dystopian books lately. YA Fantasy has taken publishing by a storm (and believe me, I am not complaining. Fantasy—and romance—are my two loves) and the YA dystopian trend seems to have faded into the background, leaving the two of us craving the life-or-death stakes the genre holds.
If, like Kyleigh and me, you are in need of a dystopian book to bring back that love for you, I present to you The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare. It contains everything I need in a YA dystopian: Life-or-death stakes? Check. A love story? Check. The love interests on opposite sides? You. Bet.
The Divinity Bureau takes place in a futuristic world in which the rich can opt in to becoming immortal? Sounds great, right? Nothing could go wrong, right? *laughs* Come on. This is a dystopian world, guys. Everything comes with a price.
“The Divinity Bureau holds an election every quarter…If you can afford immortality and you choose to opt for it, it comes at a cost: you will be put on this list. And if your name is selected, you will die by lethal injection. Fortunately, with millions of people on the list, your odds of being selected are low—at least, until fate catches up with you.”
Yup, you read that right. If you become immortal, that lasts until your government pulls your name, lottery style. Think Hunger Games, but this time, it’s the rich adults in for a surprise. Or, at least, it should be the adults—until something goes wrong and April, who at nineteen years old and not immortal, is far from eligible from the list.
Enter Roman, our other protagonist. He works for the Divinity Bureau and is barely scraping by, even with his Master’s degree. At twenty-five, his life is not what he imagined…until he meets April.
This book hooked me. The world building was great and—unlike some in-depth worlds—made sense. I didn’t find myself asking, “Okay, but why is it this way?” In fact, sometimes it seemed to hit almost a little too close to home. Perfect!
As for the characters, I loved Roman. While April’s character was supposed to carry the plot, it was the sections told from Roman’s point of view that I lived for. He was everything I could have asked for in a character—kind, conflicted, and loveable. However, I don’t feel like the other characters in the story were quite as developed as Roman and April. For the supporting characters, I didn’t find them very descriptive or that I knew as much about them as I should have. I would be interested in finding out more about them, and I look forward to in future books in this series!
Overall, I’m happy to report The Divinity Bureau filled the dystopian-shaped hole on my TBR, and I’m going to be shoving this book at Kyleigh next—not that she’s complaining! If you’ve checked this book out, let me know what you think!
I received a copy of Tessa Clare’s The Divinity Bureau from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If, like Kyleigh and me, you are in need of a dystopian book to bring back that love for you, I present to you The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare. It contains everything I need in a YA dystopian: Life-or-death stakes? Check. A love story? Check. The love interests on opposite sides? You. Bet.
The Divinity Bureau takes place in a futuristic world in which the rich can opt in to becoming immortal? Sounds great, right? Nothing could go wrong, right? *laughs* Come on. This is a dystopian world, guys. Everything comes with a price.
“The Divinity Bureau holds an election every quarter…If you can afford immortality and you choose to opt for it, it comes at a cost: you will be put on this list. And if your name is selected, you will die by lethal injection. Fortunately, with millions of people on the list, your odds of being selected are low—at least, until fate catches up with you.”
Yup, you read that right. If you become immortal, that lasts until your government pulls your name, lottery style. Think Hunger Games, but this time, it’s the rich adults in for a surprise. Or, at least, it should be the adults—until something goes wrong and April, who at nineteen years old and not immortal, is far from eligible from the list.
Enter Roman, our other protagonist. He works for the Divinity Bureau and is barely scraping by, even with his Master’s degree. At twenty-five, his life is not what he imagined…until he meets April.
This book hooked me. The world building was great and—unlike some in-depth worlds—made sense. I didn’t find myself asking, “Okay, but why is it this way?” In fact, sometimes it seemed to hit almost a little too close to home. Perfect!
As for the characters, I loved Roman. While April’s character was supposed to carry the plot, it was the sections told from Roman’s point of view that I lived for. He was everything I could have asked for in a character—kind, conflicted, and loveable. However, I don’t feel like the other characters in the story were quite as developed as Roman and April. For the supporting characters, I didn’t find them very descriptive or that I knew as much about them as I should have. I would be interested in finding out more about them, and I look forward to in future books in this series!
Overall, I’m happy to report The Divinity Bureau filled the dystopian-shaped hole on my TBR, and I’m going to be shoving this book at Kyleigh next—not that she’s complaining! If you’ve checked this book out, let me know what you think!
I received a copy of Tessa Clare’s The Divinity Bureau from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2017
Book review originally posted on my blog at misskristinesreviews.com
Thoughts:
I started reading The Divinity Bureau on a long car trip and was HOOKED. Four hours into the ride I forced myself to set it down because I didn't want the story to end. (Aaaand later that week, I finished it in one sitting.)
THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!
Dystopian world. Forbidden love. Real characters.
All these things intermingled, and wonderfully written, created a fantastic book!
I'm usually not a huge "the government is corrupt; let's overthrow it" type of reader so I was a bit weary at first. Yes, The Divinity Bureau's storyline does rely on the corrupt government, but it also relies on technology advances, immortality, and pollution. Plus, the story was actually realistic.
What I'm trying to get across is that the book is not solely hinged on taking down The Divinity Bureau. Roman and April just wanted to live and be together.
Which takes me to my next point: forbidden love. Yes, he is working for the Divinity Bureau. But he is just an I.T. guys who fixes their tech tickets and miscellaneous coding requests. In my eyes, he is not at all part of the corruption...just, ya know, works for them.
They meet because Roman saw that there was a 19-year-old on the list. How is that possible? Must have been a glitch. He goes to meet her.
Love at first sight, right? Nope. Tessa writes it better than that! Their first date didn't actually go very well. Throughout the story, the relationship struggles, communication, and trust were done right in my eyes. I think it would have been ruined if the relationship was gushy. (The synopsis on goodreads says it is a The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet, but I think the romance is more like Four and Tris' relationship from Divergent.)
Booktube:
https://youtu.be/4sP0tsoRIFY
In case you were too lazy to read all that.. :)
Last Words:
Good job Tessa!!
Thoughts:
I started reading The Divinity Bureau on a long car trip and was HOOKED. Four hours into the ride I forced myself to set it down because I didn't want the story to end. (Aaaand later that week, I finished it in one sitting.)
THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!
Dystopian world. Forbidden love. Real characters.
All these things intermingled, and wonderfully written, created a fantastic book!
I'm usually not a huge "the government is corrupt; let's overthrow it" type of reader so I was a bit weary at first. Yes, The Divinity Bureau's storyline does rely on the corrupt government, but it also relies on technology advances, immortality, and pollution. Plus, the story was actually realistic.
What I'm trying to get across is that the book is not solely hinged on taking down The Divinity Bureau. Roman and April just wanted to live and be together.
Which takes me to my next point: forbidden love. Yes, he is working for the Divinity Bureau. But he is just an I.T. guys who fixes their tech tickets and miscellaneous coding requests. In my eyes, he is not at all part of the corruption...just, ya know, works for them.
They meet because Roman saw that there was a 19-year-old on the list. How is that possible? Must have been a glitch. He goes to meet her.
Love at first sight, right? Nope. Tessa writes it better than that! Their first date didn't actually go very well. Throughout the story, the relationship struggles, communication, and trust were done right in my eyes. I think it would have been ruined if the relationship was gushy. (The synopsis on goodreads says it is a The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet, but I think the romance is more like Four and Tris' relationship from Divergent.)
Booktube:
https://youtu.be/4sP0tsoRIFY
In case you were too lazy to read all that.. :)
Last Words:
Good job Tessa!!
September 6, 2017
The plot of this book felt a lot looser than most dystopians because the characters don’t start out with a goal of taking down the government, searching out the resistance, surviving the Hunger Games, or anything like that. They start out just living. Strolling about their normal lives, then encountering certain, seemingly small situations that cause them to make certain seemingly small decisions, which lead them to the point of the ultimate decisions where they have to decide whose side they’re truly on and what they’re truly willing to fight and die for.
I know. I could hardly be more cryptic. 😉
In all seriousness, though, it was really interesting to see a dystopian that read like this: smooth and flowing, very real-life and down-to-earth—until the characters decided what they were willing to fight for, and then the ending rushed into view. The choices stacked up and their results swarmed together, transforming into ending scenes that were downright, edge-of-the-seat gripping. I never thought the line “I’m the IT guy” could sound so epic, but seriously, I almost cheered.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this book, you can find the full review on Verbosity Reviews. :)
I know. I could hardly be more cryptic. 😉
In all seriousness, though, it was really interesting to see a dystopian that read like this: smooth and flowing, very real-life and down-to-earth—until the characters decided what they were willing to fight for, and then the ending rushed into view. The choices stacked up and their results swarmed together, transforming into ending scenes that were downright, edge-of-the-seat gripping. I never thought the line “I’m the IT guy” could sound so epic, but seriously, I almost cheered.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this book, you can find the full review on Verbosity Reviews. :)
March 24, 2018
**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest voluntary review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
I'm always up for a good dystopian read and this one sounded very cool. I loved the premise of an overpopulated world and a forbidden romance totally had me on board.
But I think I was expecting a different story than the one we got.
I had a very hard time getting into this as it started off a little slow. The flow of the writing is a little stifled by the info-dumping we get in the first few chapters but that evens out the further on you get. It's an easy world to understand though despite all this. You can really see what aspects of our everyday lives Tessa Clare was trying to exploit and work with in her novel.
The first half is very romance based--more so than I anticipated--which threw off the rhythm of this book for me. It wasn't that I didn't like the romance between Roman and April, I just wasn't what I picked this book up to read. I wanted more action and conspiracy with a dash of sweet moments between the two of them and we get the opposite instead. I just found we got sucked into the mundane everyday life of these two and it felt repetitive to me.
This book does shift to the conspiracy theory for the latter half of the novel but by then my interest had waned. I was curious to see how this would wrap up so I skimmed the rest.
In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of the classic 1984. The characters are at the whim of the world around them and they slowly start to rebel in their own way. But for most of the story, we are focused on their everyday lives and how they are constricted by this oppressing world. It's not a bad thing if you know to expect that. I just wanted a little more action and conspiracy and thrill.
Lastly, I'll just touch on the characters. I really liked how they all had their own flaws. Roman has a good heart but he makes a lot of mistakes. He was a refreshing "hero" to have in this type of story because he is so genuine and lacks confidence in himself. I liked April though she had her own moments of poor impulse control that showed her lack of maturity. But she's a fighter so I appreciated her spirit. I really did enjoy how their relationship developed even if I didn't like how it was the bigger focus of the novel.
If you enjoy novels that take their time or dystopian settings that focus more on the romance, you'll love this novel!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: https://wp.me/p7hLUw-2xx
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
I'm always up for a good dystopian read and this one sounded very cool. I loved the premise of an overpopulated world and a forbidden romance totally had me on board.
But I think I was expecting a different story than the one we got.
I had a very hard time getting into this as it started off a little slow. The flow of the writing is a little stifled by the info-dumping we get in the first few chapters but that evens out the further on you get. It's an easy world to understand though despite all this. You can really see what aspects of our everyday lives Tessa Clare was trying to exploit and work with in her novel.
The first half is very romance based--more so than I anticipated--which threw off the rhythm of this book for me. It wasn't that I didn't like the romance between Roman and April, I just wasn't what I picked this book up to read. I wanted more action and conspiracy with a dash of sweet moments between the two of them and we get the opposite instead. I just found we got sucked into the mundane everyday life of these two and it felt repetitive to me.
This book does shift to the conspiracy theory for the latter half of the novel but by then my interest had waned. I was curious to see how this would wrap up so I skimmed the rest.
In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of the classic 1984. The characters are at the whim of the world around them and they slowly start to rebel in their own way. But for most of the story, we are focused on their everyday lives and how they are constricted by this oppressing world. It's not a bad thing if you know to expect that. I just wanted a little more action and conspiracy and thrill.
Lastly, I'll just touch on the characters. I really liked how they all had their own flaws. Roman has a good heart but he makes a lot of mistakes. He was a refreshing "hero" to have in this type of story because he is so genuine and lacks confidence in himself. I liked April though she had her own moments of poor impulse control that showed her lack of maturity. But she's a fighter so I appreciated her spirit. I really did enjoy how their relationship developed even if I didn't like how it was the bigger focus of the novel.
If you enjoy novels that take their time or dystopian settings that focus more on the romance, you'll love this novel!
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: https://wp.me/p7hLUw-2xx
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
August 30, 2018
I was sent The Divinity Bureau by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This has such a fun concept that I was really intrigued by it and thought would be a fast paced read. Which it was. I had a fun time reading this and never had a moment where I felt like putting it aside. I do plan on continuing with the next book to see what happens but I did have some issues with the characters. Specifically April. Her personality just seemed a little all over the place. Some moments I would like her and others she would do something so strange or horrible that I didn't know why Roman was with her. But again I do want to continue this and see where everything goes with the Divinity Bureau.
This has such a fun concept that I was really intrigued by it and thought would be a fast paced read. Which it was. I had a fun time reading this and never had a moment where I felt like putting it aside. I do plan on continuing with the next book to see what happens but I did have some issues with the characters. Specifically April. Her personality just seemed a little all over the place. Some moments I would like her and others she would do something so strange or horrible that I didn't know why Roman was with her. But again I do want to continue this and see where everything goes with the Divinity Bureau.
August 21, 2017
For me, nailing the Dystopian world is key to having a great Dystopian novel. There are so many books out there right now in the genre, that you really have to have a book stand out among others. Tessa Clare manages to do that with The Divinity Bureau.
I found that this book was enjoyable and action packed from the get-go. We are given a novel that does not unravel predictably and will keep the reader guessing and enjoying the ride the whole way through. The story itself was engaging, you get caught up in the world she has created.
I found that this book was enjoyable and action packed from the get-go. We are given a novel that does not unravel predictably and will keep the reader guessing and enjoying the ride the whole way through. The story itself was engaging, you get caught up in the world she has created.
September 8, 2017
The story itself was engaging and read very much like a movie to me. You get introduced to a whole new world and new characters in the beginning.
The romance and forbidden aspect of the novel was well portrayed. I am a fan of that particular scenario, and while it can become repetitive, I think Tessa Clare gave us just enough of a uniqueness.
The government / politics part of the story is one I wasn’t 100% about in the beginning, just because I’m not a government/politics person, but I think Tessa Clare managed to give it plenty of fictitious characteristics so that it didn’t feel preachy.
The romance and forbidden aspect of the novel was well portrayed. I am a fan of that particular scenario, and while it can become repetitive, I think Tessa Clare gave us just enough of a uniqueness.
The government / politics part of the story is one I wasn’t 100% about in the beginning, just because I’m not a government/politics person, but I think Tessa Clare managed to give it plenty of fictitious characteristics so that it didn’t feel preachy.
August 11, 2017
This book was awesome! I was enthralled from the beginning to the end. It had a unique concept. The characters are great and easy to relate to, even the world was full of life. I can't wait to pick up the next book and see what Ms. Clare has in store for me next.
December 22, 2017
The Bureau controls who lives and who dies in a world where overpopulation is a problem due to a technology called BIONs, which when put into your body renders you immortal. Roman has worked for The Divinity Bureau for two years in IT support, which although he doesn’t think it’s the best job he could get with his Master’s degree, it pays the bills. Until he meets April McIntyre, a feisty nineteen year old who’s name has ended up on the ‘election’ list for those who are scheduled to die, just a year after her politician father Henrik died. Roman removes her name but it is just the beginning of something far deeper…
Written in the first person, the chapter alternate between Roman and April’s perspectives. I found it quite a quick and easy read.
It is definitely romance with a bit of Sci-fi and dystopia on the side (I would have liked it a little heavier on the Sci-fi/dystopia but that’s just me). Roman is a very sweet and shy character which seems like the polar opposite of April who is headstrong and not afraid to say what she’s thinking. I did find April annoying and a little spoilt at times but she is meant to be as the super rich daughter of a politician but she grows throughout the story into someone a lot more likeable.
As for the story I would have liked to find out a little bit more about the interesting world/society that Tessa Clare invented. Also there was the potential for a lot more action/mystery which I felt wasn’t really capitalised on.
Unfortunately as the story progressed I felt there was quite a few plot holes/grammatical mistakes. There was also a fair bit of repetition and going over the same things again and again, like for instance the fact that Roman had a Master’s degree and wasn’t using it to it’s full potential was one that stood out.
Overall an easy read with plenty of aww moments, I think is perfect if you’re looking for a romance story with a twist.
Written in the first person, the chapter alternate between Roman and April’s perspectives. I found it quite a quick and easy read.
It is definitely romance with a bit of Sci-fi and dystopia on the side (I would have liked it a little heavier on the Sci-fi/dystopia but that’s just me). Roman is a very sweet and shy character which seems like the polar opposite of April who is headstrong and not afraid to say what she’s thinking. I did find April annoying and a little spoilt at times but she is meant to be as the super rich daughter of a politician but she grows throughout the story into someone a lot more likeable.
As for the story I would have liked to find out a little bit more about the interesting world/society that Tessa Clare invented. Also there was the potential for a lot more action/mystery which I felt wasn’t really capitalised on.
Unfortunately as the story progressed I felt there was quite a few plot holes/grammatical mistakes. There was also a fair bit of repetition and going over the same things again and again, like for instance the fact that Roman had a Master’s degree and wasn’t using it to it’s full potential was one that stood out.
Overall an easy read with plenty of aww moments, I think is perfect if you’re looking for a romance story with a twist.
April 23, 2018
Note: You can find this review and more on my blog: https://rabooklover.wixsite.com/blog/...
The Divinity Bureau is a dystopian novel written by Tessa Clare, placed in a world where people have to die in order for more people to live. This is Tessa's debut novel, the idea was born during a hard time for her, so in a way, it's a very personal book. Because of this, it's a book that shows hope, pain, frustration, and desperation.The story is about two teenagers, Roman and April, whose lives could not be more different, living in a world where immortality is possible and the resources are extremely limited. The Divinity Bureau was born, an institution in charge of dealing with this issue by randomly selecting people to 'sacrifice' for the greater good. As truths are revealed they will get closer and fight towards the same goal: protect their loved ones.I really liked this book, especially the story. It was interesting to see this world, where immortality was a possibility, where because of our actions, or rather lack of them, there's so much pollution people have to wear a face mask, where there are not enough resources for everyone, overpopulation was such a big problem, they had to resort to sacrificing people so that others might live. I especially appreciated that the author showed a lot of the conflicts we see nowadays, like corruption, like powerful people and institutions being over the people's voice. I appreciated that she showed that in a dystopian world, where something like this actually happened, it would be almost impossible to have a fair decision over who lives and who dies. I think it was a bonus to the story, aside from making it more realistic. A decision as big as that, it would have to be utterly and completely random, and even then, how to know that killing someone was fairer than letting someone else live. This book made me ask myself these very questions and much more, and for that I am grateful.I liked the characters, to be honest, I liked Roman much more than April, I think he was smart, funny, cute and kind. April wasn't bad, she just wasn't my favorite, and let's just say I'm not a fan of impulsive or rushed decisions, which she makes basically...all the time, I liked her determination and strong beliefs though.As I mentioned before, I think the world was very interesting, the characters were enjoyable, and the writing style made it easier for me to read, I'd recommend it if you're in a reading slump and need something that will catch your attention quickly, however, I have to say although it did catch my attention quickly, there were some chapters where I thought the story was a little bit slow; or if you like stories that will make you question life and the way we live it.Where the ending is concerned, I'm not disappointed, I think with the way the story was developing, it was a good ending, but I do wonder if we'll be seeing more books with these characters.It's an entertaining, thought-provoking novel, with a unique story. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Worth reading, I recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian novels with a great and intriguing story, a cute romance, and filled with questions about life, pain, and hope.
The Divinity Bureau is a dystopian novel written by Tessa Clare, placed in a world where people have to die in order for more people to live. This is Tessa's debut novel, the idea was born during a hard time for her, so in a way, it's a very personal book. Because of this, it's a book that shows hope, pain, frustration, and desperation.The story is about two teenagers, Roman and April, whose lives could not be more different, living in a world where immortality is possible and the resources are extremely limited. The Divinity Bureau was born, an institution in charge of dealing with this issue by randomly selecting people to 'sacrifice' for the greater good. As truths are revealed they will get closer and fight towards the same goal: protect their loved ones.I really liked this book, especially the story. It was interesting to see this world, where immortality was a possibility, where because of our actions, or rather lack of them, there's so much pollution people have to wear a face mask, where there are not enough resources for everyone, overpopulation was such a big problem, they had to resort to sacrificing people so that others might live. I especially appreciated that the author showed a lot of the conflicts we see nowadays, like corruption, like powerful people and institutions being over the people's voice. I appreciated that she showed that in a dystopian world, where something like this actually happened, it would be almost impossible to have a fair decision over who lives and who dies. I think it was a bonus to the story, aside from making it more realistic. A decision as big as that, it would have to be utterly and completely random, and even then, how to know that killing someone was fairer than letting someone else live. This book made me ask myself these very questions and much more, and for that I am grateful.I liked the characters, to be honest, I liked Roman much more than April, I think he was smart, funny, cute and kind. April wasn't bad, she just wasn't my favorite, and let's just say I'm not a fan of impulsive or rushed decisions, which she makes basically...all the time, I liked her determination and strong beliefs though.As I mentioned before, I think the world was very interesting, the characters were enjoyable, and the writing style made it easier for me to read, I'd recommend it if you're in a reading slump and need something that will catch your attention quickly, however, I have to say although it did catch my attention quickly, there were some chapters where I thought the story was a little bit slow; or if you like stories that will make you question life and the way we live it.Where the ending is concerned, I'm not disappointed, I think with the way the story was developing, it was a good ending, but I do wonder if we'll be seeing more books with these characters.It's an entertaining, thought-provoking novel, with a unique story. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Worth reading, I recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian novels with a great and intriguing story, a cute romance, and filled with questions about life, pain, and hope.
May 14, 2018
pooled ink Reviews:
3.5 Stars
A dystopian society that brings together an overlooked computer geek and a powerful politician's daughter, not only with romance bloom but conspiracies will start to bleed. Filled with action, twists, betrayal, and a world suffering from the costs of greed and immortality, The Divinity Bureau is an exciting hook into a future far too familiar.
Although it starts a bit slow for me the story takes you on several twists and turns, balancing conspiracy with romance, so if you're a fan of dystopian fiction then you should consider checking this book out. Clare has got a flair and I can't wait to see what else she does. If this book whisks you away then you'll be dying to know what happens next.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2018/05/14/the-...
3.5 Stars
A dystopian society that brings together an overlooked computer geek and a powerful politician's daughter, not only with romance bloom but conspiracies will start to bleed. Filled with action, twists, betrayal, and a world suffering from the costs of greed and immortality, The Divinity Bureau is an exciting hook into a future far too familiar.
Although it starts a bit slow for me the story takes you on several twists and turns, balancing conspiracy with romance, so if you're a fan of dystopian fiction then you should consider checking this book out. Clare has got a flair and I can't wait to see what else she does. If this book whisks you away then you'll be dying to know what happens next.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2018/05/14/the-...
November 16, 2017
The Divinity Bureau is a hard hitting, dystopian romance. It has danger, passion, and betrayal. Be prepared for a fascinating ride with unpredictable twists and turns.
This one was an interesting read for me. It started off a little slow, with a bit too much world information, but slowly picked up and hooked me. It was a little more YA romance/plot driven than I am used to, but it was enjoyable. It had some predictable moments, and some entertaining, unpredictable moments. For a debut novel, I think it was well written, with some nice world building, but could have used a little more character development. The characters were enjoyable, and unique, but I just didn't connect with them as much as I would have liked.
April had her good moments, and her bad. For the most part, she was enjoyable, and felt like a real, privileged, rich, college student. But, she also had moments where she acted like she was still in high school. She showed moments of bravery and determination, but also showed moments of naiveté and stubbornness.
Roman was a little more enjoyable because he wasn't a typical YA "male hero." He was the "IT guy"." He was smart, sweet, and moral. He felt real, the majority of the time, because he wasn't hyped up to unrealistic standards. He made mistakes and truly cared about April. He did have moments where he felt a little flat to me, but he was refreshing to read when compared to overly dramatized, conflicted bad boy heroes.
The world, and plot, that Clare created here was familiar, and exceptional, all at once. It definitely felt like it drew inspiration from some of the big hitting YA novels, but also had its own originality to it. That is what I enjoyed most about it, because the story had just enough familiarity to draw me in, and then enough originality to keep me turning the page. Though the plot did feel a bit formulaic at times, it still had a strong drive with plenty of twists to keep me on the edge of my seat.
So, there was definitely more good than bad here. The Divinity Bureau had its flaws, but it was a unique, romantic, page turner. It had some enjoyable science fiction bits mixed in with a corrupt, dystopian government, similar to The Hunger Games, and it had intrigue and unpredictability. I would definitely recommend it to true YA lovers and I am looking forward to reading more from the author. I would rate it 3.5 to 4 stars.
Thank you to Reads and Reels for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
This one was an interesting read for me. It started off a little slow, with a bit too much world information, but slowly picked up and hooked me. It was a little more YA romance/plot driven than I am used to, but it was enjoyable. It had some predictable moments, and some entertaining, unpredictable moments. For a debut novel, I think it was well written, with some nice world building, but could have used a little more character development. The characters were enjoyable, and unique, but I just didn't connect with them as much as I would have liked.
April had her good moments, and her bad. For the most part, she was enjoyable, and felt like a real, privileged, rich, college student. But, she also had moments where she acted like she was still in high school. She showed moments of bravery and determination, but also showed moments of naiveté and stubbornness.
Roman was a little more enjoyable because he wasn't a typical YA "male hero." He was the "IT guy"." He was smart, sweet, and moral. He felt real, the majority of the time, because he wasn't hyped up to unrealistic standards. He made mistakes and truly cared about April. He did have moments where he felt a little flat to me, but he was refreshing to read when compared to overly dramatized, conflicted bad boy heroes.
The world, and plot, that Clare created here was familiar, and exceptional, all at once. It definitely felt like it drew inspiration from some of the big hitting YA novels, but also had its own originality to it. That is what I enjoyed most about it, because the story had just enough familiarity to draw me in, and then enough originality to keep me turning the page. Though the plot did feel a bit formulaic at times, it still had a strong drive with plenty of twists to keep me on the edge of my seat.
So, there was definitely more good than bad here. The Divinity Bureau had its flaws, but it was a unique, romantic, page turner. It had some enjoyable science fiction bits mixed in with a corrupt, dystopian government, similar to The Hunger Games, and it had intrigue and unpredictability. I would definitely recommend it to true YA lovers and I am looking forward to reading more from the author. I would rate it 3.5 to 4 stars.
Thank you to Reads and Reels for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 2, 2017
Excellent book!
What’s really cool, is that I just finished watching the first season of the series, 3% on Netflix, and there is beautiful symmetry between this show and Tessa’s book. If you know anything about the show, you will know it’s also about a dystopian future where the planet is crippled by overpopulation.
Like the TV show, The Divinity Bureau has a very controversial and wholly unfair way of dealing with the problem. While the parts of the population that can afford it, tote immortality as the be all, end all, for humanity, “The Divinity Bureau” holds a special election. Anyone over the age of 100 is eligible and if you’re randomly elected, you are executed. You know, to make room for more people. Other places put procreation bans in place but here, the government decides who lives and who dies.
Like any government, this one is rife with corruption. Can you guess how this might affect the populace?
The Divinity Bureau is a fascinating read. It’s told from a multiple person POV, in this case, Roman and April’s, so we get an in-depth look at this government regulated practice and how it affects people. It is very well-written, exciting, and has the best parts of many popular Dystopian books sprinkled into the landscape. It did go on a tad too long, but it’s forgivable because the story is so good.
If this kind of thing floats your boat, then it’s a must read. I heartily give it my stamp!
Rating… B
What’s really cool, is that I just finished watching the first season of the series, 3% on Netflix, and there is beautiful symmetry between this show and Tessa’s book. If you know anything about the show, you will know it’s also about a dystopian future where the planet is crippled by overpopulation.
Like the TV show, The Divinity Bureau has a very controversial and wholly unfair way of dealing with the problem. While the parts of the population that can afford it, tote immortality as the be all, end all, for humanity, “The Divinity Bureau” holds a special election. Anyone over the age of 100 is eligible and if you’re randomly elected, you are executed. You know, to make room for more people. Other places put procreation bans in place but here, the government decides who lives and who dies.
Like any government, this one is rife with corruption. Can you guess how this might affect the populace?
The Divinity Bureau is a fascinating read. It’s told from a multiple person POV, in this case, Roman and April’s, so we get an in-depth look at this government regulated practice and how it affects people. It is very well-written, exciting, and has the best parts of many popular Dystopian books sprinkled into the landscape. It did go on a tad too long, but it’s forgivable because the story is so good.
If this kind of thing floats your boat, then it’s a must read. I heartily give it my stamp!
Rating… B
February 4, 2018
*Note: We were given a digital copy of The Divinity Bureau by author Tessa Clare to give an honest review on our blog and GoodReads.
This is our first review request by an author, so Kendra and I were really excited to take this on and get exposure for the blog while also helping new and upcoming authors. The Divinity Bureau will be reviewed by both Kendra and I (Lauren).
The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare is described as The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in “a stunning debut about a forbidden romance between a young activitist and a government employee working for a corrupt bureau that controls the population by deciding who lives and who dies.”
Roman Irvine is a disgruntled IT Technician for the Divinity Bureau, a government agency that uses random selection to decide who lives and who dies. In a world where overpopulation has led to pollution, a crippled economy, and a world in crisis, he has accepted the bureau’s activities as a necessity. That is until he meets April McIntyre.
April has every reason to be suspicious of Roman. He works for the Divinity Bureau, which sent her father to an early grave. However, he is also sweet and loyal, and unbeknownst to her, he saved her life. As Roman and April fall deeper in love, the deeper they are thrust into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies. Someone wants April dead. And the bureau’s process of random selection may not be so random after all.
Lauren’s review:
A few years ago I went on a dystopian book reading binge thanks to The Hunger Games and its immense popularity. However, I found that most followed a similar structure and I began getting bored of them. So when Tessa Clare approached us to review The Divinity Bureau I decided to give it a try and the synopsis sounded amazing.
The fact that the story wasn’t based on two opposing sides, but instead overpopulation which could potentially be a problem in the future, I thought it would be a really interesting take on a dystopian novel since that could be the future one day.
The Divinity Bureau ended falling sort of flat for me. I could totally see where Clare was going with this book and I had so much hope for it. While her world-building in The Divinity Bureau was spot on and thorough, there wasn’t always any explanations for why things were the way they were until a while into the book.
And if there were any explanations, they were just thrown at the reader all at once.
The Iceland’s, for example, is Canada (shout out to our country). However I had no idea of that until well into the novel. I’m also still wondering if it should be Icelands without an apostrophe…
Which brings me to another point; spelling and grammatical mistakes were strewn throughout the novel which unfortunately stuck out since the novel had a pretty slow pace. There wasn’t any crazy action to distract me from any of the errors.
I’d say the last few chapters of the book definitely picked up speed and made the read a bit more worthwhile. I think there is a sequel coming out this year, so maybe that will give Clare a chance to delve into the world and the characters a bit more to round it all out.
Kendra’s review:
Unlike Lauren, I was never a huge fan of dystopian novels, and although I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I never had any intention of reading any more. However, the synopsis of The Divinity Bureau drew me in.
The novel itself had good elements and I enjoyed the world in which the story took place. The characters were OK, but they didn’t draw me in in the way that I expected. Similarly to Lauren, I also found that the explanation to things came too late, and all at once.
The end of the novel had a good pace and kept me entertained, however, like Lauren I wasn’t fully immersed in the world of the novel and found that it lacked depth. Clare had a really good idea and although the novel lacked in some aspects it was still an interesting read.
For more reviews check out our blog at https://booksandbitchesblog.wordpress...
This is our first review request by an author, so Kendra and I were really excited to take this on and get exposure for the blog while also helping new and upcoming authors. The Divinity Bureau will be reviewed by both Kendra and I (Lauren).
The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare is described as The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in “a stunning debut about a forbidden romance between a young activitist and a government employee working for a corrupt bureau that controls the population by deciding who lives and who dies.”
Roman Irvine is a disgruntled IT Technician for the Divinity Bureau, a government agency that uses random selection to decide who lives and who dies. In a world where overpopulation has led to pollution, a crippled economy, and a world in crisis, he has accepted the bureau’s activities as a necessity. That is until he meets April McIntyre.
April has every reason to be suspicious of Roman. He works for the Divinity Bureau, which sent her father to an early grave. However, he is also sweet and loyal, and unbeknownst to her, he saved her life. As Roman and April fall deeper in love, the deeper they are thrust into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies. Someone wants April dead. And the bureau’s process of random selection may not be so random after all.
Lauren’s review:
A few years ago I went on a dystopian book reading binge thanks to The Hunger Games and its immense popularity. However, I found that most followed a similar structure and I began getting bored of them. So when Tessa Clare approached us to review The Divinity Bureau I decided to give it a try and the synopsis sounded amazing.
The fact that the story wasn’t based on two opposing sides, but instead overpopulation which could potentially be a problem in the future, I thought it would be a really interesting take on a dystopian novel since that could be the future one day.
The Divinity Bureau ended falling sort of flat for me. I could totally see where Clare was going with this book and I had so much hope for it. While her world-building in The Divinity Bureau was spot on and thorough, there wasn’t always any explanations for why things were the way they were until a while into the book.
And if there were any explanations, they were just thrown at the reader all at once.
The Iceland’s, for example, is Canada (shout out to our country). However I had no idea of that until well into the novel. I’m also still wondering if it should be Icelands without an apostrophe…
Which brings me to another point; spelling and grammatical mistakes were strewn throughout the novel which unfortunately stuck out since the novel had a pretty slow pace. There wasn’t any crazy action to distract me from any of the errors.
I’d say the last few chapters of the book definitely picked up speed and made the read a bit more worthwhile. I think there is a sequel coming out this year, so maybe that will give Clare a chance to delve into the world and the characters a bit more to round it all out.
Kendra’s review:
Unlike Lauren, I was never a huge fan of dystopian novels, and although I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I never had any intention of reading any more. However, the synopsis of The Divinity Bureau drew me in.
The novel itself had good elements and I enjoyed the world in which the story took place. The characters were OK, but they didn’t draw me in in the way that I expected. Similarly to Lauren, I also found that the explanation to things came too late, and all at once.
The end of the novel had a good pace and kept me entertained, however, like Lauren I wasn’t fully immersed in the world of the novel and found that it lacked depth. Clare had a really good idea and although the novel lacked in some aspects it was still an interesting read.
For more reviews check out our blog at https://booksandbitchesblog.wordpress...
January 21, 2019
*Editor’s note: We were given a digital copy of The Divinity Bureau by author Tessa Clare to give an honest review on our blog and GoodReads.
This is our first review request by an author, so Kendra and I were really excited to take this on and get exposure for the blog while also helping new and upcoming authors. The Divinity Bureau will be reviewed by both Kendra and I (Lauren).
The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare is described as The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in “a stunning debut about a forbidden romance between a young activitist and a government employee working for a corrupt bureau that controls the population by deciding who lives and who dies.”
Roman Irvine is a disgruntled IT Technician for the Divinity Bureau, a government agency that uses random selection to decide who lives and who dies. In a world where overpopulation has led to pollution, a crippled economy, and a world in crisis, he has accepted the bureau’s activities as a necessity. That is until he meets April McIntyre.
April has every reason to be suspicious of Roman. He works for the Divinity Bureau, which sent her father to an early grave. However, he is also sweet and loyal, and unbeknownst to her, he saved her life. As Roman and April fall deeper in love, the deeper they are thrust into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies. Someone wants April dead. And the bureau’s process of random selection may not be so random after all.
Lauren’s review
A few years ago I went on a dystopian book reading binge thanks to The Hunger Games and its immense popularity. However, I found that most followed a similar structure and I began getting bored of them. So when Tessa Clare approached us to review The Divinity Bureau I decided to give it a try and the synopsis sounded amazing.
The fact that the story wasn’t based on two opposing sides, but instead overpopulation which could potentially be a problem in the future, I thought it would be a really interesting take on a dystopian novel since that could be the future one day.
The Divinity Bureau ended falling sort of flat for me. I could totally see where Clare was going with this book and I had so much hope for it. While her world-building in The Divinity Bureau was spot on and thorough, there wasn’t always any explanations for why things were the way they were until a while into the book.
And if there were any explanations, they were just thrown at the reader all at once.
give Clare a chance to delve into the world and the characters a bit more to round it all out.
The Iceland’s, for example, is Canada (shout out to our country). However I had no idea of that until well into the novel. I’m also still wondering if it should be Icelands without an apostrophe…
Which brings me to another point; spelling and grammatical mistakes were strewn throughout the novel which unfortunately stuck out since the novel had a pretty slow pace. There wasn’t any crazy action to distract me from any of the errors.
I’d say the last few chapters of the book definitely picked up speed and made the read a bit more worthwhile. I think there is a sequel coming out this year, so maybe that will
Kendra’s review
Unlike Lauren, I was never a huge fan of dystopian novels, and although I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I never had any intention of reading any more. However, the synopsis of The Divinity Bureau drew me in.
The novel itself had good elements and I enjoyed the world in which the story took place. The characters were OK, but they didn’t draw me in in the way that I expected. Similarly to Lauren, I also found that the explanation to things came too late, and all at once.
The end of the novel had a good pace and kept me entertained, however, like Lauren I wasn’t fully immersed in the world of the novel and found that it lacked depth. Clare had a really good idea and although the novel lacked in some aspects it was still an interesting read.
This is our first review request by an author, so Kendra and I were really excited to take this on and get exposure for the blog while also helping new and upcoming authors. The Divinity Bureau will be reviewed by both Kendra and I (Lauren).
The Divinity Bureau by Tessa Clare is described as The Hunger Games meets Romeo and Juliet in “a stunning debut about a forbidden romance between a young activitist and a government employee working for a corrupt bureau that controls the population by deciding who lives and who dies.”
Roman Irvine is a disgruntled IT Technician for the Divinity Bureau, a government agency that uses random selection to decide who lives and who dies. In a world where overpopulation has led to pollution, a crippled economy, and a world in crisis, he has accepted the bureau’s activities as a necessity. That is until he meets April McIntyre.
April has every reason to be suspicious of Roman. He works for the Divinity Bureau, which sent her father to an early grave. However, he is also sweet and loyal, and unbeknownst to her, he saved her life. As Roman and April fall deeper in love, the deeper they are thrust into the politics of deciding who lives and who dies. Someone wants April dead. And the bureau’s process of random selection may not be so random after all.
Lauren’s review
A few years ago I went on a dystopian book reading binge thanks to The Hunger Games and its immense popularity. However, I found that most followed a similar structure and I began getting bored of them. So when Tessa Clare approached us to review The Divinity Bureau I decided to give it a try and the synopsis sounded amazing.
The fact that the story wasn’t based on two opposing sides, but instead overpopulation which could potentially be a problem in the future, I thought it would be a really interesting take on a dystopian novel since that could be the future one day.
The Divinity Bureau ended falling sort of flat for me. I could totally see where Clare was going with this book and I had so much hope for it. While her world-building in The Divinity Bureau was spot on and thorough, there wasn’t always any explanations for why things were the way they were until a while into the book.
And if there were any explanations, they were just thrown at the reader all at once.
give Clare a chance to delve into the world and the characters a bit more to round it all out.
The Iceland’s, for example, is Canada (shout out to our country). However I had no idea of that until well into the novel. I’m also still wondering if it should be Icelands without an apostrophe…
Which brings me to another point; spelling and grammatical mistakes were strewn throughout the novel which unfortunately stuck out since the novel had a pretty slow pace. There wasn’t any crazy action to distract me from any of the errors.
I’d say the last few chapters of the book definitely picked up speed and made the read a bit more worthwhile. I think there is a sequel coming out this year, so maybe that will
Kendra’s review
Unlike Lauren, I was never a huge fan of dystopian novels, and although I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I never had any intention of reading any more. However, the synopsis of The Divinity Bureau drew me in.
The novel itself had good elements and I enjoyed the world in which the story took place. The characters were OK, but they didn’t draw me in in the way that I expected. Similarly to Lauren, I also found that the explanation to things came too late, and all at once.
The end of the novel had a good pace and kept me entertained, however, like Lauren I wasn’t fully immersed in the world of the novel and found that it lacked depth. Clare had a really good idea and although the novel lacked in some aspects it was still an interesting read.
June 4, 2018
*I would like to thank the author for reaching out and generously providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*
SPOILER FREE
“Are you going to be so afraid of death that you forget to live?”
P L O T
This gave me major Shatter Me (by Tahereh Mafi) feels but it’s still its own world. Romeo and Juliet destined for each other but forbidden to be together, they get hitched anyway. No, they don’t get hitched in this book.
To work for the Bureau is to leave your humanity behind the entrance of the building. That’s a tough way to live. I probably won’t survive that long if I work there because I’m such an emotional person.
The plot is pretty good, it has one direction and that is forward. Fast-paced, a bit thrilling, there are times when I wait for something bad to happen because lot of things go bad in books and when nothing happens I release that breath I was holding.
“When you have nothing left, you have nothing left to lose.”
C H A R A C T E R S
April
A modern Juliet, born in a family tree of politicians. Wants to change the world but not the same way her ancestors did. Her character is full of fight and drive to do better and inspire those who need a little push to speak up and fight for their right to live. April is strong and admirable, she has her faults but who doesn’t? She’s human, (even though she’s fictional) she’s vulnerable and she gets scared which is what I love most about her. I half expected her to be one of those bad-ass female leads who face their fears and enemies head on but she knows when to fight and when to wait for an attack. Brilliant!
Roman
Under-appreciated by his superior and underpaid! He’s got one of the most important jobs in the building yet he’s living paycheck to paycheck. Their rescue mission was super cool and it totally showcased his skills as and IT guy. I always look up to IT guys by the way, I feel like they know so much and they have great power with all the hacking and blocking and creating softwares that majority of the people can’t live without these days. Never underestimate the IT guy.
At that moment, I realize that I can trust him. There’s no safer place for me than right here.
W R I T I N G
The author included her story at the end of the book on how the Bureau came to life, how the characters appeared on the page and her own journey to reach where she is now. Such an inspiring story to never give up and always choose life. Choose to be better and try to leave a print in the world by leaving it a little better than how it was when we came in.
For the first time in my life, I can change someone’s life for the better.
O V E R A L L
This was really a fun ride, the characters are a joy to be with though sometimes it gets gloomy but what can you expect when your life is unpredictable? You could be relieved for a week but then you’d worry for the rest of the quarter wondering if your life will be chosen to end next. Changing the world doesn’t mean you have to change a big part of it or change a huge chunk of the population’s lives. It could mean changing one person’s life and that will create a chain reaction all on its own.
SPOILER FREE
“Are you going to be so afraid of death that you forget to live?”
P L O T
This gave me major Shatter Me (by Tahereh Mafi) feels but it’s still its own world. Romeo and Juliet destined for each other but forbidden to be together, they get hitched anyway. No, they don’t get hitched in this book.
To work for the Bureau is to leave your humanity behind the entrance of the building. That’s a tough way to live. I probably won’t survive that long if I work there because I’m such an emotional person.
The plot is pretty good, it has one direction and that is forward. Fast-paced, a bit thrilling, there are times when I wait for something bad to happen because lot of things go bad in books and when nothing happens I release that breath I was holding.
“When you have nothing left, you have nothing left to lose.”
C H A R A C T E R S
April
A modern Juliet, born in a family tree of politicians. Wants to change the world but not the same way her ancestors did. Her character is full of fight and drive to do better and inspire those who need a little push to speak up and fight for their right to live. April is strong and admirable, she has her faults but who doesn’t? She’s human, (even though she’s fictional) she’s vulnerable and she gets scared which is what I love most about her. I half expected her to be one of those bad-ass female leads who face their fears and enemies head on but she knows when to fight and when to wait for an attack. Brilliant!
Roman
Under-appreciated by his superior and underpaid! He’s got one of the most important jobs in the building yet he’s living paycheck to paycheck. Their rescue mission was super cool and it totally showcased his skills as and IT guy. I always look up to IT guys by the way, I feel like they know so much and they have great power with all the hacking and blocking and creating softwares that majority of the people can’t live without these days. Never underestimate the IT guy.
At that moment, I realize that I can trust him. There’s no safer place for me than right here.
W R I T I N G
The author included her story at the end of the book on how the Bureau came to life, how the characters appeared on the page and her own journey to reach where she is now. Such an inspiring story to never give up and always choose life. Choose to be better and try to leave a print in the world by leaving it a little better than how it was when we came in.
For the first time in my life, I can change someone’s life for the better.
O V E R A L L
This was really a fun ride, the characters are a joy to be with though sometimes it gets gloomy but what can you expect when your life is unpredictable? You could be relieved for a week but then you’d worry for the rest of the quarter wondering if your life will be chosen to end next. Changing the world doesn’t mean you have to change a big part of it or change a huge chunk of the population’s lives. It could mean changing one person’s life and that will create a chain reaction all on its own.
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