Creative Reviews discussion

Four stars.

In a dystopian future, society has split itself into five factions, each representing a virtue that they believe is the most important to maintaining civilisation. At the age of 16, children have to declare the faction that they wish to join for the rest of their lives and for transfers that means leaving behind the values they have been raised by and their family.

That is the decision Tris makes at the start of the novel, leaving behind a selfless life in Abnegation, for a path of courage in Dauntless, but before she is accepted as part of them she must pass a brutal initiation process and prove that she belongs. Easier said than done when she knows that deep down she is Divergent, a mix of different factions, a secret which must be kept because it limits the control leaders have over her, making her a threat to their plans.

In the dystopian books I am used to reading, the future which the inhabitants of earth have to deal with is usually derived from something already present in our society. An idea or system of control that is recognisable, even as it is taken to an extreme limit. I can't see how our society would ever come to the conclusion that splitting people up into groups dependent on our personality traits would be a solution to anything. However, I kept my mind open when I started reading this book and by overlooking that point I found that the concept created an endless supply of thought-provoking situations and interesting philosophical questions, all of which is wrapped up in a fast-paced, action-packed plot, full of jumping on and off speeding trains, firing guns, learning to fight, leaping off buildings, getting tattoos and overcoming fears.

Tris's voice is unflinchingly honest when she describes how she feels about events taking place and why she chooses to act in the way she does. As a character she is flawed and believable and her development throughout is subtle and plausible. I think Roth was extremely brave in certain places, giving Tris a hardness or even edge of cruelty when it would have been easy to soften her in order to make her more likeable. She is likeable regardless of those moments - the only minor irritations I had with her was when she kept thinking of Four as having a split personality; cruel instructor or nice guy (because I didn't think he was particularly cruel and his behaviour wasn't that black or white - she was just not picking up on the signals) and her anger at her brother which was a tad hypocritical. But every one of her flaws just made her more human and more relatable.

Some of the 'bad-guys' were a little cardboard cut-out for my liking but other characters, in particular Four, were sufficiently complex. Though the mystery of who he really was, was not that much of a mystery, there were a lot of other questions surrounding him that were more significant and interesting.

I liked that the action was always kept in context of the larger conflict of Tris wanting to belong but also questioning the authority trying to make her conform. Though the prose was not very detailed in terms of setting, Roth captured the adrenalin-junkie high really well. Divergent did get my heart racing at moments from both fear and excitement, as well as making me constantly evaluate what I would do if placed in those circumstances. Some events were very moving (view spoiler)[ Al's betrayal and then subsequent suicide, I found very tragic (hide spoiler)] whereas others were more symbolic than emotive.

There were some plot points that I felt were a little woolly or that I perhaps just didn't follow as well as I could have, mainly to do with the simulations and there was one thing that happened right at the end which could have led to me being very disappointed if it hadn't been wrapped up quickly enough. (This is also a Hunger Games spoiler) (view spoiler)[ When Four is forced into a simulation by the Erudite that makes him believe friends are enemies and he tries to kill Tris, I felt it was too close to what happened to Peeta in Mockingjay. (hide spoiler)]

I thoroughly enjoyed Divergent, it was a thought-provoking, exciting read and despite the fact that so much happened throughout the course of the novel, it still managed to leave just enough questions unanswered to make me wonder where the second in the series will take the characters. I just wish I didn't have to wait until next May to find out!

(Oh - and one other thing to mention, the author is just 22 years old. I am in awe.)

I rearrange my to read list all the time when I read reviews...I really need to quit reading them! I have this book, and it is on my list...but now where should I move it to? :)

I would say move it up because I really enjoyed it but at the same time it's a long wait for the next in the series so it might be wise to leave it until closer to the release date, just in case.

Someone recommended this book to me, but I'm a little scared to jump into the dystopian trend because when I tried I did not enjoy it at all.

I really enjoy dystopia but haven't read Matched so unfortunately I can't say whether it's similar to Divergent or not.

However, I did have both on my TBR at the same time and when I read the reviews I was drawn to Divergent over and above Matched (obviously). What I can say as well is that the romance element is not the over-riding factor in Divergent and there is no love triangle (yea!), if that helps at all.

That does help! :)

Thought it might ;)

Maybe I will hold off until it's closer for the second one to come out, just in case I'm really in love with it! :)

I loved Divergent! Tris is such a great character...and I do enjoy a romance plot that isn't insta-love. :)

I just started reading Divergent last night and got to see which faction she chose. Very intriguing start to the novel!

I found her choice very surprising - it was a good hook so you get to jump straight into the story. That pace is pretty consistent throughout.

Jumping into the story and into a train, Emma! ;-) This dystopian world is just as horrifying as The Hunger Games.

I can't say it filled me with the same sort of horror as the Hunger Games because I didn't find the concept as plausible but it is still nail-biting stuff!

Emma wrote: "I really enjoy dystopia but haven't read Matched so unfortunately I can't say whether it's similar to Divergent or not.

However, I did have both on my TBR at the same time and when I read the rev..."

Emma, I'm definitely going to need to get you "hooked" on my Phoenician Series books - SciFi Thriller/Mystery series set in a dystopian future. I wrote 4 books back in the 80s and am started a prequel to the series in 2005 but am editing the original book 1 (which is now going to have to be book 2) for release first. It's due out New Year's Eve--and I'm going to hold it if it's not polished all shiny and new by then.

I have 2 scenes of new material left to write in the next 7-10 days and then a cover to cover read for pacing edits (I want to trim about 10k words from the first 40-50k) and then begin the proofreading/line editing reads. It's going to be close to the wire but if you'd like to do an Advance Reader Copy review, please contact me: marjoriefbaldwin@gmail.com and tell me if you can do a PDF. If you're willing to actually help with the proofreading/line editing reading, definitely mention that! I'll give you/your blog a mention in the Acknowledgements for that!

I'm requiring permission to quote for marketing purposes from all ARC reviewers but not charging for the book, itself. I also might give away free ARCs for the whole month of January just to collect some marketable quotes. I haven't decided yet, gotta see how long it takes me to finish the edits and formatting. Will be eBook first, paperback about 3 mos later.

-sry (Sarah aka Friday or Marjorie ;-)

I started this book, but I will have to say that, so far, I am not overly impressed with it. I have really been looking forward to it, but haven't really felt the "point" to any of it so far...so I haven't been overly motivated to keep going on it.

I read this book, Divergent, and like it too. =) However, there were too many background details that weren't answered so I was overly impressed with it, just normally impressed. I was surprised to see the book won two Goodreads awards, especially for a debut author. O.o

Amy wrote: "I started this book, but I will have to say that, so far, I am not overly impressed with it. I have really been looking forward to it, but haven't really felt the "point" to any of it so far...so ..."

The action starts picking up in the last 1/3 of the book if you have no doubt on the pacing.