Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Divergent

This book is a very strange one for me. I really feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. It completely fails as a dystopian for me. I find it very hard to believe that so many people actually fit into exactly one faction and only a few people are Divergent. I'm hoping that will be discussed in the other books, because I can't accept the premise that almost everyone in this world has one personality trait. I also feel like I don't know anything about why the world is the way it is, and that's so important in dystopians.

Even with those issues though, I actually really loved this book. It truly baffles me. I found the plot really engaging, as nonsensical as it was at times.

I feel like the ending with the sleepwalking was a little strange, but I'll let it slide.

The book does struggle a bit in the characters department. Throughout the book, the only characters I found myself loving were Four,

Al, and Will. Of course, Will (my actual favorite character) and Al (the traitor) are dead, so less to look forward to now. I will say, that betrayal absolutely wrecked me. I haven't felt this betrayed by a book since a certain popular fantasy that I won't name in order to avoid spoilers for it.

I did like some other characters like Uriah and Tris' mom, but they weren't present often enough in this book.

I feel like one of the characters really holding this book back is Tris herself. She's just so... mean?? Not outwardly, but so many of her thoughts are unpleasant. It was realistic, I suppose, but so hard to read. I'm also not a fan of Christina, but I feel like she's going to be a main character throughout the series, so I'll just put up with her. Maybe she'll get more interesting.

Overall, I really liked this book even though everything was working against it. The story was just wild enough to make it interesting and fun to read. I've heard that the common opinion is that the books in this series only get worse after this one. I'll try to keep an open mind, but based on the ending of this book, I have a feeling I'll end up agreeing.

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alisonfaith426's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because it's been on my TBR since it released when I was in my early 20s (2010+). This book definitely could have been 150 pages shorter and I wouldn't be been so frustrated with the pacing and how long it was. The story honestly could have been 150 pages shorter and would have been just about the same (This book is 487 pgs.)

I'm not sure if my younger self would have appreciated this book more than my older self. I'm in my early 30s and I still enjoy reading young adult novels, this novel just didn't have enough action or excitement for me.

I wanted to see what the hype was and why this particular series was made into a movie franchise. This really wasn't as exciting or good as I expected it to be and therefore I feel let down and I don't have the desire to finish the series so I don't think I'll find out what happens in the story and I'm not that let down by not finding out all the secrets to this series.

I'm giving this 3 stars out of 5

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ran_sophia's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The book reads well because the author has a very good writing style. The story was readable, and exciting and plot twists were not exaggerated. The main heroine was sympathetic to me, and I also liked how the book was finished.

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joan_salder's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It has been a long time since I read a book I would love so much. Fantasy, dystopian, it's all so welcoming. The world created might be dangerous, but the way the author writes, makes me feel like I would have given up everything to be in that place. Not only the world created is stupendous, but the characters are so lovable that I'd do anything to replace someone from the book (not people like Peter though). The aura, the longing for something romantic, the ecstatic feeling when something goes in Tris's or Four's favor and the emotional hurt when someone good dies out of bravery or because of that Jeanine is just so overwhelming that I could not just keep it down and read for hours not thinking about anything, but the book. This book was just PERFECT!

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onmywaytobefamous's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is the best book I’ve ever read in my entire life and it will stay that way forever. Divergent made me fall in love with reading. Of all the books I’ve read, Tris is one of the only character I can relate to so she’s special to me. Moreover, I love Four with my whole heart. I love the story, the plot and the dialogues. I love the parts I hate, (because some scenes that are meant to be hated and they are well done).
So, thank you, V. Thank you for writing the 14-year-old me her favorite book… it is still my favorite book, more than 5 years later.

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rayne_1906's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

At an immediate, surface level, this is an enjoyable read. The plot is just engaging enough, the characters just likeable enough. However, it contains a lot of inconsistencies and things that just don't make sense. So much time is spent on the very first stage of training, that the fear stages, which would be infinitely more interesting to read about, seem rushed, and when the climax of the book happens, the attack, it seems to have sprung out of nowhere, and therefore feels a bit forced. Speaking of forced, the relationship between between Tris and Four is at best rushed and convenient, and at worst predatory. On the other hand, without delving too deep into the problems of this book, it really isn't too bad.

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