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aimee_shmee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
saskiajva's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this series for the first time over a decade ago, and decided to reread it to see how it held up now that I'm an adult and knew where the plot goes. And honestly, it's exactly how I remember it.
This is absolutely what I call a fast food read. The quality is lacking, and for every trope and plotline in this book, I can think of another book that did it better. But it's still addicting and I blasted through the whole audiobook in just a couple of days, just like I did a decade ago. Will definitely read the next two as well.
This is absolutely what I call a fast food read. The quality is lacking, and for every trope and plotline in this book, I can think of another book that did it better. But it's still addicting and I blasted through the whole audiobook in just a couple of days, just like I did a decade ago. Will definitely read the next two as well.
b3by's review against another edition
2.0
I mean, no, but also yes (a little bit).
I did not read this expecting the next Hunger Games, or Harry Potter, and yet, it was too late when I realized that this book values romance waaay higher than everything else. All those details about the guy's chest, and muscles, and hair, that's definitely TMI.
Of course, I'll let my parents die for me, I'll shoot my friend without hesitation - and what a friend, one of those people I barely interacted with, and just used at my advantage when I needed - but no, no, NO, fuck me if I'll ever shoot the stallion. Maybe I'll get lucky, and the highly sophisticated serum he'd been intoxicated with will just fail, because nobody tested it against the POWER OF LOVE.
I don't know what's happening to me. I kinda want to read the second one now, but I know I'll just hate it. Characters are bidimensional - except for that guy's back muscles, those are described better than a lot of things - and interactions shallow.
I did not read this expecting the next Hunger Games, or Harry Potter, and yet, it was too late when I realized that this book values romance waaay higher than everything else. All those details about the guy's chest, and muscles, and hair, that's definitely TMI.
Of course, I'll let my parents die for me, I'll shoot my friend without hesitation - and what a friend, one of those people I barely interacted with, and just used at my advantage when I needed - but no, no, NO, fuck me if I'll ever shoot the stallion. Maybe I'll get lucky, and the highly sophisticated serum he'd been intoxicated with will just fail, because nobody tested it against the POWER OF LOVE.
I don't know what's happening to me. I kinda want to read the second one now, but I know I'll just hate it. Characters are bidimensional - except for that guy's back muscles, those are described better than a lot of things - and interactions shallow.
sierrav's review against another edition
5.0
i cant believe i have never read these. i WWIIISSHH i never watched the movies because it hit but if i was clueless on the plot it would hit soooo hard
kimreadz's review against another edition
4.0
This one is really good! One of the things that made me pick it up was the setting. It is set iin Chicago of the future, after an apparently catastrophic event. Anyone who has spent much time in Chicago will recognize the landmarks; the Sears/Willis Tower, the El, Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River, etc...all present but abandoned and/or in major disrepair.
The society is now divided into five factions, each who value a different attribute as the most important. There is honest (Candor), peaceful (Amity), selfless (Abnegation), intelligent (Erudite), and brave (Dauntless). Though each faction realizes there is some dependency on the others for the survival of the entire community, none of them like, or trust, the other factions. There is also a large segment of ‘factionless’ or homeless people that do not fit into any faction.
Once a year, all 16 year olds must choose their faction. Leading up to this, everyone takes aptitude tests to find what their true character is. While they are free to choose any faction they wish, their is supposed to be only one aptitude present in each person. And even though they go through the testing, there is a lot of pressure to remain with the faction they grew up in, even if that is not their aptitude. To leave your faction is pretty much unforgiveable. And there are no ‘do-overs’. If you get to your new faction and decide you made a mistake, your choice is to fit in as best you can, or to become one of the factionless.
There are also a certain number of people who are ‘divergent’; those who show an aptitude for more than one faction. This is not something they want known, as they are considered a threat to the society. Beatrice Prior is one of the Divergent. She was raised in Abnegation, but chooses to become one of the Dauntless. The initiation process if very difficult, with the Dauntless definition of bravery bordering on insane as they jump off of building for fun among other things. Very few initiates are actually accepted into Dauntless at the end of initiation; most either die trying, or they become factionless.
This story follows Beatrice through her transformation to Tris as she undertakes the initiation. As she becomes more and more ‘Dauntless’, she makes friends and develops relationships, particularly wiht her trainer, Four. Meanwhile the factions become more and more divided. Without giving anything away, I will just tell you, that as the tensions build, the story gets very exciting and there is plenty of action! You will want to have the next book, Insurgent’, waiting in the wings, as you will not want to wait to find out what happens next!
I'm giving this one 4-1/2 stars!
The society is now divided into five factions, each who value a different attribute as the most important. There is honest (Candor), peaceful (Amity), selfless (Abnegation), intelligent (Erudite), and brave (Dauntless). Though each faction realizes there is some dependency on the others for the survival of the entire community, none of them like, or trust, the other factions. There is also a large segment of ‘factionless’ or homeless people that do not fit into any faction.
Once a year, all 16 year olds must choose their faction. Leading up to this, everyone takes aptitude tests to find what their true character is. While they are free to choose any faction they wish, their is supposed to be only one aptitude present in each person. And even though they go through the testing, there is a lot of pressure to remain with the faction they grew up in, even if that is not their aptitude. To leave your faction is pretty much unforgiveable. And there are no ‘do-overs’. If you get to your new faction and decide you made a mistake, your choice is to fit in as best you can, or to become one of the factionless.
There are also a certain number of people who are ‘divergent’; those who show an aptitude for more than one faction. This is not something they want known, as they are considered a threat to the society. Beatrice Prior is one of the Divergent. She was raised in Abnegation, but chooses to become one of the Dauntless. The initiation process if very difficult, with the Dauntless definition of bravery bordering on insane as they jump off of building for fun among other things. Very few initiates are actually accepted into Dauntless at the end of initiation; most either die trying, or they become factionless.
This story follows Beatrice through her transformation to Tris as she undertakes the initiation. As she becomes more and more ‘Dauntless’, she makes friends and develops relationships, particularly wiht her trainer, Four. Meanwhile the factions become more and more divided. Without giving anything away, I will just tell you, that as the tensions build, the story gets very exciting and there is plenty of action! You will want to have the next book, Insurgent’, waiting in the wings, as you will not want to wait to find out what happens next!
I'm giving this one 4-1/2 stars!
milkkyghost's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mymiddlename123's review against another edition
5.0
Divergent takes place in a post-apocalyptic Chicago. Although it is post-apocalyptic, it is more dystopian than anything because at this point, their world (well, their city at least) has been divided into five factions. Each faction focuses (to an extreme) on a character trait that they believe is a reason that the old government (our current government) failed. These factions are: Abnegation (selflessness), Amity (peace), Candor (truth), Dauntless (bravery), and Erudite (knowledge). While each of these character traits are good to have, each faction takes it to an extreme. For example, in Abnegation (selflessness) you are not even allowed to look in the mirror at yourself.
When I first started Divergent, I was hoping it would be a replacement, of sorts, for the Hunger Games trilogy. I know it's not fair to replace that trilogy or even to compare the books. But, I couldn't help myself. I miss the Hunger Games a lot, so I was really hoping this would fill that hole for me. While this book is a solid five stars and wildly entertaining and original, at this point it did not live up to that particular expectation. But, in all fairness, I don't think any book or series really will.
Divergent follows a 16 year old girl named Beatrice (Tris) on her journey through choosing which faction she will be apart of and how her choice affects herself, and those around her. If she chooses a faction other than where she comes from, she may never see her family again and she could even be shunned by her family. It's a rough world that clearly states that your faction always comes before your blood ties.
I found Tris to be hard to like at times. While I understood her standing most of the time, I found that she took some of her emotions to the extreme and that she had a hard time finding a middle ground in that aspect. But really, isn't that what the book is about? Sure, it's great to be truthful, or selfless, but if you take it to such an extreme that you cannot balance all of the character traits of the different factions, then something is wrong as well. Balance is the key and I think that some of the message of this book is that.
As for the side characters, I wasn't too attached to many of them except for Four and her brother Caleb. Four is just a fantastic character. I loved him from the first time he steps onto the page until the very end of the book. You just can't help but love this guy, he's just awesome. Caleb I liked for some reason, but I can't really put my finger on why he stuck out for me. He just seems to have a good character all around.
Overall, this book is a fantastic read. I literally sat down and didn't get up until I was forced to get some sleep just 50 pages away from finishing it. It was painful to stop and it's a very hard book to put down. I would say give yourself a Saturday where you can just dive in and get lost in the world. I also want to mention that I absolutely LOVE that there is not a love triangle in this one. I really hate that "Young Adult novel" equals "love triangle" these days. I'm really hoping that doesn't change in the books to come and that at least that will stay consistent throughout the trilogy.
When I first started Divergent, I was hoping it would be a replacement, of sorts, for the Hunger Games trilogy. I know it's not fair to replace that trilogy or even to compare the books. But, I couldn't help myself. I miss the Hunger Games a lot, so I was really hoping this would fill that hole for me. While this book is a solid five stars and wildly entertaining and original, at this point it did not live up to that particular expectation. But, in all fairness, I don't think any book or series really will.
Divergent follows a 16 year old girl named Beatrice (Tris) on her journey through choosing which faction she will be apart of and how her choice affects herself, and those around her. If she chooses a faction other than where she comes from, she may never see her family again and she could even be shunned by her family. It's a rough world that clearly states that your faction always comes before your blood ties.
I found Tris to be hard to like at times. While I understood her standing most of the time, I found that she took some of her emotions to the extreme and that she had a hard time finding a middle ground in that aspect. But really, isn't that what the book is about? Sure, it's great to be truthful, or selfless, but if you take it to such an extreme that you cannot balance all of the character traits of the different factions, then something is wrong as well. Balance is the key and I think that some of the message of this book is that.
As for the side characters, I wasn't too attached to many of them except for Four and her brother Caleb. Four is just a fantastic character. I loved him from the first time he steps onto the page until the very end of the book. You just can't help but love this guy, he's just awesome. Caleb I liked for some reason, but I can't really put my finger on why he stuck out for me. He just seems to have a good character all around.
Overall, this book is a fantastic read. I literally sat down and didn't get up until I was forced to get some sleep just 50 pages away from finishing it. It was painful to stop and it's a very hard book to put down. I would say give yourself a Saturday where you can just dive in and get lost in the world. I also want to mention that I absolutely LOVE that there is not a love triangle in this one. I really hate that "Young Adult novel" equals "love triangle" these days. I'm really hoping that doesn't change in the books to come and that at least that will stay consistent throughout the trilogy.
magicalmunchkin's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first part of the book was great and well written, but after around the halfway mark it started getting a bit slow. Also I didn’t believe the romance between Tris and Tobias at all??
glowfish36's review against another edition
4.0
The first time I tried reading this novel (a few years ago), I found the writing too simple, too bland. I set it down after a chapter or so. This time around, I gave it a second go via audiobook, which was a most excellent decision. The narrator, Emma Galvin, did a lovely job of helping the story come to life and distracting from the writing style.
In any case, I'm awfully glad I gave Divergent another go. Tris is a cool main character, her journey is exciting, and her interior development is slow, steady, and seems well-thought through. I connected with Tris and her hopes and dreams in strange ways (i.e. going so far as to look down upon her choices of boyfriend. #So young and scrawny ;D). I loved imagining myself in a less troubled version of Tris's world, growing up in one of the factions, and how I would've handled the initiations.
There were obviously some plot and narration hiccups here and there. In the beginning, I mostly didn't mind Tris's relationship with Four (I figured it was a good distraction from how terribly she was doing in the initiation process) ... and then it got tiring. I'm not sure why characters in stories always admire each other's muscles/bodies and make-out while on the run, or dodging bullets, or when they're about to die. I had other complaints along the way which were narrated live to my entourage, but none of them seem too important now... (apart from why none of the judges realized she was divergent during her 3rd initiation task?!).
Anyway, I've quite enjoyed this novel in audiobook form, it's been lovely to imagine in such vivid detail what Tris's world is like.
In any case, I'm awfully glad I gave Divergent another go. Tris is a cool main character, her journey is exciting, and her interior development is slow, steady, and seems well-thought through. I connected with Tris and her hopes and dreams in strange ways (i.e. going so far as to look down upon her choices of boyfriend. #So young and scrawny ;D). I loved imagining myself in a less troubled version of Tris's world, growing up in one of the factions, and how I would've handled the initiations.
There were obviously some plot and narration hiccups here and there. In the beginning, I mostly didn't mind Tris's relationship with Four (I figured it was a good distraction from how terribly she was doing in the initiation process) ... and then it got tiring. I'm not sure why characters in stories always admire each other's muscles/bodies and make-out while on the run, or dodging bullets, or when they're about to die. I had other complaints along the way which were narrated live to my entourage, but none of them seem too important now... (apart from why none of the judges realized she was divergent during her 3rd initiation task?!).
Anyway, I've quite enjoyed this novel in audiobook form, it's been lovely to imagine in such vivid detail what Tris's world is like.