Book Review: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four

Title: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 5/5

9 weeks ago, I started the Divergent series. I was in Barnes and Noble one day, waiting for my daughter to pick out books. I was passing by the young adult section and saw this series. I’ve seen the movies and rather enjoy them. If there’s anything we know about books made into movies it’s that the books are always better. So I grabbed Divergent and Insurgent (the first 2 books) to read. A few weeks later, I went back and grabbed Allegiant and Four. They should probably be reviewed separately. But they are, after all, a series. So here we go.

Divergent is book number one. And it is amazing. Its incredibly easy to read. I had to actively slow myself down to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. The characters, primarily Tris and Four, are interesting and dynamic. The world Veronica creates is detailed and well thought out. The conversations are witty and funny. The challenges and moral dilemmas are relatable (as much as science fiction can be). It’s great. And the movie is practically identical to the book.

Insurgent is book number two. It is my least favorite of the series. Yet, it is a much needed book in the series because it has the most action. All the steps Tris and Four need to take to reach their desired end are taken here, or set in motion here. We see them tested and challenged consistently. And they seem to consistently overcome in very ingenious ways. What makes this book my least favorite is Tris’s constant uncertainty. I suppose her struggle with not knowing whether she is or wants to be a hero or minor supporting character is realistic, especially for a teenager. But for 500+ pages, it got pretty tiresome. I wanted to see her pick one and stick with it. Instead, she went back and forth and alienated many of the other characters in the process. And the movie is drastically different from the book.

Allegiant is book number three. It is probably the best in the series. We learn the most about Chicago and the bureau. The nerd in me devoured all those nitty gritty details. It was also incredibly interesting to watch Four be the weaker of the Tris and Four duo in this book. While still very strong and capable, he had a lot of internal struggle in this book. He might have had it in the other books too. But in this book, Veronica gives us both Tris and Four’s perspectives. So we get more insight into Four here. We also see just how strong Tris is and how much she’s grown since book 1 (though I don’t think significant time has passed). The ending caught me COMPLETELY off guard, and stopped me in my tracks. Literally, I just sat there staring at the page. It made sense as the ending. But it didn’t stop me from being bummed out. And the movie is very different from the book.

Four is a supplemental book in the series. It is my favorite. That’s because its written entirely from Four’s perspective and I may have developed a little crush. Also, it focuses mostly on his involvement with Tris and his mother. It’s crazy that I got so wrapped up in a novel about two teenagers. But alas, it happened. I love reading any novel where a man details his initial feelings for a woman and how they evolve. And Four sure loved Tris.

All in all, I completely recommend the series. They’re easy reads (I mean, I read all 4 in 9 weeks). I’ve given them to my mom and sister to read. And I keep rewatching the movies. And honestly, during these crazy times, its nice to get lost in another world filled with factions, revolutions, and young romance.

Let me know if you read it!