Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult - Dystopia
Published: May 1st 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Bought/Own copy

Author's website | Goodreads

One choice can transform you, or destroy you.

Every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves, and herself, while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Whoa.

“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.” 

“Sometimes, people just want to be happy, even if it’s not real.” 

The writing didn’t fail to amaze me once again. The foreshadowing and character building really was wow! The irony of the writing was also funny as I already knew what would happen. Veronica Roth gives you clues while making you believe those things mean nothing. You’d just be surprised to how things would turn out eventually. It only proves how carefully plotted and intricately crafted this work was. My reading experience was filled with “Oh! Why didn’t I see that coming?!” moments. Brilliant! She’s one of the most talented authors I’ve read yet.

“Insurgent, he says. Noun. A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent.” 

Also, in this sequel, we get to learn more about the other characters. It sounds like I can’t stop praising Veronica Roth, but it’s true. The outline of each character was purely exceptional. I started to see their real selves and understand the reason for their motives & actions.

“I think we cry to release the animal parts of us without losing our humanity.” 

One bad thing, though. Tris & Four’s romance fell flat in this sequel. I wasn’t rooting that much for them anymore. There were problems between the two that didn’t get resolved at all OR were resolved too easily. Their relationship was needed to be tested, but their reaction to the circumstances did otherwise to forge their bond. At least this whole fighting thing between them didn’t become the highlight of the book.

THE NUB AND GIST: 5 STARS

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Published: April 25th 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Bought/Own copy

Author's website | Add to Goodreads

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

 Let me tell you a story.

I wasn't planning on picking up Divergent when it first came out. The phrase "cultivation of a particular virtue" didn't just do it for me. It sounded all too boring peaceful for a dystopian novel. But gratefully (I suppose), the book I was planning to buy wasn't available during that time. And me unable to leave a bookstore without a book in hand, I impulsively bought it. 

That might have been one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

I read Divergent when it was just newly released—without the bashful reviews or the far more intimidating hype. It was best since it didn't cloud my judgement and I was able to savor every bit of the book. I've read Divergent thrice already; the first read, reread before Insurgent, and reread before Allegiant. And as I revisited Tris's world again, the more I fell in love. 

Honestly, everything's perfect. 

1. The world. I was awestruck by the brilliance of it. From a reader's perspective, I would know very much that this masterpiece was a product of careful & intricate planning. It's also disturbing because, the moment I read it, it didn't sound ridiculous at all. It felt all too real; a society that isn't that far from our own.

We've all started to put down the virtues of the other factions in the process of bolstering our own.

2. The plot. Because I was rereading it, I already had an overview of the whole story. Having said that, I started to notice very very little details that hinted something about a character or what was to happen. The foreshadowing could only be said as genius. Even a naturally overly suspicious detective could be fooled and be surprised by the twists despite the clues. What's better was how things gradually unravel without revealing the big thing, and then leaving more. You just can't stop reading. Just... mind-boggling. 

We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.

3. The characters. Each character had so much in them. They all had a purpose, character, attitude and a backstory. The book wasn't divided into protagonists and antagonists. It was a web of characters each acting differently to achieve a particular goal.

And then Tris. WHOA. Her change was enormous. I just couldn't possibly describe how firm and rooted her character was. You really wouldn't think it possible for her character in the beginning to transform into her character in the latter part of the book. She really was brave and strong. Seeing her conflicted then sacrificing so much to solve her problems was truly remarkable and admirable. 

  My father says—used to say—that there is power in self-sacrifice. 

4. The romance. The romance was probably the best thing that separates this book from the typical YA book. First, there really was a build-up of chemistry between Tris and Four. It wasn't exhausting at all, but rather fulfilling. I loved it. And second, the little age gap between the two could have possibly been the biggest leap in this book. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, because, duh, this is Veronica Roth), it worked out—even for the best of the novel.

One last thing: If you haven't read this book yet, you're missing out half of your reading life.

THE NUB AND GIST: 5 STARS