Allegiant

Allegiant 

Veronica Roth

526 pages

 

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater."  - page 509

It is very, very hard to write about this book without giving away spoilers from Divergent  and Insurgent, but I will try my best. Please stay away if you have not read the aforementioned titles...

 

The faction-based society of Chicago that Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton had once called home is now completely shattered. War, unjust power, and betrayal has interrupted their world indefinitely. When they are given the chance to escape the city and go beyond the fence, there is no way they can refuse. What they find there is not at all the quiet, safe, life together they had imagined. Tris and Tobias are suddenly overwhelmed by just how big the world is, and together they must face new obstacles and truths they did not think even possible.

 

And I think the simplest way to explain my feelings about this book is by saying (and pardon my word choice)

 

What the hell. 

 

I approached this book already knowing there would be a surprise ending (thanks, Internet spoilers for blowing up in my face) but I did not know just how surprising until I read it a few hours ago. But that is all I will say about it. I am trying to make the Internet a more spoiler-free place, one little unknown blog at a time here :)

 

I wish I had been able to read this book from beginning to end in about a week's time, but it took me more like a month due to the fact that I have been busy reading Lord of the Flies and Great Expectations for English class. Today was the first day in about two weeks that I picked up Allegiant, and since it was snowy outside and cozy under the covers, I was able to read the last 125 pages in one sitting.

 

Allegiant picks up right where Insurgent ended. The story is told from a riveting dual perspective, elevating the novel to an entirely new level. Alternating chapters between Tris and Tobias was extremely effective in allowing several events to occur at the same time, as well as thoughts from both characters to be understood.

 

Although Allegiant takes place in futuristic, dystopian world, Veronica Roth sill manages to make it seem very real. Not necessarily the setting, but the characters. Tris does not suffer from a futuristic virus, but from common themes in today's world such as self-identity, bravery, and love. Throughout Allegiant Tris struggles to determine her role in this new society outside of the fence, as well as with the definition of bravery. Tobias and Tris' relationship is grounded in reality, with arguments, separation and understanding. And although their relationship is so real that it seems cliché, I can not help but sigh and smile every time I read...

 

Then I thought of how strong I have become, how secure I feel with the person I now am, and how all along the way he has told me that I am brave, I am respected, I am loved an worth loving.

"And?" he says, his voice and his eyes and his hands, a little unsteady.

"And," I say, "I think you're still the only person sharp enough to sharpen someone like me."

- page 372

 

Allegiant was a fantastic closure to a series I thought a few months ago I would have no interest in. Turns out, Roth's trilogy has made it into my Best of 2013 List, to be posted December 22nd, 2013!

 

Story Line - 8/10

Character's Voice - 10/10

Writing Style - 8/10

 

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Overall - 26/30

 

*Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for YA Fantasy 2013