ARC Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

How much do I love thee? So much so that I find it very hard to write this review. Why? Because all the good praises has been given and all the great things about this book has been said. And Divergent deserves all the praises, the raves, and the great reviews it has been getting.

Title: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Pages: 487
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Published by: From publisher (Thanks, HarperTeen!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from 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.

In a future Chicago, 5 factions live alongside each other, the Candor who values honesty, the selfless Abnegation, the brave ones of Dauntless, the peaceful ones are in Amity, and the ambitious, intelligent people made up Erudite. Beatrice is 16, and it's time to choose which faction she wants to be with. Will she stay with her family and be selfless, or be brave? Joining the Dauntless and changing her name to Tris, she was in for a life different from that she has lived. As Tris gradually comes to know who she really is, all the while keeping a deadly secret, she unknowingly stumbles upon something that threatens to tear apart the peaceful society she lives in, and like it or not, she's part of it.

I loved every single moment I've spent reading this book. From the moment I met Tris, I felt like I'll be in for a great adventure. I love stories that just pull you in after reading the first page, and that's what happened while I was reading Divergent. Action packed with dynamic characters, it's a book everyone would love to read. Teens, tweens, even older people would love to read about this future world, and one girl's journey into discovering, and gradually accepting what she really is.

I join the many characters in this book (and readers) who probably underestimated Tris' character. As they say, appearances can be very deceiving, and that applies to Tris. She's from Abnegation. She was supposed to be selfless, and with her small stature, helpless, and maybe even powerless. But for what she lacks in height and weight, she made up for in her intelligence, perseverance and determination to be true to herself, and I think, just for that, she really does deserve to be in Dauntless. She's beyond brave, and she's fierce. I love how she can be strong and still be able to accept that she'll need help from people at times.

I salute Veronica Roth and loved her writing so much for she was able to write a story filled with trials and experiences that shaped and defined its characters. The tests Tris went through might be physical and nerve wracking, but it prepared her to face things she knew would come if people find out what she is. Maybe she's part-Abnegation and part-Dauntless. But when I think of it, should people be defined by the factions they're in? What if they don't fit in on any of the five? Why can't they be brave and peaceful? Why let just one virtue define you?

What made me love this book more is Four. Why? Not just because he has amazing blue eyes and huge hands and he's good with weapons (Maybe he tends to have violent tendencies sometimes. Who throws knives to a girl they like just to prove a point?) but he's not there to swoon over Tris. He was putting her to the edge all the time, pushing her buttons to see if and when she'll break, how long she'll last. I don't think that happens in books often but he wasn't there to immediately confess his undying love for the girl he likes. His approach is even a bit sadistic (but cute). But Four has his own fears and things he's fighting for, and I look forward to seeing more of his life in the next books.

Divergent is a story about choices and living up for every single one you make, because its what defines you in the end, the way you live, and everything else in your life. It is up to you how you will live it, you who control your destiny, and like Tris, she didn't let the factions limit her. She's different, but she's not to be feared and Tris embraces that fact. She's Dauntless, she's Abnegation, and maybe something else. Maybe she has something in her that belongs to all five factions, and instead of rejecting that piece of truth, she accepted it.

I wanted to be a bit more critical with my review, but I'm afraid I'll be giving away an important part of the story, so I'll stop here. All I can say is that everything you heard and continue to hear about this book is true. Maybe it will even surpass the expectations you have, because it sure passed mine.

When you think about it, it's quite hard to believe that this is a debut novel, considering how well written it was.

I fell in love with Veronica Roth's writing and her ability to put words together and turn them into this amazing, brilliant read that will enthrall readers and transport them to Tris' world. Divergent has great world building and is very detailed, but it didn't hamper the story or any of the characters' development in any way, and just with that, DIVERGENT gets my vote as the best dystopian book I've read this year. I know I've mentioned a few books that I said were the best, but THIS is the best of the best, the cream of the crop, that one great book topping the rest.

To end this review, let me just say that Veronica Roth is an author to watch out for. A lot of people automatically think of The Hunger Games when you say the word "dystopia" these days, but try reading Divergent and see if you'll still think of it that way. It gives a new meaning to the word "dystopia" all in its own.

P.S. Veronica Roth, I worship you!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I'd give this 500 stars if I can. No, 1 million stars!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
One word: STUNNING!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.