11/4/13

Allegiant - Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult: Dystopian, Fiction, Romance

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):  One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?


The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.


Review:

Why I’m not happy: Well the obvious. At this point, if you haven’t read about this book I’m sure you’ve at least heard about it, so NOT spoiling it is probably null and void at this point. It’s not fun to get attached to characters and have them killed off one at a time. (No, not EVERYONE dies – but it sure felt like it). I’m generally okay with some of the stronger supporting characters dying in a book. However, I’m not really all that fond of having one or more of the main characters die. Why – well, just because. That’s why.

Why I’m not mad: Veronica Roth told why what happened had to happen in her MTV interview. I get it. I do understand, and I see her point. I, personally, would not set out to write a book that ends in tragedy, because well, I don’t read books for tragedy. I like wrapped up, mostly happy endings. They don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to all end in unicorn land and everyone be 110% happy, but I like relative happiness. However, this is not my piece of literature. And since the ending really didn’t come out of left field, I guess I get it.

Why I’m not happy:
What the heck is up with Tris’s super-Divergence? Unexplained abilities to avoid truth serum, and death serum? No explanation? And, no, Tobias’ “stubborn” explanation does not cover it.

Why I’m not mad:
Tobias’ end of the story really does seem to jive well. He’s made massive strides and growth at the very end. He’s made decisions and I think in the end he can respect himself more than ever.

Why I’m not happy: I’m not a fan of the whole “outside” portion in general. I sort of fall into a minority on this one, given some of the conversations I’ve had with people. I feel like Allegiant was the first book of an entirely new (albeit spinoff) series, not the conclusion of an existing series. And at this point, even if there were a spin-off, I don’t trust V.R. to not break my heart, so it’s not overly likely I’d read it. I’m kind of done with this world anyhow.

Why I’m not mad: I’m so glad that someone stepped down within the walls before everyone got killed. Man, that would have sucked. I did feel like Evelyn and Tobias’ scene was almost a tiny bit cheesy. After all her demanding, driven, power hungry movement – how can she just chalk it up to “you should have told me,” and then just walk away from everything. That seemed extremely out of character, no matter how many quick additional scenes are added to the book in an attempt to soften her up a bit. But you know what? I’m glad. I’m glad there was someone there for Tobias, someone who does, in fact, love him.

Why I’m not happy: THERE IS A MOVIE! Ugh, I don’t know if I can put myself ---willingly--- through heartache. I just don’t know. Plus my husband would hate me for doing it to him as well.

Why I’m not mad:
The books are always better than the movie anyway, so if I decide against it; no harm no foul, right?

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