Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publication date: April 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-00-742041-4
Length: 487 pages
Genre: Dystopian
Age group: Young Adult
Source: Gift
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

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.

The first thought that came into my mind when I put this book down was, ‘I can’t believe I waited for so long to read this’. Veronica Roth’s Divergent is without a doubt one of those books that will grow on you in a heartbeat. I had high expectations about this one and it didn’t disappoint. I am completely and utterly in love.

Dystopian is still a new genre to me because I’ve never really read any dystopian books before I started blogging but after reading some really outstanding novels, such as Susanne Winnacker’s The Other Life or Divergent, it quickly became one of my favourite genres. Roth’s story is so unique, but at the same time so believable that you won’t be able to put it down.

On top of everything else, I love the world she describes in this book. This whole dystopian Chicago is divided into five factions and just like in real life, there’s some tension and rivalry among them. I love the fact that even though it’s a completely fictional world and it feels so different from what we’re used to now, it’s still similar to our world in a way. As for the characters, Roth did a fantastic job. Divergent is narrated by Beatrice (or Tris) who is a tough and very brave girl behind the fragile exterior. Her bravery is just astonishing and you can’t help rooting for her to survive throughout the story and to come out on top in this crazy world.

Character-wise, I think Four was -and I’m sure most female readers will agree with me here- my favourite in this book. Even though I’m actually 4 years older than he was in the story, I totally understand why thousands of readers will fall in love with him in a second. I love how tough he is but how there is a vulnerable side to him as well. What’s not to love?

If you’re looking for a fast paced dystopian book and you haven’t read Divergent yet, do pick it up as soon as you can. Don’t let its length put you off, you’ll breeze through the story in a day. It’s definitely one of my favourite reads this year. Brilliant!