For What It's Worth


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth


One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But 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.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. ~ goodreads

Review:You're are going to read hundreds of reviews for Insurgent so I'm going to keep this one short and non-spoilery.

Veronica Roth knows how to write a series that leaves you spinning in your seat. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, she throws something new at you that changes everything you thought you just had figured out.

No one is safe. No one is what they seem. No one is 100% good or bad. This makes for a really tense reading experience that we don't often get.

As for Tris and Four's relationship. See!!! You can have relationship drama without a boatload of misunderstandings or third parties. I knew it could be done! They are a solid couple. All the steam that rises from the pages isn't from graphically written love scenes but from the devotion that these two people who have been through so much share. It's not a perfect relationship by any stretch of the imagination but it's an honest one….a well written one.

Four - if you could learn to bake you just might replace Peeta as my all time favorite YA book boyfriend.

The ending. ZOMG can Roth write a good ending. Just as in Divergent you are left gaping at the last page. What??!!! WHAT?? WHAT??!!! Yet you don't feel cheated, just desperate to see how it all ends.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Excellent sequel to Divergent. This isn’t a filler sophomore book.Insurgent is filled with revelations and developments that will leave your heart racing as we wait for the what I’m sure will be an action packed finale.

Favorite quotes:


~ "Both of us watch the purification happen, and I wonder if he is thinking what I am: that it would be nice if life worked this way, stripping the dirt form our lives and sending us out into the world clean. But some dirt is destined to linger."


~ "I think we cry to release animals parts of us without losing our humanity."


~ "Got your gun? (spoiler)____ says to Tobias.
"No," says Tobias, "I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs."


~ "You die, I die too."


Author: website | Twitter | Divergent recap
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Thank you to Julie from My 5 Monkey’s for letting me borrow her copy. <3!
Buy the book! Insurgent (Divergent)

16 comments:

  1. those were some of my fave lines too and so glad that you loved it too. No sophmore slump at all.

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  2. Oh my gosh. I'm so eager to read this asap!! I'm going book hunting tomorrow - I hope it's available now (in my country.) Loved the lines you chose! Great review!

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  3. I like that no one is 100% good or bad. I think that makes it more realistic. Characters who are too perfect are always a little boring to me. I want flawed realistic characters.

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  4. Now that I've read your review, I can finally believe the Insurgent hype. And 1000xs yes to a relationship that doesn't stumble b/c of misunderstandings. Most of the time that just seems like an easy way to add drama.
    Great review, Karen. I can't wait to read this.

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    1. They still have PLENTY of issues lol but I felt she wrote them in an original way.

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  5. awesome review, Karen. I guess I will have to break down and read divergent first, lol.

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  6. I do not want it to be awesome cos that means I really really really should read book 1! And I have so many books

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    1. It's probably better this way. You won't have to wait a year between both books.

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  7. I just bought my paperback copy of Divergent yesterday. I'll be diving into this world soon!

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  8. You had me at "relationship drama without a boatload of misunderstandings or third parties." I knew she could do it! I knew it, I knew it! So psyched to read this now.

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    1. To be fair - it's not without it's frustrations....but it wasn't the typical frustrations :-)

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  9. I. Can't. Freaking. Wait. !!!!! I seriously don't know what else to say - but thanks for no spoilers!!

    - Jessica @ Book Sake

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  10. I just finished this book last night!

    You're right, not 1 person is safe or all bad or good!

    And their relationship is honest...and Four *sigh*

    And you're right again, it isn't a filler book! Gosh how I hate those friggin' filler books.

    I'm not going to write a review, for some reason I just don't want to write a review for Insurgent...maybe I'm just lazy, lol.

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  11. The ending was a bit of a question mark. I do like that she stayed away from turning tris into Bella.

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