Book Review: Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

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BOOK review

Started on: 31.December.2013

Finished on: 5.January.2013

Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

Title : Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

Author : Veronica Roth

Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books

Pages : 526 Pages

Year of Publication : 2013

Price : $ 12.57 (http://www.bookdepository.com)

Rating: 5/5
*for those who haven't read the second book, this review may contain spoiler.
Review for Insurgent (Divergent, #2) here.

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"My ancestor, and this is the inheritance she passed to me: freedom from the factions, and the knowledge that my Divergent identity is more important than I could have known. My existence is a signal that we need to leave this city and offer our help to whoever is outside it."

After the great truth is revealed in front of the people by a video message of a woman named Edith Prior, everyone is shocked by the fact that the Divergent are supposedly needed in the world outside the city. The city they live in is now being lead by Evelyn Eaton and the factionless - who have the biggest number of people and weapons. Soon after, Tris was taken secretly by a group of people who called themselves Allegiant; the rebels who are determined to escape the city and go outside the borders. They wanted to know the truth behind the world they have been living in all their lives. The success of their mission was at the expense of lives, and they don't know what's waiting ahead.

"I tick off each quality in my mind as he says it - fear, low intelligence, dishonesty, aggression, selfishness. He is talking about the factions. And he's right to say that every faction loses something when it gains a virtue: the Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but vain; the Amity, peaceful but passive; the Candor, honest but inconsiderate; the Abnegation, selfless but stifling."

The first person they see outside the border is a guy named Amar, Four's initiate instructor who's supposed to be dead because of his Divergence. They were then taken to Bureau of Genetic Welfare, where all the truth will be laid out in front of their eyes. It all started generations ago, when the government believed society problems are caused by bad genes that results in faulty personalities. To create a better world, they tried to 'repair' people's genes but everything got worse . So they finally created experiments - isolated societies like the world Tris lived in - to raise genetically pure people, or the so-called Divergents.

Tris and Tobias - the only Divergents who came along - were then tested by Matthew and Nita to study their Divergence. Tris' result shows that she's genetically pure and is indeed a Divergent; however the result turns out very differently for Tobias. He has the appearance of a Divergent who can be aware during simulations, but his genes are still damaged. That fact angered Tobias somehow, because he started believing he's a damaged human being - even though Tris convinced him that it made no difference. While Tris was busy collecting the truth and history about her mother, Tobias was asked to join a rebellion from people with damaged genes. The plan just caused another fight between him and Tris; but Tobias is determined.

"Marcus was Divergent - genetically pure, just like me. But I don't accept that he was a bad person because he was surrounded by genetically damaged people. So was I. So was Uriah. So was my mother. But none of us lashed out at our loved ones."

"I am not all right. I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or controlling that I could actually belong here. You would think that I would have learned by now - such a place does not exist."

Tris thought this new-world she discovered can be her new home and live in peace. But it turns out the mess has not ended yet when David, the leader of Bureau of Genetic Welfare, decided to do something to the experiment - the world where Tris and Tobias used to live in. He would do anything to save the experiment that he has worked on for years; and David convinced Tris that sacrifices are needed to overcome the obstacles they're facing. In her heart, Tris absolutely disagrees and has a plan in mind.

"You demonstrated the quality I most need in my advisers... Which is the ability to make sacrifices for the greater good. If we are going to win this fight against genetic damage, if we are going to save the experiments from being shut down, we will need to make sacrifices. You understand that, don't you?"

image source: here. edited by me.

Sooo, this is the last book of the Divergent trilogy; and I have to admit my disappointment with how the story turned out. First of all, I am most disappointed with how Veronica Roth made the world she created in the first two books into 'experiments'. When I started reading Divergent, I thought she divided the whole world into factions; not just a small city. But it definitely is a shocking revelation and surprise, because I didn't see it coming - at all. However, the unexpected twists in the story is still very much enjoyable because I already fell too in love with Veronica Roth's writing.

In the last book, the story is specially written in two POVs - Tris' and Tobias'. I was already suspicious as to why the story is suddenly written in two POVs; and I was getting ready for the worst to happen, then it really happened. (Won't talk too much about it to avoid spoiler). My plot summary above probably is not enough to explain the complicated plot that's happening in the book. There's a lot of information I have to process about the experiments and genetic stuffs, because it's all new - unlike the factions that I have known for 2 books. I also don't want to talk too much about it so I won't spoil anything to those who haven't read it. In Allegiant, Tris and Tobias are still fighting over so many things - especially with the fact of Tobias' damaged genes. I don't know why but Tobias seems a little bit childish in this book; especially when he thought Tris was jealous of Nita. But thankfully there's no third person in their relationship until the end. One of my favorite parts in the book is when they're doing the final missions - with Tris and Tobias doing separate works. Although I am a bit disappointed with how Veronica Roth made Tris took 'the decision', I think it's because of Tris' characteristic. She definitely stayed in character until the end. I can say that the scene is definitely heart-breaking, but wasn't touching enough to make me cry; but I'll stop at that and not spoil anything else. Thankfully the ending of the story was wrapped up very nicely. It all ends with a heart-warming feeling; and as a reader I also hope the rest of their lives will be happy - unlike all the dreadful things that has happened. *Oh, I almost forgot it's just fiction.*

"Since I was young, I have always known this: Life damages us, every one. We can't escape that damage.
But now, I am also learning this: We can be mended. We mend each other."

There are yet again many new characters introduced in this book; especially people in the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. But my focus always goes to Tris and Tobias - and also their relationship. One of the most memorable scene was when Tris received a love-consultation with Amar, which made Tris know better about his boyfriend who's full of mysteries. Amar said she's good for Four, and that they matched each other very well. Even though they fight a lot, Tris realized that Tobias is the only person sharp enough to sharpen her. Actually there are many more character interactions that I loved in this book; one of them is how the tension between Tris and her brother Caleb is released. The interaction between Tobias and Christina that starts off awkwardly also made me smile :) (well, because Tobias never liked a Candor smart-mouth). For more details about the characters, you should read the book yourself; because I'm afraid I'll spoil too much if I write any much longer.

"I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me."

As I've said, Allegiant probably didn't give me the most satisfying end to the Divergent trilogy; but I still love this series nevertheless. The plot twists, the conflicts, the characters, all made this series a wonderful journey for me. Every problem in the story is solved and the ending made me able to close this book with a peaceful heart. So even though this book has some disappointing parts, I'm giving it a 5-rating because I still love this series all the same. Like I said in the previous book reviews, I'm really looking forward to reading Veronica Roth's next work. Because I'm totally captivated by her writing :))

"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.
But sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.
That is the sort of bravery I must have now."

  by.stefaniesugia♥ .