This was originally posted by me at http://blackanddarknight.wordpress.com (no longer available) on May 16, 2013. 

Genre & Length: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Dystopian, 501 pages

The Blurb:

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.

My Thoughts

Plot: So captivating. I immediately identified with the Beatrice/Tris’ inner struggle – do you be true to what you feel inside, or loyal to those who have devoted their lives to you? I literally could not put this book down.

Pacing: Well balanced. I didn’t feel rushed OR slowed by the different aspects of this book, and there were plenty of both slow, thoughtful scenes and action-packed ones.

Writing Style: It didn’t stand out to me, but it didn’t overshadow the plot, and that’s good. A story can be well-written, and the plot itself still suck. This one was perfectly balanced – the writing style didn’t overshadow the plot, nor did the plot suffer from bad writing.

Would I read this book again: Probably. I’ll definitely finish reading the series.