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.

My Review:

After reading Divergent, I picked up this book almost immediately, reading only one book in between the two.  This story continues where the first book left off, and its plot is equally as amazing as the first one.  The characters and relationships continue to be developed, and readers find out more about their world. 

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

Tris continues to be an amazing protagonist in this book.  At the beginning of the book, she feels really guilty about killing Will, and this guilt weighs on her.  She isn't completely fearless, but she still is Dauntless.  She also has quite a bit of Abnegation left in her, which causes her to do some things she wouldn't have done if she were more selfish.  Her Abnegation ways cause her to be more self-sacrificing.  She doesn't want others to die if turning herself in could stop their deaths.  She continues to grow as a character as she faces horrible experiences. 

The relationship between Tris and Tobias becomes strained in this book, but this is mainly because Tobias really cares about Tris.  He doesn't like the way she is willing to be self-sacrificing.  He doesn't want to be left behind with her dead.  Because of this, he doesn't agree with all of her decisions, but he isn't able to stop her either.  Despite their problems, they still make a good couple, and neither of them want the other to get hurt.

Several characters do die in this book, and many of them are likeable characters who readers will care about.  One character dies close to the end, and the scene where she dies is very sad.  It is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book because it was written so well.  She says something as her last words that made something else from earlier in the book really make sense.  I don't want to spoil it, though.

If you like YA dystopian, read this book.

Katie