In a futuristic society, everyone is divided into 5 factions which form the basis and guidance in which they must lead their lives; of honesty, intelligence, bravery, selflessness and peacefulness. These factions were set up to maintain order and upon turning 16, an aptitude test is administered to the young people in the society to determine where they belong in society. Beatrice Prior has never felt like she belonged in the faction that she was raised in, and after the results of her test are announced, she discovers the reason why - she might not belong to any one group alone. Once Beatrice makes her choice, she must live up to the expectations and live with the decisions she has made while realizing that the harmonious society that she's grown to know isn't all that it seems.

Like with another highly recommended book, I can't believe it took me this long to get to Divergent - what a phenomenal read. Roth is well-versed in the world that she's created and satisfyingly sets up the first in a trilogy. There were times that I felt it reminded me of a mix of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Not in the story context (and I'm by no means directly comparing these three books), but certain elements of it - such as being divided up into factions ("Houses") that are so distinctive, the "new kids in school" feel to groups of characters, or the intense training that the new initiates go through, definitely gave a familiar nostalgic feel to the previously aforementioned books. While it did take me a little bit to grasp & remember which faction meant what virtue, Roth does a subtle but steady reminder of what is what to help the readers be completely immersed in her story.

I also loved that Beatrice is such a strong character in the book. Her personality and relationships with those around her drive the story of the book as much as the plot itself. She's a regular teenage girl with complicated and confusing feelings to her family and friends, especially under such stressful situations.

Overall a fantastically captivating read. At just under 500 pages, I was surprised how quickly I flew through this. Thank goodness I don't have to wait for the next book to come out! If you haven't read Divergent yet, what are you waiting for? Don't make the same mistake I made by waiting so long to get to it!

This, and other reviews can be found on my blog JustALilLost.com

Divergent was unbelievable. There was not one time when I put this book down and did not want to pick it back up again. I was actually reading it in the dressing room before a hockey practice and was so engulfed in the book, that I didn't even look up when my coach came into the room.

Tris will have you guessing the entire time and Four is a character that every girl will want a piece of. I'm off to read Insurgent (the sequel) right now.

Highest regards.

I just finished reading this book and as the title states I was quite surprised by how much I loved this book. I am a big lover of The Hunger Games trilogy and I was looking for another dystopian tale. The book started off slow for me and it took a few chapters to get me interested, but I am glad I stuck with it. Once I got interested I was hooked!! Can't wait to see what Insurgent has in store.

I bought this one on recommendation from an Indigo employee during my post Hunger Games book search. I didn't buy it immediately, and it took several trips back to Indigo before I actually bought it, and then it proceeded to sit on my shelf - I wasn't ready to move on from the afterglow of The Hunger games yet. So when I took it as my plane read on my trip to New York - I still didn't read it, until I was stuck on planes/airports for 16 hours on the way home. In those 16 hours, I fervently read it cover to cover, only stopping because I had to get off a plane and rush to the next one. My biggest regret is leaving this book unread for so long!

The bold flame designs really pop on the cover given the cooler neutral colouring and the mixed skyline and wilds design, it's definitely eye catching- even if it reminds me of Sauron's eye from Lord of the Rings.

The world that Divergent is set in is a very bleak, steel/concrete and structured one. The sites of habitation and the set uniform styles/colours are meant to be used to equalize and signify your role in society. But it isn't really these mundane sets that you'll pay attention to, it's the death defying world of the Dauntless that Tris jumps into that snares a reader's attention.

The story is told from Tris' (aka Beatrice) point of view, and we get to experience the self sacrificing and painfully bland life of the Abnegation that Tris was originally born into. She doesn't fit in there, and she struggles to be selfless. When she makes her choice to join the Dauntless, she still retains her timid nature at first- but she realizes that she has to put that behind her and embrace her decision in order to survive. This is where I really start loving Tris, she keeps her morals but harnesses her fears and pushes herself to try all the new things associated with the Dauntless. Her whole experience is like an initiation into a viking inspired biker gang where if you don't participate in the extreme stuff that you're expected to do, you aren't getting in or worse you may not get out alive.

There are some seriously gritty situations that Tris gets thrown into and I sat there white knuckled until she got through it! These situations are coupled with exhilarating moments of insane stunting that Roth does an amazing job describing. These scenes made me remember what it was like to jump off the side of a mountain attached to a cable upside down (zip lines are seriously fun go try it!) and the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of freedom that accompanied it.

When Tris first gets to Dauntless training camp, she's completely alone and has to carefully pick and choose her allies. Roth does a great job presenting these characters. I could never tell who I could trust or who to root for, so I just sat there and lived vicariously through Tris, hoping she'd make the right decision and holding onto dear life when she didn't.

Then we meet the mysterious Four, teacher and semi-love interest for Tris. He's another one of those characters where when you first meet him you're conflicted in trying to decide if he's going to help or hinder, and it keeps you guessing throughout the book which made him such a thrilling character to follow. He's absolutely my favourite character even if there are times where you want to smack him upside the head. His whole back story and the origin of his name was by far one of the best character builds I've ever read. More importantly, his role in Tris' evolution into a Dauntless has him involved in some very pivotal and haunting scenes that follow the reader well after the book is over.

I loved that Roth leaves little clues throughout the book that I initially brushed off as unimportant and then it comes back explosively in the reveals. The ending to Divergent is action packed, the culmination of secrets and plots reach their apex and blow the doors wide open for the sequel Insurgent due out May 1, 2012, that I just CANNOT wait for!

if you read the hunger games series you will enjoy this book, the plot and some events were pretty similar. But the characters are a lot better. The ending of this book makes you really anticipate the sequel which i hear comes out soon =)

Let me start of by saying that Divergent is by far one of the BEST books I have read. I loved everything, the book was addictive when I was reading it. Divergent had lots of action, romance that will make your insides swoon for Four. I loved the background history of each of the factions also the mystery of what was going on. In futuristic Chicago the city is divided on factions based on their individual ideals: Dauntless (Brave), Candor (Honest), Amity (Peaceful), Erudite (Knowledgeable), and her own faction Abnegation (Selfless). Veronica Roth sets her debut in this fantastic world and I am glad to have finally read it! It blew me away with how the amazing and addicting the book is!!

Beatrice/Tris is by far the bravest character I have read to date. She is officially one of my favorite characters. She is not perfect and is not selfless. Tris is a very strong heroine which I loved because she is one of those characters that you can root for! Divergent grabs your attention from the very beginning by learning all the classes. As 16 is the age to pick which faction they want to go to. Beatrice chooses Dauntless. Beatrice after going through the initiation she changes her name to Tris. During this moment we meet FOUR!! I loved Four and he is her new coach and is to lead all the other transfers into the screening process if they want to stay in that faction. If they fail they will end up factionless, which could lead to no homes or working in the fields.

I really loved the plot, it was intriguing and the relationships bonding between the other initiates were very unique. Now the relationship with Tris and Four was building from the beginning! I was just reading that book like crazy since the relationship was beautifully put together. It had the perfect pace to start off a relationship. I loved everything about Four, he also had a mystery to him, like a puzzle to find out why he was nicknamed Four and his story is very good!

The Dauntless are an interesting faction because they go through soo much training that it could be scary, but protective at the same time. These tests will prove to the Dauntless if they are able to handle this faction. Tris tries to change into this but in the end she still made fun of being from the Abnegation but you will see she is stronger than that! Beatrice and Four are a great team!

The ending was like Oh My God, what is going to happen next. There is no cliffhanger but I thought there was at some point, but not yet. It was getting better and better! I am really excited for Insurgent because Divergent was amazing! If you havent read this yet, why?? You are missing all the goodness and Four!! The hype for this book was correct because it is worth the read!!

Find more of my review at my Blog: http://lovesbooksreviews.blogspot.ca/

I loved this book so much. After reading The Hunger Games I was convinced I wouldn't feel that passionately about any other book. I was totally wrong. Tris is a very unique character who can be annoying at times, but is also endearing because of her bravery and ability to adapt to her surroundings. She is someone you can both relate to and admire. There is also something appealing about her honest narration.

The story is exciting and even unpredictable at times.. I found it to be one of those books where you tell yourself you will only read one more chapter before bed, and end up staying awake until two in the morning in order to finish it. It has romance, action, self-discovery and engaging characters. I think the most appealing aspect of it is the realistic sense of corruption that can be seen in aspects of our lives today. Particularly in government where everyone lobbies for power and even those who are not supposed to be corrupted are.

As far as dystopian novels go it does not disappoint. Tris' journey of self-discovery and realization that not everyone can fit their beliefs neatly into categories is intriguing. As she overcomes her fears and discovers her full potential you'll be motivated to do the same. I'd definitely recommend reading it.

I know I've read a good book when my first thought after closing the book is: I want to read it again. That's exactly what happened with this book. The characters are likeable, the plot has some twists and turns, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. The sequel is on the top of my list of most anticipated book.

By now, if you are a Twilight or/and Hunger Games fan, you must have heard about Divergent, the first of a trilogy (I cannot wait till the second book, Insurgent, comes out in May!). A few years ago, teaching in high school, my students were deep in Twilight mania and so I joined in, wanting to know what all the hoopla was about. I have since become a fan of young adult fiction. Reading Divergent made me feel like I was 16 again - loved it!! The characters, the twists and turns, the climactic ending: what a great read. I recommend it not only to teens but also to young adults and adults alike!

Very uninspiring, difficult to stay focused on the plot. Seems like the same situation happens over and over so the plot ceases to develop. Do not buy this book if you are looking for another Hunger Games, as it will lead to disappointment.

If you have time to read then this is the book for you because i could not put it down. I always would have to find out what was going to happen next. If you are a fan of fiction books that are in the future, with love mixed in, then this is definatly the book for you! 3

It seems, nowadays, that everyone is writing their own dystopian novel. Some of them work, and others might not, but once in a while, there's a dystopian book that really grabs the attention of the reader, one that the reader won't be able to stop talking about.

Divergent is one of those books that had been on a lot of 'Best of 2011′ lists and I can't believe I waited so long to read it. It's the story of Beatrice Prior, who lives in a world that is divided into five factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent) and Dauntless (the brave). Currently, she's in the one she was born into, but now she's reached the age where she goes through testing to find out which faction she should actually belong in - which might not be the one she was born into. Leaving her faction means leaving her family and she's left to make a difficult decision.

At first I wasn't completely drawn into the book. I had started reading it feeling annoyed with my own life circumstances of the evening (perhaps my empty stomach assisted to my feeling not so into the book) and only got about 5 chapters in. Of course, the next day when I cracked it open (or tapped it open on my e-reader), I was immediately drawn into the story and loved how different it was from all the other dystopian novels I had read. It had its similarities to other dystopians of course - which really can't be avoided - but it truly was a unique read.

There was plenty enough action in the novel and it really drove the story on. I think Ross wrote wonderful characters, so much so that it was easy to really hate the bad ones and love the good ones. Beatrice's character is typical of the females in these types of novels, where she's a little bit against the system and wanting to do things her way, but she's not so full of angst that I couldn't stand her. She had such strength in the novel that, by the end, I really liked her character. She's witty, smart, and captivating.

And of course, there was romance - who could forget the romance? I loved how the romance in this novel starts off slow. It's a believable romance. Of course, I don't want to get into details because I think it would ruin the book, but for someone who mostly looks for the romance in a book, it was pretty darn awesome.

The story definitely had me hooked all the way to the end and even though it's part of a series, I like how it wasn't left with a complete cliffhanger. Certain things are left unknown as the story ends, but I'm still left to wonder what exactly is going to happen in the next instalment to the series. If it's anything like this first book, I'm sure it will be wonderful.

This is the debut work from author Veronica Roth and I only hope her next books are just as addicting. Highly recommended!

Let me say first off, that I didn't like this book. The characters (In my opinion) were cliche, and the love story was just cheesy, while the writing drew me in, I found the whole concept to be very unexplained and unbeleivible, like lets say, The Hunger Games, wich was beleivible to the point that I thought,, 'maybe this could happen, maybe', but with Divergent, I found myself just waiting until it was over, and constenly putting the book down then picking it up in, lets say, a month, because I felt the story was being to dragged out, and, honsetly, the book did remind me of the hunger games from time to time, while the hunger games to me felt completly original. Now, speaking of the characters, Tris was annoying to the point that she is one of my least favorite characters of all time, I didn't care that she was in love, because, not mainly because of her, but because of Four. I hated Four. He was emotionless, and a romantic who, prior to reading this, I had seen WAY too much of. He was so boring to read about, and his lovey dovey relationship with Tris just felt so forced, (And I admit I have yet to read a book were the relationship isn't forced,) but there's was just to obvious. I admit though, the first bit of the book drags you in and then spits you back out at the end a cliffhanger, so I now theres going to be a second book. You'll probaly like this book if a) you like romances b) you like future utopias that are just there (Don't really nead any explaining) and c) You like strong female one dimensionel characters with soap opera drama thrown in here and there.Then ya, you'll probaly like Divergent

Well, all I can say is that this was a really good book. I loved the idea and I loved Tris's character. The authors style of writing was also very good. The book never really got boring and it was a definite page turner. About Four, (not saying his real name) I liked him, though I wish we could get to know his character a little more. He seems a little detached, but that was one of the only thing I didn't like. The other thing is that I wish there was more background info. i would've liked to know how all this started, the different sections and stuff.
All in all, this book was a wonderful book and I think you will enjoy it, especially if this is your first distopian novel.

I have to start this review off by saying that I'm very shocked by how much I liked this book, I mean I know it's full of tons of hype and everyone has said it's another Hunger Games I was a bit wary by the book I really wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I thought the story was really great, it was fast paced and full of action. I was also a fan of the love story it doesn't overpower the book and I was worried because I LOVE romance in books but this had just enough, and Four is amazing by the way. I thought Tris was a great lead characters as well, she had a good attitude and she didn't annoy me. Overall great book I look forward to the sequel and if you like Dystopian books check this one out. :0)

Imagine a society where everyone is divided into five factions, based on what they value most: Candor (honestly), Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Amity (peace) and Erudite (intelligence).

Each year a Choosing Ceremoney is held where all sixteen-year-olds must choose which faction they will live in. Beatrice, who grew up in Abnegation, must choose between staying with her family, or being true to herself. But soon she is caught up in something much bigger, and must make life-or-death decisions affecting her and everyone she's known.

A common criticism of this book by other reviewers is that it is unrealistic that everyone would fit into five virtues. Although I agree with this, it is clear in the book that this society is not working, in part for that very reason.

What I found more difficult to suspend my disbelief about was Beatrice's incredible amount of "girl power", given her background (I could not help but keep thinking "she is no Katniss Everdeen" while I read). I also didn't think her reason for her choice of factions seemed very convincing (other than as a plot device by the author to lead the book to its inevitable conclusion). I think this could have been solved by a prologue showing an incident from her childhood that foreshadowed her behaviour.

However "Divergent" is such a riveting read, I was more than happy to overlook its flaws. So that is why I give this book four out of five flying bird tattoos, and look forward to reading "Insurgent" in May.

Approaching close to the release of this novel, the hype for this book was insane. All over the internet people were blogging about this book and talking about it. It's what initially made me so intrigued to read this book, but once I read the synopsis, I knew that without a doubt, Divergent would be sure to please dystopian fans all over the world.

This 2011 debut novel takes place in dystopian Chicago. Their world is divided into five factions, each containing people who hold a specific virtue. If you are honest, Candor is your faction. The brave and the fearless have a place in Dauntless. If you care about everybody over yourself, Abnegation is for the selfless. Those who are peaceful are in Amity and the intelligent live in Erudite. Everybody is brought up into the faction they were born into, however, once you turn sixteen, you are given the ultimate choice. You can either stay with your family in the faction you were born into, or you can decide to leave and join another faction. It's a crucial decision that determines where you will live for the rest of your life.

Our main character is Beatrice. She lives in Abnegation, where everybody puts everybody else in higher priority than themselves. Beatrice does not feel that she is selfless. She struggles to be the person Abnegation calls for.

As the ceremony approaches for a soon to be sixteen year-old Beatrice, she has to decide the path in which she wants to take. Her choice not only shocks those around her, but even herself. It's the decision that begins her story, and leads her to rename herself Tris.

Tris needs to discover who her friends are, and who she should fear. She meets a boy who is equally fascinating as he is maddening. Romance, action, adventure and mystery come together to create this jaw dropping novel. Tris must also deal with the secret that she's been keeping, and what will happen to her and her society if anyone were to discover it.

This is absolutely, positively, FOR SURE one of my all time favourite dystopian books of all freakin' time. People claimed that it was similar to the Hunger Games, but I disagree. I can see where they are coming from, but it is not enough of a resemblance for me to even compare the two. Veronica Roth's plot is far more different in many ways, and two me, they were very different. I found things in Divergent that I loved even more than The Hunger Games, crazy right? I didn't think it was possible to find a dystopian book that would come even close to The Hunger Games, but I now know that it exists.

Divergent was exhilarating, fantastic and super exciting. Without a doubt, it's one of my favourite books and I now have very high hopes that the sequel, Insurgent will be just as good, if not better!

5/5
2011-32

Reminiscent of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, Divergent is a fascinating story. Divergent enraptures readers through innovative and radical concepts on human community, identity, and normalcy.

After reading the Hunger Games I was hungry (pun intended) for something similar because I just couldn't get enough. I picked this book up because it had been recommended by a coworker and I was completely hooked!

It was such a great read from beginning to end, I loved the way I could relate the story to actual things in present day. I also couldn't believe the author is only 22! Incredible!

I can't wait for the second book.

Amazingly written, roller coaster of emotions!

If you like Hunger Games, you will LOVE this book!

I simply could not put it down, it was finished within 1 night and now I'm dying for the next one to come out!