Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Title: Allegiant

Author: Veronica Roth

Year: 2013

Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. (via goodreads)

STEPH SAID

Rating:

Review:

After the disaster that was Insurgent, my expectations were really low for this book. And maybe because of that it managed to surprise me. The pacing was really good, enough to be entertaining. It was also really nice to have Tris back. The smart, quick girl from the first book is back.

However, the plot was basically the same as the previous books. There's an evil government and a group of rebels revolts against it. The specifics of this story, the reasons behind the factions and everything, actually makes sense. So, I have to give the author that. Yet, it was riddled with plot devices in order to move the story forward. Instead of letting the story come alive, the author already had an idea in her mind and manipulated some characters and situations to get her way. For example, the fact that Four is not divergent, but genetically damaged, is bologna. Caleb and Peter are the perfect example of genetically damaged people. They can't help themselves. Even after Peter was reset, his traits came back, because that's the way he is. That’s how a genetically damaged person should be, according to the reality of the book. But, Four was not damaged by his genes, he was damaged by his upbringing. There's a difference between them. And even with his damaged past, Tobias was able to be smart and selfless and brave. Of course, we could start the old nature/nurture battle to defend one point or the other, but I believe that is not the point of this story.

But what ruined the whole story for me was Tris' ending. It was stupid and unnecessary. The author only did it for the shock value. And, every writer should know that that is the worst reason to write something into a story. It lacked a purpose, a motive, an ideal, a sentiment, a message, anything.

If she had died due to the death virus -- if it had taken her slowly, and after releasing the memory serum she collapsed and died -- it would have been a glorious death, the death of a hero. That death would’ve had purpose: to save everyone. Nevertheless, she survived the death serum and is shot by a guy in a wheelchair. She could've thrown something at him and wrestle him for the gun. But instead she just stayed there while he shot her.

Everything afterwards was unimportant.

To be honest, I like that peter reset himself. I think that Tobias should’ve reset himself as well. That excuse that Tris wouldn’t have like it was rubbish because, first, she wasn’t there anymore, so who cares. Also, it is OK for Peter to reset himself because we don’t agree with him or like his way of doing things or his personality, but it is not ok to let Four do the same because we like him. That’s not equality and it’s not fair. If it’s wrong for Tobias to reset himself, then it is wrong for Peter to do so.

The author gave us an epilogue to try to tell us that everything worked out in the end; Chicago is finally free. As I finished the book I asked myself, how many years is that happiness going to last?