Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent (#1) 

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Hardcover: 496 pages 

Published: May 3, 2011

Amazon Summary: 

"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:
I read a two-sentence blurb for this book sometime in late 2010 and I have been eagerly anticipating it ever since. Seriously guys, it's probably my most anticipated read of 2011. Now, it's finally HERE! EVERYONE can and should go read this amazing un-put-down-able (is that a word?) book. The ARC gods..(errr goddesses in this case) shined/shone (grammar fail?) down on me and bestowed a beautiful ARC of Divergent. Upon receiving it, I literally jumped up and down and did a happy dance. You would think that since I had this book I had been CRAVING for months that I would crack it open at the first moment possible. Instead, I waited. I often do this with books I have been really looking forward to. I just don't want to start it because then it will end. I know if I start reading I'll tear through it in a matter of hours and then I'll be stuck waiting another YEAR before I can read the next one. I wanted to savorrrrrr Divergent while reading it, draw it out and let the awesomeness last as long as possible.  That didn't happen. Two days, my dears. I couldn't stop reading!

One of my favorite elements in this book was the setting, my beloved city of Chicago. I've lived and worked in the heart of the city and know it well. All the landmarks she incorporated into the story just made it even more realistic and breathtaking. For example, Lake Michigan has become a marsh (totally could see that happening in real life) and The Sears Tower is now the "hub" of the city. 

There are elements that could be compared to some other dystopian novels like Delirium, Matched and (inevitably) The Hunger Games trilogy. But the story is so unique, shocking and just keeps the turns and twists coming. The characters are amazing - Tris is awe-inspiring and Four is....le sigh.

Also, something enjoyable....the chapters were each a perfect length. Isn't that a weird thing to put in a review? I hate LONG drawn out chapters and sometimes if a chapter is too short it makes things feel choppy. The chapters were spaced so well. The cliffhangers were perfectly placed and each chapter had just the right amount of tension that kept me turning the pages over and over... This book clocks in at almost 500 pages, but every page is chock-full of greatness.

I honestly haven't read a negative review of this book. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find someone that didn't just love and adore this book. This has been my favorite read of the year so far, I'm sure that there are tons of fans out there saying the same thing. So YES! Believe the hype! 

Judge a Book By It's Cover: I heart this cover. Love the gorgeous skyline at the bottom, my husband (the guy that hasn't read a book in years) even said he thought it looked cool!

  5 (million) Stars! 

Author Veronica Roth: Blog / Twitter

Divergent on Facebook

Haper Collins / Amazon / GoodReads  / Barnes and Noble

*Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy courtesy of Harper Collins/Katherine Tegen Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The links in this reviews are not affiliate links. Also, sorry for the excessive use of parentheses, it happens when I get excited and start rambling.