Friday, November 8, 2013

Book Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth


Allegiant
by Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #3
Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi, action
Published October 22nd 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Publisher
Local bookstore: Fullybooked * National Bookstore


Blurb (Goodreads):
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

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 the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.




My Thoughts:

I just read the first dozen or two novels and then I met Divergent. An innocent reader, in other words. Before, all I knew and want to read are romance and chick-lits. I didn't expect to read and love action. Divergent was my first dystopian-action novel and it is the one that got me to read other dystopian books. Divergent was my first love if we talk about the genre. And I think I'll still love it even if it wasn't my first dystopian.

I've waited patiently for Insugent and my anticipation for the trilogy became higher and higher. I'm in love with the action, the romance, the mystery, the characters--especially the heorine, Tris. She didn't came as whiny, self-pity, love-sick, selfish or insecure. She's strong, even though she never had a chance before to see it, she's caring and loving--not only to Four/Tobias--but also to her family, friends, and even the people who barely knew her. She held guns and fire it but she never held power over people, and even if she looks accustomed to guns, I know she'd do anything to drop it and stop killing people--even the bad ones. She's brave. She really is. This is how Veronica Roth made the Divergent world and her characters. She made them so real, that I feel and know them.

Reading Allegiant scares me. I'm scared of what might happen, on how it will all end. Will there be ever peace? I was scared from Veronica Roth's teaser tweets. I was scared when I accidentally saw a spoiler online. She said--the spoiler--it was a joke, but it didn't stop me from freaking out and cursing that person. I was scared when I learned that Allegiant was told in two perspectives. I was scared to prove the spoiler correct.

It felt like eternity before this book releases. Before my copy arrives and ring the doorbell. As I was holding it in my hands, I am very much excited. As I started reading it, my excitement never dissipates but I found myself not wanting to turn the next page. I was scared of letting it go so quickly. I'm not ready for a big change, or for a big ending. I'm scared of letting this trilogy go.

Allegiant brings its readers on edge as it reveals more secrets and gives heart-stopping action for the last time. It contains decisions that's hard to be done (and hard to read, as a huge fan). Everything about this book, from beginning til the end, results to a one emotional read. Beware--especially to those who are very attached to this trilogy (which, I think, everyone).

If there's something I learned most about/from this trilogy, is be brave. Here's a little snippet from Allegiant, page 509:
     "There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known , or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater."

Anyone can be brave on his/her own way. Veronica Roth is brave to start an achingly beautiful trilogy with Divergent, and end it with the same feeling with Allegiant. She's brave to put an ending that I'm sure everyone will not agree to put in the first place. Veronica Roth, you are one brave woman, as brave as Tris Prior (even though I'm one of those people who'd want to shake you and tell you to please undo it). But I am brave as Tobias Eaton right now, that if I have a memory serum on my hands, I wouldn't drink it because I'd prefer to have this bittersweet memory than not have it at all, even if it promises to end pain.


P.S I forgot to include my comment on Goodreads after I finished reading it: After Allegiant, I'd like to read something light, cute, sweet and funny. Anything that would make this feeling go.
There are so many things I'd like to say about this book and the entire trilogy. But if I do, I might spoil you. So for anyone who'd like to talk about it, let's talk somewhere private. Let them find what we found. Haha :)


Check out my review for Divergent (book 1) and Insurgent (book 2)!

* Thanks to Megan, Harper Collins and Harper Collins International for a paperback copy for review!


Rating:
5 bleeding hearts.




7 comments:

  1. Michelle! I loved what you said! I had my copy the day after it was released and I was just so excited though it pained me beyond I expected. I wouldn't say I hate V. Roth, I was partly-disappointed on what she did in the ending. It just crushed me. I was one of those that really did not agree with the ending. Well, I still can't. I got an open-mind about it after V. Roth had stated her explanation on why she did such cruel ending (this is solely my opinion, no backlash please)... I understood. I accepted why she did it but it doesn't mean I got to like what she did.

    Yes, it did show how brave, just everyone was. How realistic V. Roth had done in it. She did say, that it showed how brave Tris was, and I agree. After everything it was just appropriate that was the ending; that after she had read Divergent, from that first book she already knew how she will end it. And looking back, the ending did suit what happened. Tris was depicted as brave, she overcame everything. But it just pained me deeply on how V. Roth ended it. That I even said that it was somehow a pyrrhic victory. I am still deciding if I'll take that back... well not really, as much as they were brave. As much as how it ended, I pity the one that was left behind. That after all that person had gone through, it felt almost empty because the one that you were fighting for was... gone.

    As for Tobias, kudos to him. I cried hard for him. I felt his pain, I felt his healing. *I am freaking teary-eyed just talking about Tobias*

    Cheers to Tobias! To Tris, Uriah, and everyone at the trilogy!
    Kudos, V. Roth even if you shattered my heart to bits.

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    1. OMG Jas let's cry together. HUHUHU T___T
      I NEVER liked the ending as well. Who does?? But I tried to keep an open mind and I understand it. But if you--everyone--would ask me, I'd choose a different ending. A total HEA. Perhaps just like THG.

      I really hate the person who wrote that spoiler on FB. After reading her comment, it totally broke my heart and even if I kept telling myself that it MUST be a joke, I can't!! I knew better! That's why when I read Allegiant I almost felt nothing (when it DID really happen) because I'm expecting it! Maybe if I didn't saw the spoiler, I'd be thrashing and never moved on about it (not that I'm not like that now, but maybe it'll be 100x more!).

      It's like you know your best friend is leaving but she left for good. I mean UGH!!! HUHUHUHU :'(((
      At least if it had a satisfying HEA, I'd accept the final but no. And am still loss for words. :(((

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    2. *cries with you* As much as I am tolerating the ending, because we have no choice but to accept it. I would still say I do not like the ending. As much as it was realistic and "appropriate" (as V. Roth said), I would totally dig a different ending, I mean the alternate HEA ending could be possible too, right? Yes, as much as I didn't like Mockingjay, at least Suzanne Collins had putted an epilogue that suits it. They overcame everything, which if you want to be an optimist was a good thing. Plus, AFTER EVERYTHING. AFTER ALL THOSE DEVASTATION. STILL "THAT" FOR AN ENDING? I just can't accept it that much. Like what I said, tolerable. At least, I'm in that part that I am trying to accept it. Even if it twists my gut every time I think about it.

      I FEEL YOU. I LITERALLY FEEL YOU. Do you know, I did read any spoilers? Yep, I never did. It was that morning at Fully Booked when my friend went with me and told me that he was heartbroken because he found out something earlier. I told him what was it; he said, are you sure you want to hear a major spoiler? Then, of course since I really don't know, I just told him to tell what it was. We were in front of the Customer Service at Fully Booked High Street when he told me that almost teary-eyed. You know what I did?
      Eyes bugged out. FIRST TIME I FELT MY KNEES ALMOST GIVING OUT (I really felt my knees bucked then almost turned Jell-O). I cling on the table. And I almost cried right there.
      When we got our book we went to the 2nd floor and I started skimming the part. I don't want t believe it. But then when I read it, the part about U and the epilogue. I was teary-eyed. AT FULLY BOOKED. I was doing the looking at the ceiling thingy to not cry. I felt that one blink and my tears would have fallen. I was fanning my eyes too. That was such heart-shattering :((((

      I hear you. I feel you. I understand whatever emotions you had. Because it's true, you would understand someone when he/she is or was in the same spot as you. :(

      Sorry for the nobela ;p

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    3. Girl, I wish you didn't convinced someone to tell you a spoiler no matter which book it is. But at least you have someone to PHYSICALLY cry with! If I ever tell it to my sister, she'd probably say, "para kang shunga". Riggght.

      Anyways, let's pat each other's back when we see each other real soon!

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  2. Great review, Michelle! It was truly heartbreaking, but like you, I gave it five stars anyway. It kind of felt logical to me that it would end the way it did, even if in a ways I would have loved it if it had ended differently.

    Have a fantastic Friday!

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. I loved it despite my breaking heart. Although I wished for a different ending, I know it wouldn't be realistic. I accepted Allegiant's ending because even if that thing actually happened, I understand why Tris did it. I understand why Veronica did it.

      But--but..
      :'(

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  3. Good review. I really liked this series and I actually like the ending even though many people didn't.

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