Insurgent (Divergent, #2)
by Veronica Roth
Genre: Science
Fiction/Dystopia
Reading Grade: Young
Adult
Publication Date: May
1, 2012
Source: hardcover
purchase
Age Rating: 13+
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.
"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
Wow, it took me a long
time to finish this one since it's so long and I had family visiting
for a good chunk of the time I spent reading it. All I can say is
that I didn't like this one as much as Divergent. Tris spends
so much time bouncing from one thing to the next, one place to
another, all without any direction or purpose. She finds out very
early on from Marcus, Tobias' father, that he knows why Jeanine
attacked the Abnegation faction at the end of the first book, but
Tris doesn't get that answer at that time. She doesn't even feel it's
all that significant of information to go after until the end of the
book.
I just feel like it
should have been much shorter and it would have been easier to get
through. There are a lot of unnecessary scenes and lengthy
descriptions that could have been left out completely. It bogged down
the flow of the story and made it soupy to tread through. Shouldn't
this story be more action-oriented and adrenaline-pumping? It is for
a few short scenes, but that's all in its entire 525 pages.
For some reason, I
sometimes find the second book in some trilogies to be “the sagging
middle” books, and Insurgent seems like that to me. There is
a plot twist at the very end that leaves you wanting to read the
third book because it promises to answer the overarching,
pink-elephant-in-the-middle-of-the-room question, why are all
these people living in factions in Chicago, Illinois and are
completely unaware of the outside world? So, I'll likely read
Book 3 just to find out, but it better be more focused, more
action-oriented and less cluttered with meaningless prose so it's not
such a pain to get through.
To authors: Please remember you need to write a real story even in Book 2 of your trilogies. If you can't, then save us the pain and write duologies, instead. 'Kay, thanks.
My score: 3/5
stars.
Thing is, it's not always the writer's fault. Publishers like trilogies - trilogies make money for them. So, as you say, second volumes can sag. Actually, I remember reading a padded-out FIRST volume and commenting on this, not blaming the author- and getting a comment from the author, who LOVED my review, suggesting to me that I got it right about who made them pad out the first volume. Personally, I prefer stand-alone novels that have sequels if they're good enough.
ReplyDelete@Sue: I know, publishers like trilogies, and they are fine. But, if a story doesn't need to be told in three installments, then it shouldn't because it will ruin the entire series with filler junk. I'll happily read a stand-alone if its the entire story that needs to be written and nothing more.
DeleteI don't know if I'll ever end up reading this one. I wasn't fond enough of Tris from the first book to be able to handle a whole other book. The only character I really liked was Tobias and I hear Tris doesn't treat him very well :(
ReplyDelete@Lan: Yeah, Tris wasn't as likable in this one. She was acting very stupid and self sacrifice-y, which bugged me a bit. She was also getting on Tobias' nerves, funnily enough. I suppose you could say it was a form of mistreatment.
Delete"Please remember you need to write a real story even in Book 2 of your trilogies. If you can't, then save us the pain and write duologies."
ReplyDeleteI second that! This is why I have a habit of only reading the first book in a series. I very rarely read an entire series.
I loved Divergent, but nothing I've read about Insurgent makes me all that excited to read it. Nice review!
@Camille: I know, right? I won't read beyond a Book 1 if I didn't like it enough, or care enough about the characters. Sometimes, I do and then have to slog through a second book that totally sucks and isn't telling me a story. It's just worthless filler.
DeleteYou should read Insurgent if you really want to understand the world of Divergent a little better. It should all become clear by Book 3, supposedly, so Book 2 is a necessary evil.
A-freaking-men! I hate second "filler" books, as I like to call them, I didn't even like the first one in this series, as you well know, so I'm relieved I don't have to drag myself through this one.
ReplyDelete@Jenny: Yes, "filler" is right! Perfect term. Don't bother reading this one if Book 1 wasn't your thing.
DeleteI'm with you, LaN. Tobias was a nice boy, but I wanted to strangle Tris.
ReplyDelete@Sue: Yeah, Tris really bugged me most of the book until the end.
Delete