Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: 22nd October 2013
Source: Bought
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Description:
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.
Allegiant is ambitious, thought
provoking, shocking and most of all its heartbreaking. The final book in The
Divergent trilogy is one hell of a conclusion. Reading this book is like
watching a train crash. It a story carries with it an impeding sense of doom.
You know something is coming that you are powerless to prevent but you can’t
stop watching the events unfold. It’s a maelstrom of emotions that will tip you
over the edge.
Reactions to Allegiant have been
very mixed with a lot of hate for the direction Veronica Roth took the story
in. It’s an ending that will divide people for sure. So a word to the wise,
this book isn’t one that carries a happy ending. It’s a story about brave
individuals fighting for a better world. As a result there are going to be
consequences. Personally, I loved this book even more than Divergent and
Insurgent. The plot of Allegiant goes in a very unexpected direction than the
previous books of the trilogy. Roth shifts the focus from the factions to what
lies outside the fence. As Tris and Tobias venture outside their comfort zone
they discover that the outside world is not exactly the paradise they were
expecting. It’s out of the oven and into the frying pan for our brave heroes.
The outside world is full of revelations and the truth is not going to set them
free. Decisions are made and battles are fought. The story is riveting and will keep you glued to the pages.
Allegiant and The Divergent
trilogy are not just books for meant for escapism and entertainment. Roth is an
exceptional storyteller whose words and characters have a profound effect. These
characters are thrust into extraordinary situations and their feelings and actions
are thought provoking. Allegiant explores morality, humanity, anger,
resentment, love, power and selflessness. It explores the perception and
importance people place on identity. The revelations and events affect each of
the characters in different ways. There is no one-way to look at the issues.
How Tris feels about certain events is very different from the way Tobias
reacts. Roth ensures that multiple
view points are incorporated in to the narrative allowing the reader to form
his or her own opinion about the world and what it all adds up to.
The truth is a constant presence
in Allegiant. Plenty of secrets
are exposed. The revelations added
another layer to the complex tapestry of Divergent. A lot of blank spaces were filled in. The evolution of society
into the factions system was addressed. We also get to learn more about the
serums and Tris’s mother. The
revelations changed some of the characters and their opinions, driving them to
making difficult decisions.
Tris is a selfless woman who will
do anything to protect her friends.
I love how much Tris has grown over the course of the books. She has so
much strength both physically and mentally. She is a force to be reckoned with.
Her drive to always do what she believes in is a respectable trait. In
Allegiant Tris is stuck in-between a rock and a hard place and she has to make
some tough calls. She has to fight
for the people she loves and the consequences are devastating. I don’t necessarily agree with the
actions that Tris, Tobias and the other took. I was apprehensive reading about what
was going on. Although I don’t agree with some of the events Roth has made sure
that the motivations of the characters were clear. I understood where they were
coming from and why they did what they did. I felt like their actions were in
line with their personalities. Overall, I understand why Tris’s and Tobias
story ended as it did. It made sense given who they are.
We get to see a lot more Tobias
in this instalment, since the story is told from a dual point of view. On a small note, there was not a lot of
distinction between Tobias and Tris voices. Sometimes I could tell whose
account I was reading. We get to see how Tobias sees Tris and his complicated
feelings for his parents. Tobias goes though a bit of an identity crisis and
doesn’t necessarily make the best decisions. The romance between Tobias and
Tris sees a bit of conflict but they are always devoted to each other. Christina
is a supportive friend to both Tris and Tobias. Caleb also plays major roles in
this story.
Allegiant is a fantastic book
full of emotion and consequences. A fitting conclusion to a brilliant story.
