There are so many ways one can define a book, right? Some books are intense, while others are light and breezy. However, if I have to define the book Divergent, I will say that it’s a really fun book. Yes, ‘fun’ is the word that works the best for a book like Divergent.

Divergent (Review)

Divergent is Veronica Roth‘s debut novel. Divergent is also the first book in the trilogy, followed by Insurgent and Allegiant. Apparently, Veronica Roth wrote this book as a part of her creative writing project. She was pursuing a creative writing program at Northwestern University. Her manuscript for the Divergent was purchased and published after she graduated from her creative writing program. Her trilogy turned out to be a massive success, and there are also movies based on all three books. Even the movies garnered a lot of recognition and success. Shailene Woodly and Theo James were cast as the leads for the film. Quite a success story, isn’t it?

Now, for those who don’t know, Divergent is a Young Adult Dystopian novel. In the book, we get to read about the post-apocalyptic version of Chicago. The book follows the story of Beatrice, aka Tris. Now, the post-apocalyptic Chicago is pretty unique. Society is divided into five different factions. And the survivors are divided and put into these factions. They are tested so as to determine which faction will be the best for them, and the survivor gets a chance to choose their own faction as well.

However, if a survivor fails to complete the initiation test, then he/she will become factionless, and therefore, they will have to live on the streets. And if someone has equal aptitude for more than one faction, then they are deemed ‘Divergent’. And Divergents are a massive threat to the strictly confined society of post-apocalyptic Chicago. That’s why the book is titled “Divergent”. Honestly, this entire faction thing reminded me of the hat sorting ceremony from Harry Potter. Well, one can be inspired, right?

Anyway, the five factions are: Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), and Dauntless (the brave). Now, our protagonist Tris belongs to a family full of Abnegations. But somehow she feels that she doesn’t fit in this faction. After contemplating a lot about her future, she finally decides which faction she belongs to, and that’s when the adventure begins.

After she chooses her faction and passes the crazy test for the same, she meets this guy named Tobias “Four” Eaton, who is her instructor. Her training begins at the faction, along with others. The training gets really hardcore, and they have to learn to work with guns, fight with knives, and wrestle with the strength of their body. Tris and Four share quite a close relationship, and things get pretty complicated as some secrets surface. Now, personally, I loved the book.

It was really fun to read. There was so much happening that I wasn’t bored for even a second. Right from the first page the book completely takes off, and it’s pretty unputdownable. I think this is one of those page-turner books that will just completely absorb your attention. You wouldn’t want to be distracted while reading this book. It’s one of those books that you can finish in one sitting. And I think that’s pretty cool.

Frankly, I even loved Veronica Roth’s writing. It’s pretty descriptive. She has added these little tiny bits of details that make the reading experience even more enjoyable. Her writing will make you visualize the entire story in your mind. And I love that. It’s like watching your own unique movie but in your mind. I love that feeling. And the book is pretty easy as well. As in, the language is quite simple for anyone to read and understand. So, if you are a beginner, you can definitely pick this book. However, there are some things that I didn’t like about this book that much. And it’s important to talk about that as well. My biggest problem with this book is that it’s a bit unbelievable but not in a good way. You get what I am trying to say, right?

"This is one of those page-turner books that will just completely absorb your attention. You wouldn't want to be distracted while reading this book." Click To Tweet

I mean just imagine a train that does not stop at any stoppage, so the survivors have to jump off to land at the right place. I mean, why? That’s not quite believable. Moreover, Veronica Roth’s imagination of the post-apocalyptic Chicago just doesn’t work. Well, at least for me it doesn’t. I was really confused while I was reading the book, and my imagination was kind of all over the place. Also, the book is extremely rushed – like, really rushed. So, I feel Veronica Roth could have written it with a bit more patience, logic, and maturity. I think then it would have worked pretty well actually. There are some parts in the book that just do not seem well-thought. The lack of research and knowledge reeks throughout the book and hence makes you feel like you are reading a poorly written book, even though the plot had a lot of potentials.

I have mixed feelings regarding this book. I mean I loved reading it, it was really fun. Also, I got really attached to Tris. Her courage and personality are so charming that you will absolutely fall in love with her. But sadly, overall, the book did not leave a lasting impression on my mind. It didn’t turn me into a loyal fan. So, I will recommend this book only to those who are looking for a quick, adventurous, and fun book. Don’t dig too deep and you will be good to go! You can get the book here! 📖

This article contains affiliate links. BookWritten may earn a commission when you buy using these links.