"Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Caution: The following book is the last in a trilogy. I can promise that there are no major spoilers, but I don’t promise that there are no spoilers at all.

            Also, look for the movie version of “Divergent,” the first book in the trilogy. It hits theaters March 21!

Allegiant (Oct. 22, 2013) by Veronica Roth.

Chicago is a fenced-in city plagued by violence. It is practically impossible to find peace and kindness amidst the destruction and power struggles. It affects everyone, including Beatrice “Tris” Prior, who’s also been scarred by the loss of loved ones and betrayed by someone who should have put love first. When given an opportunity, she and several others go beyond the fence – literally – to discover what’s on the other side. Also with her is Tobias “Four” Eaton. He disapproves of the way the factionless are trying to assert power, and they are overseen by someone he long thought was dead.

            Outside the only place they’ve ever known, they find that the grass is not greener on the other side. They find out more about their origin, and that reality is perhaps the most alarming thing of all. Even in the new location, at the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, there is a hierarchy. There are those deemed “genetically pure” (GPs) and those deemed “genetically damaged” (GDs). To which category do the Divergent belong and why? The discoveries made about their history and the current reality will test them. Tobias will cross an imaginary line and be riddled with guilt over the outcome. Tris will battle to understand sacrifice. Does she understand letting someone sacrifice oneself out of guilt as opposed to out of love? Can she find courage and strength under the greatest duress?

            As far as the writing itself, Roth again showcased that she is an intelligent writer capable of complexity. She wrote this conclusive YA novel from the perspectives of both Tris and Tobias. While I enjoy multiple-perspective stories, I sometimes found the segue between the two to be too similar. Like, the characters thoughts were so similar that they occasionally appeared to read as the same character. But don’t let that stop you from reading “Allegiant!” If you have been following the trilogy, you won’t want to miss this book. And with it hitting theaters shortly, many others might not want to miss this book and its predecessors, either!

            Although I liked the complexity of the plot, and the conclusion wrapped itself up in a satisfactory way, I still have mixed feelings of the book. And this is only because this book will be now known to me as The Book That My Favorite Character Dies In. For spoiler reasons, I will not say who that character is, and if you do know, I ask that you please do not publish it in a comment. All that aside, Roth definitely made this final book a dramatic one. The back of  the book jacket says: “One choice can transform you. One choice can destroy you. One choice will define you.” And of her choice for the finale? Well, let’s just say she’s rather dauntless!

            Book One: Divergent

            Book Two: Insurgent