Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Book One in the Divergent Series
Published By: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
Source: Purchased
Genre: YA Dystopian
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Book Description:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

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Why did I not start this one sooner?

This is the very question I was asking myself as I became immersed in the pages of Tris's story. What can I say, I loved every minute of it and devoured it in one sitting. How could I have waited so long to start this? What was holding me back?

The hype. I am always leery of hype and more often than not, it keeps me from starting series rather than diving into them. Not a great known fact but one nonetheless. 

But after starting this I still can't believe I let the hype get to me and hold me back. I mean really, is it possible not to love Tris and Four?

All I have to say is this, don't let the hype (good or bad) hold you back or keep you from picking this up, it is worth it, I promise. Whether you love it or hate it, the experience will be worth it. 

I honestly went into this with little expectations. I didn't want to get my hopes up on loving it and being disappointed. I didn't want to be let down once again by a promised “this book will blow you away” deal I just feared wouldn't live up to my expectations and hopes. And with the movie hitting theaters soon, the hype was even more fantastical than when it was first released. 

What I wasn't expecting, was for this to exceed all my secreted away hopes and wishes for it. That I would indeed love it  In fact I wouldn't even say I loved so much as tell you that I couldn't stop thinking about this each time I had to put it down or long after the story had ended. I liked it so much I would even go so far as to say this will make my top 20 for the year and the year is only a third over and I still know this will be in my top 20. 

Roth really has created something that stands out. Some fantastical. Something amazing that will make your heart pump in fear one minute because of the unknown and the dangers and pump again in a rush of excitement the next. With heroes every bit that live up to the meaning of the word and conspiracies that are gut wrenching as much as they are sickening. 

This was quite the ride. One I didn't want to come down from and one I know I will take all over again in the future and one I am not even close to being ready for it to be over. 

Only two more books to go, will I survive the ride?

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by an outside source. I was not compensated for this review.*