Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
This is a young adult dystopian novel (Rated PG-13)
♥
(One Lonely Heart)
Book Summary
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.
Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.
My Review
Another disappointing series ender and I had high hopes. Let’s
just say that I understand an author creativity and imagination are their own.
However, at some point you must consider the reader. Maybe you don’t change
your storyline, but you can consider if that is the ending is the only way to
achieve the stories goals.
I will say my rating is emotional and not the author technical skill at crafting a well told story. It just was too much for me to bare not to show my displeasure in my rating.
I can’t possibly say more without spoilers, so if you haven’t
read yet, don’t unless you want SPOILERS.
SPOILERS – below this line
I actually like the dual POV. That didn’t bother me much.
And I can understand why Tris had to be the one to go in and release the memory
serum. That is in her character.
However, David shooting and killing Tris didn’t further the
story in anyway. I believe if an author decides to kill off an important
character, there ought to be good reason. This felt very much like Andrea
Cremer killing off a boy to solve a love triangle in the Nightshade series instead
of letting the girl make a decision. This act by an author makes a reader reluctant
to read anything in the future by him or her. NO one wants this devastation
after following a series for so long. One year in between books.
So what happened after Tris’s death that made it necessary
to kill her? Well let’s see. The troops didn’t rally to achieve a goal they
weren’t sure of until her untimely death. Four/Tobias didn’t become a better
man or make significant changes in his life as a result of her death. So what
was the point? Shock value?
Some might say it was a way to show how one overcomes grief.
That had already been achieved with Tris parents’ death, Uriah, Will, etc. This
didn’t need to happen to show that.
Everything that came after Tris’s death still could have
been achieved with her remaining alive. Personally, I wish they both died like
Romeo and Juliet or they both lived rather than one to remain behind to grieve.
On a side note, I hate when author’s leave things open. Did Tris
and Tobias have sex in that room or what? I can’t believe the author was
cowardly enough to leave that for the reader to decide but had no problem
giving Tris the ax.
In the end, I can’t support this series by ever recommended
it. Nor will I see the movie in theatres or buy the DVD. I waited a couple of
years to read this series as each book was released. I can wait however long to
see the movie (if I still care by then) on cable as a part of my normal cable
bill.
Audio Review
Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford narrated. Aaron Stanford did
an amazing job. Emma did a reasonably good job except I had a hard time discerning
between Tris and Four in her narration which is quite a problem.
If you hated the ending as much as I did, I wrote on the fly about a half an hour after I finished an alternate ending. I don’t claim to be an author or Veronica Roth. My words are constructed half as well. And I may have series grammar or spelling issues. However, you will get an idea how with out much change I have altered the ending with Tris still alive. Much of the ending can remain the same. I didn’t spell out parts that were in the story. I only put the parts that I would change. You’ll get the idea. Enjoy. (my book boyfriend pic is below)
FAN FICITION ALTERNATE ENDING
TOBIAS
“Where is everyone?”
Amar says….
I see Cara….. That’s not what concerns me… “What is it,” I
say… “Where is Tris?”…
Her eyes fill with tears and a tale spills from her mouth
that I don’t want to believe. “Where is she?” I demand again and she turns shuffling
through the halls with what looks like pain in each of her steps. I long to
run. I need to see with my own eyes, but it takes forever and no time at all to
get there.
Tris is lying in a bed as still as stone. Her pallor is pasty
and grey. Just like Uriah, she looks as if she is
sleeping. I reach for her hand and it is warm. The coma they put her in to stop
the swelling on her brain could save her life but at what cost.
I am sad and angry, pissed and hurt.
She may not live and for what? A brother who would have let her die? I want to
yell at her and break up with her for doing this to me again. It didn’t matter
she survived the death serum. It didn’t matter she saved us all… again by
releasing the memory serum. She was damn lucky David wasn’t a good shot. He hit
her in the chest causing one of her lungs to collapse. The other bullet hit her
in the leg which was the worst blow. She collapsed and hit her head hard on the
edge of the box and then the corner of the table as she went down. We know this
by the evidence of her blood that stained those areas. And no one is sure she
will survive.
~
Several days later…
We stand around Tris bed. The doctors
have stopped administering the drug that has kept Tris from us. Work continues
around the compound to teach those survivors the new truth that will stop the
propaganda about “damaged genres” and I could care less. I haven’t slept well
since coming back and finding the girl I love on the brink of death. Christiana
has offered to hold vigil for me but I have refused just in case. Just in case
she wakes up. And I want to be there when and not if she does. I haven’t eaten
much except for a muffin or sandwich someone brings to me every now and then.
And I only eat it because what use will I be to Tris if I’m dead from lack of
eating or drinking.
Although the drug had been stopped
several hours ago, the doctors said it would take time before she would wake up.
And when her fingers flutter in my hand, I reluctantly called the others to let
them know she was coming around. Part of me wanted to be selfish and keep this
just for myself, but that’s not who I am.
When her eyes flutter open, I feel
tears in my own. I blink them back hastily, not wanting to miss a moment
through blurred vision. I long to be the first person she sees. I still hold
her small hand not able to let that go. It’s been a constant reminder that she
is still alive.
She blinks and her eyes don’t land on
me. I try not being jealous of that. She surveys the circle of us, Christiana,
Cara, Zeke, Caleb and me. When her eyes find mine I wait… and wait. Nothing.
There is no recognition of me in her eyes. She looks back at Caleb and says his
name.
The doctors who were huddled on her
right side start taking her vitals. I can see they want us to leave but know we
will not. I will not.
“Beatrice,” Caleb replies.
She gives him a small smile. Then it
fades when her eyes drift to her hand, the one that I still hold. I realize
that my grip has tightened in my fear of what her next words might be. I let go
a little because I don’t want to hurt her.
She looks up at me before snagging her
hand away. “Who are you?” And my world falls away.
~
I’m not sure how much time has passed.
Tris doesn’t remember anyone but her brother. I want to laugh at the unfairness
of it all. It was because of him she was in this state. But that doesn’t
matter. The doctors explain that she has damage to her short term memory. And
by short term they didn’t mean a few hours or days. They meant a few years. She
doesn’t remember the choosing ceremony or me. She doesn’t remember her parents’
deaths.
Caleb has been the one to explain these
things to her and not me. She doesn’t know or trust me yet and my heart
continues to break.
Christiana has tried to be a friend to
me. She’s even tried to explain that Tris will come around and that a love like
ours won’t die. I want to believe her, but Tris won’t even allow me to visit.
She is grieving again over the loss of her parents. And even though Cara has
been explaining her past and me, she has refused to see me yet.
~
Two and a half years later
“How is your mother?” Tris asked.
“Fine, I guess.” It is weird to have my mother back or that
we will share space.
Those thought die away as I look back at the girl. She is
still small but her color is back. She looks a lot healthier.
It took a long time for Tris to allow me to get to know her.
She is the same but different. She is the same with her determination. At the
compound, once she was released from the hospital, she requested to see all the
footage they had on her life including seeing her parents’ death. Still she
didn’t seek me out even though I was sure she had to have seen our moments
together.
I’d come close to taking the memory serum, not wanting to see
Tris and not be with her. But Christiana save me from that fate. She had been
right. It would have been a cowardly way
out. So biding my time with calm over the city, I persisted in my pursuit of
her. We went on our first date a couple of months ago and it was strange but
nice. She got to know me and I’m getting to know her. I don’t get to see her
every day because she’s chosen to be a part of the police force which fits. I’m
not at all surprised by her choice. However, she’s guarded with her heart.
She’s only allowed me a hand full of dates. Part of me thinks that Christiana
has convinced her to give me a chance. And I resent that she’s allowed Christiana
and Caleb back in her life but not me. But the other part of me doesn’t care. I
believe that if she loved me once, she will love me again.
With her standing so close, I long to pull her close and
kiss her. I know better though.
Today, I’ve convinced her to go on this date because I’ve
told her I wanted to face a fear. I’ve also explained that she loved doing
this. That fierce nature of hers burns bright. And I’ve missed it. It’s been a
few weeks since I seen her. She’s been busy doing this and that as she
explained in those very words. As much as that bothered me, I’m still trying to
be patient.
The wind whips around us as we stand on the platform. We are
alone now, our friends down below.
I turn to look at her. Her small frame eclipses mine. Hers
full of wonder and excitement. Mine lacking courage and full of fear.
She smiles and it feels like she hasn’t forgotten us. But I
know different. “You’re going to love it,” she says with conviction. She’s
holding the contraption that is the only thing that will save me from sure
death. “Go face first.”
I still and turn back to face her after looking out over the
daunting ledge. She steps over to me. On auto pilot, I lean down and into her
because there was something in her words that takes me back to a past I thought
I lost. I pause when I catch myself. I don’t want to spook her or stop this
moment which feels like it may change things forever.
In a voice that is hesitant yet strong, she says, “Only
Four…” And I’m not sure she is referring to my name or to the number of fears I
had. “Only you… I’m beginning to remember.” Her mouth presses to mine in a kiss
I thought I’d never feel again. I am so stunned, I barely hear her explain that
her memories had started to come back in pieces. Although the doctors had
explained that might be a possibility, with so much time passing, I didn’t
think it would ever happen.
“Get in,” she says with a grin as bright as the sun.
And I do. Despite it all, this feels like a new beginning.
It finally feels like I can move on. It finally feels right. And face forward,
I zip line to my friends to await our future, too await the girl of my dreams.
And nothing seems impossible. And it feels like I’m flying. And I am. I’m a
high with the knowledge that life doesn’t have to end when bad things happen.
Persistence, patience, kindness and understanding can get us all through
anything and everything if we will let it. And I look back to chance a glance
at the girl who changed my life forever.
My book boyfriend Tobias (as if it would be anyone else)
View all my reviews
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