Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Published by Putnam January 2013

384 pages

Source: ARC provided by the publisher for review

Summary:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. 

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.
But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

My Thoughts:

  I am a major fan of the Dystopian genre, something about it speaks to me as a reader. Even so, I was late to get on the “Legend” train so to speak as I only picked up Marie Lu’s first novel of the series (Legend) in early January of this year.  I fell in love with the characters immediately, and with the author’s writing style. I enjoyed reading the dual perspectives of June and Day though the alternating inks in the book became a little distracting.  I had high hopes for Prodigy, and was thrilled when asked to participate in a blog tour for it.

   Prodigy picks up exactly where Legend ended and we find Day and June searching for the Patriots in Vegas and hoping to be reunited with Tess. Tess is one of my favourite characters in the books. Resilient, forgiving and strong, Day needs her and has leaned on her much more than he realizes. Though the relationship between Day and June is sudden and complex it is written so well that it is  believable.  They trust one another when from an observers point of view they should be doing anything but trusting each other. Though not as action packed as the first novel, I was still completely engaged. I found the descriptions of the world they live in whether that be the Republic or the Colonies compelling, and we also discover in Prodigy what the catalyst was for the division in America.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this series is that you never really know who the “bad guy” is. The person who you believe to be the enemy isn’t always, and much depends on perspective. I think this theme through out the books is such a great comment on our reality.  I can’t even talk about that ending. (tears)

A gripping follow-up to Legend and I can  not wait for more. Highly recommended for fans of Delirium by Lauren Oliver, and Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Book Review: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

This is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

Published by St. Martins Griffin June 2012

Pages: 323

Source: Borrowed from library

Summary:

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

My Thoughts:

   I finished reading This is Not A Test a week ago and I still haven’t fully recovered. So much more than a ‘zombie’ book, it was hard to read for reasons that I did not expect. Usually characters in Zombie novels are running from death, not toward it, and as the story continues we learn that Sloane’s home life is scarier than most apocalyptic fiction. It was interesting that though Sloane had given up on living she turns out to be the one with the most courage….is it that she has nothing left to lose? There were so many pages filled with stand out, beautifully crafted writing:

One of My favourite scenes:

“The thing no one tells you about surviving, about the mere act of holding out, is how many hours are nothing because nothing happens. They also don’t tell you about how you can share your deepest secrets with someone, kiss them, and the next hour it’s like there’s nothing between you because not everything can mean something all the time or you’d be crushed under the weight of it. They don’t tell you how you will float through days. You autopilot, here but not really here, sleepwalking, and then every so often you are awake.
The next moment that matters turns out to be this one:    “Do you need anything?”

Not overly gory as zombie books go, but disturbing and intense just the same. Take complex characters and throw them into a life or death situation and it becomes a book that is impossible to put down. I couldn’t wait to get back to read this everyday and when I wasn’t reading it I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  This was my first Courtney Summers book but it won’t be my last.

Why I Would Not Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

I have been on an Apocalyptic/zombie reading kick lately, and if it’s done one thing, it’s brought to light that I would have absolutely no chance of survival….Actually, this post could be titled “Why I Would Not Survive Any Type of Apocalypse”

1. I don’t run. I honestly, don’t run. I probably couldn’t make it around the block..also run = sweat. I don’t sweat either.
2. I have a weak stomach. Zombies are gross and I would probably throw up before I could get away.
3. Apocalypse's in general, usually mean food shortages… I do not function with low blood sugar. It makes me tired and weepy, so I would probably faint, or cry or both before I could get away.
4. I have no basic survival skills- I don’t know how to make a fire, or build a shelter..also, I hate dirt.
5. I don’t know how to fish, or hunt, or “gather”
6. also… I don’t garden. I try, but the vegetables apparently need regular watering, and weeding.
7. I have no fighting skills. No Martial Arts or Kick boxing… not even Tai Chi.
8. I have no weapons, and If I did I wouldn’t know how to use them.
9. I am too trusting. I would probably trust the wrong person and they would throw me to the zombies as bait, or as a decoy.
10. I like my house and my bed, and my TV and my computer and all the comforts of home. How could I  leave? I’d stay and eventually they’d find me….

What about you? Would you have what it takes to survive?

Here are a few of my favourite Zombie/Apocalyptic Reads:
     

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Publication Date: May 1st by Harperteen

Reviewed from ARC provided by the publisher (THANK YOU)

Summary:

    One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.


My Thoughts:
    There is truly no way I could write this without a ton of superlatives so I’ll just have to go with it- bear with me. OMG.  I’m not sure where I could even begin to tell you the amazingness between the covers of this book. Divergent was exceptional, but the plot twists and turns, the beautifully crafted character of Tris and *sigh* Four in Insurgent have come together to create an engaging, and thrilling read from start to finish. Tris is a complex multi-layered character who has grown leaps and bounds through both books. I’d like to think that I would be as brave, as self-sacrificing as she is in the books, and as dedicated to uncovering the truth.  In Insurgent we learn more about the four Factions, their strengths and their weaknesses as well as the Faction-less.  I want to be careful not to drop spoilers, but I will say that there were points where my jaw dropped and times where I shouted out loud. The ending was a shock and has left me desperate for the next in the series. It’s clear that things are not always what they seem and that Tris’s world is forever changed. Highly Recommended. This series is one to buy for your home library.

Book Review: Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (Guest Post)

 Donna and I met when I worked at the library near the high school where she taught. She was kind enough to let me join the high school book club she began and we partnered running the meetings. I instantly felt a connection with her as she loves YA as much as I do and is such a wonderfully, kind and genuine person. She is also tons of fun to be with and we have the same sense of humour. I'm so happy that even though we no longer "work" together, she's become a very dear friend. 

Her Review:

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Published by Simon & Schuster November 2011

329 Pages

Summary

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everyday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Thoughts:

    This novel's energy does not let up for a second. Jeyn Roberts has created a fascinating story of desperation and terror. The modern-day tale opens with the unleashing of something unexplainable across the world where normal people suddenly turn into killers, murdering their children, students and neighbours. As the story unfolds, we learn that some people (seemingly immune are trying desperately to find a safe place. However, who can they trust? The book's chapters are categorized by the names of four main characters: Aries, Mason, Clementine and Michael. As each person faces unspeakable horror, the reader is also exposed to the realities of what humanity is capable of doing to one another. Is this time any different than genocides and wars perpetrated by people in the past? The goal among these characters is to reach the University of British Columbia, where survivors have managed to gather. As each person gets closer to the west, they travel through towns and cities, ravaged and emptied by this unknown force. This novel storyline is a race against time; I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published by HarperCollins Nov 15 2011

Reviewed from ARC provided by the publisher

Summary

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

    I have no idea where to begin. The buzz and positive reviews have really said it all. I'm not sure how to articulate how I felt while reading this, in a way that will stand out  do the book justice. 

It was awesome  exceptional from the first page.  The fact that this is my favourite genre to read may have  probably has something to do with my love for this story, but I also think the writing was strong, the plot was compelling and I adored Juliette. I wavered between wanting to be her (um...can we say Adam!) and wanting to rescue her myself.  

I read this is in one sitting. I could not tear myself away, and I know that I'll want to need to go back and re-read again because at the rate I turned the pages I'm sure I missed a few things. :) 

 Tahereh has an lovely, admirable, gifted writing style. She's able to compel the reader forward, but there is still beauty in her words. I marked many phrases and quotes from the book as I read. As I go back to read again, I'm sure I'll find more.  I am looking forward to reading it again, and can not wait for more from this talented author. Highly  Very Highly Recommended.

For more information about the author:   

Her website:  http://taherehmafi.com/ 

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Unwind by Neal Schusterman

Published 2007 by Simon & Schuster

Hardcover 335 Pages

Reviewed from Library Copy

Summary

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
 

Favourite Quote 

"One thing you learn when you've lived as long as I have-people aren't all good, and people aren't all bad. We move in and out of darkness and light all of our lives. Right now, I'm pleased to be in the light."

  Everything I have read by this talented author. I have loved. An amazing writer with a gift in storytelling, which is the reason why I read....for the story.
  Centred around three characters sent to be "unwound" the author shares their life experiences before they met and their lives now as they are intertwined. I loved that the book had many different voices sharing the experience of the moment. Unwind was an emotionally charged journey for the characters and for me as I read.  Absorbing and upsetting at times, it wasn't like books I'd read before where I had a sense of where it was headed.   A controversial subject matter and ethically charged, Unwind is thought provoking, disturbing and brilliant. Highly recommended.
   
 
 

The ASHES, ASHES Plague and Pestilence Blog Tour

I'm so excited to be a stop on The Plague and Pestilence Blog Tour!!

Ashes Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Published by Scholastic Canada June 1st 2011

Summary

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through

the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

My Q & A with the wonderful Jo Treggiari
Huge thank you's to Scholastic for arranging the tour and to Jo for stopping by!

1. I found the beginning chapters with Lucy on her own very emotional, her desperation to survive and the memories of what was, made me want to weep for her. How did Lucy’s character, who she is, and her ideals come to you?

I got the idea for portraying a major city (in this case NYC) which had been ravaged by climactic change first. That happened very naturally. I lived there and it was interesting to replace all that concrete and steel with destruction, move the roads around, knock down buildings, and turn the Hudson River into a sea. Once I had that picture in my head, I saw a teen girl there. All alone, looking out at the water. I think all writers put themselves into their characters. Sometimes the best of themselves, sometimes the worst, or a mix of both. Lucy is not perfect (like me!) but she is strong within herself. She has a sense of what matters to her, and a streak of independence and stubbornness. Once I had her figured out, it was almost like she let me know how she felt about the situations I was putting her into. She felt real to me, and I had to stay true to her.

2. Some of society’s worst fears are realized in Ashes, Ashes. The fact that they are all plausible makes the story even scarier... out of the perils happening in Lucy’s world- which one would you/do you fear the most?


    The Sweepers and Dr. Lessing scare me the most. I don’t want to give anything anyway, but inflexibility, human obsession and a belief that might is right, can be terrifying things.
As far as the natural disasters go, the tsunami scares me the most. I almost lost a very dear friend in the Indian tsunami disaster in 2004. Just watching the news footage gave me nightmares.

3. Dystopian story lines are becoming more and more popular, what do you think draws readers to them?

    The human spirit is always at the heart of any dystopian and I think that is very attractive to us. Just that spark of rebellion or individuality in the midst of rigid social order or restriction. As far as post-apocalyptic fiction goes, I think survivors are always interesting. They have lived through something that is unimaginable.

4. Feeling the need to let all the trivial everyday stuff slide away is one of the many things I got from reading Ashes, Ashes. Did you intend that message when you were writing?

    Not really an intended message but I think that we do get wrapped up in trivial stuff sometimes (not that that is bad necessarily. I wouldn’t want life to be all serious. We must have chocolate and escapist movies!) and forget what is really important, which to me comes down to friends and family, and trying to be kind to each other. If you’re not sure where your next meal is coming from, you might not care so much about your manicure or the fact that some other girl is flirting with your crush.

5. If your shelter was about to be flooded and you could only grab three items what would they be and why?

    Matches, a sharp knife and a blanket. (This is assuming that I have neither children or dogs, right?!). The ability to make a fire is crucial; a knife can be used as a tool and also a weapon; and I could make the blanket into a tent or a sleeping roll or hang it as a screen or wear it as a poncho.

6. Anything else you’d like readers to know? Events or signings coming up?

   I’m not sure where your readers are located but if any are in Nova Scotia I’m doing signings and readings at Woozles and Chapters/Bayers Lake on June 18th as part of the Atlantic Author Day. Oh and later on in the summer, I’ll be at the Halifax Word on the Street literary festival. I’ll post all details of those and other events on my website: http://www.jotreggiari.com/

                        Check out the other stops for The ASHES, ASHES Plague and Pestilence Blog Tour

Midnight Bloom Reads - June 14

Rayment's Readings, Rants and Ramblings - June 14

Lavender Lines - June 15

21 Pages - June 16

Geek Girl's Book Blog - June 16

The Moody Teenager - June 17

Dreaming of Books - June 17

YA Book Shelf - June 17

Shelf Elf - June 18

SMS Book Reviews - June 19

The Crazy Bookworm - June 19

In The Next Room - June 20

He Followed Me Home... Can I Keep Him? - June 20

Book Madam YA - June 21

Give Away
I have 1 copy of Ashes Ashes for one lucky winner!
Canada only pls.
Leave an email address and a comment with your answer to the discussion question to enter!
Give away ends June 22/11

Question:

You have 5 minutes to leave your house and head for safety (your family is already safe) what do you take with you? You only have time to grab 4 items....



Author Visit from Elana Johnson

Possession by Elana Johnson

Hardcover to be published June 7th 2011

416 Pages

Summary from Goodreads

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

 
 
Have I mentioned what a fan of the Dystopian genre I am? I'm thrilled to be able to host this Author Visit from Elana Johnson!
 
 
1. While I was reading Possession one question kept replaying in my head – “Who are the bad guys?” I think this question is very relevant to many conflicts in the world today and how media and society play a role in shaping our perceptions. Was this a theme you intended for the book?

Yes, absolutely! We all have different versions of what is “bad” and what is “good.” It’s why there are different people telling us different things in politics, the media, etc. I think it’s important for people to be educated about what they’re being told, and that was definitely a theme in POSSESSION.

2. Favourite thing about Vi? Something you dislike about her?

I love that Vi is soft and strong at the same time. She says things she shouldn’t, but then feels bad about them, you know?
Something I really don’t like about her: She can’t make a decision. That indecisiveness isn’t really her fault, but it drives me nuts.

3. Vi rebels against the rules- what’s a rule you’ve broken?

oh, just every speed limit law from here to the Atlantic Ocean. I really, really like to drive fast.

4. What drew you to writing in the Dystopian Genre?


I like the open-endedness of dystopian. As an author, I can really go anywhere and do anything I want, as long as I build the society to make it so. That intrigues me, and I like imagining futuristic settings. So dystopia feels natural to me.

I also love reading dystoipan literature, and discovering what other people have imagined. Sometimes I wish I was them, but for the most party, I’m just glad the dystopian craze hit at the right time for me and my book.

5. Your favourite type of books to read?

I like books that are filled with emotion. It could come in a contemporary package, a science fiction novel, an urban fantasy, a dystopia. No matter what genre, I like to read about characters that feel things deeply.

6. Anything else you’d like readers to know? Upcoming events?

Oh, there’s probably something… How about that I intended POSSESSION to be exactly what it is. No sequel. No companion. So at the end of the book, after you read it, try to remember that. And maybe assign it a different label besides “cliffhanger.” Or just do whatever you want. Ha! *grins*

As for upcoming events, my virtual launch party for POSSESSION is on Thursday, June 16. It’s for everyone, worldwide, and there will be prize packages, a livestreaming session, giveaways on twitter and in the forum, and more! It’s going to be awesome. Anyone can participate here: www.insidetheresistance.com

I’m also going to be at ALA from June 25 – 28 in New Orleans. I have other local Utah author events and signings.

You can always see what I’m up to here: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/p/appearances.html

Thanks so much Elana!!!
Be sure to check out Possession June 7th!!

Enclave by Ann Aguirre -Review

Enclave (Razorland #1) by Amm Aguirre

Published April 2011 by Feiwel & Friends

259 Pages

Reviewed from Library Copy

Summary GoodReads

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.


As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.


 Wow, this is a much darker dystopian than many I've read before, and Deuce's life seems almost hopeless  (almost). Ann Aguirre, builds a believable world suffering after the "Apocalypse" although we aren't privy to the cause other than a nameless disease. The rules Deuce must live by in her society are harsh as is their belief that "only the strong survive", weakness is not tolerated is punished by banishment which eventually leads to death.

  The story paints a bleak future filled with every man for himself mentality and where 24 is considered old age. But Deuce and Fade are the glimmer of light their world needs, even if they are the only ones to see it.  I love characters who don't conform because they are told they must, instead they trust their instincts and create their own path even though its often harder -actually it's always harder.

  Enclave has been compared to The Hunger Games but I don't think that's necessarily accurate other than they are both in the "Dystopic" genre with strong female protagonists. I think Enclave would be better recommended to those who loved (like me) The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Definitely Recommended.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Published by Harpercollins May 3rd 2011

496 Pages

Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher

Summary from GoodReads

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

OMG. Captivating, heart racing, and satisfying I loved LOVED this book. My only regret is that in my rush to discover what happens I think I may have read it too fast because now it's over and I have to wait. I'm going to be pretty general in giving my thoughts on the book as I really want it to be spoiler free and not take anything away from what you will experience reading it.

  It's hard to believe that Veronica Roth is a debut author as her writing is solid and the world building she does in Divergent is fantastic.  I thought the separation of society into factions according to Virtue was fascinating, as was the mandatory segregation between families in separate factions. It's hard to imagine choosing between those you love and who you feel you are, knowing that you'll never be with them again.
The relationships in the novel were complex and believable and I instantly connected with Beatrice. I wanted to fight with her and for her.
  Divergent will be compared to The Hunger Games and they do have similar qualities in that they have these amazing strong girls rebelling against society, and they are both amazing novels that everyone should read. But I think that's where most comparisons will end.
  I don't know what it is about books with a Dystopian theme but they really seem to be my favourite genre to read. I think more than anything I admire characters who go against conforming to an unfair and corrupt society just because they are told they have to. I love the characters who kick ass and aren't afraid to stick up for themselves and those they love. They do what needs to be done, because they know things have to change, they are the catalysts.
  Rumor has it the movie rights have already been optioned for this stunning debut by Veronica Roth. I can not wait to see what else she has in store for us and to be reunited with Tris (Beatrice) again. Highly Recommended. Worth buying the day it comes out, or pre-order it. (even better)