Review : Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Posted by on December 16, 2013 6:40 am in 2.5 stars reads | 3 comments

allegiantAllegiant by Veronica Roth
Pages : 531
Genre :  YA Dystopia
Series : Divergent, book 3
My Rating : 2.5/5

From the back of the book  :

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. 

My Thoughts :

Ever since I first read Divergent and then Insurgent, I have had the same two chief complaints : the lack of worldbuiling outside of Tris’ city, and the nonsense of having people fit into five clearcut categories. So apart from a conclusion, these were the two things I wanted to read about in the last book of the trilogy. Fortunately, Allegiant did a great job to answer both of these things. The third book is, in fact, much about these two aspects of the story, so yes, I was glad to finally get answers. Whether I was satisfied with the answers themselves is another thing completely.

I think the explanation behind the five categories was interesting, but in y opinion, a little too late. I think there should have been stronger hints about this earlier in the series. It has always been difficult to me to believe people would fit in five categories, and to get an explanation before would have made the whole reading much more exciting.

As for the world outside, I was glad to finally see some of it, even though it felt like very broad brushstrokes of a world that needed details. Interestingly, I felt like Tris’ story got « smaller » once she stepped out of her city; she went from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond. I liked that aspect very much; it took some weight off her shoulders, made her personal journey more realistic.

The book was full of action and never boring, but I didn’t like the suddenly introduced dual narration. Tris and Four’s voices weren’t distinguishables enough, and I got confused any time I would pick up the book without checking who’s chapter I was on.

As for the ending, I am not so sure. I have nothing against strong, shocking endings. I’m one of those readers who really liked the final volume of The Hunger Games, yet here it felt almost unecessary.

All in all, it seems fair to say I wasn’t impressed with Allegiant. I’m not sure whether it’s me needing a bit more depth, or just that the story itself would have needed a bit more complexity and humanity, or maybe a mix of both. But while it offered a very entertaining adventure, it failed to really capture my reader’s heart.

Series Reading Order : 

  1. Divergent
  2. Insurgent
  3. Allegiant

3 Comments

  1. Kailana December 16, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    It is too bad that people are really not liking how this trilogy ended…

  2. Karine:) December 17, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    I really loved the finale of Hunger Games too. This book is in my TBR pile to I’m really curious about this ending…

  3. Heather December 30, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I actually liked the ending because I felt that was the only possible way for the author to conclude Tris’s story that made sense to me. She was never going to be a content, happy person so what she did in the end fit for me with how she’d been for the entire series.

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