Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Published: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 544
Series: Divergent #2
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis: 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.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

My Review:  “Insurgent,” he says. “Noun. A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent.”

If I had started this on a weekend then I swear it would have been done in one day and I've only done that one or two other times mostly because other books simply don't keep my interest for that long. But I could sit in the same spot all day and read Insurgent because it was just that amazing!

Insurgent was different from Divergent. In the beginning it lacked all the excitement that the first book had but by the end everything was as intense as the ending of Divergent. So if this book lacked all the excitement of the first book why was it so good? Because it showed that Tris was human. It made it easier to relate to her because she was like everyone else who dealt with death. It was believable. I know that in other books the characters either avoid grief or just don't seem to express it the right way but Tris did.

There was also no love triangle between Tris and Tobias (yes I am now calling him Tobias instead for Four) which is refreshing. That doesn't mean that everything is perfect between them because they go through ups and downs throughout the book.

There was also a lot of death in this book but that is to be expected in a time of war. At some points in the book I would simply start to tear up because of what was happening and I would cover my mouth to keep from screaming. That is something I have never done before...not quite sure what that means but it just made me love this book that much more. But there was also humor to balance out the horrors that were happening around Tris and to Tris. Ok maybe not balance but it lightened the mood.

So if you have read Divergent I can't believe you haven't read Insurgent yet! And if you haven't read Divergent then why are you reading this and not the book?

Favorite quotes:
"You were right," Tobias says quietly, balancing on the balls of his feet. He smiles a little. "I do know who you are. I just needed to be reminded."

"People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them."

"Cruelty does not make a person honest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind."