Insurgent by Veronica Roth
(Divergent, #2)
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Format: hardcover
Read: 8/15/2012
In Six Words: I am SO CONFLICTED about Insurgent.
Links
Vernoica Roth — Website | Facebook | Twitter
Amazon — Hardcover | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. Divergent
2. Insurgent
3. Untitled (Sept. 26, 2013)
Why I Started Reading This Series
I started reading Divergent originally because EVERYONE told me to read it, and of course I read everything I’m told to read. Right? Right. Divergent was probably one of favorite books from 2011, and I was really looking forward to starting Insurgent. But… I don’t know that Insurgent lived up to whatever expectations I had after reading Divergent. I think perhaps Insurgent just hit too many “this is what I dislike about YA” notes with me. I am still looking forward to the third book, though. Even if its release date is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in the future.
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.
-from Goodreads
Thoughts on Book 2
I am so conflicted about this book that it took me ages to semi-decide on a rating. There were a lot of aspects that I liked in Insurgent, but there were also a lot of aspects that I disliked. Rather than doing a traditional review, I think I’m simply going to break it down into a list of likes and dislikes, as well as what I was so conflicted about. I promise to do my BEST to speak in the vaguest of terms to avoid spoilers. I assume the comments section will abound with them, though, so watch for that.
Dislikes
- Tris, throughout approximately half of the book. *shakes Tris* I hate the “I’m so alone, I can’t tell ANYONE ANYTHING” angst.
- THE CLIFFHANGER. I honestly had to reread the last few pages because I was all like, “WHA….???”
- Insurgent didn’t grab me and pull me in the way Divergent did. If I hadn’t been reading with Kristilyn, I think I would have put it off more.
- Feeling as though I had no idea what we real and what was not.
- It was often difficult to keep up with ALL THE CHARACTERS.
Likes
- Feeling as though I had no idea what we real and what was not. (Yes, this is both a like and dislike.)
- Tris, for the other half of the book, where she finally “got it” and was being the strong, determined Tris I wanted.
- THE KISSING, and how the “to do more than kissing or not” aspect was dealt with.
- Getting MOAR INFORMATION at the end.
- Despite what I didn’t like, I still read this in a single day. The book did recover itself.
- The ending. Despite my dislike of the cliffhanger, I really feel like the ending saved the book for me.
- Tris and Four’s relationship.
- The number of deaths.
- What Divergent and divergence really mean for the world.
Other Reviews
Sarah (saz101)
Smash Attack Reads
Never Too Fond of Books
Rummanah September 5, 2012 at 8:51 am
I was one of the few who wasn’t all gun-ho about “Divergent” and I think a lot of it had to do with the hype and build up of expectations because it seemed as if *everyone* loved it. Because of that, I felt underwhelmed when I read it. I’ve heard from many that “Insurgent” mirrors my feelings for “Divergent” and that’s why I’ve been putting this book off. It just screams middle book to me. I think I’ll pick it up when the third book is going to be released. I’m still curious to see what happens.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I went into Divergent expecting not to like it, so I was rather blown away. Insurgent definitely has the middle book vibe. Not enough to make me avoid the third book, though.
Smash Attack September 5, 2012 at 9:58 am
Nice thoughts. This book was more difficult to get through, but I thought character reactions were very realistic, even though it was annoying. I wanted to deck Tris many times, but it felt like appropriate reactions a young (or maybe any) person might have.
I absolutely loved the ending. I was shocked, though I shouldn’t have been. I love that the story went there, and I’m excited to see some serious world expansion.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 12:45 pm
My thoughts, they are niiiice. ;)
I agree that Tris had real reactions. There are so many YA characters who refuse to share their secrets that it’s probably not much of an exaggeration from real life.
Mandi Kaye September 5, 2012 at 10:15 am
I struggled when reading this book – but in a good way, I think. I was SO FRUSTRATED with Tobias and Four and their relationship. SECRETS. ALL OF THE SECRETS. I just wanted to shake them. It kind of felt like a “this is what not to do” manual in places.
But in the end, it all came together. Sort of. In a cliffhangery (yes, that’s a word) way that left me dying to read more.
Hmm. Yes, I totally see why you gave it a 7.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Yes. There was a lot of wanting to shake people in this book. I usually don’t do well with that kind of books. It’s the angst thing, I think.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) September 5, 2012 at 11:15 am
This one didn’t grab me as much as Divergent, too. I’m a little leery about book #3 now. And yes — ALL THE CHARACTERS! By the end of the book, I was still having issues remembering who was who.
If it wasn’t for the cliffhanger, I might put off reading the next book, but now I MUST!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 12:56 pm
As long as book three is truly the end of the series, I won’t be leery because we will get ALL THE ANSWERS! I like answers.
Jenny September 5, 2012 at 12:32 pm
I’ve heard Tris is a bit of a challenge in the beginning of this one, so that worries me. I’m glad she snaps out of it by the second half though, and I’m very excited by all this talk of kissing. I do so enjoy Four:)
The ending though? The epic cliffhanger is making me want to wait until book 3 is out so I don’t give myself an ulcer waiting for it after she drops a bomb on me. I have the book on my shelf, so I think I’m going to leave it there a while longer and then read books 2 and 3 together:)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Considering the third book doesn’t come out for another year, I’d bet that waiting to read Insurgent is a good idea. The release for the third book is sooooooo far away right now. =/
Phil Tucker September 5, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Wait wait wait – so should I still read Divergent, knowing that the middle book is kind of ‘eh’?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 5, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Uh. The middle book is only “eh” if you can’t put up with angsty teenagers. I can’t, so it bothered me. But others have really loved it.
Also, Divergent was good.
kay @ Infinite Curio September 6, 2012 at 1:40 am
I wasn’t as in love with the first book as many other readers seemed to be, so the book has been sitting on my shelves every since it came out. Your review makes me wonder how much I’ll enjoy it once I get to it! Also, I don’t like cliffhangers!!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 6, 2012 at 9:44 am
If you don’t like cliffhangers, then you might want to wait a little longer. This one is a doozy.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal September 6, 2012 at 9:39 am
Err… I still need to read book 1.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 6, 2012 at 9:44 am
Yes, you do.
Amy @ bookgoonie September 8, 2012 at 8:07 am
The Kid is reading it now. I was hoping to squeeze it into my Series Summer. Sounds like Insurgent is suffering the 2nd book in a Series Blues. CPS has me on their Most Wanted for Shaking Book Chicks List. I totally understand.
Roth knows how to write a kissing scene.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 8, 2012 at 10:42 am
There are plenty of great kissing scenes in Insurgent. :)
Sarah (saz101) September 10, 2012 at 12:52 am
I’m SO with you on the conflicts and on the cliffhanger. Kind of love/hate. I was REALLY into Insurgent when I read it, but I’m more ambivelant the more space I put between reading it and thinking and and and… you know? I ADORED Divergent. It was BRILLIANT. This is perhaps a little less so. And I GOT why Tris was being a twit–I really did–I don’t think that made her any less of a twit, though :p
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 10, 2012 at 11:52 am
I agree. Sometimes understanding characters’ motivation and reasoning isn’t enough to overlook their twittery. (Is that right? Twit-ness? I don’t know.)
Sarah (saz101) September 11, 2012 at 12:06 am
I like twittery. It flows better than twitness. Maybe you should run a poll on the state of being of the word? :D
I can accept a flawed character, and enjoy it, but I have a threshold ;D
Amanda @ On a Book Bender September 11, 2012 at 10:00 am
Twittery feels right also. I like it. (It also doesn’t have a red squiggly line like twitness does, so that’s good enough for me.)
Yes, threshold. Good word for that.