REVIEW: INSURGENT (TEAM DAUNTLESS UK)

Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Yes, #2
UK Publisher: Harper Collins
UK Release date: 1st May 2012
Genre: YA Dystopian
Kindly given by the publisher for an honest review

*Whilst there are no spoilers of Insurgent, they may be spoilers for Divergent.

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)


Often when there is a lot of hype around a book, it can lead to disappointment, especially if the previous book in the series won such acclaim and has set a high standard for the rest of the series. But Insurgent did anything but disappoint me. It was thrilling, heart-pounding, surprising and utterly compelling.

Tris and Four dauntlessly risk life and limb on several occasions to fight against Erudite and their desire for control. There’s plenty of suspense, fighting, torture, and once again Veronica Roth isn't afraid to kill off some key players. The plot is chock full of twists, but what Roth is also exceedingly good at is building in emotion and character development.

As Tris tries to cope with the guilt of what happened in Divergent, she is often on the brink of a destructive breakdown or self-sacrifice. She is on an emotional and grief-ridden roller coaster, which makes her far more human and understandable than someone like Peter. She is strength and vulnerability and flaws and selflessness. And I love her! However Tris's behaviour puts a huge strain on her relationship with Four which is tested to the limits as they cross between loving and trusting, to unsure and troubled. It adds so much more interest and realism than if everything had been hunky-dory.

As Tris and Four try to find allies and safe houses to stay in, they visit all of the different factions. It was really interesting to get an insight into how each of the factions functions, what their headquarters are like, how they live and respond to ‘a state of war’. What I love about the Divergent series is its twist on society and the way people identify themselves through their factions, each of which is very distinct. Each with their strengths, but each with very different goals and believes in morals. And what makes Tris so interesting is that she isn't just one faction; she is many.

Roth is a gutsy writing, able to pack a punch with articulate and eloquent language, and is set to take her place at the top of the charts again this year.

Rating: 5*

Don't forget to check out Jayde's review over @ Ink Scratchers.