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tylan's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
readingwithkaitlyn's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a reread after picking it up for the first time several years ago.
I think with this one the writing is better than in Divergent in terms of sentence structure. Though like with the first it drags on at times. The story is entertaining, but the overall plot could have been tweaked a bit more. Also, in comparison to the movies, it hardly feels like they are the same stories with the same characters.
However, unlike with Divergent where I felt the movie did better with most changes, there is a little bit from the book for Insurgent that outshines the movie. Like having more side characters with more important roles. Still, most of it was entirely different and I do think the movie outshined the book in terms of plot and character arcs.
There is so much in this that is different. Primarily the plot, where the movie seemed like Jeanine was determined to erase the Divergent and use them to open the box from Abnegation. Instead the book focused on Jeanine trying to understand the Divergent minds and prevent the information about the outside world being leaked. She knew the whole time rather than finding out in the end like the movie. Where the books lack is excitability. It’s an interesting plot and there is tons of danger, but the stakes don’t seem as high and once again, as cohesive. Especially with Four and Tris being at odds the whole time.
Tris destroys the sim harddrive from the first book, escaping Amity was different in that they first tried to be disguised before taking off, the encounter with factionless was not a big fight, Tris stabbing Eric to kill him before Dauntless elects new leaders and decide to execute him which Four does, Four being bullied by the Dauntless for confession about father and proceeding to best him up to gain back respect and strive for leadership, Four having his fear sim change, Marlene being the one to fall and not Christina (Tris saves Hector), them being in Abnegation at some points and going back to the Dauntless compound, Tris working sith Marcus and going against Four for the recording info and the lady being a Prior, Tori killing Jeanine, and Lynn dying and hinting at her being in love with Marlene. Instead of getting Tris to open the boxes with similations, they were experimenting on her to see how the Divergent brain works. To see if they can create something to control the Divergents.
Even though the plot is okay, it is far less exciting and compact than the movies. It was also a lot to deal with Four and Tris being hot and cold, especially when it seems like Four ~gets~ Tris but suddently doesn’t. When she’s so immersed in grief. It’s a far different Four than in the movies I remember. I think that is why I forgot so much of the books, because it pales in comparison.
I am being quite critical but I also don’t think the book is awful. I wasn’t as invested with Divergent, but as I said about that book, you can’t help but to be invested in the characters and care about them and their lives. Which for someone like me, who can love a story that is otherwise bad but has great characters, is a major plus. I’d rather read that than a fantastic plot with characters you don’t care about at all.
Overall, not the best book I’ve ever read but still oddly nostalgic and appealing despite all criticisms.
I think with this one the writing is better than in Divergent in terms of sentence structure. Though like with the first it drags on at times. The story is entertaining, but the overall plot could have been tweaked a bit more. Also, in comparison to the movies, it hardly feels like they are the same stories with the same characters.
However, unlike with Divergent where I felt the movie did better with most changes, there is a little bit from the book for Insurgent that outshines the movie. Like having more side characters with more important roles. Still, most of it was entirely different and I do think the movie outshined the book in terms of plot and character arcs.
Tris destroys the sim harddrive from the first book, escaping Amity was different in that they first tried to be disguised before taking off, the encounter with factionless was not a big fight, Tris stabbing Eric to kill him before Dauntless elects new leaders and decide to execute him which Four does, Four being bullied by the Dauntless for confession about father and proceeding to best him up to gain back respect and strive for leadership, Four having his fear sim change, Marlene being the one to fall and not Christina (Tris saves Hector), them being in Abnegation at some points and going back to the Dauntless compound, Tris working sith Marcus and going against Four for the recording info and the lady being a Prior, Tori killing Jeanine, and Lynn dying and hinting at her being in love with Marlene. Instead of getting Tris to open the boxes with similations, they were experimenting on her to see how the Divergent brain works. To see if they can create something to control the Divergents.
Even though the plot is okay, it is far less exciting and compact than the movies. It was also a lot to deal with Four and Tris being hot and cold, especially when it seems like Four ~gets~ Tris but suddently doesn’t. When she’s so immersed in grief. It’s a far different Four than in the movies I remember. I think that is why I forgot so much of the books, because it pales in comparison.
I am being quite critical but I also don’t think the book is awful. I wasn’t as invested with Divergent, but as I said about that book, you can’t help but to be invested in the characters and care about them and their lives. Which for someone like me, who can love a story that is otherwise bad but has great characters, is a major plus. I’d rather read that than a fantastic plot with characters you don’t care about at all.
Overall, not the best book I’ve ever read but still oddly nostalgic and appealing despite all criticisms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Grief, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gun violence, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Gore, Child death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Confinement, Alcohol, and Abandonment
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Child abuse
lorraine19's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I rarely find the sequels to books better than the original, but this one I definitely do. As I said with my divergent review, I watched the movies first and enjoyed them. However, the movies didn't even touch on the psychological aspect that is the main point in this book. Ya you get to look at the other factions and the story is good, but what really makes it great is the way Tris' mental health is discussed. This is the dark, realistic stuff that makes books so good and relatable. Love the exploration of, not only a complex society, but complex characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, War, Torture, Genocide, Murder, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment
phillyhufflepunk's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
theespressoedition's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
How on earth did I manage to forget so dang much about this book? Rereading it almost felt like reading it for the first time. There were snippets that were still fresh in my mind, but for the most part, I was in the dark. It made it somehow more and less enjoyable. Super strange.
On the one hand, I loved being surprised by some of the elements of the story. There was a lot to the plot that was a total blank in my mind and it was fun to read the action scenes and learn more about the characters again.
I also mostly agreed with "past Stephanie" on the rating. I gave it 3 stars when I first read it and that makes sense. This time around, I raised it a .5 star, but the feelings are pretty much the same: Tris and Four's lack of communication is enough to make me want to tear my hair out, the back-and-forth with betrayals was super confusing, and the amount of triggering content made me slightly queasy. Overall, it just wasn't the most wonderful experience.
That being said, I still really enjoy this series as a whole and it was interesting to dive back into a story that meant so much to me so many years ago!
On the one hand, I loved being surprised by some of the elements of the story. There was a lot to the plot that was a total blank in my mind and it was fun to read the action scenes and learn more about the characters again.
I also mostly agreed with "past Stephanie" on the rating. I gave it 3 stars when I first read it and that makes sense. This time around, I raised it a .5 star, but the feelings are pretty much the same: Tris and Four's lack of communication is enough to make me want to tear my hair out, the back-and-forth with betrayals was super confusing, and the amount of triggering content made me slightly queasy. Overall, it just wasn't the most wonderful experience.
That being said, I still really enjoy this series as a whole and it was interesting to dive back into a story that meant so much to me so many years ago!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
paperback_moon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug abuse
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