Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

5 reviews

joppiereading's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book did too much telling and not enough showing for me. The conflict between Tobias and Tris was forced, unnecessary or predictable, with Tris (who is supposed to be smart!) obnoxiously repeating many of the same mistakes and being surprised when the outcome is, predictably, Not Nice. The author tried to explore the consequences of book 1 - admirable - but I wish she’d show us, somehow, and not rub it in through Tris’ inconsistent internal monologue without exploring the deeper layers. That said, the plot and pacing were great, and the ending worked up to a good climax that still makes me pick up book 3. 

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readingwithkaitlyn's review

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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. 

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lorraine19's review

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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. 

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ajdotcom's review

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Personal reasons- not in the right headspace for this at all, especially (whole series spoiler)
knowing that Tris dies at the end of the trilogy
. Will maybe come back to the series eventually, but for some reason it really pulls at my heartstrings in a way I don't like.

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romiress's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The worldbuilding is awful and inconsistent, the 'villains' motivation is bizarre, things make less sense once you know the big reveal, very little happens beyond the constant thinning of the main cast, it's just trauma after trauma after trauma with basically no wins ever. None of it landed, none of it made any sense, I'm baffled I enjoyed it so much. There are just so many characters who you're told you should care about seconds before they're killed off. I can't even keep them straight.

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