Review: Allegiant

Info:
Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #3
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Source: Purchased.


Synopsis: 
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review:
I almost don't even know what to say about this one. Unlike a lot of people, my lower rating is due to the middle, not the end. I liked each book in this trilogy a bit less than the previous one. Divergent - loved it! Insurgent - pretty good, but the characters started to annoy me. Allegiant - I kind of stopping caring about the characters a much about a third of the way through, which is probably why I didn't mind the ending.

My main issue with this book was the characters. Tris and Tobias really got on my nerves in the middle. Like so many of their issues could have been solved by just talking to each other instead of shouting and walking away. I realize that they are both meant to be flawed characters, but that doesn't mean I don't get to be annoyed at them!

I also felt a bit bored through the middle part of the book. I'm not sure why, there were even explosions. Maybe that was part of the problem. The book went from one high action to the next and maybe I didn't have enough time to recover from one action sequence before the next and it all blurred together. I'm not sure on that one. But it took me like a month to read this one and I read Divergent is a couple days.

I also wasn't a fan of the alternating POV. I generally don't really like this, so nothing against Veronica Roth. Although I did think it was weird to suddenly switch to alternating POV in the final book of a triology. I kind of understand it now, but I can't say I liked it.

And the ending! I'm going to try to keep this spoiler-free. I can see why some readers were angry, but I actually wasn't. Partly because I was annoyed with the main characters and had started to feel an emotional distance from them. Partly because I was prepared. I didn't have it spoiled for me, but I knew something big and bad was coming, so I think I prepared myself for that unconsciously. And finally, I like books with sad endings. One of my favourite books I read in english class was Ethan Frome, which has one of the most depressing endings I can think of.So some combination of these meant no anger, no throwing the book across the room, no screaming and, amazingly, no tears. That truly is amazing. I cry during sad country songs I've heard a hundred times (like Holes in the Floor of Heaven and Don't Take the Girl).

Overall, I though Allegiant was ok. I definitely felt like this series slipped downhill as it progressed. On it's own, I didn't think Allegiant was anything that special, but the series overall is still worth reading. Divergent is still one of my favourite books.

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Don't Just Take My Word For It:
Burning Impossibly Bright | Novel Heartbeat | Happy Indulgence