Review: “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth {SPOILER VERSION}

*Spoiler Version – to see the spoiler-free version, click here. *

Title: Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian

Release Date: October 22nd, 2013

Other Books by Author: Divergent, Insurgent, Free Four, The Initiate, The Transfer, The Traitor

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books (USA) Harper Collins, (UK)

I bought this book myself. As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

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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.

I’ve loved Divergent and Insurgent and so reading Allegiant was ultimately always going to happen. I started reading this a few weeks after it’s release date (*it was spoiler-central everywhere in October and most of November*) because I wanted to wait until everything online had died down. And also because I was reading a few things at that time, so when I finally picked it up…there were a lot of thoughts to process!

*Another warning: this WILL be a spoiler version! If you haven’t read Allegiant, please click > here < to read the non-spoiler version*

I had read a few spoilers online but didn’t take anything into consideration when I started reading Allegiant. I wanted to read it for myself and not take anyone else’s word for it, although I did see that Veronica had to explain the ending because of some really bad reactions to the conclusion, so I ultimately knew something bad had upset some of the fans at the ending of the series. That being said, this is Veronica’s series and I’m 100% sure she wouldn’t just be reckless with characters for effect unless it was her initial plan all along, so I didn’t take that to heart, even though it maybe would come as a shock if a favourite character of mine had died or something.

My favourite book from the series (even after reading all three, now) would be Divergent. It was the book that made me fall for the series, so it will always be my number one. And although Insurgent packed a punch with it’s action-packed plot and discoveries, Allegiant will be my second favourite. I was so excited when they left the confinement of Chicago and went to the Fringe. It wasn’t just exciting for the characters, but because this was a revelation; they had no idea that the world just didn’t work like that. Seeing the characters also out of their comfort zone was intriguing, like Tris on the aeroplane or Christina and Uriah’s new found friendship.

I was so intrigued in the concept of Natalie, Tris’s mother, having come from the Fringe and been sent into the city posing as a Dauntless to save Divergent’s lives, because the system was stopping them from living. Then she quit her mission, sort of, by stopping full communication with the outsiders, because she fell in love with Tris’s father. But she never stopped fighting for the lives of the Divergent. She was brave, too.

Tobias’s mother, Evelyn, was initially the enemy, but I’m glad that when things wrapped up, that that relationship could be repaired. Mended, you could say. I’m also so happy that Tris forgave Caleb. I know all the things he did in Insurgent and betraying her in Divergent, were really terrible, but knowing that she would die for him, *which she…did* meant so much for their brother/sister bond.

Then there was Tobias being lead astray by Nita. I knew right away that she wasn’t a very reliable character when she asked him to hide things from Tris. And what happened with the explosion and trauma at the Fringe was just to prove all the trouble she had roped Tobias into. It not only put Uriah into a coma, but it destroyed Tris and Tobias’s relationship for the most of the middle of the novel. I was really pleased that they patched things up and were stronger than ever at the end, because of the inevitable.

But the highlight of the novel for me would always be how Tris changed Chicago, and more, with her legacy. She helped the Divergent. She stopped wars. In her sixteen years, she did so much to help others and risked her life for them every time she took her bravery to the next level. She will always be one of the best characters I’ve ever read about and it was truly amazing to have read her story.

Tris was…herself. Brave, selfless, hasty and curious. She had changed a little from Insurgent, because I think seeing outside of Chicago had changed her. She could see growing up somewhere else, and a new beginning. But she put all that aside to save the people she loved, most importantly Tobias, and her brother Caleb. I was distraught when she died toward the end. Seeing the way Tobias, Caleb and Christina were afterwards was so heartbreaking. Tobias had lost the last person he could trust and the love of his life, Caleb had betrayed a sister that he loved and just barely got his forgiveness, and Christina had lost her last best friend. But what came of this was a new-found friendship for Tobias and Christina, and that was really amazing to see.
Having the split point-of-view’s was interesting. There was a slight distinction between the two voices but I can understand how some people say they sound alike. But Tris and Tobias were a lot alike, so that’s how I understood it. It was definitely great to see how Tris through someone else’s eyes. One of my favourite quotes that Tobias said about Tris was in a short chapter towards the end about when he first saw her jump first in Divergent. About how her eyes were so stern, so insistent. Beautiful. THAT was a tear-worthy chapter.
I was so sad to see Tori die so early on, even after her brother wasn’t dead after all, and he was safe inside the Fringe. It was devastating, alike Uriah dying and seeing Zeke and Hana say goodbye to him. The, well, I guess it was a sort of farewell to Tris, on the zip-line when Tobias faces his fear to spread her ashes…that was *beautiful*.
And when Tris is dying, that moment when she sees her Mom…I was just so happy and sad, simultaneously. She had finally finished what her mother had started, saved so many lives and the city. She had been the bravest, most selfless of all. Another cry-worthy scene.

This finale to the Divergent series was incredible. I cried, I laughed, I smiled. There was so much going on and a lot to take in inside one book, but it was entirely worth the ending for Tris to have this massive legacy and to have read this journey. Of course, everyone would say if they could change the deaths of the characters, they would, but I think they made the book what it is. You can’t have all these brave people risking their lives in a city in ruins and not have any of them die. It’s unrealistic. So, thank you; Veronica. For making this book real, amazing and without a doubt the book of the year.