Review | 'Insurgent'

Insurgent
Veronica Roth
525 pg., U.S. hardcover/eBook
HarperTeen/Katherine Tegen
5 stars | A+



From Goodreads:

 One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

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.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Okay, so I really want this review to remain professional and all like my other ones but...OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. I have been waiting for this book since I read Divergent last year (obviously), but I totally didn't know what to expect. It was really interesting seeing Tris, Tobias, et al travel to all the different factions and their headquarters, and while it might sound very Catching Fire-esque (in the sense of traveling to the different factions AND the aftermath of a politically-apocalyptic event), it really wasn't that similar, although Tris's strength in this book did rival Katniss's in CF, if not trumping it.
Tris in this book, you guys. Seriously. She just...gah. She was so freaking amazing, and at some times I didn't get how she could be so brave and cunning, but then I remembered that she had an aptitude for Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent). That's how well Veronica Roth masked Tris's Divergence. It was subtle, yet evident and present. For those of you who are wondering, Divergence is a very important part of this book, as is the title, which does pertain to *spoiler* Tris. 
As far as characterization goes for Insurgent, I really loved characters that I either hated or didn't care much for when I read Divergent. Uriah is one of the main characters in this book, and I really appreciated that. He was a very loyal, trusting, and soothing character that was totally well-needed. So, you know, your average Hufflepuff. I loved all the minor characters who became major: Caleb (ugh), Marlene, Lynn, Fernando (who is a knew character, although he wasn't in a lot of the pages), and I especially loved the return of Christina, Marcus, and even Peter, whom I hated in the first book, but loved in this one. I loved seeing the leaders of the different factions (they all had massive roles to play--I LOVED THAT). Tris was scarily powerful, and I have had a lot of issues with 'powerful' heroines lately, but Roth did it right! I really missed Tobias, and I was very upset with his motives and decisions throughout the novel! Tobias was very different in this one, and I found very strange elements from him, which was pleasantly surprising. He was rather minor in this novel compared to his role in the previous one--more so in the second half of the book than the first, which he was pretty major in. 
The pacing of this book was comfortably slow, but at points quick. The plot was incredibly effective, but I feel like it was indescribable. It was just...fantastic. I loved the way that everything unraveled and was inter-weaved with other points with other plot points. 
The book is essentially just a flawless, near-rare perfect sequel that made the characters more lovable (some not so much) and had the fantastical, heavy plot that I thirsted for with the heart of a Dauntless. 
I will be filming a book discussion on this book, which will contains spoilers, so make sure you check that out!