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.
Spoiler alert past this point, you have been warned!
"An hour ago, nothing that happened felt real to me. Now it does." -Insurgent
How powerful those words felt for me because I knew at the end of Divergent Tris was going to have to struggle emotionally in this next book. That she was going to have to face what happened and what was going to happen in the aftermath. I had a hard time rating this book, I really wanted to give it five stars because Roth's work is great, but I just couldn't. I felt like something in Tris and Tobias'(Four really transitions to Tobias in this book), anyway I feel like something is missing from their relationship. I honestly can't tell you what it is at this point, maybe there are walls there and maybe I should give Roth 5 stars because she makes you feel it, perhaps that is the reason, but I am unsure so four stars.
"I only worked there because I wanted to be sure I could get out." (Tobias)
I shiver. The way he talks about getting out- it's like he thinks we're trapped. I never thought about it that way before, and now that seems folish." -Insurgent
I knew when reading this and recalling the fact that in the first book it mentioned that the lock seemed to trap them rather than keep anyone out and knew this would be a part of the story, I could feel it.
"They often straddle the line between trust and stupidity." -Tris thinks of the Amity
This was the first thing about Amity that is said or described by Tris that stands out to me. Then I connect and I may have before this point, but consciously I connect that with one good thing comes a bad thing with each faction. Nothing is perfect, nothing is completely right or really whole.
"When he touches me, the hollowed-out feeling in my chest and stomach is not as noticeable." -Tris, Insurgent
Ahh, now that is the sappy stuff I love, but Tris and Tobias do not trust each other. The guilt over Will is so much for Tris to bare, it effects her so deeply into her soul. Throughout the whole book they hide things from each other, I feel like a rift comes into their relationship and perhaps that is where the wall I spoke of before is formed.
"I don't believe it's more important to move forward than to find out the truth. When I found out that I was Divergent... when I found out that Erudite would attack Abnegation... those revelations changed everything. The truth has a way of changing a person's plans."....
"So I agree. But I do not change my mind."
That little bit is after Tris over hears Marcus and Johanna about the timing of the attack and information that the Abnegation was going to release. This sets another rift within them, setting them on a path they don't yet know they are on.
"My head pounds, a sign that I am calming down. The graying Amity man opens a door on the left. A label on the door says CONFLICT ROOM.
"Are you putting me in time-out or something?" I scowl. That is something the Amity would do: put me in time-out..."
Oh Roth's humor showing in Tris' character, I recall this made laugh out loud and I had to highlight it. The Amity do seem very "that it parent" to me, like the parent that believes only in all organic things, speaking quietly, and time-out to avoid conflict.
I really loved that we spent some time among the Amity, to really see how diverse the factions are.
"You froze! Someone was about to kill you and you just sat there!" He(Tobias) is yelling now. "I thought I could rely on you at least to save your own life!"
"Hey!" says Caleb. "Give her a break all right?"
"No," says Tobias, staring at me. "She doesn't need a break." His voice softens. "What happened?"
He still believes I am strong enough that I don't need his sympathy. I used to think he was right, but now I am not sure."
So very human in that moment, she has reacted and held together so well, she has always reacted in some way, but here she freezes. It is very out of character for her, but it shows how much killing Will effects her. During that I was yelling at Tobias to be nice and then I recalled he didn't know about Will. Tris obviously suffers from PTSD
"I wish we were alone," he says.
"I almost always wish that," I say.
They do love each other! I feel like their relationship is on a constant roller coaster in this book, with the lies, the dependency and then the disagreement and Independence from each other. It is hard to keep or hold onto a feeling with these two. Although, I imagine it would be hard to maintain in the world they are in, so once again I applaud Roth.
"I imagine only chaos and isolation."
Tris thinks this as Evelyn explains her plan to Tobias and I am kind of in awe that she would feel that way, especially after all the corruption or perhaps it is just the drastic change that makes her afraid because it is a given that things can never return to normal for them.
"By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free."
In that moment I am also reminded why I love the Dauntless, why I would have choose them also. So much had changed, so much destruction and damage already done. A faction divided, in the mist of a war and they find a moment to just be alive and free.
"I think we cry to release the animal parts of us within losing our humanity. Because inside me is a beast that snarls, and growls, and strains toward freedom, toward Tobias, and above all, toward life. As hard as I try, I cannot kill it."
So raw so real...
"Who told me what three factions you had an aptitude for, and what our best chance was to get you to come here, and to put your mother in the last simulation to make it more effective." She(Jeanine) looks towards the doorway as the sedative sets in, making everything blur at the edges. I look over my shoulder, and through the haze of drugs I see him.
Caleb.
CALEB! Faction before blood! Oh no he didn't! Yes he did and the hits keep coming for Tris.
"And I broke her. I broke her."
I feel satisfied with Tris when she declares that she can't be controlled to Jeanine and as she breaks her. I absolutely love it and I smile feeling like a mad woman myself.
"My family is all dead, or traitors; how can I..."
I am not making any sense. The sobs take over my body, my mind, everything. He gathers me to him, and bathwater soaks my legs. His hold is tight. I listen to his heartbeat and, after a while, find a way to let the rhythm calm me.
"I'll be your family now," he says.
"I love you," I say."
Finally, after what seems like forever she says it back to him where he can hear it! I wonder if that is a part of his wall, he told her so long before, he knew he loved her, but it took her a while to say it back. Did he doubt that she loved him, that she could love him? I think it is possible.
"Tobias sits on the floor, his back against the coffee table. Every part of his posture suggests ease--one leg bent, the other straight, an arm slung across his knee, his head tilted to listen. I have never seen him look so comfortable without a gun. I didn't think it was possible."
I soon realize that Tobias wasn't cut out for Dauntless and he does seem very comfortable among the factionless. The factionless have always been the dreaded, Tris even said all she could imagine without factions was "chaos and isolation" but it wasn't that at all. It seems normal to us in the real world, I mean not all of it, but I mean life without the factions.
"This lie - this lie is the worst I have ever told. I will never be able to take it back."
Tris sides with Marcus behind Tobias' back, she is after truth and Tobias is after destruction with his mother. I was with Tris all the way and I never trusted Evelyn, I didn't like the way she treated Tris, she treated her like she was nobody, like she wasn't there. Could Tobias not see that? If it was reversed I feel Tris would see it, but perhaps the small child in Tobias just craves his mother.
"Insurgent," he says. "Noun. A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent." -Fernando, Insurgent
86% of the way into the book and we finally find out what Insurgent means... Thank you!
Okay so something bothers me and perhaps I need to reread, but when Tris and Christina leave with Marcus to the Amity where does Tobias think she is? They ask Peter why he isn't eating dinner with his attack group. Did the groups already detach themselves from everyone else, so Tobias doesn't notice that she is gone or what? If someone could clear that up for me it would be great, thanks!
Tris and Tobias are on a mission wanting different out comes and when they come head to head you feel like all the air is sucked out of the room. Her friends and the love of her life is seeing her as a traitor and I just want to scream and shout in her honor because the truth is more important and Tobias should trust her instincts by now.
"I have to pause and take a breath, because I have not convinced him; I have failed, and this is probably the last thing they will let me say before they arrest me.
"I think that you are the liar!" I say, my voice quaking. "You tell me you love me, you trust me, you think I'm more perceptive than the average person. And the first second that belief in my perceptiveness, the trust, that love is put to the test, it all falls apart. So you must have lied when you told me all those things... you must have, because I can't believe your love is really that feeble."
"I am still that person who would have died rather than kill you." "I am exactly who you think I am. And right now, I'm telling you that I know...I know this information will change everything we have done, and everything we are about to do."
My heart breaks, he doesn't believe her, he chooses not to believe her.
"You were right." Tobias says.."I do know who you are. I just needed to be reminded."
Pieces of my heart fold back together. I'm telling you ROLLER COASTER RIDE!
"My name is Edith Prior," she says. "and there is much I am happy to forget."
Boy does Mrs. Roth know how to end a book? Yes she does and I am sure the next will be just as much of a roller coaster ride for me. Agree or disagree, I would love to hear your thoughts and take on the book, in a respectful manor of course. We all are subject to our opinions.
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