Book Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Book: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
File Type: Paperback
Release Date: October 22, 2013
Publisher:  Harper Collins Children's Book's
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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.

 "But the fire, the fire. The desire to live. I am not done yet, I am not."

Veronica keeps screwing me over. It isn’t even funny anymore.

I’ll tell you what I feel about Allegiant:

Allegiant isn’t as engaging as Divergent.
Allegiant isn’t as badass as both Insurgent and Divergent.
In fact, In approximately 400 pages, it was when I reached the two-hundredth page that things actually started move. Before that, the pace of the book was grossly tedious and I was struggling to get on track with it.

Some may debate that the start of the book was absolutely fine but here’s the thing, I’ve been busy for a while and I try to read every chance I get now and then but that disrupts my routine. But I have come across books which have compelled me to sit still and read the entire book in one sitting. And obviously, Allegiant didn’t do that for me until the two-hundredth page.
But Allegiant is something.
At the end of the day, it is the very end and THAT end. Oh my God.
That end hasn’t stopped screwing with my mind.
It’s safe to say that at a point of time, I had even thought about that end but I didn’t think that it would happen because it was just a passing thought, BUT I DIDN’T THINK THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

Honestly, I’m shattered.
I don’t even know where to start from and where to end. That end keeps playing in my mind.
That end impacted my emotions in a huge way. THAT end screwed me over and I loved it.
That end made all the fucking difference.

But Allegiant isn’t just about that end. It’s also about several other things. Allegiant consists of Tris’ and Tobias’ PoV and I finally understand why Ms. Roth decided to bombard our minds with not one but two different perspectives. We met Tris in Divergent , when she was still trying to find herself and was still fighting to be brave. The circumstances changed her in a drastic way. She became sharper, stronger and deadlier. Life altering moments transformed her from this insecure flame to a full blown explosion and honestly, if Tris irritated the hell out of you in Insurgent, then you’re in for a surprise. Yes, I’ve forgiven her. And for those who have already read the book, they know exactly what I’m talking about and for those, who have yet to read the book, you’ll see.
As for Tobias? When we met Four in Divergent, he was this broody, strong and resolute guy who knew what was what and knew his way around a mess. He was HOT. He was fantastic. Tobias went through some life altering moments himself. As a child, as a sixteen year old and finally as an adult. You have to see, these things had to have affected him too and they did. You meet a broken man in Allegiant and it’s so refreshing to see how nicely this has been incorporated in the book. There will be times, when a person reaches a stage where you have to make decisions which can change your life in a split second. There will be times when the situation you’re in can lead to dangerous and deadly consequences. And these decisions and consequences shape your present as well as your future. These decisions and consequences can break you, but they can also, make you stronger. Appearances can be deceiving and it all comes full come circle in Allegiant.

Ms. Veronica Roth promised me a stunning conclusion. She promised me that the Allegiant would be worth waiting for. And trust me ,it is.

Book Review: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

Book: Unbreakable (#2 Unravelling)
Author: Elizabeth Norris
File Type: Ebook
Release date: April 23rd 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Ratings: 5 stars.

synopsis:Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Before starting a book that is the sequel of a book that I was absolutely in love with, I try to remember things I took in account while reading the first book in the series. Things I loved. Things that eventually led me to read the second book, like this one here.

Unravelling was a great book. There were so many things to like about it. Good characters. Good pace. Good ending even if it made me mad because the wave after wave of heartbreak was too much for my poor little heart. Now about Unbreakable...

Elizabeth Norris. WHY WOULD YOU DO WHAT YOU DID IN THE NOVEL TO ME?
Go on. Tell me. I need to know. WHY? Why would you act like a sadist. I don't get it.
You had to go and do that didn't you? After everything that happened in Unravelling and after everything we lost, you just had to go and do THAT. My heart is bleeding. If I die. It's on you , woman. In one moment you're making me happy and then, Poof, it's gone. Just like that. JUST LIKE THAT. You end it all. For making it up to me and my bleeding heart and teary eyes, I allow you to go ahead and write a THIRD BOOK. Now go.

Why must this series be of only two books? WHY CAN'T THIS BE A DAMN TRILOGY?
Ms. Norris. You're walking on thin ice.

Okay. Rant over.

Let's get down to business.

Hmmm.

Sorry. Can't do it. I'm trying to think of some nice words to say. AND IT'S NOT WORKING!
It's as if my brain has decided to shut down and go into hibernation. It shouldn't be difficult right? All I have to say is 'Great book. Better writing style. Awesome characters' and then elaborate. It still isn't working so it must be the timing. Maybe I should give it a rest, think about it and then come back later and write a coherent review that actually makes sense. But guess what?

Been there, done that.

It's been a damn week and I still can't find the right words.

So here's a tiny message to you all. And I hope that it does this book some justice.

It's better than Unravelling. So if you're hesitating or in general, are confused. Do me a favour, go read this book. And if you haven't read the series in general. Dude. Don't be stupid.