BOOK REVIEW: Insergent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Summary 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."-goodreads

Rate: 4.7 out of 5 stars

My thoughts:

Note to everyone: This is not a book you want to stick at the bottom of you TBR pile. You should read it straight away!!!

Insurgent picks up directly where Divergent left off. It's almost like they're not two separate books at all. Just different parts of the same book. It's full of action, intensity, lies, betrayal, romance and heartbreak. It had me feeling all the emotions! I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to punch, kick and jump off stuff.

Tris and Four/Tobias are trying to navigate their way through the war that has begun between what's left of the factions. He has ideas about which side they should choose but Tris is conflicted about who to trust especially after secrets are revealed that leave her questioning everyone around her. The only thing she knows for sure is she'll have to fully embrace her Divergence if there's any hope of saving those she loves or herself.

She is struggling with her guilt and grief (over her parents and Will) and it's affecting all of the decisions she makes as well as her relationship with Four/Tobias. (This broke my heart for her.) As she learned in Divergent, our choices can transform us but they also have the ability to destroy us and everything that's important to us.

The relationship between she and Tobias feels strained most of the time. There are things they withhold in an effort to protect one another but instead of helping it only hurts them. It's obvious that he loves her and would do anything for her but he feels a responsibility to help and serve too which is all the more reason to *heart* him. (I LOVE YOU FOUR!!) The things these two characters have to endure both together and individually, are truly heartbreaking. *CLUTCHES CHEST* However, they also share some pretty swoon worthy scenes too.

I was prepared for an intense sequel but I was NOT prepared to have my heart in my throat the entire time I was reading. There are a few twists and surprises and plenty of loss but you can't have growth and new life without loss. I am soooo excited to see how it all ends in book #3!

Quotes:

“Got that gun?” Peter says to Tobias. “No,” says Tobias, “I figured I would shoot the bullets out of my nostrils, so I left it upstairs.”

― Veronica Roth, Insurgent

“I pout my lower lip for a second, but then I grin as the pieces come together.

"That's why you like me!" I exclaim. "Because you're not very nice either! It makes so much more sense now.”

― Veronica Roth, Insurgent

“Can I ask why you’re throwing knives at cheese?’

‘Caleb came by to discuss something,’ Tobias says, leaning his head against the wall as he looks at me. ‘And knife-throwing just came up somehow.’

‘As it so often does,’ I say, a small smile inching across my face.”

― Veronica Roth, Insurgent