Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Release Date – October 22, 2013
Publisher Website –  HarperCollins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages - 526 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

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.

Ending a series is hard, both for an author and the fans. Ending a series that will please everyone is pretty much impossible. Authors can only tell the story as truthful to their vision as possible, and let the cards land where they may. Veronica Roth has delivered a novel that packs an emotional punch, delivered a realistic but quiet ending to her brilliant trilogy, and made me eager to read whatever she comes out with next.

The world beyond the fence is something most people immediately started theorizing about after Insurgent. The reality that is explored in this novel was something I hadn't anticipated. It's easily the most realistic option, but was not one that I immediately considered. The fall out from the tape and the information on it is felt, like shockwaves, throughout the entire last installment of Tris' story.

War, and the morality around it, exist in shades of grey. There is not really a 'right or wrong' side. These are dictated by the person viewing the circumstances. This novel examines how each side is flawed, and each side has to potential to kill many people, and decimate cities. It also takes a look at what it is like being caught in the middle and struggling with whom to support.

Caleb and Tris' relationship is beyond fractured, perhaps beyond repair. This novel focuses on relationships, and how they change us no matter how much we might deny it. I particularly like the nuances in Caleb and Tris' relationship and how anger, forgiveness and love may not always be connected.

Spending time with Tobias' perspective illuminated his character. He was always sort of mysterious, and came across as quite mythical. Through his narration we get to see how deep his wounds are. We get a glimpse at the abused little boy who is still buried within the adult he's become. The complex relationship he has with both his parents, his feelings for Tris, and his own role in things are give sharper meaning by having his voice to them. The outer strength that everyone sees is a mask for the wounded person underneath. It's the first time I saw Four as being from Abnegation, as well as being a leader in Dauntless.

As a romantic I did enjoy Tobias' note to Tris where he referred to them as Four and Six. Adorable. They see the strengths and weaknesses in each other, perhaps more clearly than they see themselves. The passion between these two is evident, and no relationship is easy. This installment in particular is a wave of ups and downs between the two of them. I've used this word many times, but it felt realistic considering the circumstances they have found themselves in. They fight for their relationship, and for each other, even if they make mistakes along the way.

Was this an epic conclusion? No, I can't say it was. Did it satisfy me? Yes, for the most part it did. It was rather quiet for a finale. The emotions of the characters are the main payoff, and the crushing ending elevated this for me. I am big fan of character development and payoff and Veronica delivered that in her ending. The Tris and Caleb scenes, the relationship between Tobias and Tris, and their respective relationships with their families all created an emotional response, but it was because I already cared about these characters. There was little action, and a slower pacing, but what it said about love, grief, and having the strength to live was a beautiful finale message of the series.

Much will be made of certain events in the novel. Some will hate it, others will love it. Personally, I feel it was a bold choice. A choice that has not been made in very many books (if any) in the genre. It shows Veronica Roth is an author who will not hold back, even if that means breaking readers hearts sometimes. It is an emotional ending to a series that demanded it and an ending that, I feel, elevated the story.