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Nataliya's Reviews > Allegiant
Allegiant (Divergent, #3)
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If in your story the word 'genetics' could have just as easily been replaced with the word 'magic' or 'voodoo' or 'pepperoni', your premise may seriously need some rethinking.¹
Well, now against all odds (and against my self-preservation sense) I finished this series. And it was not very good. Really, it wasn't.
It could have been somewhat salvageable - if only the author was able to recapture the unabashed mindless fun entertainment that 'Divergent' was able to pull off. But, alas, it lost the fun aspect completely, and what was left when entertainment was removed turned out to be insufficient to fill the resulting void.
You see, far from trying to resolve any of the old conflicts built up in the previous two books, this story decides to just abruptly swing to another issue - 'genetically pure' vs. 'genetically damaged', carelessly dismissing the dystopian Chicago world as though it had never happened in favor of the new development.
As much as I was making fun of the ridiculous premise of this faction-based encapsulated society, I really did not appreciate sudden treatment of it as little but an unfortunate afterthought, a setting that doesn't matter much, a place that we abruptly leave and only visiting again as a "by the way", thus making all the buildup of the (admittedly, ridiculous) conflicts of the previous two books absolutely pointless.
Instead of resolving the issues and conflicts with the established characters and developing these characters further so that they in the end would not look like cardboard cutouts, we are introduced to the slew of new characters which basically are just mashups of the old characters and are there for reasons unclear - but I'd at least like to assume are different than Roth simply getting distracted by the new shiny idea.
And the end of the huge conflict is done with a Whimper of all Whimpers - the slaughter facing the city is stopped by little else than basically a family reunion. Because Love heals, my friends. Because as long as the character's parents face their conflicts, the entire world becomes a better place to live. And no, this is NOT done from the perspective a a five-year-old. And suddenly the world becomes a better place, just because two adults have finally had a conversation. Because everyone else will just blindly follow the two semi-questionable leaders.
We also get a few heavy moralistic lessons and insights into the natures of what's good and what's evil. What we learn is that Good is what Tris believes in and agrees with. Anything that she is not personally invested in is therefore Evil. For instance, it's only EVIL to erase memories of those she cares about. Even if the justification for both acts is identical - to prevent violence and deaths.
By this book, Tris is not only the 80-pound badass of all badasses out there; she is infallible, flawless, selfless, unerringly perceptible, basically a new Messiah or, if you are as dorky as I am, basically an incarnation of Neo from the Matrix minus the ridiculous but cool black leather duster. And I found it to be eye-rollingly annoying.
This book is mostly told in alternating chapters by Tris and Tobias. It does help to read the title of each chapter to remember who the narrator is supposed to be because otherwise their voices are completely indistinguishable. Quite a few times I got halfway through a chapter before remembering that the narrator had changed. That does not a skillful narration make, my friends.
Overall, this series started ridiculous but fun, quickly deteriorated and finished on the note sour enough to give me a semi-permanent scowl. Nothing too memorable, honestly, except for very poor use of genetics. 1.5 stars.
And for the inevitable few fans of this book and this series who will disagree with my opinion by insinuating that I'm not that bright and actually quite crazy, I have the retort by Dr. Sheldon Cooper, PhD:
..........
.......
------------
And if you care:
My review of 'Divergent'.
My review of 'Insurgent'.
¹ Why do I care? Well, education took me on the path from biology to medicine, and so I don't take f*cking with genetics lightly.
Well, now against all odds (and against my self-preservation sense) I finished this series. And it was not very good. Really, it wasn't.
It could have been somewhat salvageable - if only the author was able to recapture the unabashed mindless fun entertainment that 'Divergent' was able to pull off. But, alas, it lost the fun aspect completely, and what was left when entertainment was removed turned out to be insufficient to fill the resulting void.
Instead, this book just serves to cement how this series was poorly thought through from the beginning, unsure of its own premise, uncertain of its message, unsure of where it was supposed to be headed, disjointed in its ideas and concepts, and never becoming a coherent whole.Just to clarify - my disappointment has nothing to do with the widely publicized "controversial" ending - or at least not with the part of the ending (a certain character's fate (view spoiler)) that has quite a few people freak out. No, my biggest disappointment is with the fickle way this series reached its resolution.
You see, far from trying to resolve any of the old conflicts built up in the previous two books, this story decides to just abruptly swing to another issue - 'genetically pure' vs. 'genetically damaged', carelessly dismissing the dystopian Chicago world as though it had never happened in favor of the new development.
As much as I was making fun of the ridiculous premise of this faction-based encapsulated society, I really did not appreciate sudden treatment of it as little but an unfortunate afterthought, a setting that doesn't matter much, a place that we abruptly leave and only visiting again as a "by the way", thus making all the buildup of the (admittedly, ridiculous) conflicts of the previous two books absolutely pointless.
Instead of resolving the issues and conflicts with the established characters and developing these characters further so that they in the end would not look like cardboard cutouts, we are introduced to the slew of new characters which basically are just mashups of the old characters and are there for reasons unclear - but I'd at least like to assume are different than Roth simply getting distracted by the new shiny idea.
And the end of the huge conflict is done with a Whimper of all Whimpers - the slaughter facing the city is stopped by little else than basically a family reunion. Because Love heals, my friends. Because as long as the character's parents face their conflicts, the entire world becomes a better place to live. And no, this is NOT done from the perspective a a five-year-old. And suddenly the world becomes a better place, just because two adults have finally had a conversation. Because everyone else will just blindly follow the two semi-questionable leaders.
We also get a few heavy moralistic lessons and insights into the natures of what's good and what's evil. What we learn is that Good is what Tris believes in and agrees with. Anything that she is not personally invested in is therefore Evil. For instance, it's only EVIL to erase memories of those she cares about. Even if the justification for both acts is identical - to prevent violence and deaths.
By this book, Tris is not only the 80-pound badass of all badasses out there; she is infallible, flawless, selfless, unerringly perceptible, basically a new Messiah or, if you are as dorky as I am, basically an incarnation of Neo from the Matrix minus the ridiculous but cool black leather duster. And I found it to be eye-rollingly annoying.
This book is mostly told in alternating chapters by Tris and Tobias. It does help to read the title of each chapter to remember who the narrator is supposed to be because otherwise their voices are completely indistinguishable. Quite a few times I got halfway through a chapter before remembering that the narrator had changed. That does not a skillful narration make, my friends.
Overall, this series started ridiculous but fun, quickly deteriorated and finished on the note sour enough to give me a semi-permanent scowl. Nothing too memorable, honestly, except for very poor use of genetics. 1.5 stars.
And for the inevitable few fans of this book and this series who will disagree with my opinion by insinuating that I'm not that bright and actually quite crazy, I have the retort by Dr. Sheldon Cooper, PhD:
..........
.......------------
And if you care:
My review of 'Divergent'.
My review of 'Insurgent'.
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October 26, 2013
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October 26, 2013
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Nov 02, 2013 08:27PM
All of this. Great review, Nataliya. :)
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Excellent review! I doubt I'll be reading this book (thanks to your review and many others), even though I read both "Divergent" and "Insurgent" - unless, of course, my completist attitude catches up with me!
I strongly agree, Nataliya. The jumping from one unresolved conflict to another is so wrong. It adds to confusion and an unwell-defined plot and story.
I saw one review of this book that just said "I hate you" to the author over and over in a block. So your review is more measured but also negative. Here's my question: does the frustrating ending make you not recommend the first book? Should I just pass?
You said it better than I ever could, Nataliya. Excellent review, shitty book.
Thanks, everyone!Jenny wrote: "I saw one review of this book that just said "I hate you" to the author over and over in a block. So your review is more measured but also negative. Here's my question: does the frustrating ending ..."
My opinion of the first book is not that favorable, either. It was certainly entertaining while not being that well-written. However, it had a spirit of reckless fun that was quite appealing. It appeared to be a book excellently suited for a mindless action-filled flick - no wonder they are making a movie out of it. You won't miss on much if you just pass on the first book and the entire series, but if you are looking for a few hours of mindless fun the first ne may be well-suited for that.
Hmm, sadly I can't see three of your images, Nataliya, just a sign that says No photo and a question mark. :(
Traveller wrote: "Hmm, sadly I can't see three of your images, Nataliya, just a sign that says No photo and a question mark. :("Hmmm, I had that problem with another review yesterday. I tried reuploading the pictures - can you see them now?
I still can't see two of your photos.
I think the no photo thing might be a GR bug or problem. I've been seeing it around the site in other venues the past several days.
Rose wrote: "I think the no photo thing might be a GR bug or problem. I've been seeing it around the site in other venues the past several days."Ah, well, in this case it will be looked at after the weekend's over. And (at some indeterminate point in the future) it will eventually be fixed.
Great review-can't go wrong with Princess Bride and Sheldon gifs.
Good, comprehensive review. I know now not to read this book. But where are all the photos? Are they supposed to be question marks with no images? Or is it my browser acting up?
Olga, you have to click on "see review" for the images to show up :)Great job as always Nataliya! I will read it, just to complete the set, but I am pretty much over it.
Have you read Demetria Luna's In The After? To me that was a better start to a post-A YA series than pretty much any I've read.
Olga wrote: "Good, comprehensive review. I know now not to read this book. But where are all the photos? Are they supposed to be question marks with no images? Or is it my browser acting up?"It appears to be a randomly popping up site-wide issue.
Even though a series of photos with nothing but question marks would have been an appropriate representation of my general reaction to this book.
Michelle wrote: "Great review-can't go wrong with Princess Bride and Sheldon gifs."
That's my motto ;)
I enjoyed having Sheldon Cooper-themed illustrations as a theme for my review of this series. Looking for them was the most enjoyable part of writing these reviews.
Minty wrote: "Great job as always Nataliya! I will read it, just to complete the set, but I am pretty much over it.
Have you read Demetria ..."
I haven't read that one. If its actually good, I may add it to my book queue ( a.k.a. topple-ready pile of books).
I rated the book higher, but I agree with everything you've said here.
I applaud you for finishing the book. I couldn't. I liked Divergent more than I thought and Insurgent was okay. I thought the series could be salvaged, but this book confused me on so many levels. What a shame. Great review.
All this makes me glad I stopped at Divergent.
If you do read In The After, I'd be interested in what you think. I was very impressed by it, obviously I can't judge it as a series until the other books come out, but the first one was certainly better than Divergent, Chemical Garden, Delirium or Matched, equal to The Hunger Games, maybe better if only because there was no romance, which I appreciated. The swoony teen romantic aspect of so many of these dystopian YA novels often seems to bog them down or trivialize them for me, so it was refreshing to have one where she has a brief mild attraction to someone, but it's not a major plot point.
curious! I have it on hold. I really enjoyed Divergent, and Insurgent a bit less so. The author thanked Jesus in her acknowledgments in the first book, which always sets alarm bells clanging about her education, particularly in the sciences. Could it be related?? Also the weirdly stark good v. evil you reference.
So when are you going to write this pepperoni-oriented YA series?
I appreciate your dedication to finish the series Nataliya. I balked after reading the initial spoilery-reviews. While that ending is brave in theory, Roth is not someone I'd trust to pull that kind of thing off.Great review :)
Brilliant, one of the best reviews I've read.
Thank you, I LOVED the first book, was sorely disappointed by the second, and now you've saved me from blowing hard earned cash on the third :) That's your good deed done for the day!
I know exactly what happens at the end of this book and it makes me grateful that I didn't read the second one, even though I really enjoyed the first book.
Jenny wrote: "I saw one review of this book that just said "I hate you" to the author over and over in a block. So your review is more measured but also negative. Here's my question: does the frustrating ending ..."The ending isn't "frustrating." Take it from someone who has been waiting two years for this series to finish, the ending was well thought out entirely. I went back and reread the whole series after knowing the ending, and the way the author (Veronica Roth) tied the whole series together was perfect. The story was never about what everyone assumed it was about. It's about Tris finding the balance between selflessness and bravery, and realizing the actual meaning of self-sacrifice. In Insurgent, and even Divergent, Tris throws her life away in desperate attempts to be "self-sacrificing." But in Allegiant, she finally learns what it means. And her journey comes to a beautiful end. I'm sorry to say that some people take a more negative approach on the series- that it's just about the action, or just about the love story. It has a deeper message. So if my word means anything to you, maybe you'll give Allegiant a chance. I can't see reading the first two and then just giving up, anyway. :)
I have a feeling you didn't look very much past the "lack of action." To me, the book held a deeper purpose than to just be filled with butt-kicking and gun-shooting.
I love your review. I'm so sorry I even read the book.
Sam wrote: "I have a feeling you didn't look very much past the "lack of action." To me, the book held a deeper purpose than to just be filled with butt-kicking and gun-shooting."Given that I haven't mentioned 'lack of action' even once in my review, your patronizing attitude of stating the deeper purpose than butt-kicking or gun-shooting is unfounded.
I think I made it clear that I disliked the lack of consistency and the lack of focus in this series, and would have preferred if conflicts were actually resolved instead of being abandoned. I disliked the treatment of the heroine as a flawless sacrificial lamb. But I never complained about action or lack thereof in this book. That would be the least of what I disliked about it.
Elizabeth. I think it is narrow-minded to assume that just because Roth thanks Jesus in her acknowledgements that she is poorly educated in science. Why is it that people have to assume that God and science are mutually exclusive?
Well you make it quite clear in the review that you are only capable of pointing out negative things in this book, which is pretty pathetic. First of all, this book is focused for a younger audience, maybe a reason you found it horrible. You also obviously enjoyed reading the books to some extent if you CONTINUED to finish the series after you wrote a horrible review for the first one. It also seems that you're just looking for excuses to use all your Sheldon Cooper images. For every negative, and accurate, virtue you could point out in this series, I'm sure there are easily two positive virtues. So, when you are a 25-year-old who is making millions of dollars off her first ever book series, please come find me. I'd LOVE to write a review about your book and point out all the inaccurate flaws within it. Please stop being so harsh. This book has taught millions of teens and young adults lessons that can not be learned too easily, myself included. I value the words in these books because they have taught me so much. And I'm sorry to say that my favoritism for these books is making me a little bit bitter, but I don't understand how you could find the Divergent series so horrible when I love it so much. I read all three reviews, I just can't relate.
Sam wrote: "Well you make it quite clear in the review that you are only capable of pointing out negative things in this book, which is pretty pathetic. First of all, this book is focused for a younger audienc..."I'm sure Nataliya will change her opinion of the series now that you've gone out of your way to set her straight and Veronica Roth will sleep better knowing you have her back.
Sam wrote: "Well you make it quite clear in the review that you are only capable of pointing out negative things in this book, which is pretty pathetic. First of all, this book is focused for a younger audienc..."I can think of many, many, many teens (even those among my followers on Goodreads) who did not like this book at all, for presentation or thematic (or both). Ageist commentary does no favors for anyone. You can be of any age to be critical of a book, or of any background beyond being a writer. You can be of any age as a writer and still have valid criticisms against your work for the way its presented among other factors.
Opinion is opinion. People have one, and do not have to participate in group think or share the same experience or interpretation. As well, people can be critical of something they've read, and pick up books for a variety of reasons other than liking/disliking. It doesn't exist in a vacuum or singular dimension.
I thought Nataliya explicated her thoughts wonderfully here, and it's not just for the fact that she shares parts of my interpretation of the work, but for what her thoughts lend in and of themselves.
You're more than welcome to think differently and like this work, but you are not allowed to condescend or belittle her thoughts here.
Sam wrote: "Well you make it quite clear in the review that you are only capable of pointing out negative things in this book, which is pretty pathetic. [...]
And I'm sorry to say that my favoritism for these books is making me a little bit bitter, but I don't understand how you could find the Divergent series so horrible when I love it so much. I read all three reviews, I just can't relate."
I don't need you to relate to me. I don't need you to understand me. I don't expect any of these things. What I do expect is that you understand that since we are different people with different personalities, ages and backgrounds we would have very different reactions to this book. We don't have to agree, and both of us have the right to our own opinions. Apparently you think mine are pathetic. I find yours condescending. Here, we're even now.
"First of all, this book is focused for a younger audience, maybe a reason you found it horrible."
I refuse to accept the excuse that you can give a book a free pass just because it's aimed at younger people. Bad book is bad regardless of the intended audience. As a matter of fact, I think it's even more important to have good books for younger people than for adults because literature can influence the mind that is still forming, and I would hope the influence would be a good one.
And there are plenty of writers who can produce books for younger audience that are of remarkable quality. Some examples: Frances Hardinge, Terry Pratchett, China Mieville, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, E. Lockhart, Ray Bradbury (in a way), just to name a few. Laini Taylor and Melina Marchetta can also probably be mentioned in this category.
"You also obviously enjoyed reading the books to some extent if you CONTINUED to finish the series after you wrote a horrible review for the first one."
I gave three stars to the first book; I thought it was quite entertaining. That's far from the definition of 'horrible' that I use. Yes, I thought it was ridiculous, but it was still fun. The first book made me eventually curious about the second book; after the second book I continued to read just for the completion sake.
"It also seems that you're just looking for excuses to use all your Sheldon Cooper images."
No. The review was written first; the fun search for images followed later.
And I never need an excuse to use Sheldon Cooper images.
"So, when you are a 25-year-old who is making millions of dollars off her first ever book series, please come find me. I'd LOVE to write a review about your book and point out all the inaccurate flaws within it."
Ah, I'm so tired of this line - "Let's see if you can write a better book!"
I think I will just stick with my regular job, if that's okay with everyone. I will leave writing books to others, including Veronica Roth. But you are welcome to criticize my hospital charts - they are full of awkward grammar and terrible punctuation, and there is no plot to speak of.
"I value the words in these books because they have taught me so much."
I'm glad your experience with these books was so positive. Mine wasn't. They did not teach me a thing, but in all honesty I did not expect them to. I treated these books as nothing else but entertainment, and after the first book they stopped being fun.
And now I have to get back to work.
I applaud you for finishing the series. The first book was already more than enough for me. And you have no idea how much I appreciate you still voicing your honest opinions despite all the crap that people (and the site) throw at you! :)
This is the review I wanted to write! I agree with all of your points and if I could do spoilers, I would have some additional criticisms. I loved Divergent! Read it in one night and raved about it to all my friends. Insurgent was...okay. Not nearly as engaging. But this book? Meh. Bad writing, worse plot devices and a big disappointment.
I love your review! No one came back from death and it makes so much sense that I finish reading it.
The series lost me when Tris' parents were murdered and a couple of paragraphs later she was like,'well, at least Four is hot.'
thank you for this! I've been staring at the book in the store, wondering if I dared to buy it . . . now, I know that if I do give it a chance, it would be best to get it from my library.
Pamela wrote: "The series lost me when Tris' parents were murdered and a couple of paragraphs later she was like,'well, at least Four is hot.'"LOL! For me it was when one of those Dauntless so BRAVELY jumped out of the train and died. They expected me to find that sad..?
Someone spoiled this ending for me, and I'll admit it irked me quite a bit, especially after Insurgent failed to provide the same level of entertainment that Divergent did. It just doesn't make sense within the complete body of work. But I understand that for every person, like myself, who thought it was a bad move, you'll find others who loved it. So, while I can't say anything about the genetics/science of the book - the bio major within me would convulse anyhow - I always found the basic concept of divergence incredibly flawed. Veronica Roth never learned how to science, apparently.In any case, you review pretty much highlights all the reasons I will never pick this book up, least of all the ending. Thanks for writing it!
Yes, she lost me at genetics. That was my first clue. By the time I reached the horrid ending, I didn't even care. To completely invest me through two books to make me completely indifferent by the third takes massive talentlessness. Hats off.
I also love how the mom who's hardly been in Tobias' life tells Tris she will always be around and claims that Tris who HAS been there for him won't. Tris and readers laugh this off, but then it turns out to be true. Come on, seriously? And for a book that claims everything is complicated sure simplified the mother-son reunion. So her "picking" you as an 18 year old erases her leaving you at the mercy of an abusive father as a five year old? Sure. She goes from being a complete power hungry jerk to loving mother with no warning. Just oh so many things wrong with this story that happened long before the crummy end.
Love love LOVE this review, Nataliya. I didn't bother picking up the series finale when it came out, as I thought more about it, the series as a whole was pretty mediocre, and I'd rather spend my money on good things. Your review has definitely reaffirmed my choice to boycott it :)
Lol, I haven't read this yet, so only skimmed your review. I have to read the ending... against my better judgement... I do. There are only a few series that I actually gave up on (most of them I should have) and I'm afraid this won't be one of them. I think I might have a slight case of OCD. ;)
This review explains how i feel better than I can ever write it. I wish I stopped at Divergent. This book just ruins the entire series for me, not because of Tris' death. In fact, if Tris' death (the entire book actually) was better written, it would have made a blip in this emotional flat line the book has given me.
This is such a perfect review. You said everything I attempted to say but couldn't organize into proper thoughts because I was so busy ranting.
I have to admit I loved the first two! But I completely agree on this one. I thought I was the only person who lost track of who was speaking couldn't for the life of me tell the difference it was terrible! I also agree with the two conflicts it's a lot of nothing going on. I can also handle people dying but really the ability to do all the other things but you can't fix a gun shot wound... Really?! Ok I think I've ranted enough on someone else's page!
Great review. I had the same thoughts. I was so extremely disappointed with the non-revelations. Divergent? Sorry, it's really nothing, man.
This sort of book is what can happen when a book is hyped before the series is finished. Even worse, this book is the sort of thing that can happen when the movie rights are sold before the series is finished.If the movie is successful (which I am uncertain about--the trailer seemed to make very little sense, and I've read the darned book), they're going to have a heck of time trying to make sense of Roth's world.
