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 know, 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.
Following the shocking revelations at the conclusion of Insurgent, Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton find themselves posed with more lies and mysteries as they finally decide it's time to explore the world outside the fences of Chicago.
Unfortunately, unlike the previous two novels in Roth's stunning series, the start of Allegiant is somewhat disappointing. Throughout Divergent and Insurgent, Tris and Tobias' relationship has been a subdued theme, referred to in only small snippets that keep the reader interested but not fed up of their relationship. This final installment however I found focused too prominently on 'Fourtris' and thus made the dystopian YA novel just like any other, despite there being no love triangle.
I was however more than willing to overlook my initial disappointment as we were finally able to discover what was outside the fence of Chicago. Typically, dystopian novels tend not to venture outside the country in which it's set in and I believe that's largely due to the fact it's difficult to make it as exciting to read. Nevertheless, I was intrigued to see how Roth would take on the task. Again, I was disappointed. Personally I found the entire exit out of the compound and the discovery of the 'new world' incredibly anti-climatic. Not only was the discovery anti-climatic, but much of what occurs there. There were occasional moments of excitement, anticipation and general page-turning action but it just didn't last as long as I hoped it would. Discovery of the outer world however did give lots of opportunity for the reader to learn more about Tris' mother, Natalie, and what it means to be Divergent - two elements which I feel weren't given enough detail in the first two installments.
Surprisingly however it wasn't the slow pace of the story that disappointed me most in this book, it was in fact Tris. I just found her character so infuriating to read in this book, one minute she loves someone, then she hates them and then she loves them again - it's all very confusing to read. I found that within the space of one book she's become so up herself, believing that she's always right and throws hissy fits when things don't quite go her way. She ultimately becomes everything you hate in a YA character, which is unfortunate because I used to find her such a strong, feminist figure. I also found myself irked by Tris and Caleb's relationship and it just seemed as if so much unnecessary drama was created between them in order to fill the pages.
Although it didn't necessarily make up for the disappointment of the first three quarters of the book, I do feel as if Roth focused all of her attention on the last quarter, making the conclusion easily the best part of the novel. Roth so beautifully captures the capability the human race has to destroy itself, to be so evil and senile and how, on a day to day basis, we try to play God. We discriminate and torture and kill and I feel as if the final quarter does such a great job of reflecting that element of today's society, which finally allows you to connect to the story in the same way you can connect to Divergent and Insurgent. I also feel as if Roth partially redeems Tris' poor character traits throughout the story in this final quarter, whilst also going against the traditional 'rules' of YA novels and I can do nothing but praise her for that.
Overall, this final installment unfortunately follows many other YA trilogies and doesn't have much sense of where it's going, yet it also satisfies the reader and provides a decent, closed ending that does, in retrospect, reflect the brilliance of the series on a whole.
I give Veronica Roth and Allegiant ★★★
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