Review Detail

"Grief is not as heavy as guilt, but it takes more away from you."

I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel since I finished reading all 487 pages of Divergent in less than 24 hours last May! I was NOT disappointed! In fact, I treated this like the opening of a midnight movie and began reading as soon as the digital copy was released around 1:00a.m. and finished 15 hours later.

Insurgent picks up right where Divergent leaves off and is 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. *puts on Dauntless t-shirt*

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 *hearts* 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. *fans face*

War and grief are ugly monsters but have way of both tearing people apart and bringing them together at the same time. They reveal sides of us and those we love that can shock, surprise and disappoint and have us questioning just how well we know each other, if at all? It's in those moments that friendship and love are tested, sides are chosen and forgiveness is offered or denied. It's also in those moments when we find out exactly what we're made of.

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. *cries* 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!