The Transfer (Divergent #0.1)

THE TRANSFER: A DIVERGENT STORY (Divergent, #0.1)

Author: Veronica Roth
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Genre: YA Dystopia
Format: EBook
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Recommended Reading: 13+

Contains no spoilers

SYNOPSIS: More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by “The Transfer,” the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, back story, and relationships.

REVIEW: Here at Gliterary Girl, we get a little crazy about Divergent, and this story is no exception. Told from Divergent heroine Tris’s love interest’s point of view, “The Transfer,” gives us a glimpse into the beginning stages of a 16-year-old Four’s transformation into the strong, swoon-worthy hero we know and love from the Divergent novels. My only complaint was the brevity! I can’t wait to read the three remaining stories set to be published over the next few months, leading up to the release of the first Divergent film. {insert fangirl squeal}

In April 2012, Author Veronica Roth released the Divergent knife throwing scene in a story called “Free Four” that was told in Four’s point of view. I knew then that I’d be willing to read just about anything from his POV, even if it meant the whole book! Especially if it meant the whole book! I wondered what else Roth might do with this character because Free Four had been so well received. Then along came this series of short stories.

As always, Roth’s characters drew me in, and the writing is fresh and vivid. Learning more about how Tobias became Four was really neat, and I’m definitely looking forward to the other stories, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t hope at some point Roth revisits some of Four’s interactions with Tris from his point of view. We shall see, but until then, I’ll continue gobbling up every scrumptious glimpse at Four Ms. Roth will offer up.

(Review originally posted on GliteraryGirl.com)

BOOKGASM!!!!!!

Behave yourself Ner! Behave!

The Transfer is a short-story told by Four’s perspective when he’s face with his Choosing Ceremony. What I loved about this story was the fact that we got to meet Four even deeper than Free Four and we also got to see two sides of him: his Abnegation one and his newly acquired Dauntless one.

Before choosing his new faction, we are faced with a troubled Tobias who was too afraid to do anything wrong because of his father. It pained me to read it, to see him so helpless and so frightened. This Tobias Eaton wasn’t Four, he had nothing of the character we are introduced to in Divergent. He might had some traits, but he wasn’t Four!

In Divergent and Insurgent, we are not so aware of Four’s deep feelings about his father. Sure he tells Tris everything and we get a glimpse of it during his fear landscape, but The Transfer deepens it.

When Tobias chooses Dauntless as he new faction, he chooses it as an escape route rather than his heart desire. He just wants to leave, to get out of his father grip and fear and be free.

While Tris felt rather comfortable straight away in her new faction, Tobias felt as a fish out of water even reconsidering his choice. For a moment, I was faced with a Tobias that was always scared, always trembling with what was to come.

But what felt absolutely amazing was reading his change. The moment he finishes his fear landscape and Amar names him Four, he becomes Four, the Four we know and love and the Four that conquered me in Divergent.

And that, my friends, was the beauty of it all. Veronica Roth managed to subtly transform a tormented Tobias Eaton into our Four and, ladies and gentlemen, I couldn’t be more proud of it.

This short-story will be the pure delight (bookgasm) of all Initiates and Four lovers (such as myself) out there. Though it may pain you the beginning of the story, wishing to simply behead Marcus for his cruelty (I’ll never forgive you!!!), it’s also an excitement to see Four, our freaking awesome Four, born.

Veronica, you simply did it again! You make me a proud Initiate!!!