~Mairéad's Reading List~

“I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.”

3.5 stars at least.

I'm proud of myself for finally picking up this book, even though I had been hesitating for so long, when it was first released in bookstores. Reading Allegiant, Veronica Roth reminded me why sometimes you shouldn't let reviews define picking up or hesitating on a book. It should be your choice solely. I guess, I've been afraid of knowing the end. Especially to a series I really liked that emerged out of the Dystopian bloom. Sure, Roth is still young and needs time to grow, but at the heart of this, I can see how much time and effort and concerns and care she put into writing this. And for that I'd like to thank her and the book personally.

Even though its very different from how I originally imagined it--among other readers--I can see how this series had to conclude by Roth's way of doing things, not anyone else's. And for that I applaud her courage and efforts amongst all the pressure that she must have endured upon writing this series. Even now, with the first movie about to be released, I'm proud to have come across this series and to have read it.

Regardless I need to actually get to the review now, don't I lol?

I can see why there are issues with the dual POVs between Tris and Tobais. You can't tell most of the time. But I found that after a while I began to distinguish themselves from one another. However I did this with the voices that I hear Tris and Tobais addressing the reader with in my case. Honestly it is a habit of mine to do so. Probably why I found it not so disorienting. But at times it did begin to blur altogether.

Lastly the genetic aspect of the entire story actually makes a lot of sense to me (in various areas). Especially in regards to the erudite Faction. Knowledge is power--or to say in this case, knowledge is a curse. Roth really investigates the aspect of the genetics and discrimination via this way. While at first I was like 'um, okay...i guess?' but as the story advanced it made more sense. Yet I still can't help but feel like there's information missing that are not accessible to the reader, hence the plotholes and various convoluted issues that arise regarding the story itself. But at the heart of it, the message is clear--no matter who or what you are, you are still you. only you define who you truly are inside. And Roth illustrates this beautifully between her two POVs, especially Tris'.

However I would like to add that I think there was too much going on in this book to the point that it felt like not much was actually happening. Yes, an odd choice of words indeed. But I can't help but think, perhaps if this had been divided into two books then focused and fleshed out more rather than 'rushing' everything in a way that it just dulled the whole experience. I think it would have been more better executed this way in my opinion, but who knows?

Now one thing I should like to mention is the subject of Tobias. The Tobias I knew and remembered from the first book (and a bit in the second book) was confient, vunerable, protective, brave, cauious--the aspects that Tris admired him greatly for. However, diving into his head finally, you see he's like any ordinary guy--he makes mistakes, he struggles, he has regrets, he's constantly trying to make up for his poor choices. Honestly, while I disliked seeing him in this light, I began to understand him better in a different light. Thankfully he came to his senses at a certain point (abeit a bit too late I think), allowing me to see the Tobias I had known prior to Allegiant.

Then there's Tris. Honestly I could write on several characters her but I can't lol, mostly because there would be lots of spoilers, but I have to say this--Tris, actually came through for me here. Despite her 'relapse' in the second book, I feel as though the Tris from the first book returned, although with a world-weary appearance to her. Her part in the story still weighs heavily on my mind as in the sense of: what way is the right way to write a story here? The answer is: nothing is simple, there are no 'right' ways to write something.

NOTE: ONLY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK, PLEASE AND THANK YOU
While I think Tris' death did keep in tune to the memory that she wanted to honour, it was rather unnessary. It may have helped, but in reality it didn't redeem a 'certain' character, nor did it make much sense, unless you go the cynical route and pick the bad case scenario which then sure I can see, but it wasn't AS believable as it was laid out unfortunately. But that was really gutsy of Roth to go this route. Although I think, despite kind of knowing what was going to unfold, I feel like the story stopped living at the point she dies. At least it does for me. But anyways...

Even reading this to the end, I don't really know how to describe it. That feeling when you reach the end of a series. Most of the time you know how you're feeling by the time you reach the last page(s) of a story you've been following since the beginning. But this, this was a different feeling. Usually you feel a strong emotion such as anger, frustration, happiness, relief, grief or even simply elated. Here I did not feel those. I felt numb. Empty, hollow, unresponsive. Almost as if I had been walking down a path that I have no idea how to feel. Whether its by mixed thoughts or conflicted emotions, I feel none. Instead I feel numb.

This book didn't just end suddenly for me at one part, it simply stopped and the rest of the pages were after thoughts. Perhaps I'm grieving but I do not know how to express it. But I know this, its the first time I do not truly know how I feel about an ending. It may not be the concluding story I had wished for this series, but it is an ending nevertheless.

However I still stand by what I said earlier--too much was trying to be achieved to it rushed itself and became poorly executed. Had this been split into two books and fleshed out, then perhaps it would have achieved a better response. Regardless there is a quiet power, although hindered by the numbness and dulled affects of how it was poorly executed, that lurks and lingers at the end of this series. Perhaps that is why I'm still thinking about it. Even as I'm writing this review.

I think that's why my rating is odd, I enjoyed this and yet I did not. There's a numbing effect that still hovers over me. I just don't know anymore.

Somewhere the brightness I had been following just vanished as if it stopped living.

But exactly when does a story stop living truly?

“I'll say it one last time: Be brave.”



Allegiant.

Apparently Veronica Roth broke the mold when she wrote you. <3333333<br/>

Allegiant MEANS “loyal” and “faithful”.


[now eagerly awaits for October 22nd, 2013]



MORE INFO EDIT (April 19th, 2013):

Allegiant: steadfast in devotion
1. Loyalty or the obligation of loyalty, as to a nation, sovereign, or cause.
2. The obligations of a vassal to a lord.



UPDATE ON COVER REVEAL EDIT (June 7th, 2013):
OH MY UNDYING HEART, BE STILL. IF ANY OF MY BOOKS HAS COVERS THIS AMAZINGLY DONE I WILL BE FOREVER HAPPY FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS. JUST OH MY UNDYING GOODNESS THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!!!