Divergent – Veronica Roth (Harper Audio/Unabridged Edition)

It’s easy to understand how some people have made the short leap to describe Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy as being similar to Suzanne Collins Hunger Games trilogy. Aside from the obvious fact that they are trilogies, both stories feature a dystopian societal setting laced with fear and primal destitution.

 

At that point, the comparison really runs out of steam. While Hunger Games runs closer to fantasy; given the divisive state we find our world in, it isn’t all that hard to fathom a society where people divide themselves into Roth’s fractured, factions, which take on splintered roles in society as a whole.

Narrator Emma Galvin is the perfect voice for heroine Beatrice “Tris” Prior, who takes the unexpected leap from the straight laced, “abnegation” faction to the X-Games style faction of the “dauntless.” While the factions seem to co-exist, Roth laces the story with a tension that clearly sets the table not only for conflict, but the next installment of the series.

While readers both young (the intended audience) and old will enjoy the fantasy storyline, were Roth falls a bit short is her dry description of the setting. Important locales get short shrift when it comes to in depth drawing of place. A good fantasy, not matter how bleak should conjure up a clear image of where the action takes place.

 

In the end, Roth leaves it to the characters to drive the story and has with all good series, she leaves you wanting to see what’s next and anticipating the new installment.