This is the story of Tobias Eaton's life in Abnegation prior to leaving it during his choosing ceremony to become Dauntless. He realizes early on thatThis is the story of Tobias Eaton's life in Abnegation prior to leaving it during his choosing ceremony to become Dauntless. He realizes early on that he's Divergent, and that if others realize it, it could be dangerous. He also realizes early on that Jeanine Matthews, head of Erudite, and Max, head of Dauntless are mixed up in something. He finds out they're planning to attack Abnegation, but isn't sure what to do about it. On top of that, he's in charge of training the new initiates - and Tris Pryor has come into his life in a big way.
Explains things from his point of view and gives additional background on the main storyline. Fun to hear....more
The third and final (?) book in the series ramps up and wraps up the story. Fallon Swift, the "One" is becoming more magically powerful daily. She's aThe third and final (?) book in the series ramps up and wraps up the story. Fallon Swift, the "One" is becoming more magically powerful daily. She's also gathering her forces and strengthening the magical and non-magical groups to end the reign of terror by what's left of the government and the raiders. She captures Arlington, then D.C., then New York, but the price is high. She starts to "colonize" areas in the south and west in anticipation of the final push to defeat the dark, embodied by her cousin Petra and her mother Allegra. Together with twins Duncan and Tonia they are finally able to overcome the dark and seal the shield in Scotland that opened 20 years earlier causing "The Doom". Duncan and Fallon finally get together, even though they've known for years they were "destined" for each other.
My biggest complaint was that I needed a list of characters that I could refer to. It's been six months and 40 books since I read the 2nd book in the series, and I had a hard time remembering who some of the characters were - the cast was huge. As usual, Nora Roberts does a masterful job of telling a tale, and in this case recreating the world with magic in it. It's amazing that she can continue to create books with fresh themes and storylines so consistently and for so long....more
It's down to the final four, Elise, Celeste, Kriss and America Singer, and American STILL can't make up her mind, but she's getting closer. The rebelsIt's down to the final four, Elise, Celeste, Kriss and America Singer, and American STILL can't make up her mind, but she's getting closer. The rebels are too. After several attacks on the palace, two of the Northern Rebels, August and Georgia, quietly make contact with Maxon and America and pledge their support of Maxon and his attempts to do away with the caste system and make things better. The four girls gradually come to a more natural friendship despite the competition and America learns to be a bit more controlled and understanding of herself and him. Growth, maturity begins! Then her father dies, she finally declares her left and then immediately screws it up by trying to console Aspen. At the ceremony where Maxon is spite, is going to announce his engagement to Triss, the Rebels attack again and the fighting finally clarifies their situation. Not without significant loss - the King and Queen are killed as are many others, but America and Maxon FINALLY get the HEA....more
There are now six girls competing for Prince Maxon and America Singer is emerging as his favorite, but she's still having a hard time deciding if she There are now six girls competing for Prince Maxon and America Singer is emerging as his favorite, but she's still having a hard time deciding if she loves Maxon or Aspen. As the tasks and potential princess training escalates, so do the attacks on the palace by the Southern Rebels. American seems to take one step forward and then two back in her attempts to conquer royal protocol and win the favor of the people and the King and Queen. Maxon is also reluctant to declare himself while she's so wishy washy. The two keep asking each other for trust and time, but neither come easy to either of them. The political intrigue steps up as Maxon tries to get a better grasp on the real political situation while keeping his father pacified - even if it means taking a beating from his father for America.
America is a bit annoying that she can't make up her mind and keeps screwing up, but then I have to remember she's only 17 - it's an awful lot for a teenager to take in. It's good enough that I stayed up late reading and then immediately went into the next book....more
America Singer is a Five in the caste system in the country that formerly used to be the United States, Canada and Mexico. That means she's an artist America Singer is a Five in the caste system in the country that formerly used to be the United States, Canada and Mexico. That means she's an artist or a musician. A teenager, she believes she's in love with Aspen Leger, a Six, and they've been secretly meeting and planning to marry even though both know it's dangerous. Then it's announced that Prince Maxon, the only son of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly is holding a "Selection" where girls around the country can apply to be one of 35 girls chosen to vie to be his wife. America doesn't want to apply, but when Aspen breaks up with her, and her mother pressures, she applies. When she's chosen and sent to the palace, she's not happy, and not trying to make the Prince like her. A chance encounter with Maxon on her first night, sets them on the path of friendship. As America begins to adjust to the palace, she makes friends with some of the girls and with Maxon. She's rocked when Aspen arrives at the palace - now drafted as a royal guard and automatically made a Two. Maxon begins to fall for her, but America's loyalties are torn, but not enough that she's doesn't make the Elite round.
The future of North America was changed by financial ruin and conniving people, but both Maxon and America have hope for a better future, despite is autocratic, cruel father, and her conditioning as a Five to consider herself unworthy of her new status. Read this quickly and then ordered the next in the series to see what happens! ...more
This is the story of Fallon Swift's training to be "The One". On her 13th birthday, Fallon leaves her beloved family and their farm to train for two yThis is the story of Fallon Swift's training to be "The One". On her 13th birthday, Fallon leaves her beloved family and their farm to train for two years with Mallick - who has waited over a thousand years to train her. Fallon learns and accepts her birthright. She returns to her home and begins her quest to rid the world of evil. That quest takes her, and her family, back to New Hope, where they begin the battle. Duncan and Tonia, Kate's baby twins from the 1st book, develop their skills when they bond with Fallon and together they begin to destroy the weapons of mass destruction still on the earth. Together, they fight the dark when Eric, Allegra and their daughter Petra attack and manage to kill Eric. Imaginative and believable blend of magic and science, hope and fear. Sorry I have to wait for the 3rd book to be published!...more
This is probably more a 4.5, but I nearly gave up after listening to the first disc, so I kept the rating at a 4. Definitely one that got better as itThis is probably more a 4.5, but I nearly gave up after listening to the first disc, so I kept the rating at a 4. Definitely one that got better as it went. A man returns home ill from his Christmas holiday in Scotland and sets off "The Doom" which kills people faster than they can get to a hospital. It eventually decimates half(?) of the world population and releases magical powers, both good and bad, in many of the survivors. Lana and Max are living together in NYC when The Doom hits, and the small amount of magic they had before intensifies as they escape the city and meet up with others. When they discover Lana is pregnant, they're thrilled and scared, as well they should be. The forces of dark do not want their child ("The One") to be born, and their new community is attacked and Max is killed. Lana escapes and runs, finding shelter at a farm in Maryland. ...more
Another prequel novella that jumps ahead to Queen Amberly and King Clarkson's son Maxon's Selection. He's now nineteen, and his father has selected 36Another prequel novella that jumps ahead to Queen Amberly and King Clarkson's son Maxon's Selection. He's now nineteen, and his father has selected 36 young women to come to the palace to vie for the title of his wife. America (the name of the former country he's now prince of) is one of the girls, but she really doesn't want to be there, so she volunteers to help winnow the other girls for the Prince....more
I've been looking for a new series to read now that I have more time on my hands, and decided to try this one. This is a prequel novella to the main sI've been looking for a new series to read now that I have more time on my hands, and decided to try this one. This is a prequel novella to the main series and tells Clarkson's Selection story, where he chooses Amberly. It's a quick introduction to the series and tells enough about the country and what's going on to make it interesting....more
It had been a while since reading the 2nd one, so it took me a while to get into and remember what had happened. This was my least favorite... I hatedIt had been a while since reading the 2nd one, so it took me a while to get into and remember what had happened. This was my least favorite... I hated the ending....more
After Katnis is saved at the end of the lethal Quarter Quell, she discovers all is not as they've been told by the Capitol. Gale, Prim & her mom are sAfter Katnis is saved at the end of the lethal Quarter Quell, she discovers all is not as they've been told by the Capitol. Gale, Prim & her mom are safe, but she and Gale are being used by the rebels, and Katnis doesn't really want to be the Mockingjay.
I really didn't like the ending, and even after going back and re-reading it a couple of times, I still don't like the way Collins ended it....more
We all know the story now... but it took a long time for me to want to read this. Teenagers killing each other in fight-to-the-death situations didn'tWe all know the story now... but it took a long time for me to want to read this. Teenagers killing each other in fight-to-the-death situations didn't really appeal and I had a hard time getting through it. I picked it up and put it down - multiple times.
That said, it's definitely grown on me. I still don't LIKE the violence, but it does make the story, and after finally reading the first (before I would go see the movie), I went on to read the rest of the series. Glad I waited long enough that I could read them all together instead of waiting in between....more
I'm in the camp that liked the 2nd book better than the first. I could only read so much of Hunger Games at a time, but this one I was able to read stI'm in the camp that liked the 2nd book better than the first. I could only read so much of Hunger Games at a time, but this one I was able to read straight through and then immediately went on to the third to find out what happens....more
Taking up exactly where Divergent left off - members of Dauntless are fleeing the grip of the simulation they were put under by Erudite and Jeanine MaTaking up exactly where Divergent left off - members of Dauntless are fleeing the grip of the simulation they were put under by Erudite and Jeanine Matthews. Gradually Tris and Tobias try to make sense of what's happened. Their Divergence saved them from the simulation and now Jeanine wants all of the Divergent so she can experiment with them. The resultant war is splitting up all the factions.
Roth immediately throws you into the thread of the book and since it'd been a while it took some time to remember the characters (there are many) and what had happened - hence the 3.5 (really) rating. Quick read even at 500+ pages....more