Insurgent (Divergent, #2) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Apr 09, 2012 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian

Wow! Just wow! I really enjoyed Divergent. It was a good fun young adult dystopian book. So I was really excited to read the next book in the trilogy. And then Roth went and kicked it up a notch. She went from a really good normal romantic dystopian story to a serious dark realistic story. Still romance in it, but so much more now. The twists and turns kept coming. Every character in the story seems to be onions, slowly unwrapping layer after layer. He's dead. he survived. He's evil. He helped u Wow! Just wow! I really enjoyed Divergent. It was a good fun young adult dystopian book. So I was really excited to read the next book in the trilogy. And then Roth went and kicked it up a notch. She went from a really good normal romantic dystopian story to a serious dark realistic story. Still romance in it, but so much more now. The twists and turns kept coming. Every character in the story seems to be onions, slowly unwrapping layer after layer. He's dead. he survived. He's evil. He helped us. He doesn't care. He does....So many of the characters just emerged as incredibly rich, complex people, and it made the story that much more resonant. Early in the book, there is a one, two, three punch that literally took my breath away. I thought, oh, wow, I didn't see that coming! Wait, WHO?! and WHAT? wow! maybe I'm not good at catching twists and turns before they happen, but these seemed unexpected, and yet totally believable.
The body count is a bit high too, which is realistic, given the situations these characters are dealing with. It's just weird to read a young adult story that acknowledges reality enough to do the hard thing and kill A LOT of characters. Guess we should have known that about her after the ending of last book.
I enjoyed learning more about each faction. I really liked Amity, the hippies. haha. I see the very real appeal with Erudite, and Dauntless, and Abnegation. I still struggle to see Candor as a real faction. At least she acknowledges in the book that they are an inessential one. They just don't seem to have as coherent of a mission leading into lifestyle as the other four do.
I also really enjoyed finding out more backstory on many of the characters, and slowly piecing together where this story seems to be taking us. This reminded me in the best ways of the final Harry Potter book. Of the Hunger Games trilogy. It felt real. The ending is a complete cliff hanger, and I can't wait to see where Roth takes it in the next book. Apparently, the sky is the limit. ...more

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May 27, 2012 Ellen added it

Shelves: dnf

I picked this up because the author was coming and was frustrated because it had been so long since I'd read Divergent, that I'd forgotten many of the characters and the plot. This sequel is quite detailed and I found myself confused and lost, so when the author's visit was cancelled (sad), I put the book down.
I loved Divergent and will give this one another chance later. But I think I need to re-read it before trying Insurgent. ...more

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Jul 16, 2013 Jenna rated it really liked it

I'm glad I stuck with the series...so far. Like "Catching Fire" it seems more like a bridge to the conclusion than a standalone story. But I was very entertained. ...more

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May 30, 2012 keri. rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, audiobook, youngadult, sciencefictions, dystopia, 2012

much better than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. a bit predictable, though, with huge plot devices borrowed from all over the place. not shocking, really, but I would've liked something more than a series that wants to be a mix of Aeon Flux and the Hunger Games. ...more

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Oct 21, 2013 Terri rated it liked it

Shelves: all_part_of_the_job

It has been quite a while since I read Divergent and it would have been nice to have a little reintroduction to the different factions since I was having trouble keeping them straight. The end was a good cliffhanger.

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Apr 23, 2018 Meredith rated it liked it · review of another edition

A decent second.

I really liked Divergent, and I wanted to love the second in the series but I found it lacking in excitement. I think the end was very interesting, and I'm looking forward to the final book in the trilogy. ...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Jamie rated it really liked it

Since it has been awhile when I read the first book, it was a tough start without a recap and small bits of reminders. Normally, this is how I like sequels but I found this one tough. But the story was a great continuation and has a great ending. Lots of unexpected twists.

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