Review: Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Release date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages:526
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Dystopia
Source: Purchased
Series: Book 3 (Divergent, Insurgent)
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars 

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.
But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Review: 

What the heck! This was so... not good? I read INSURGENT in 2012 and never got around to ALLEGIANT until now. I blame college, but also maybe I somehow felt this would be disappointing. I have been reading a lot of 600+ page nonfiction books lately, so I felt like ALLEGIANT would be a quick and enjoyable break. Unfortunately, it took me more than two weeks to read. I figured it would take me a couple chapters to get reconnected to the characters and the world since it had been such a long time since I had started the series, but I just could not get into it. I started and finished other books all while letting this one sit half read. When I finally got around to finishing it the ending was just so random and messed up that I felt completely disappointed in this promising series.

I know I loved DIVERGENT and recommended it frequently. The world-building, the characters, the romance...everything was so unique and exciting. I even enjoyed INSURGENT. Tris is finally able to venture beyond the walls and explore the outside world (as is the reader). She has been through so much and I was interested to see where this new experience would take her and Tobias. I don't want to spoil anything (although I'm sure most of you have read this by now) but there were so many aspects to the outside world that felt forced, uninteresting, and just plain confusing. The war over genetic purity, Tris's mother's connection, the new characters... it was a lot to take in, but also a lot that just didn't make much sense.

The chapters alternated between Tris and Four's perspectives. This seemed interesting in theory, but didn't play out so well. I wanted more of Tris and was used to being in her head. Four's chapters didn't feel any different and I often lost track of who I was reading about. I also felt both characters were acting totally out of character and made decisions that didn't fit their narrative. There was a lot of promise for ALLEGIANT and I was eager to see how Veronica Roth would conclude this story. That brings me to the ending. My surprise and disappointment was not necessarily because of what happened, but because of how unnecessary and pointless it seemed.

All in all, ALLEGIANT was not what I had hoped. The big reveals and conflict did not make sense to me in relation to the rest of the story, the characters were not themselves, and I did not get much of a resolution. If you are debating starting the series I still highly recommend it. DIVERGENT was incredible and had such a unique and compelling premise. Tris is also an admirable heroine. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the series was not enjoyable, but I am still glad I got to see how Veronica Roth chose to end it. This is a truly one of a kind series and I only wish this final book was not so disappointing.

Review: Two Lies and a Spy (Two Lies and a Spy, #1) by Kat Carlton

Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton
Release date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 256
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Book 1 (Sealed With a Lie)
Source: Publisher
Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars 

Kari plunges into the world of espionage on a mission to save her parents while trying to impress the guy she’s been in love with forever.
When sixteen-year-old Kari’s dad sends her an unexpected text, she and her brother immediately go into hiding. Because when your parents are superspies and your dad declares a Code Black, it can only mean something bad. Very bad.
Kari soon discovers that her parents have been disavowed and declared traitors, and she’s determined to clear their names. Breaking into the Agency seems like a reasonable plan, especially with the help of a team that includes her longtime crush, Luke, as well as her two best friends—an expert hacker with attitude and a master martial artist—and Luke’s popular, vindictive twin sister. Oh, and a new guy, who’s as cute as he is complicated...

Review:

I have to admit, I almost DNF-ed this book, but I wanted to see if it would improve. Unfortunately, Two Lies and a Spy ended up being very disappointing overall. Not only was the plot frustrating, I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I have always been a huge fan of spy novels, some of my favorites are the Gallagher Girl novels by Ally Carter, which this immediately reminded me of. Since that series was over, I had high hopes that this one would be able to take over my need for a series full of young adventure, heists, and spies. I honestly wish I had loved this one, but I just ended up not enjoying it.

Karina's parents are both spies who work for the "Agency" and she becomes engrossed in their world after an emergency meet-up message from them leaves Kari and her brother alone. When her parents don't show up to their meet-up locations, Kari immediately becomes suspicious and distrustful of everyone at the agency. She teams up with some of her classmates and sets out to find out what happened to her parents.

First of all, the plot was very unbelievable. It was hard to imagine that a 16-year-old girl and her 7-year-old brother would be able to avoid highly trained professionals for as long as they did. Also, why would the son and daughter of the director of the agency help a girl they weren't even friends with by betraying their father? There were so many elements of the plot that just left me scratching my head and questioning why that would even happen. I understand there has to be some suspension of disbelief in a fiction novel, but there was just too much that occurred for me to be able to enjoy it.

The characters were also not very likable. Kari was very bossy and annoying. She treated everyone like she was better than them and was very rude. I also didn't understand the romance at all. For the entire novel I thought the author was setting up an entirely different outcome for Kari's love life, but the ending was just so weird and random-- Kari liked a guy she barely knew and had barely any interaction with through the whole book.

I did like her younger brother and how unique and intelligent he was. There were also some interesting plot twists that surprised me at the end. All in all, though, I was very disappointed with this debut and do not think I will be picking up the sequel. If you are looking for an exciting, high thrills spy novel I would't recommend this one.