Review: Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Veronica Roth has done it again! She is a genius and her Divergent series is a hit without a doubt! I can't tell you how excited I was (I know I wasn't the only one) for this second series installment to hit the shelves so I could see what was in store for our characters next. There was a lot riding on this sequel, due to the insanely positive reactions after the series opener came out. With all that pressure, anxiety and hope riding on what was expected out of this title, I'm not sure how Roth managed to keep calm. But whatever she did worked, because Insurgent can only be called a success.

The action, the adventure, the twists and turns, and romance factors were all still present and did not disappoint in the slightest. Readers are once again following along with Tris and Four as well as the other characters as they continue to make sense of what is going on around them, as well as planning their next moves and formulating their plans. It was exhilarating and such a wild ride the whole way through. I wasn't sure what Roth would decide for these characters in this book but I will say she once again threw me for a loop and surprised readers all around. Where things will go from here, only Roth knows. Not sure any reader can really predict (or even attempt to) at this point what is in store for Tris and Four after the revelations that came out in Insurgent, but one thing I'm certain of is there will never be a dull moment in this series. Once again I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the series and only wish that I could wave a magic wand and have the book sitting on my bookshelf today rather than some time in the future. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I gave Insurgent (Divergent, #2) 5 shamrocks!!!!!

In My Mailbox (51)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

The Forsaken (The Forsaken, #1) by Lisa M. Stasse (Thanks to Simon & Schuster)

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Auracle by Gina Rosati (Thanks to Roaring Book Press)

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help.

Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

Shift by Kim Curran (Thanks to Strange Chemistry)

When your average, 16-year old loser, Scott Tyler, meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he’s not quite so average after all. He’s a ‘Shifter’. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he’s ever made.

At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world quickly starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands.

Glitch (Glitch, #1) by Heather Anastasiu (Thanks to St. Martin's Press)

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Blood of a Red Rose (The Rose Trilogy, #2) by Tish Thawer (Thanks to Tish)

Doubt blooms...

Someone bleeds...

Change is coming...time to take heed.

Book 2 in The Rose Trilogy. A paranormal romance that continues to surprise with a heroine that’s embracing her darker side, a vampire whose love starts to waver, and a vampire clan whose new Sire is filled with doubt.

~ ROSE ~
I'm Rose Reynolds. I’ve shared my secret and ruined lives.
I’m no longer welcome in my childhood home.
And, I’ve recently threatened to kill my best friend.
I warned you - I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks…

~ CHRISTIAN ~
I'm Christian and I’m worried about Rose.
She’s changed and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
She knows my secret and loves me still.
This I know, because I’m starting to hear whispers wherever I go…

To Read:

Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

One More Day!!!

I don't know where to start??? It's not often (which is sad but true) that I finish and close a book and can honestly say without a shred of doubt that I know this book will be one of my all time favorites. I hate that not every book you pick up and read turns out to be a winner. I mean we all experience it. I read a lot of really good books, great even, but not all of them end up being my all time favorites that will stand the test of time and multiple re-reads. I wish it was the opposite, but it is what it is.

For me when I finally got around to reading Divergent by Veronica Roth (it took me way too long to discover this book) I was blown away from start to finish! I've experienced action and suspense in a book before, but this one had my stomach dropping and had me experiencing anxiety overload for these characters I'd come to adore. Roth's excellent writing and incredible story won me over immediately and had me counting down for the release of her second installment in the Divergent series, Insurgent. Lucky for me that since I was so late in the game, I didn't have to wait that long. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have picked this book up on it's original release date only to find that I had a horribly long (or at least it would have felt that way) wait before I would be able to find out what happened next. For anyone who was in that boat, more power to you, I give you credit for being able to survive this wait with your sanity intact. So I was relieved in a small way that I only had to wait a little under a month before the sequel would hit the shelves.

Finally that day is almost here....one more day! I am beyond excited to see what Roth has in store for her readers, and I'm positive that I'm not alone. Are you guys racing out to the stores to get your copies when they open? Did you pre-order a copy and intend to stalk your mail carrier for when they arrive with your package? Are any of you like me, and refuse to wait for the doors to open, and will instead be anxiously waiting for that moment when the book is finally (after pre-ordering it) beamed to your Kindle or other eReader? I fully intend to get myself a hard cover copy for the bookshelf to go along with Divergent, but I don't want to wait even that small amount of time before I can dive right in! So hopefully like me, you've got your day planned out and are intending to amp up the sales for this book, because it couldn't be more deserving. I'm thinking Roth will have no trouble at all topping the New York Times Bestseller list yet again with this release, and I'm going to do my part to make sure that happens.

Just one more day everyone....one more day!!!!

Review: Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Oh my goodness...can you say instant fan? I'm not sure I can even describe how much I truly enjoyed this book! It was fabulous from beginning to end, but the last quarter of the book, nearly gave me heart failure. I couldn't believe how stressed out and anxious it had me. Not knowing what was going to happen next, and the surprise twists...every five seconds...it was like a bomb went off every couple of pages...just plain crazy! Roth certainly needs no help in the suspense and action field. She nailed it!

I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed this read as much as I did was because it had me constantly questioning and comparing each aspect of what life was like for these characters and how I would handle the way they live and the circumstances they found themselves in. I tried to put myself in Tris' place from page one. Whether it was trying to decide which faction I would choose for myself, as well as what I would picture my friends and family in as well, or how I would fare during the training and initiation stages one through three. I think I'm still unsure. The choosing ceremony alone would have been too much for me! What faction would you have gone with? Could you picture placing yourself in any one faction and dedicating the rest of your life to serving said faction?

Then came initiation training...and if ever there was a survival of the fittest type of situation, this was it. Roth's characters were so engaging that it was hard to look away. Whether you loved them (Four) or hated them (Peter), she had you committing to your opinion and had me so invested in what was going on that it was difficult to get anything else done. I couldn't put this book down. I can't believe I waited this long to read this title, but I am very glad that now that I'm done, I only have to wait a little under a month to read the sequel. Any longer and I might cry...I'm not over exaggerating. The sneak peek into the next installment, Insurgent, was just what I needed to tide me over until it's release date. I've already recommended this book to several friends and family, and I truly hope they heed my advice and pick themselves up a copy of it as soon as possible! Better late than never right?

I gave Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth 5 shamrocks!!!!!