While this series as a whole has good reviews online, I thought it was a fairly formulaic version of a teen dystopia.
The prose is initially stilted and awkward, and it only becomes worse in Insurgent. The characterisation was floppy and poorly handled - for example, Tobias was meant to be the main character's love interest but remained a static and uninteresting character throughout. The relationship between Tris and Tobias violated the 'Show, Don't Tell' rule. This became even more of a violation in the movie because the two actors had little to no chemistry.
The whole plot and the world of Divergent are both based on unoriginal ideas which fail to come up with an interesting premise. There are glaringly obvious similarities with The Hunger Games which Roth hasn't even attempted to disguise.
In short - this is a dull and uninspired series which is a poor excuse for dystopian fiction.
Falls Flat
While this series as a whole has good reviews online, I thought it was a fairly formulaic version of a teen dystopia.
The prose is initially stilted and awkward, and it only becomes worse in Insurgent. The characterisation was floppy and poorly handled - for example, Tobias was meant to be the main character's love interest but remained a static and uninteresting character throughout. The relationship between Tris and Tobias violated the 'Show, Don't Tell' rule. This became even more of a violation in the movie because the two actors had little to no chemistry.
The whole plot and the world of Divergent are both based on unoriginal ideas which fail to come up with an interesting premise. There are glaringly obvious similarities with The Hunger Games which Roth hasn't even attempted to disguise.
In short - this is a dull and uninspired series which is a poor excuse for dystopian fiction.