Allegiant by Veronica Roth

LOVED this trilogy.  Such a solid ending too.  If you've read the first two books, the third is almost its own story, it's much different than the first two in terms of setting and characters.  It's also very revealing.

At the end of Insurgent, a video is played that is of Tris' distant relative, telling the people that once there is a high number of Divergents in the population, it's time for them to leave the city and come out into the world.  This is a huge shock, because to these people Chicago is their world, and they had no idea it was part of something bigger.  As it turns out, they were part of an experiment.  There had been a Purity War waged between people that were genetically pure and genetically damaged.  Those that were genetically damaged (fit in the sectors of Dauntless, Candor, etc) were viewed as lesser people.  They were placed into quarantine until their breeding removed those strains and there were Divergent people (fit into all categories, aren't missing certain parts of their genetics).  That quarantine became their world.  Now Tris and her friends are outside the walls waging a new war, trying to prove that there is no such thing as genetically damaged.  Just differences in people.

I can't give away the ending, but it left me with mixed feelings.  I loved the story, and the ending fit the story and made a lot of sense after I thought it over.  But the first reaction was shock and disbelief, which in hindsight, is the sign of a well written book.  I'm sad this trilogy is over because I enjoyed reading it, but the good news is all three books are out!  So if you haven't read the series you can start and not have to wait for the next book to be released.  Waiting between the 2nd and 3rd was pure anxiety, thanks to the cliff hanger in Insurgent.  This was recommended to me as a trilogy similar to The Hunger Games, and I would have to agree.  The strong female lead with the dystopian setting was very reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but it was different enough to keep my attention.  Great series!  The Divergent movie (shot in Chicago of course) comes out on 3.21.2014.  Another reason to start the books!

Side note, I was in Charleston for a friend's wedding over the weekend of Nov 9th, and that is the same weekend as Yallfest in Charleston.  Where all the bookstores host different YA authors.  There are almost 60 authors, book signings everywhere, different events.....basically a book lovers dream.  I didn't have a chance to attend because we were there for the wedding, but on Sunday sitting in the airport, I happen to sit a row away from Veronica Roth and Marie Lu.  AMAZING.  I totally creeped in on their conversation and heard them talk about the different characters and the way they wrote the books.  Kyle was slightly embarrassed while I nerded out, but whatever.  Best day of my life.

<3, jacq