Imagine a society divided into five factions. Each faction represents a particular virtue its members are said to possess and are free to cultivate.

Candor is regarded for its honesty. Erudite is known for its intelligence. Abnegation prefers a life of selflessness. Amity believes in a peaceful existence and Dauntless parades the bravery of its members.If you were given a choice, which faction would you choose?

At the age of sixteen, citizens in a dystopian Chicago are required to take an aptitude test to help them decide on which faction they would like to be a part of. Beatrice Prior struggles to follow the rules of Abnegation, believing she is more selfish than selfless. When the results of her test come back inconclusive she discovers she is part of another faction that is considered a threat to society’s peaceful existence. She is a Divergent. When the day arrives for Beatrice to choose her faction her decision not only changes the course of her life but also upsets the relationship between all the factions.

There was much hype surrounding the release of Divergent with many tipping it to be the dystopian novel of the year. Following the success of The Hunger Games it has a lot to live up to. Veronica Roth writes with so much confidence it is hard to imagine this is in fact her first book. The dystopian world she has created is so vivid and so thought-provoking you cannot help but feel for all the characters. This is a compelling read that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Divergent will shock you, move you and most importantly it will have you hanging for more. Lovers of dystopian fiction will not be disappointed. The second book in the series is due for release next year.