Book Review: Four, a Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

Synopsis:

Two years before Beatrice Prior made her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation’s faction leader did the same. Tobias’s transfer to Dauntless is a chance to begin again. Here, he will not be called the name his parents gave him. Here, he will not let fear turn him into a cowering child.

Newly christened “Four,” he discovers during initiation that he will succeed in Dauntless. Initiation is only the beginning, though; Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. His decisions will affect future initiates as well as uncover secrets that could threaten his own future—and the future of the entire faction system.

Two years later, Four is poised to take action, but the course is still unclear. The first new initiate who jumps into the net might change all that. With her, the way to righting their world might become clear. With her, it might become possible to be Tobias once again.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling DIVERGENT series, told from the per-spective of the immensely popular character Tobias. The four pieces included here—THE TRANSFER, THE INITIATE, THE SON, and THE TRAITOR—plus three additional exclusive scenes, give readers an electrifying glimpse into the history and heart of Tobias, and set the stage for the epic saga of the DIVERGENT trilogy.

*Mild Spoilers for Divergent*

There are four factions I don’t know or trust, with practices I don’t understand, and only one that is familiar, predictable, comprehensible. If choosing Abnegation won’t lead me to a life of ecstatic happiness, at least it will lead me to a comfortable place.

 

I sit on the edge of the bed. No, it won’t, I think, and then I swallow the thought down, because I know where it comes from: the childish part of me that is afraid of the man holding court in the living room. The man whose knuckles I know better than his embrace.

 

-pg 17

When reading Divergent, it’s easy to forget that Four was not always a Dauntless legend with only four fears. He wasn’t always able to throw knives so precisely that he could just nick Tris’ ear when taunted by Eric, wasn’t always capable of teaching new initiates how to fight. At some point, he was a scared Abnegation boy with a name that was a curse who just wanted a way out. And that way out was Dauntless.

I absolutely loved getting to know Four better. I’m glad I read this after reading the ridiculous disappointment that was Allegiant, since it falls in the “world before the stupidity of Allegiant happened”. I love Divergent, and getting back into that story was a fun ride.

I remember falling in love with Four’s character the second we met him in Divergent. Seeing more of his back story only made me like him more. And he changes quite a bit through these novellas, going from uncertain and uncomfortable Stiff to a confident Dauntless struggling with his conscience when he learns about the dark plans Jeanine has for the factions. And it’s fun to see other people recognizing his awesomeness along the way.

“Quit sulking, Four,” she says. “Everyone’s impressed with you. Embrace it.”

 

I watch her silhouette turn the corner at the end of the hallway. I was so disturbed by the fight that I never thought about what beating Eric meant – that I am now the first in my initiate class. I may have chosen Dauntless as a haven, but I’m not just surviving here. I’m excelling.

 

I stare at Eric’s blood on my knuckles and smile.

-pg 83.

It’s also nice to see that not everyone in Dauntless is crazy and horrible like Eric. He really seems to be a special kind of evil. And it’s quite great to see Four beat him from time to time. It helps explain their relationship in the trilogy a bit better.

You don’t really see Four as having friends in the trilogy, other than Tris, but there’s quite a bit of camaraderie in these novellas. It’s great to see him going through his own initiation, learning to become Dauntless, similar to Tris’ journey.

As you go through the novellas, its interesting to see just how involved and how much Four knew while Tris was still fumbling around in the dark, trying to figure everything out. It certainly will change the way I think of him the next time I read Divergent (which I’m sure will be soon). And of course, seeing some of their relationship from his point of view is lovely.

I need to talk to someone. I need to trust someone. And for whatever reason, I know, I know it’s her.

 

I’ll have to start by telling her my name.

-pg 229

I remember the first time I read Divergent, I felt as if I had found my new favorite book. It blew me away. I absolutely adored Four and Tris. This book reminded me why I loved Divergent so much in the first place, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for Four.

If you’re a fan of Divergent, Four is a must read.