Four: A Divergent Collection Review

Hello, friends! Sorry about the short hiatus. I have been busy with NaNoWriMo and everything else. Once November is over, I should be able to post more often:)

Okay, so yesterday, I finished a book. Originally, I wasn't planning on writing a review, but it was so awesome I couldn't resist. This book is the called Four: A Divergent Collection.

Back Cover: Two years before Beatrice Prior makes her choice, the sixteen-year-old son of Abnegation's faction leader does the same. Tobias's transfer to Dauntless is his chance to begin again. Newly renamed 'Four' he discovers that initiation is only the beginning...

Four must claim his place in the Dauntless hierarchy. And his decisions will affect the 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 act 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 again.

What I loved: Oh, wow. Four. He is amazing. Though I wasn't too crazy about Divergent, I still loved Tobias. If possible, this book made him even more great. This book is a collection of four stories and three exclusive scenes, including when Four met Tris.

Fear is a big topic in these stories. Though Tobias has few fears compared to some, the fears he does have controls his life at first. Even in the end, he doesn't completely get over the fear, but he does overcome it. "But becoming fearless isn't the point," he tells Tris. "It's learning to control your fear and how to be free from it, that's the point." Wow.

Tobias started out as this hurting kid who was invisible. When he joined Dauntless, he became who he was. Many of the Dauntless turned out to be stupid and mean. But as he learned to fight, he didn't forget that fighting is used mainly to protect people. He stood up for what was right, even confronted a person he hated just to keep people safe.

"You're the one that has to live with your choices," a character said at the beginning of the book. "Everyone else will get over it, move on, no matter what you decide. But you never will." That quote made for a strong beginning. I really liked it. I've never thought of it that way before. Of course, it doesn't apply to everything. Some choices you make will hurt and scar other people for life. But with things like college degrees, you're really the only one who has to deal with it forever.

Most of these stories take place before Divergent even began. But the scenes that are from Divergent in Tobias' perspective are genius. My favorite is where Tris and Tobias go inside his fear landscape together. His perspective is exciting and relatable. I even think it might be better than Tris's perspective. He also tells Tris something about selfless and bravery being the same thing. No, it isn't always the same thing, but when it is, it's more effective.

What I didn't care for: Four does kiss Tris once, but it doesn't get half as sexual as Divergent. One of the exclusive scenes is when Tobias is a little drunk. I didn't see the point in that. However, nothing bad happens. (expect for the fact that he's drunk) Since the scene is in the back, separate from the actual stories, it's not something you have to read. He does suggest that alcohol is not satisfying..  Characters do drink and are said to be drunk. Other than that scene though, Four doesn't drink much alcohol.

While planning a game of "Dare", Toabias mentions that some unnamed person didn't have any clothes on.

I loved the Four Collection. I'd been waiting forever to read it and it definitely did not disappoint. While I am not a huge Divergent fan, I enjoyed seeing the world of Divergent in his eyes. This story highlights the important message---you are much more than a label. It does spoil a lot of things from the original Divergent story. Unfortunately, Tris and Tobias do get much more sexual in Divergent does, the reason I didn't like it. (A link to my review above) But if you love Four, this book is a must-read.