Review: Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

It was a long wait for Veronica Roth's Four but I feel like it was worth it. This collection of short stories gives you a little more insight into Four's character, the Dauntless compound, and other characters such as Tori and Eric.

Summary: 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...

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.

Simply put, if you enjoyed Divergent, you will enjoy Four. It gives you some background into Tobias' life before Tris and allows you to appreciate and understand his character a little more. My personal favourite of the short stories is the one where Tobias rescues Tris from being thrown into the chasm. I enjoyed reading about their relationship from his point-of-view.

Like the rest of the series, it is a book for teen readers. It contains references to drinking, tattoos, danger-seeking thrills, violence, and romantic relationships. However, there is nothing graphic or disturbing and Roth handles mature content in a way that is appropriate and purposeful for her YA audience.

This isn't a book that needs a lot of publicity. If you like the series, you'll automatically want to read this one. I was excited to read it and for what it was, my expectations are satisfied. It's thrilling simply because Veronica Roth gives you more, but it was nothing special in considerations of writing style, plot, or characters. All in all, a decent read!

3 Stars