Country vs Country - Divergent

This one goes- UK adut, UK YA, US

Danielle:I actually like all of these covers. I liked the US covers right away, and I can honestly say I like the UK covers. I think it's really interesting that there are adult and YA covers in the UK. I like all three, but I really love the colours in the UK YA cover. I liked it the least at first, but the more I look at it, the more I like it, so I think I'll choose that one.
Julie-Anne: I have the UK YA ones but I like all these, sadly the ones I own are my least favourite of the three covers here. I really like the US one, I like that the symbol takes up most of the cover and the rest of the cover is plain enough to not steal focus but also not too plain at the same time - like the Goldilocks of book covers. Saying that, I think the adult UK one is my favourite - I seem to like black book covers, not much of a shocker to those that know me.

D: Again with the liking of all three. At first glance, I liked the adult UK version best. I love the tree, and how it looks like it's in fog (Scottish mist!) with the moonlight behind it. I do love the colours of the UK YA cover, and the leaves, but I think I'll pick UK Adult here.
J: Same here, I like all three again and again, the YA UK is my least favourite. Although not because it's not pretty, I think it's visually stunning but I do seem to prefer plainer covers. Since all the covers seem to follow the same theme, I think my comments on the first book are pretty much the same for here. I like the large symbol on the US cover and the fact that that means it has more detail to it. But I love the black, plainness of the UK adult cover so I think I have to choose that as my favourite again.

D: Allegiant was my very least favourite book in this series, and I also didn't like the cover much. I don't like the design much on the UK Adult, though I still like the design on the whole, and I definitely like it better than the US cover. I don't love the UK YA cover either, but I think I like it better than the other two. Disappointing book, disappointing covers. I'll choose UK YA.
J: Not loving the colour of the US cover here and this seems to be the first cover that the symbols don't match on US and UK adult, although the wave at the bottom is in keeping with the wave symbol on the US cover. And again, my favourite has to be UK adult.

Danielle: This was a series that I love love loved the first book of. It just gripped me from page one. I loved the unique-ness of it. I liked book two quite a lot, but didn't love it, and I pretty much hated book three. The UK covers are all really nice here, and I chose a UK cover for all three, even though I really liked the first two US covers.
Julie-Anne: I liked this series until the last book and then I thought it was a bit "Ugh" (funnily enough I feel the same about the Hunger Games trilogy, maybe it's a trilogy thing?) I definitely preferred the adult UK books over the other two and then the US come 2nd. To any readers that may be wondering about the UK adult and YA covers, this is just based on what I found online - I didn't know we had different covers until I was searching for this post and discovered the adult ones.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions – Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful) and Erudite (the intelligent). Every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice Prior, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is. Her choice shocks everyone, including herself.

During the initiation that follows, Tris and her fellow initiates undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them, Tris must determine who her friends really are – and where the boy who seems to both threaten and protect her fits into the life she's chosen.

But Tris also has a secret, kept hidden because she's been warned it can mean death. As unrest and growing conflict threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris learns that this secret might save those she loves ... or it might destroy her.

Tris just turned sixteen, this means she must sit a test to help her make the biggest decision of her life - what faction she wants to belong to. Her test doesn't give her a definite answer, instead it gives her a huge secret - a secret that, if discovered, could mean her death. During her faction initiation period, she both gains and loses friends as she finds out a lot about herself.

My friend has been telling me to read this series for ages now but, for some reason I've never followed her advice. With the movie coming out this years, I felt it was time to read it since I prefer to read the books first.

I'm glad I read it 'cos I really liked it. There are differences between the factions and sometimes someone that's growing up might not feel like they belong in that faction, that's what the choosing ceremony is for. Unfortunately, Tris has trouble making the decision 'cos she feels like she'd be hurting her family if she chooses a different faction.

I liked Tris' character and her struggles to find out about herself, what she is and where she belongs. Roth's dystopian world is scary and weird but also kinda makes sense - in a way. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series now and I'm almost looking forward to the movie (I say almost 'cos book-to-movie usually disappoints me).


Book Depository: Divergent
Amazon UK: Divergent

Shards & Ashes by Various Authors

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful, original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

Hearken by Veronica Roth
Hearkeners can hear life songs or death songs, depending on what colour implant they choose - red or black.
Branded by Kelley Armstrong
People live inside the Fortress for safety - outside are where the branded supernaturals live. They're deemed unfit for society - but some have created their own society.
Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
Raindrops are a form of currency, you collect them and you use them - however, once they are used up you have to "drop" to your death .... or do you?
Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
Corporate rules all, they make the decisions - life or death. Xavier works his way up to the man responsible for multiple deaths in his childhood to exact revenge.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
Dana can find lost things and it turns out she'd involved in a war between fairies and goblins - she has to find some lost fairies.
Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
Nidos are an alien race that have taken over the world by means of a religious cult. Harmony & Chris are in a group that are set to bring the Nidos down.
Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
The sun has destroyed the world, everyone now lives in a dome for protection. But there are people kidnapping kids for their skin.
Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
The Eldest rules all and has an heir to take over when he dies, when that heir starts to question the vitamins he's putting in the water, he has to disappear.
Miasma by Carrie Ryan
A plague kills most of the population. Doctors invent monsters that can smell the plague - sufferers must be killed before it can spread.

I enjoyed nearly all the stories in this book, with the exception of one. My favourites (by no surprise) are also by my favourite authors. Branded, Dogsbody, Hearken & Miasma were my four tops. I'd recommend this to any YA fans.


Book Depository: Shards & Ashes
Amazon UK: Shards & Ashes