Synopsis: One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?

What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?

What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Pages: 526

Rating: 8/10

Overall: A thrilling, heartbreaking and fitting conclusion to this best-selling series. The action is non-stop, as are the lies and the deceit that Tris and Tobias must try to deal with. I really enjoyed this final chapter, which was unrelentingly exciting. Despite the surprising (and sad) ending, it was still hopeful.

The book is told through both the perspectives of Tris and Tobias as they try to get to the bottom of the city's secrets, as well as their own personal family stories/issues. Seeing both sides of a relationship in a story was a refreshing change. When there were issues, you knew both sides of the story. It also opened up possibilities, story-wise, to show different parts of the story rather than be told it by a character after the fact. As was pointed out to me, the dual POV perhaps should have hinted to what happened at the end, but I am not good at spotting that sort of thing, so was completely surprised by the ending, when Tris dies(!)

I also really liked how Tris and Tobias work as a couple. After a fraught time in Insurgent, Tris and Tobias have to work through some trust issues at the start of Allegiant. I thought, considering the age of the two characters, that they both approach their relationship in a very mature way. Their bond to each other is strong, even when they are mad at each other, and the open communication is a breath of fresh air. Especially in this world of unknowns and secrets. 

For example, Tris and Tobias promise to be honest with each other after the whole Tris betraying Tobias by allying herself with her father in the last book. Good. Tobias promptly wanders off with another girl to a secret rebellion hideout. Said girl appears to persuade Tobias not to tell Tris. BAD. Actually does tell Tris. GREAT. I was very pleasantly surprised that this plot line panned out this way, supporting their strong bond. This just adds to the eventual heartbreaking ending.

Throughout the book, there is this underlying uncertainty. It is completely unclear which side Tris and/or Tobias should ally themselves with. Should they stay loyal to their city, and if so, do they pick the Allegiant or the Factionless? Or should they side with the Bureau? None of these options seem like good ones. As a reader, all you know is that you root for Tris, Tobias and the other characters that are with them. 

Rooting for these characters carries you through the book. There was some dubious explanations of genetics and how serums and vaccines worked that brought me up short while reading, but only minorly took away from my enjoyment. Possibly one of the downsides of studying science to a high level is that it causes you to not be able to suspend disbelief when it comes to sci-fi stuff. I also felt there was something lacking in the world building side of things outside of the city. The city and its faction way of life is brilliantly imagined by Roth, but I felt like the outside world needed a bit more embellishing on what it was like.

I was disappointed that Marcus doesn't seem to get any lasting comeuppance from his past actions. Tobias says goodbye and that is it, Marcus goes free. I felt like, that if anyone deserved at least being thrown into prison, it was Marcus. Because if is a class A douche.

The action, as with the previous two books, is gripping. My heart was in my throat at several points in the story, and none more so than at the end. It whizzes along, leaving you reeling and having to take a few moments to just work out what just happened! It is non-stop.

There are moments of lightness, where the banter between the characters lifts the tension briefly that are very welcome. And the rapport and chemistry between the characters is that of a makeshift family. They support each other, and provide different skills and perspectives to help both Tris and Tobias work out what to do. This is particularly apparent in the epilogue, set two years after the last chapter. Despite the epilogue being about Tobias spreading Tris' ashes, it is the way his (and Tris') friends surround him and support him, showing that hope is still strong around them. I definitely thought the epilogue was one of the better ones I have read, showing a snapshot of the new world order, and that, while it probably isn't perfect, it is working on it.

With the weight of anticipation on the book, I think it is a very fitting conclusion to this story. I feel satisfied with how it ended, if heavy-hearted that it had to end that way. And it did feel like it had to end that way, that Tris had to die.

I look forward to what Roth can cook up next!

Let me know what you thought of Allegiant in the comment, and leave a link to your review if you have one. I'd love to see it!