Four: A Divergent Collection

Four
Veronica Roth
Divergent prequels
Paperback, 208 pages
Published July 8th 2014 by Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN 9780062285683

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.

THE TRANSFER

The man whose knuckles I know better than his embrace.

In The Transfer, we follow Tobias Eaton (now deemed Four) during his final days in Abnegation, experiencing just a taste the abuse suffered at the hands of his own father, and the ultimate action he takes to escape it all-choosing Dauntless.

If only more writers would take the time to pour out the tale of their leading man. Sagara should. Damn if Severn doesn't need his own book. He certainly isn't getting much page time in Cast in Flame.

I finally understand all of Four's fears. That shooting the woman thing left me rather perplexed but now it all makes sense.


THE INITIATE

In The Initiate, Four begins to find himself as he conquers the necessary obstacles to enter the Dauntless faction: Fear simulations, knife throwing, and fighting. He grows stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally, as he learns the threat that being Divergent is, and how deadly being found out could become before ultimately finishing first in his class.


THE SON

But maybe, just as there's a part of him that's actually my father,
there's also a part of me that's actually his son.

The Son features the first of the unknown where Four begins to immerse himself with the Dauntless society. Obviously, Trys never had the chance to make it this far. He chooses an apartment alone while others partner up, gains his movie famous tattoo, and is confronted by his mother, whom he long believed was dead. Four begins to discover that everyone in his life, past and present, has wanted him as their pawn. He then proceeds to do things his way, and denies all offers made for one reason or another, and stays true to himself.

This installment was the more divulging of the series thus far. Eric's suggestions that led to the least effective of the initiates being turned outcast was a new detail as well as the history of Four's mother. I had no idea she was still alive, let alone a leader of the factionless.

THE TRAITOR