From Goodreads: 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.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth comes a companion volume to the worldwide bestselling divergent series, told from the perspective 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.
Review:
I absolutely LOVED this! I know there’s a lot of mixed reviews and feelings about this installment (and others) of the Divergent series, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. After the crazy emotional state Allegiant (the final book of the series) left me in, I needed this. Plus, I’ve wanted to know what all was going on in “Four’s” (Tobias Eaton’s) head from the beginning. He was such a mystery. While we get his POV a lot in Allegiant, this is different and better, in my opinion. This book contains 4 short stories about Four (The Transfer, The Initiate, The Son, and The Traitor) and 3 scenes during Divergent with Tris (“First Jumper – Tris!”, “Careful Tris.”, and “You Look Good, Tris.”). We get to see how he was before he meets Tris, how Tobias Eaton became Four.
“That’s what I really want – to shed all the people who want to form and shape me, one by one, and learn instead to form and shape myself.”
From reading Divergent, we know kind of why and how Tobias Eaton transferred to Dauntless and became Four, but reading it from his POV, I thought, was heartbreaking and emotional. We get to see how the animosity between him and fellow Dauntless initiate/member Eric started. This books shows why Four was so suspicious of the Erudite and Dauntless, and how he mentally beat himself up trying to come up with a solution. His loyalty was torn between Dauntless and Abegnation. Despite his tumultuous relationship with his father, he was still protective of the Abegnation faction. He slowly starts being a little less untrusting of others and a little less of a loner by bonding somewhat with others – first his instructor Amar, then Zeke, Shauna, Tori, and finally Tris.
“Here, I’ve learned to defend myself, I’ve learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven’t learned, won’t let myself learn, is how to enjoy causing someone else pain. If I’m going to become Dauntless, I’m going to do it on my terms, even if that means that a part of me will always be a Stiff.”
There’s several other things, mysteries unraveled and such, in the book but I don’t want to give too much away in case others haven’t read the series or this book yet. Ooh, I have to mention how I loved his thoughts of and interactions with Tris because it’s kind of awkwardly cute. Tris wasn’t just his first love, she was the first girl he ever liked. Plus, not only was he kind of shy and a loner, but Abegnation dating rules were very strict and very different from Dauntless. So, he really had no idea what to do. He’s so conflicted about her, and it’s endearing to me.
“When I’m around her I can’t control what I say the way I do around other people. I say vague things because that’s as close as I can get to stopping myself from saying anything, my mind addled by the feeling of her body through her shirt.”
“I don’t want to be close to her anymore; it’s all I want to do.
I want to kiss her; now is not the time.
I touch my lips to her forehead, and neither of us moves.
No turning back now, not for me.”
All in all, I really enjoyed this!! Reading it after Allegiant made me feel better, but I would have loved reading it sooner – like right after reading Divergent. While some things may be reiterated, it still sheds some light on a lot of things and gives us insight into Four/Tobias Eaton and his busy over-worked brain!! In the series, this book is listed a prequel (0.1 – 0.4) to Divergent, but I really think it’s best to read it right after Divergent. Four was a mystery and one of my favorite characters from this series, so I just love this book!! Hope you enjoy it too!!
“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.”
There’s nothing like a novella compilation to help fill the void left by the end of a favourite series, plus extra insight into beloved characters is always a bonus too! I wasn’t sure how these would do, so I was pleased to come across your 5-star review this morning. Happy Monday!
Carmel @ Rabid Reads recently posted…Audiobook Review: Shattered by Kevin Hearne
I really enjoyed it, but I love getting extra time with favorite characters. Plus, if this is read after Divergent, then you get a better understanding of Four. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Thanks for stopping by!!
Don’t hate me Tricia but this series did nothing for me. *slinks away* GAH! Everyone loves this series but me!
I read the first one and IMO it was meh. Then I started the second one and while I was on goodreads…someone had on their status update what happened in the third book. I was so irritated but in the end I most likely would have eventually stopped reading it b/c Tris was getting on my last nerve. BUT I enjoyed the movie and since you’ve included images of Theo James in your post, what’s not to love? 
No hate!! Everyone likes different things, it’s totally ok! I definitely have mixed emotions about the 3rd book. I liked Divergent better the 2nd time I read it (before the movie came out). I really enjoyed the movie too & thought it was a good adaptation. I wasn’t sure about Theo James as Four at first, mostly because he’s older than Four — but after I saw the movie, I can’t imagine Four being played by anyone other than Theo!! I was very tempted to put more pics of Theo in the post, but didn’t want to over do it, LOL!!
What time is it?? Four!!!!! I am reading this book right now. Great review and looking forward to chatting about this book at our Proper Afternoon Tea & Book Discussion. Gratuitous pics of Four appreciated.
Julie Johnson recently posted…The Glitterati Candle Co.: Part One
LOL!! Can’t wait to chat about this!! So glad you’re reading this & I hope you like it as much as I did!! Thanks for stopping by!!
I’ve only read Divergent in this series of 3 books, and I do agree that Four there, from what I’ve read, was itnriguing and it would be nice to read about his past and how he became who we later see him as in the first book. I’m not surprised that it was an emotional past though – that’s usually the case in most of the characters, especially the brooding ones. Haha! Can’t wait to read this

Faye @ The Social Potato recently posted…ARC Review: The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud
Oh I hope you read this soon & enjoy it as much as I did! I just loved getting Four’s perspective & seeing how he became who he was when Tris met him. Thanks for commenting!
Oh i’ve been so conflicted about reading this because although i enjoyed the series (and the SHOCKing ENDING in Allgeiant) I couldn’t stand Four’s POV in Allegiant and I was just so worried reading this series would pretty much be the same thing! Good thing though that your telling me it isn’t and that you very much enjoyed this one! I’m curouis about how Tobias made the transition into Dauntless and how he became Four…so now i kind of want to read this one!
lily recently posted…On The Fence: Review
To me, his POV in this one feels different than in Allegiant. He’s very conflicted though as he tries to make his instincts more Dauntless. I really enjoyed it, but I’d been wanting more Four!! Hope you enjoy it too & can’t wait to hear what you think! Thanks for stopping by!