Can’t remember how many times you’ve re-read or re-watched the divergent series but still can’t get over its ending? hold on tight! here are more books like divergent you can dive into to cure your divergent book hangover.
divergent is one of the trending series that helped build the era of dystopia obsession in the 2010s. many people were convinced by its intriguing plot, the trope of strong female character who brings down the government, plus of the romance between tris and four. And to this day, Divergent remains one of the most chosen dystopian books for young adults.
You are reading: Books similar to divergent
Now, we won’t let you suffer for long. here are 15 more books similar to divergent that you can read next!
divergent-like dystopian government books
Divergent fans who crave more dystopian smash-the-state stories are in for a treat with this selection of books like Divergent.
1. the hunger games by suzanne collins
divergent has lasting comparisons to the hunger games series. And if you’ve seen the Hunger Games movies, you probably already have an idea why. which one is the best between the two? I leave that for you to decide.
The capitol governs the 12 districts in the post-apocalyptic nation panel. they hold annual hunger games in which two representatives from each district, a girl and a boy, are forced to fight to the death on live television.
on harvest day, 16-year-old katniss everdeen steps forward to take her sister’s place in the games. Katniss becomes a competitor, but to win, she must choose between survival and humanity, life and love.
2. lauren oliver delusion
Unlike most dystopian novels, this book explores emotional control, which is unique. It’s an enjoyable read that you wouldn’t want to put down.
in the alternate united states, love is considered a dangerous disease, and everyone, when turning 18, has to be cured of it.
We meet Lena Haloway. Lena is eager to take the cure and live a simple, predictable life like everyone else.
but, 95 days before his treatment, he meets alex. he is mysterious, a wild child hiding from the government. what happens when lena does the unthinkable and falls in love?
3. the darkest minds of alexandra bracken
In the distant future, a mysterious disease kills nearly every child in America. the children who survived developed superpowers, but the government sends them to concentration camps because it considers them a threat.
enter ruby, one of the children with dangerous powers. he barely escapes from the camp, he joins a group of children fleeing from the government and heads to a safe place where children like them live.
but ruby and her friends realize that running away is not enough; they have to use their skills and fight to survive.
It may sound like another dystopian knockoff, but it’s not, it’s unique on its own. it’s equal parts funny and scary.
4. red ascending to pierce brown
Instead of a post-apocalyptic nation divided into factions, society is color-coded in ascending red.
darrow is red; belongs to the lowest rank of the system. They work underground, assigned to hard jobs to make Mars habitable for others, or so they were told to believe.
But he learns that they have been lied to, that they are nothing more than slaves to a ruling class.
darrow seeks justice by entering the legendary institute. there he fights in bloody trials to change his caste from red to gold and strike down his enemies from the inside out.
5. the ugly ones by scott westerfeld
In a futuristic society, everyone under the age of 16 is born ugly until they undergo surgery to make them beautiful and impressive.
tally is eager to undergo the procedure because more than becoming pretty, she will also be transported to a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun (isn’t that what we all want?).
but meet shay, one of those teens who think changing people’s faces is wrong. Shay runs away and Tally finds out about the ugly part of the world he lives in.
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tally has a choice: find shay and betray her or never become pretty. her choice alters her world forever.
is a great dystopian sci-fi novel that explores how we see beauty.
6. legend of marie lu
fast-paced plot? Yes! action packed? Yes! secret government that divides society into classes? yes!
In a dark and futuristic Los Angeles, we meet June and Day. Born into an elite family, June is a prodigy on her way to joining the highest military force in the Republic. then, he is the day, born in a slum and the most wanted criminal in the country.
When June’s brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect, June seeks out Day for revenge. But when their paths cross, the most unlikely happens: the two discover the truth about government secrets and the truth about what brought them together.
7. the test by joelle charbonneau
the quizzes have a lot of tropes, but its premise is pretty well done, inspired by a blood sport called college application. jokes aside, it’s intriguing enough that you won’t want to put it down.
The War of the Seven Stages turned most of the world into post-apocalyptic ruins. now the future of humanity rests with a chosen few. But, to join this elite group, one has to pass the test: their only chance to get a college education and become a future leader.
enters cia, who becomes one of the candidates for the test. But the night before her exam, her father tells her not to trust anyone.
8. james dashner’s maze runner
This, along with The Hunger Games and Divergent, shaped the rapid rise of the dystopian genre in the 2010s. And if you haven’t read the book, it’s time you did yourself a favor.
this time she is not a heroine; Instead, the maze runner features a male lead, Thomas.
thomas wakes up and sees the clearing, an open area enclosed by huge walls. he has no idea what is going on and has no memory of himself. he finds 50 other teenagers there and discovers that the only way out of the clearing is through an ever-changing deadly maze.
but exiting the maze leads them to discover a terrifying truth. they end up fighting for their lives in a world in ruins and against an organization called the evil ones.
maze runner has divergent-like elements that make it an equally enjoyable read.
dystopian romance books like divergent
For those who can’t get over the threes and fours relationship, here are some dystopian romance books like Divergent to whet your appetite.
9. under the never sky by veronica rossi
More than the fancy title, the world-building, characters and plot of under the never sky are just as fascinating.
the aether storms divided humanity into two factions: the inhabitants, who live in protective pods, and the outsiders, who live outside the camp.
aria is a dweller and has never known what lies beyond her safe dome. So when her mother disappears and she is thrown into the outside world, she knows her chances of survival are slim.
Meet Perry, an outsider with unique abilities who is also looking for someone. despite themselves, they become each other’s hope for survival and, well, you guessed it, they develop an unlikely love.
10. matched by ally condie
Imagine a society where everything is figured out for you: the book you’ll read, the job you’ll take, and who you love. And they make the right decisions every time.
This is the world Cassia lives in, and she has always trusted society to make decisions for her.
So when Xander, the face of her best friend, appears on the screen during the mating ceremony, she trusts that he is the perfect mate for her. but, for a split second, ky markham’s face flickers just before the screen goes black.
fail or not, it’s too late; Cassia and Ky slowly fall in love. What happens when cassia makes her own decision?
11. the selection of kiera cass
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If you want to move away from the dark and intense dystopian novels to ones that are a bit lighter and more pleasant, try the selection series.
The selection series has been dubbed as the hunger games meets the bachelor. well, there’s no bloodsport here; It’s about a group of girls who compete for the heart of a prince.
while other girls dream of participating in the selection, a competition in which 35 girls stay in place and try to win the love of prince maxon, the american singer wants nothing to do with it. why? because it means leaving behind her love, Aspen, who is of a lower caste than her.
but, after a series of events, he finally agrees to do so and leave his home. she meets maxon, and that’s when she starts to question all the plans she made for herself.
12. the genre game by bella forrest
here is a dystopian romance novel where the world is divided by gender: women rule the east and men rule the west.
The story focuses on Violet Bates. after her younger brother disappears, her anger spirals out of control and she is sentenced to death for her crimes. But one thing can save his life: cross the toxic river and escape to Patrus, the land ruled by men.
but here’s the kicker: living in patrus requires total submission, and well, violet isn’t the most submissive. she is drawn into more dangers and will learn sacrifice, including forbidden love.
if you fancy reading more dystopian books with a tough heroine to root for, you might want to check this one out.
other dystopian sci-fi books similar to Divergent
While these books are similar to Divergent, they have unique premises – a refreshing departure from your current stack of dystopian sci-fi books.
13. enclave by ann aguirre
war and plague left new york in ruins, and now the surviving population hides in underground enclaves where there are three groups: builders, breeders and hunters. in enclave, you will get a real name when you are lucky enough to do it at 15 years old.
enter deuce, who just turned 15 and is a hunter. She goes hunting and is paired with Fade, a handsome and strange boy. but here’s the catch: they have to avoid fearless zombies called monsters.
Unfortunate events occur and the two are exiled from the enclave. Now, Deuce has to learn to face danger and survive in the light of day.
Warning: Enclave is one of the books similar to Divergent but it is much darker and creepier.
14. rick yancey’s fifth wave
skip to post-apocalyptic novels about wars, plagues and zombies. here’s one about the alien apocalypse that deserves a spot on our list of books as divergent.
Four waves of alien invasions have decimated Earth, and Cassie has survived them all. but, now in the fifth wave, she has to find her brother but she must also escape from them: beings that look exactly like humans and kill everyone they see.
so, the rule: trust no one.
But she meets Evan, who may be her only hope of finding her brother and saving herself. but what happens when she trusts him?
15. ash by marissa meyer
A cyborg Cinderella in a new alternative and futuristic Beijing? that’s what we’re here for, marissa meyer.
The story centers on Cinder, a cyborg (almost half robot) and mechanic who has a mysterious past. there is a deadly disease that kills thousands of people, and the country is doing an “experimentation” to find a cure. so, there is also a war brewing against the lunar people.
Back to Ash, one of her stepsisters gets infected and her stepmother blames her for it. But everything changes when Prince Kai enters Cinder’s shop to repair his android. he falls in love, finds himself in the middle of multiple intrigues and discovers his past that could save the world from him.
If you love short stories, science fiction, and dystopia, then you need to check out the Lunar Chronicles.
Looking for more great books?
Find more binge-worthy books beyond the dystopian category. Here’s a must read list for you: 20 Best Romantic Fantasy Books You Can’t Stop Reading.
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