2 Ways to Read Divergent Series Order by Veronica Roth

What’s the best Divergent series order?

If you’re here and asking that question you’ve likely discovered that there are a few novellas in the Divergent world. We’ll cover two ways to read all ten books.

Before that, it’s helpful to provide an overview of the series.

Divergent Series Order Box Set

Divergent Series Order: Publication

Now that we’ve given a brief overview of Veronica Roth’s world, let’s take a look at the Divergent series order.

The are two ways to read the Divergent books in order. The first is by publication date.

This is the series order in which the books were released and how most early fans of the series enjoyed them.

  1. Divergent (2011)
  2. Free Four (2012) (Extra Scene)
  3. Insurgent (2012)
  4. The Transfer (2013) (Novella)
  5. The Path to Allegiant (2013) (Add-On)
  6. Allegiant (2013)
  7. The Initiate (2014) (Novella)
  8. The Son (2014) (Novella)
  9. The Traitor (2014) (Novella)
  10. We Can Be Mended (2018) (Novella)

As you can see, there are only three main books, but there are a series of novellas/short stories. Five of those novellas have been bundled into the book entitled Four.

The Path to Allegiant and We Can Be Mended are not apart of any bundle, and need to be purchased separately.

Audible Divergent

Divergent Series Order: Chronological

Considering that the novellas were primarily all produced after the conclusion of the trilogy, most of their contents take place much earlier.

With that in mind, the best Divergent series order is to read the books chronologically. I usually recommend against such methods, but I don’t believe any spoilers are present in the prequels.

Perhaps some details about parentage, but I don’t think these details are important enough to warrant reading them later.

It’s up to you.

Personally, I dislike going back in time, so I know that if I don’t read the prequels first, I won’t read them at all. You decide for yourself which Divergent series order to use.

0.1 The Transfer (Novella)
0.2 The Initiate (Novella)
0.3 The Son (Novella)
1. Divergent
1.1 Free Four (Extra Scene)
1.2 The Traitor (Novella)
2. Insurgent
2a. The Path to Allegiant (Add-On)
3. Allegiant
3.1 We Can Be Mended (Novella)

So there you have it. Two ways to look at the Divergent series order.

For those who’d like a little more information on what’s in each of the books, keep reading. I’ll provide a brief description of what they’re all about without giving away any spoilers.

Divergent Series Summary

Divergent is about a girl named Tris Prior (played by Shailene Woodley in the movies).

In the opening moments of the first book, Divergent, we see Tris undergo a choosing ceremony similar to popular books like Hunger Games, The Giver, and The Selection, except that Tris gets to pick for herself.

What she is choosing between are five societal idealogies. The characteristics and rules of the ways of life will dictate how she is to act for the rest of her life, in private or otherwise.

These five factions are as follows:

The Divergent Factions

Before the Choosing Ceremony, candidates for new factions take an aptitude test. This test is designed to provide a single faction that you’re most aligned with.

Receiving two possible choices rarely occurs. In such cases, these candidates are considered Divergent.

Divergents are a threat to the peaceful, but tenuous society.

Erudite

The Erudite are the intellectuals. They enjoy reading, studying, and researching. This faction was formed because the founder believed that ignorance was the cause of the problems in the world.

Most of the technology and advancements in society are thanks to the Erudite.

Amity

Amity are the farmers. They prefer to remain outside of the conflict and are pacifists by nature.

In addition to their duties growing crops, they can take function as counselors and artists due to their unbiased nature and free spirits.

Candor

Candor was founded on the belief that dishonesty is the cause of all problems. Those in candor always speak the truth, no matter how difficult it may be.

They are the social elilte. The ones most likely to become businessmen and lawyers.

Dauntless

The Dauntless believe that cowardice is the cause society’s downfall. They believe in being strong and facing your fears.

Dauntless members make up the police force  and private security.

Aside: If their society was so perfect, though, there would obviously be no need for this faction, wouldn’t you say?

Abnegation

Abnegation are the selfless. This is the faction that Tris Prior was born into. They don’t have any mirrors because to look upon oneself is considered vain.

They believe that any action that benefited yourself was to be shunned. Abnegation is the community service and humanitarian branch of society.

Divergent Series Order Veronica Roth

Books in the Series

Four The Transfer Divergent Series Order

0.1 The Transfer

All of the novellas in the Four Divergent Collection Bundle are from Four’s point of view.

Makes sense, right?

The Transfer highlights Four’s “transfer” from Abnegation to Dauntless and the events surrounding it.


Four The Initiate Divergent Veronica Roth

0.2 The Initiate

This novella takes place immediately after The Transfer, and is also a part of the Four Divergent Collection Bundle.

The Initiate highlights Four’s initiation into Dauntless.


Four The Son Divergent Series Order

0.3 The Son

This is the one novella that has some spoiler potential within the series.

The Son hints at trouble brewing and begins some foreshadowing of major events within the main series.

If you’re worried at all, go ahead and skip this one until later. You’ll know when to read it.

Trust me.


Divergent Veronica Roth

1. Divergent

Divergent is Book 1 in the series. You probably already knew that.

This book primarily focuses on Tris’s Choosing Ceremony and the subsequent events that show her initiation into her faction.

There are challenges, struggles, and romance all neatly tied into this amazing package.

Divergent is probably my favorite book of the series.


Free Four Divergent Veronica Roth

1.1 Free Four

Free Four is a very very very short story. I don’t even know if it’s worth calling it a short story.

It’s basically a deleted scene from the book.

Free Four is the retelling of a key event in Divergent from Four’s perspective. It’s only 13 pages long and it costs 99c by itself.

But Free Four is part of the Four Divergent Collection, so you’re better off getting it there.


Four The Traitor Divergent Series Order

1.2 The Traitor

The final novellas in the Four bundle is The Traitor.

The novellas takes place during Divergent, once again showing events from Four’s perspective.

Unless you want to figure out when and how to read it, I’d recommend just starting it as soon as you finish Divergent, but before moving on to Insurgent.


Insurgent, Divergent Series Order

2. Insurgent

Insurgent is Book 2 in the main series.

The storyline takes a bit of a turn here, moving away from just being about Tris and becoming more about the society as a whole and the problems that still plainly exist in this supposed utopia.

Tris and Four are still front and center, but it’s no longer about their own personal troubles and becomes about something greater.


The Path to Allegiant Veronica Roth

2a. The Path to Allegiant

This little book is free. No cost. You can go to Amazon right now and download it. I’m not sure if that pricing will stay that way, or if I happened across a sale.

The Path to Allegiant isn’t a book, though. It’s more like an appendix.


3. Allegiant

Allegiant is Book 3 of the main series.

The experience of reading Allegiant is permanently stamped upon my brain. I am scarred for life.

That’s a fair warning for you.

If you’ve talked to anyone who has read these books, you might already be aware of this, but I’ve never wanted to throw a book so bad in my life.

It evokes that much emotion from me. Enjoy!


3.1 We Can Be Mended

We Can Be Mended is an epilogue to the series, written 5 years after the publication of Allegiant.

I’ve not read this, in full honesty. So all I can go off of is Amazon’s blurb.

This novella is once again told from Four’s perspective and showcases the aftermath of the series conclusion and seems to focus around coping and PTSD type troubles.


Looking for more great books?

Check out these 10 Books like Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *