Okay guys, let’s just get this out of the way first: I knew it. I KNEW IT. I just really stinking knew that it was going to end up like this. Check out my video review here.
*ahem*
Sorry. Now that that’s done, we can talk like adults. So, We Can Be Mended is the itty-bitty 33-page epilogue written by one of my all time favorite authors ever, Veronica Roth, tying up the Divergent world forever. In it, we catch up with arguably the fictional world’s dreamiest boyfriend: Tobias Eaton. Five years since Allegiant (and I’m still not over it), the epilogue focuses on Four’s life after the unexpected death of Tris.
See, I nearly peed my pants when I heard the news that Veronica Roth would be taking me back into the Divergent world again. I was so excited that I immediately screenshot the announcement and texted it to sweet Amanda, demanding that we both preorder Carve the Mark so we could get this long awaited epilogue. I was prepared to see Four move on, heal, enter a new chapter of life and *gasp* even find new love. Guys, I really was. I want Four to be happy, to be healthy… but I got the one thing I didn’t want.
Christina. The Candor smart-mouth.
But I’m getting a little ahead of myself now. When I first received the epilogue, I was super excited because I completely forgot about it, but then I was really sad because it’s literally the size of a pamphlet. However, thank God it wasn’t any longer than it was because I WANTED TO LIGHT IT ON FIRE by the time I was done. Needless to say, it’s been quite the rollercoaster of feels for me lately.
So without further ado, the pros and cons:
1. It’s predictable.
From the second page, you’ll know exactly where it’s going. Which I guess is good since it’s only 33 pages? Anyway, not the point. The point is that from the second the scene opens up with Christina and Four standing together at a railing, you know that Veronica is working us toward the end goal of the two finding healing through each other. The Five Year Reunion is coming up and it’s being held at the former Dauntless Headquarters, the good old stomping grounds of our beloved gang, chalk full of memories of Tris ❤
The opening lines don’t focus on Four, Tris or even the development of Chicago since the faction system imploded, but instead they focus on Christina and how her hair is “longer now than it’s ever been,” and then a detailed account of what her hair looks like now. If there’s anything we know about real life, it’s that people focus on minute details and even the slightest of changes of the people we care about and/or are attracted to. This is red flag #1.
2. World development
The world of Divergent has grown tremendously in the last five years, which is super cool. Since Allegiant, the factions have dispersed and a new society is being brought up. They’re no longer required to live in Chicago and have the freedom to travel between cities. Philadelphia is mentioned pretty quickly, which is cool! (Shout out to Philly! Ooh ooh!) Many of the characters from the original series have gone on to train new security/law enforcement, work in laboratories, or act as liaisons for other cities. Four, however, has stepped out of his role in politics (which is where we left off at the end of Allegiant) because he just doesn’t have the “charm” needed. I mean, that kind of makes sense… Four isn’t exactly known for his charisma!
A ray of sunshine in all this is that Cara (Will’s sister) and Matthew (from the Bureau) announce they’re getting married! Ah yes, a romance that actually makes sense.
3. Character Development
This is another area that I do feel like I need to give Veronica credit. She’s a pro at packing a lot of punch into small spaces, which can be said for her characters too. It is great to know exactly what each character looks like now, how their personalities and priorities have shifted, and how (if at all) they interact with one another. Right away, we see that Four and Christina haven’t really changed all that much. Four is just as broody as he’s always been, and Christina is just as obnoxious and in your face. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Christina hater. If there was anyone in the series that I felt like I related to, it was her. We’re both loud, opinionated and stubborn.
But this is where Veronica lost me. In my opinion, it goes completely against Four’s character for him to fall in love with Christina. All along, though it was originally a defense mechanism, Four was completely fine being on his own. He didn’t need or want anyone. He had satisfaction that he’d left Abnegation and his abusive father behind, which was good enough for him. Until Tris came along, he didn’t think he’d ever be with anyone. That’s the joy of who Tris Prior was. She was the one thing that brought him back from the edge, saved him and showed him a future he’d never dreamed of. And though it’s completely tragic that he lost her (again, still not over it), it wouldn’t make much sense for him to move on to the next best thing: Christina. Throughout the series, Christina and Four had a relationship that was entirely platonic, one of siblings. I guess this brings us back to the age old question, “can men and women be friends without falling in love?”
Normally, I would argue no. But don’t get me started on that because I can talk for hours. But in this case, I would say: absolutely 100% freaking yes. There is an unwritten law that YA readers stand by and it goes something like this: don’t kill off Tris Prior, have us mourn alongside Tobias, leave us hanging with no way to recover and then have him fall in love with her prickly best friend who 50% of the readers didn’t like anyway. Does that seem like a good plan? No, not really. Not only are we NOT OVER IT, now you’ve just managed to give us the one thing we’ve been dreading. Unfortunately, this epilogue as a whole was not well received. Just check the rest of the Goodreads reviews. Most readers seem to feel stepped on or betrayed. Wamp wamp wamppp.
FINAL VERDICTOverall, I was very disappointed. Not just disappointed though, filled with rage. *insert overdramatic sigh* I expected Four to move on and I certainly expected him to find love again (although I don’t think it was beyond his character’s integrity to simply find happiness with the memory of Tris), but I definitely didn’t expect (or need) him to end up with Christina. It feels untrue to who he is. I would’ve been fine had he found someone new, a character that hadn’t been in the original trilogy, someone who would’ve represented a new chapter and a new life for him. This someone could’ve helped him mourn Tris without ever trying to replace her. We’ve seen too much of Christina and she’s seen too much of Tris. Granted, she does understand Four in a way that most people would not be able to. But in my heart of hearts, I wanted Four to find someone new who was able to help him close that door, not just stand inside the doorframe with him and avoid the elephant in the room.
So, Veronica… I still love you, girl. I’ll still read your books and fangirl over your work. But this just feels wrong and, because I can, I will pretend that this epilogue never existed. Thanks though!
Love, Ky.
(Is there a way to replace my “feels” rating with fire to represent my level of rage?? I wish.)
OVERALL
FEELS
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