Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling Divergent series, has announced a new companion duology set in an alternate timeline of the original dystopian world. The first book, titled 'The Sixth Faction', will be released on October 6th, 2025, and explores what would have happened if protagonist Beatrice Prior had chosen a different faction at her Choosing Ceremony.
Speaking at BookCon on April 18, Roth described the project as 'not a prequel, not a sequel, not a spinoff, not a different POV but an alternate universe of Divergent where Tris chooses a different faction'. The story follows Tris after a tragedy at the ceremony, leading her into an underground rebellion where she meets a mysterious boy with a numbered identity, widely understood to be Tobias 'Four' Eaton.
The original Divergent series, which began in 2011, sold over 40 million copies worldwide and spawned a film trilogy starring Shailene Woodley and Theo James. The film franchise ran from 2014 to 2016 but was left unfinished after a fourth instalment was cancelled following the underperformance of 'Allegiant'. Theo James later reflected on the experience, saying, 'You do a certain type of film and you sign contracts where you are beholden to those roles for a certain period of time.'
Roth has spoken about her complicated relationship with the series, having previously distanced herself from it due to criticism. She told Elle magazine, 'I started agreeing with it, which is something that a lot of women, especially, can relate to.' She added that revisiting her earlier work helped her reconnect with the story, saying, 'It made me feel like, I would love to find a way to experience joy associated with this series again.'
The return of Divergent comes amid a wider revival of YA dystopian fiction, with new releases from other major franchises also generating buzz. Online reaction to Roth's announcement has been mixed, with some fans expressing scepticism about the quality of the original books and the film adaptations.
Roth is currently editing both books in the new duology, with the second instalment expected to publish in February 2027.
