Veronica Roth to Publish New 'Divergent' Book This Fall

The bestselling author is revisiting the story that made her famous with an alternate-universe reimagining.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:00pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of shattered glass and glittering sequins, capturing the high-stakes drama and glamour of the 'Divergent' universe.The glitz and spectacle of the 'Divergent' series returns as author Veronica Roth revisits the story that made her famous.Chicago Today

Veronica Roth, the author of the mega-bestselling 'Divergent' series, will publish a new book set in the 'Divergent' universe on October 6, 2026. Titled 'The Sixth Faction,' the novel presents an alternate-universe take on the story, exploring what would have happened if protagonist Beatrice Prior had made a different choice. Roth says the new book represents her journey to recapture the joy of the series she wrote in her 20s, after years of feeling embarrassed by the criticism it received.

Why it matters

The 'Divergent' series was a defining young adult dystopian saga of the 2010s, selling over 40 million copies worldwide and spawning a major film franchise. Roth's decision to revisit the story through a new lens speaks to the enduring appeal of the series, as well as the author's personal reckoning with her breakout success and the criticism that came with it.

The details

In 'The Sixth Faction,' tragedy strikes in the post-apocalyptic Chicago of the 'Divergent' world, and Beatrice Prior makes a different choice than the one she made in the original series. Roth says she started with an experiment, brainstorming elements of 'Divergent' she wanted to 'fix' based on criticisms she agreed with, before writing a single alternate-universe chapter that she published in her newsletter. The positive response led her to expand the idea into a full novel, the first in a planned duology.

  • Roth announced the new 'Divergent' book at BookCon in New York City on April 18, 2026.
  • The Sixth Faction will be published on October 6, 2026.
  • The sequel to The Sixth Faction is set to publish on February 2, 2027.

The players

Veronica Roth

The author of the bestselling 'Divergent' series, who is revisiting the story with a new alternate-universe novel titled 'The Sixth Faction.'

Beatrice Prior

The protagonist of the 'Divergent' series, whose choice in the original story is reimagined in 'The Sixth Faction.'

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What they’re saying

“I have a lot of positive associations with Divergent, and a lot of negative associations.”

— Veronica Roth, Author

“It sounds ungrateful when you say that you have negative feelings about this series that was so transformative, but with popularity comes negativity, and I retained all of that negativity.”

— Veronica Roth, Author

“What works about Divergent is some of the cheesiness. You need it to be fun and sexy and romantic; that's part of what people love about it. So don't be so critical that you suck the life out of it.”

— Veronica Roth, Author

What’s next

Roth is currently editing the sequels to both 'Seek the Traitor's Son' and 'The Sixth Faction,' with the latter set to publish on February 2, 2027.

The takeaway

Roth's journey to recapture the joy of the 'Divergent' series she wrote in her 20s, after years of feeling embarrassed by the criticism it received, speaks to the challenges many successful authors face in reconciling their early work with their later growth and evolution.