TAHEREH MAFI
(Book 1 in the Shatter Me series)
Synopsis:
Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
My rating: ★★★★.5
Categories: YA, romance, science fiction, dystopian, other
Content:
Language: Mild language, use of some stronger language ("s")
Violence: Discussion of murder, accidental killings, human experimentation, torture of a child, war and rebellion, gunshot wounds, torture, physical abuse, parental neglect and abuse, mobs, violent riots, and a brutal army. The main character can cause extreme pain by touching someone and the effects are shown in two brief scenes.
Sex: The romance is at the forefront of this book. There are several make-out scenes and descriptive kisses. There are also mentions of taking off each other's shirts or similar. There are a few allusions to sex.
LGBTQ: Not present
My Review: I read Shatter Me for the first time 2 or 3 years ago—and I hated it. It was a one star read and I could have ranted about it for hours. I only reread it because several friends of mine loved it and told me I had to at least read the second one. I now feel the need to apologize for misunderstanding the writing and Juliette so thoroughly the first time. The writing style is so beautiful—every line creates a vivid picture and we really get a sense of Juliette's scattered thoughts. The strike-throughs are also a very unique and artistic choice. The first time I pretty much hated everything about Mafi's writing style and the choices she made with Juliette's narration, but I am now desperate for more. I can't wait to get to the rest of the series!