Shatter Me is a thrilling sensational saga

What would you do if your biggest power is also the most dangerous one? Tahereh Mafi shows her reader how powers are not to fear, but rather are humans who may take advantage of your fears. Shatter Me is a fully long series made of six main books (and multiple novellas) following the story of Juliet Ferrars, as she discovers her world and her power.

What’s the story behind each book
Attention: Minor spoilers from each plot

• Shatter Me

Juliette Ferrars is a 17 years-old who has never been able to experience human touch. Whoever she touches could get paralyzed or even die, as she is able to take away all of her life. No one knows the reason behind those powers. The last time she unwillingly used her power, The Reestablishment locked her away. But no one actually cares. The world is too busy trying to survive because of food shortages, and a world that is turning upside down. According to The Reestablishment they were the only one who could help people, and they became the ruler around the entire world. But maybe Juliette is more than a danger. Maybe she is exactly what they need to achieve their goals.

• Unravel Me

Juliette has escaped The Reestablishment and has now found a safe space for her to live, with people who has the same powers as her. She is not a weapon anymore, or at least not for The Reestablishment. She is free from the group that is controlling the planet and free to love who she wants. Adam, perhaps, the boy who she befriended in school and the soldier with whom she fell in love and escaped from The Reestablishment.
But she will never be free from Warner, the young man controlling The Reestablishment. He wants her, he wants her power and he intends to find her and bring her back to him. But if that is not enough, Juliette has to chose between what is most important for her: protecting her heart, or Adam.

• Ignite Me

Juliette is the only one who can stop The Reestablishment, but she knows that Warner is the only one who can help her achieve that purpose. But working together is not easy when she thought he was only a cruel commander at Sector 45. But the more time they spend together, the more Juliette learns that what she thought about her power, about Warner and even about Adam were all wrong.

• Restore Me

Juliette has won, she took over Sector 45 and she is finally guiding a part of The Reestablishment. Her powers may still be dangerous, but she now knows how to control her. And even more important, she is not alone in her journey.
And yet her journey did not come to an end, not yet at least. She may be the new commander, but she does not have the trust or the power to subdue the entire Reestablishment. She needs more than just a resistance to win, and she needs to gather the trust from the other commanders. But while the story unfolds, she will discover how much of what she knew about herself was only a lie, and how there’s still much more for her to discover.

• Defy Me

Juliette is heartbroken, those in whom she put her trust betrayed her and even worst, her parents kidnapped her. Her parents are part of The Reestablishment, the same group she tried so hard to stop. And what is even worst, they lied to her, used her as a pawn and have no remorse about their actions. Her sister was a pawn like her, though her destiny seemed much worst. But what would happen when someone pushes you to your limits?

• Imagine Me

Juliette may be safe, but safety is never enough, not with The Reestablishment, not with her parents and especially not with this new identity she has discovered. She is much more than Juliette Ferrars, and yet is unclear who is really her identity.
But everything is coming to an end. The Reestablishment is coming to claim her, and she may not choose who to fight for.

Why I liked the series (spoiler alert!)

• Warner with Juliette

“And if you insist on continuing to make assumptions about my character, I’ll advise you only this: assume you will always be wrong.”

He is just living for her. Tahereh Mafi used an approach which I found quite similar to Sarah J. Mass in the ACOTAR series. Warner was never introducer as the actual love interest in the first book. Adam, on the contrary, seemed to be the perfect guy. They knew each others, they loved each others. They were simply perfect, right? Wrong, because once you start to get more info about Warner you actually starts to love him more. Juliette is his good side, and Imagine Me has shown how quickly he could turn back to his old self without her. I love his interaction with Juliette, or how misrepresented he was in her mind when they “first” met.

• Warner’s jokes

It may be really basic, but truly I was laughing at times when I was supposed to be as silent as possible cause everyone was sleeping. The moment he describe Juliette’s relationship with Adam, I was wondering how come they were not a couple already. I mean how could you pick Adam? Well, considering what the reader discovers later about his relationship with Warner and Anderson… it sort of made sense.

“It’s not charity,” I snap. “He cares about me–and I care about him!”
Warner nods, unimpressed. “You should get a dog, love. I hear they share much the same qualities.”

• J&Kenji + Warner

“I love you, Ella.I love you more than-“
“Wow. You two seriously couldn’t wait until we got back to base, huh? You couldn’t spare my eyes?”

Kenji is that big brother, friends and person we all need in our life. He may joke a lot but he is always there, especially for his J. I never thought they would turn that much friendly, on the contrary I was expecting bigger buddy dynamics with Adam. But I’m pleased seeing his friendship with Juliette, including the half-friendly-enemies relationship with Warner. He and Nazeera are simply top tier, which makes it even better considering they all knew or where friends with each at different moments in life. I can only imagine the many and eternal double dates they can have.

And you, have you read the book already?
What was your favorite part, or character?
Happy reading,
Marianna